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Match report |
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Northampton 1 Swansea City 0 | |
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Northampton 1-0 Swansea - Match Report - Jeremy Kivell So on the back of a good week, I suppose a visit to a side that still had a big fat zero in the home wins column was just tempting fate; and so it proved as Northampton achieved their first three points at Sixfields this season in an unattractive, disjointed and often niggly game. The loss of Darren Pratley to injury meant that Shaun MacDonald joined OTJ in an inexperienced-looking central midfield. Apart from that, we were unchanged from the victory over Millwall. The first 10 minutes consisted of absolutely nothing of note, until Willy was forced into an excellent point-blank save as we yet again failed to clear a corner. Swans then managed to exert a spell of pressure, with Robinson, Britton and Trundle all looking dangerous. This promising spell culminated in the Northampton keeper making two good saves in quick succession from Fallon and Tudur-Jones. Trundle then screwed a shot wide when well-placed, and things looked quite promising for a while. We couldn't take advantage though, and the momentum ebbed away, although there was still time for Izzy to stupidly talk his way into a yellow card before half time. The second half started quietly, then 10 minutes in, Northampton took the decisive lead. Yet again, it was our failure to defend a set piece that cost us, as a long throw from their right evaded Tom Williams's head at the near post, and Luke Chambers reacted quickest to poke the ball past a static Gueret. Akinfenwa replaced Fallon almost immediately, but to little ultimate effect. Chris Jones came on for MacDonald, and injected some pace into a one-dimensional looking attack with some promising direct running from the right hand side, but we still failed to create any clear cut chances. Near the end, Britton burst towards the Northampton area, and was brought down just outside the box. As the players hit the ground, it looked like a claret coloured arm was thrown, prompting a brief scuffle involving several players. After a commitee meeting of the officials, which seemd to last an age, Britton received his second yellow, and a couple of Northampton players were cautioned. It was down the far end, so I'm going to play the Arsene Wenger card and say that I didn't see it that well, but initial reports say that Britton's booking was harsh to say the least. The resulting free kick was put over the bar by Trundle, and we never threatened again. Northampton are a mediocre side and were there for the taking today, but apart from a good spell in the first half, we didn't look capable of bossing the game. I think Pratley's injury proved to be a big blow. He's the kind of player who seems to be able to put a foot on the ball and get our central midfield moving forward. Today there was too much head tennis, and the MacDonald/Tudur-Jones combination provided no authority and little positive momentum. And of course, the set-piece failings are still there. How long have we suffered from that now? 18 months? For a defence coached by a former international defender, that's appalling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northampton: Bunn, Bojic, Chambers, Doig, Crowe, Jess, Taylor, Hunt, Burnell (Watt 86), McGleish, Quinn (Kirk 73). Subs Not Used: Dunn, Dyche, Gilligan. Booked: McGleish, Bojic, Doig, Chambers, Crowe. Goals: Chambers 55. Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Iriekpen, Lawrence, Williams, Britton, MacDonald (Jones 71), Tudur-Jones, Robinson, Trundle, Fallon (Akinfenwa 59). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Austin, Butler. Sent Off: Britton (90). Booked: Tate, Iriekpen, Britton. Att: 5,444 Ref: P Crossley (Kent). | |
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