Northampton Town 0-0 Millwall

The Cobblers were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Sixfields by Millwall this afternoon.
Stuart Gray’s squad was made up of changes and forced emissions from the squad as Stuart Gray brought in new signing Mark Little for his first start since returning to Sixfields this week. Abdul Osman start in midfield with Giles Coke and Luke Gutteridge while Ryan Gilligan seemed to have a more forward role with Adebayo Akinfenwa up front. Youngster Joe Benjamin was named among the substitutes.

Millwall started well and made an early attack on the left hand side. David Martin did well to use his pace and beat two players but his cross was blocked.

It took us until the thirteenth minute to get our first effort on goal as Adebayo Akinfenwa had a good chance from a cross but headed wide when well positioned. A few minutes later, Giles Coke set out on a good run from midfield and won a corner after bursting through the visitor’s defence. But Lions defender Paul Robinson got back just in time.

On the half hour mark, Ahmet Brkovic curled a right footed effort just wide of Mark Bunn’s post before Luke Gutteridge shot wide from distance at the other end.

Coke was in the middle of the action again as he robbed Brkovic on the edge of the area but his shot sailed just over the cross bar. The midfielder again had a good effort just before the break but the game was goalless as the sides went in at half time.

After the break, the game never seemed to get going as Millwall came more and more into the game as time wore on.

The Cobblers had the first attack of the second half as Mark Little did well down the right hand side, setting up Ryan Gilligan for the cross, and Chris Hackett had to clear well at the back post.
Millwall forced a succession of corners in the following minutes as the Cobblers faded with Giles Coke’s long range effort the only shot on goal for us.

Just before the hour mark, Liam Davis replaced Luke Gutteridge as the formation changed again and Davis shot wide with his first real contribution after good build up play from Andy Holt and Ryan Gilligan.

The game desperately faded after that with neither side doing enough to test the opposition keeper. Joe Benjamin came on for his first appearance in the first team, replacing Giles Coke but the game ended goalless in a disappointing afternoon at Sixfields.