All square at Sixfields

admin

The League One high-fliers will be the happier of the two sides having played for most of the tie with only 10 players.

Rochdale started brightly with Ian Henderson firing wide and Michael Rose testing goalkeeper Matt Duke. But former Cobblers striker Henderson got a straight red card in the 16th minute for kicking out Ben Tozer.

Despite the setback, Rochdale dominated the first half and created good chances with Matt Lund off target and Matt Done just unable to convert from close range following another good move.

Rochdale went close as the interval approached when Stephen Dawson almost caught out Duke following a poor clearance but his 35 yard lob beat the keeper and hit the bar.

Northampton were completely outplayed in the first half and failed to create a single chance. But shortly after the restart Emile Sinclair finally tested Conrad Logan and substitute Darren Carter’s effort was deflected just past the upright.

But Rochdale still looked the more likely of the two sides to break the deadlock and Duke had to tip over a header from the unmarked Oliver Lancashire.

Ivan Toney had Northampton’s best chances of getting through at the first attempt. He had a couple of headed chances, twice missing the target and then seeing Logan save his second attempt before firing wide late on.

In the closing stages Toney fired over the bar from close range following an excellent cross from Kaid Mohamed.

Both sides went for the winner late on, Cobblers substitute Alex Nicholls was denied by Logan and Ashley Eastham’s header hit the post in the final minute of normal time.

All square at Sixfields

admin

Aaron Mclean, Jon Stead and Adam Reach all missed good chances for the Bantams who had the better of the opportunities across the 90 minutes.

The first real chance of the game fell to Mclean, who found himself unmarked at the back post and his header forced Sky Blues keeper Joe Murphy into a superb save.

Stead had a great chance shortly after against his old club, but his powerful drive inside the area forced Murphy into action once more with the keeper getting a strong hand to the striker’s low drive.

After the break, Phil Parkinson’s men had another glaring opportunity when Kyle Bennett’s cross from the right was met by the unmarked Adam Reach but he headed against the bar.

All square at Sixfields

admin

Neither side did enough to take all three points in a dour contest but the Cobblers will have been happy to pick up only their fifth point of a frustrating campaign.

Northampton made a bright start and Ivan Toney went close several times on his full debut.

The young striker was twice off target with headers and also shot wide before he failed to turn home Chris Hackett’s cross-shot.

In between, Padraig Armond fired wide for Morecambe on the counter attack.

Morecambe finished the half on top, as Alex Kenyon tested Northampton keeper Matt Duke while the experienced Kevin Ellison fired wide before shooting over following a quick break.

Morecambe also made a better start after the break and twice went close to breaking the deadlock.

Former Cobbler Mark Hughes had his header hacked off the line by Darren Carter and Duke turned over the follow-up from Ellison.

At the other end, Toney was inches away from converting Roy O’Donovan’s low cross but Northampton failed to seriously mount a challenge in the second half of a largely forgettable affair.

All square at Sixfields

admin

Neither side did enough to take all three points in a dour contest but the Cobblers will have been happy to pick up only their fifth point of a frustrating campaign.

Northampton made a bright start and Ivan Toney went close several times on his full debut.

The young striker was twice off target with headers and also shot wide before he failed to turn home Chris Hackett’s cross-shot.

In between, Padraig Armond fired wide for Morecambe on the counter attack.

Morecambe finished the half on top, as Alex Kenyon tested Northampton keeper Matt Duke while the experienced Kevin Ellison fired wide before shooting over following a quick break.

Morecambe also made a better start after the break and twice went close to breaking the deadlock.

Former Cobbler Mark Hughes had his header hacked off the line by Darren Carter and Duke turned over the follow-up from Ellison.

At the other end, Toney was inches away from converting Roy O’Donovan’s low cross but Northampton failed to seriously mount a challenge in the second half of a largely forgettable affair.

All square at Sixfields

admin

The entertaining encounter is the second of City’s fixtures to take place at Sixfields, where the Sky Blues are groundsharing with Northampton, and follows a memorable opening 5-4 victory over Bristol City.

An attendance of 2,068 watched on on Sunday afternoon, only marginally down from that recorded against the Robins, and those Coventry fans present will certainly feel as though they are getting value for money at their temporary new home.

In a breathtaking game, Tom Clarke gave North End a 10th-minute lead when he volleyed home from a corner.

But Coventry set the tone for the rest of the game when they drew level in the 25th minute as Leon Clarke slotted home from close range.

Bailey Wright put Preston back in front from distance in the 64th minute but Callum Wilson made it 2-2 from six yards soon after.

Wilson put City into the lead for the first time with a great finish as late as the 83rd minute before Preston substitute Joel Byrom made it 3-3 just minutes later.

Chris Humphrey appeared to have won it in injury-time for Preston when everyone else stopped for what appeared to be a certain foul by Kevin Davies on Andy Webster.

Yet the Sky Blues still had one last push in them and when Cyrus Christie crossed from the right, Mathieu Manset flicked into the net to make it 4-4.