The Cobblers hold out for a good point at the Walkers Stadium as Leicester are frustated and draw for the third time in a row.
The Cobblers were without defender Mark Little who returned to parent club Wolves after picking up a knee injury that will keep him out for up to three weeks. Giles Coke and Adebayo Akinfenwa returned to the starting line-up after starting on the bench at Swindon in midweek. Midfielder Luke Guttridge was injured during the warm-up so Ryan Gilligan took his place in the side. Meanwhile, former Cobblers striker Steve Howard lined up for Leicester.
In the opening minute of the game, Leicester attacked and Max Gradel picked up a pass from Matty Fryatt and whipped in a cross that Frank Fielding in the Cobblers goal did well to take down. The Cobblers survived an early spell of possession for the home side and got their first effort on goal on ten minutes as Jack Hobbs slipped, allowing Karl Hawley to send in a good cross but it was just too high for Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Just a couple of minutes later, we were awarded a free kick and Danny Jackman stepped up to go for his third goal in four games but his kick sailed wide. At the other end, Lloyd Dyer’s cross was volleyed wide by Fryatt.
The Cobblers came back strongly and started to get a good hold of the game and Jason Crowe’s shot was deflected wide. A few minutes later, Abdul Osman made the best chance of the game up until that point as he crossed for Adebayo Akinfenwa but the big man’s header agonisingly hit the cross bar.
After Fryatt had shot into the side netting, Andy King shot well wide for the home side as the Cobblers continued to frustrate their hosts. Danny Jackman broke on the counter attack but his cross was behind Karl Hawley in our final effort of the first half. Leicester nearly took the lead at the end of the half but Steve Howard just missed a Gradel cross. But after a good performance from the Cobblers in the first half, we were holding Leicester at the break as one or two boos rang out from around the Walkers Stadium.
At the start of the second half, Danny Jackman so nearly handed Leicester the lead but after his misplaced header, Fryatt missed a great chance to put the home side in front. Steve Howard then had a shot deflected wide for a corner before a good spell for the Cobblers.
Following a corner, Akinfenwa span on the ball and had a shot blocked on the line. Ryan Gilligan then picked up the ball and went down in what seemed like a certain penalty but referee Mr Mathieson waved the protests. The ball broke for Giles Coke 25 yards out and he was also brought down. This time the referee did give the decision our way and Danny Jackman curled the free kick into the arms of Leicester keeper David Martin. Just a minute later and Jackman took another free kick from the wing and Karl Hawley headed just over the bar.
With ten minutes of the half played, Leicester had a good chance of their own with Andy King sending a half volley over the bar after Coke had missed a header. On the hour mark, Leicester claimed for their own spot kick after Mark Hughes’ challenge on Fryatt but again Mr Mathieson refused to give the penalty.
Five minutes later and the Foxes had a glorious double chance to take the lead. Lloyd Dyer was sent clear on goal and was one on one with Frank Fielding but Fielding made a great save. Dyer then crossed after picking up the ball from that save and Matty Fryatt sliced over when presented with virtually an open goal!
Half way through the second half, Akinfenwa hobbled off the pitch after pulling up a few minutes previous. Leon Constantine replaced the Cobblers’ leading scorer and just a few seconds following the change, Ryan Gilligan shot over the bar.
Leicester had yet another one on one chance with just under twenty minutes to play but after Fryatt beat the offside trap, he tamely hit his shot at Frank Fielding. Steve Howard then had a shot saved by the Cobblers’ keeper before Ian Henderson came off the bench to replace Ryan Gilligan. In a Leicester change, Steve Howard was brought off with Barry Hayles replacing him.
The Cobblers were holding out well and the home side were growing ever more frustrated with time ticking away. It was a quiet final fifteen minutes on the pitch and we could have won it in stoppage time but Leon Constantine stumbled when played in with a good opportunity.
But all in all it was a good point gained as the full time whistle went and Stuart Gray will take that from a difficult looking game at the Walker Stadium.
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