Millwall 1-0 Northampton Town

The Cobblers were beaten by the single goal this evening as Millwall’s Gary Alexander sealed a victory for the home side that leaves Stuart Gray’s men still looking over their shoulder ahead of derby day on Saturday. The game at Peterborough couldn’t come at a worse time with the Cobblers in poor form and Posh gunning for promotion and tonight’s defeat showed little to support our hopes for Saturday.

There was a new face in the Town starting line up as Carl Magnay started in defence whilst Chris Doig returned from suspension to take his place at the back.

It was a first half sparse of activity and a cautious Cobblers line-up was coping well until just after the half hour mark when Millwall’s Gary Alexander, a former target for Stuart Gray, put the home side in front. Nick Henry rode a challenge from Danny Jackman to cross in from the right hand side and Alexander finished with ease to give Millwall the lead.

Abdul Osman could have equalised before half-time but his half volley from a Jackman cross sailed over the bar and the Cobblers went in a goal behind at the break.

Luke Guttridge, returning from injury, nearly had us level just after half-time as he met a long throw from Andy Holt with a volley that went just over the bar. Minutes later, Leon Constantine curled a free kick over the bar from the edge of the area. At the other end, James Henry headed the ball wide of Chris Dunn’s goal.

Giles Coke had a volley stopped by David Forde in the Millwall goal on the hour mark before Colin Larkin replaced Mark Hughes. The Cobblers tried in vain to grab an equaliser late on with most of the pressure coming to the home side. Constantine headed wide after a dangerous cross in from Jason Crowe before Liam Davis forced a good save from Forde but we couldn’t find that illusive equaliser so we face the game bat Peterborough off the back of a defeat.

It’s worrying signs ahead of the Peterborough game with the Cobblers now just a couple of places above the drop zone and Boro in second place after tonight’s 2-1 1win over Scunthorp. It’s all to play for as we head for the short trip to our rivals and we’ll need a lot more than we showed tonight if we’re thinking of getting a result at London Road.