Tyrese Fornahplaceholder image
Tyrese Fornah
Cobblers put in a valiant performance that perhaps deserved more when beaten 3-1 by new League One leaders Cardiff City at a very wet Sixfields on Saturday.
Town trailed to Joel Colwill’s early goal at half-time but the scoreline was the only negative of an otherwise excellent first half for Kevin Nolan’s side, who caused untold problems for Cardiff without reward.
The half-time shot count – eight to three – reflected the home team's superiority and their leveller finally arrived shortly after the break through a fine individual goal by Ethan Wheatley, but the on-loan Manchester United forward went from hero to zero in the space of three minutes when inadvertently diverting a corner into his own net.
Even then, Cobblers had chances to take a point, the best of which fell to Elliott List late on but he failed to convert when through one-one-one and then Chis Willow’s terrific finish in stoppage-time ensured Cardiff would return to the League One summit.
Wheatley and Tom Eaves started together in attack for the first time this season while Dean Campbell and Michael Forbes both returned from injury. Max Dyche was also back on the bench but Cameron McGeehan did not feature in the squad, and with Sam Hoskins still absent through injury, Terry Taylor wore the armband.
Cobblers made a bright start and were close to a third-minute opener as Cardiff failed to clear their lines and Eaves saw a shot blocked before Jack Perkins blazed over at the back post.
But the visitors also signalled their intent with a couple of dangerous moments, and one of those led to an eighth-minute opener. It was a bit too easy for Ronan Kpakio to find Colwill in much space inside the box and he finished well into the far bottom corner, though Ross Fitzsimons did get a hand on it.
However, whilst Cardiff were slick in attack, they constantly looked vulnerable at the back and Cobblers almost had a quick response when Perkins knocked down a long ball and Eaves was so unlucky to hit the post after a smart turn and shot.
The home side’s energy and pressing was too much for Cardiff at times, and set-pieces were also an area of joy, as underlined by Forbes who rose well to meet Taylor’s corner but powered his header wide.
Cobblers remained very much in the ascendency up until half-time and all that was lacking was an end product with Perkins next to go close, his well-struck drive beaten away by a diving Nathan Trott.
The second half started more evenly but few could begrudge Northampton their equaliser when it came 12 minutes after the break. Wheatley deservedly scored it, racing away down the left, driving infield and thumping into the top corner.
Town were back on level terms for just three minutes though as Cardiff hit back in rather comical fashion. A corner delivered from the right should have been dealt with but Wheatley got his clearance all wrong and sliced into his own net.
That knocked the wind out of the home side’s sails somewhat and they were fortunate not to be further behind after Ryan Wintle was left unmarked at the back post but his header was smuggled off the line.
Nolan called for List and Kamarai Swyer with 20 minutes to go but Cardiff were able to exert more control in the second half than they had done in the first and as a result Cobblers struggled to wrestle back the initiative until the final 10 minutes when a succession of chances came and went.
Wheatley saw two shots blocked in quick succession and he was then denied by Trott before List missed the best chance of all to snatch a leveller, brilliantly kept out by Cardiff’s goalkeeper having been played through one-on-one by Wheatley.
Dyche was sent on up front for the seven minutes of additional time but the game was done halfway through that thanks to an excellent counter-attacking goal, Willock curling a delightful finish into the top corner to take Cardiff to the top of the table.
Cobblers: Fitzsimons, McCarthy, Thorniley, Forbes, Burroughs (Dyche 90), Perkins, Campbell, Taylor ©, Fornah (Swyer 72), Wheatley, Eaves (List 72)
Subs not used: Burge, Willis, Dyche, Edwards, Jacobs
Cardiff: Trott, Kapkio, Chambers ©, Fish (Osho 81), Bagan, Wintle, J Colwill (Robertson 58), R Colwill (Turnbull 20), Kellyman (Ng 58), Davies (Willock 58), Salech
Subs not used: Turner, Robinson
Referee: Neil Hair
Attendance: 7,151
Cardiff fans: 1,525
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