Northampton Town host Fleetwood Town in matchday 15 of League One on Tuesday 1st December, 7:45pm at Sixfields Stadium. The hosts currently sit in 17th place in the table having drawn against Rochdale 1-1 last time out, while the visitors are in 7th after their 1-1 draw against Sunderland.

Rochdale 1 Northampton 1

Stephen Humphrys rescued a point for Rochdale with a stunning 85th-minute free-kick in a 1-1 draw against Northampton.

Keith Curle’s side looked on course for victory having led 1-0 since the 20th minute when Harry Smith climbed to meet Mark Marshall’s corner with a towering header which ripped into the roof of Jay Lynch’s net.

Dale pushed for a leveller and went close when Alex Newby had a free-kick saved by Jonathan Mitchell, while Humphrys fired another set-piece narrowly wide of the upright.

But, for all Dale’s first-half possession, Northampton could have had a second when Smith met a Marshall cross from the left but undercooked his header and Lynch was able to make the save.

The introduction of Kwadwo Baah gave Dale greater impetus and he was pivotal in their equaliser, earning a free-kick on the apex of the penalty area. Humphrys rifled the set-piece into the top corner of Mitchell’s goal.

Smith went close again in time added on when he caught Lynch off his line and headed goalward, Eoghan O’Connell clearing the ball off the line.

Fleetwood 1 Sunderland 1

Callum Connolly scored his first goal since February as Fleetwood came from behind to draw with Sunderland.

The on-loan Everton defender bagged a 73rd-minute equaliser for the home side, who had found themselves behind to striker Charlie Wyke’s 59th-minute headed opener.

Connolly picked out the bottom right corner with a powerful strike after some good work from Callum Camps, with the point taking Fleetwood into the play-off places.

Earlier Camps struck the crossbar with a thunderous effort in the opening minute of the second half and Sunderland keeper Remi Matthews saved Paddy Madden’s shot on the rebound.

But the Black Cats were also good value in an entertaining encounter at Highbury.

Wyke headed wide of the right post from a Conor McLaughlin cross and Denver Hume forced a smart save from Fleetwood keeper Jayson Leutwiler.

Both sides had decent penalty shouts turned down. Sunderland when midfielder Josh Scowen went down in the box after a crunching challenge from Connolly, while Fleetwood’s Madden went flying after a strong tackle from Tom Flanagan.

Match reports supplied by PA Media.

Fleetwood 2 – Northampton 0

Fleetwood picked up their first home win since October as they beat fellow strugglers Northampton at the Highbury Stadium.

On paper the odds were stacked against John Sheridan’s side given Northampton’s unbeaten spree on the road in 2018 and Fleetwood’s last home win being against Oxford on October 28.

But a Kyle Dempsey strike and Cian Bolger’s close-range effort saw Sheridan make it five unbeaten with back-to-back wins now moving Fleetwood five points clear of the drop with eight games to go.

Fleetwood took the lead in the league at home for the first time since they lost 2-1 to Bradford on 1 January thanks to midfielder Dempsey’s first goal of the season.

New boss Sheridan has given his midfielders a license to attack and Toumani Diagouraga was instrumental in teeing up Dempsey for the 18th-minute opener.

Northampton threw bodies forward to try and find a way back.

But despite multiple set-pieces and a couple of chances for substitute Kevin Luckassen, fortune was not shining on Hasselbaink’s end in the attacking third.

Luck was with them in their own box, though, as the referee waved away Fleetwood’s strong penalty claim after Ash Taylor appeared to handle Bolger’s strike.

With the clock ticking down and Northampton pushing forward Fleetwood scored from their own set-piece.

Just seconds after Richard O’Donnell diverted Jordy Hiwula’s header round a post, Bolger capitalised on some woeful defending to thunder home a Bobby Grant corner from close range in the 83rd minute.

Games won: 3

Games drawn: 1

Games lost: 5

Northampton Town signed central defender Cian Bolger from Lincoln City in August 2020.

The 6ft 3in Irishman has a wealth of League 1 experience. He began his career at Leicester City and spent two years successfully out on loan at Bristol Rovers before joining Bolton Wanderers in January 2013. Further loan spells were forthcoming at Colchester United and Southend United followed before he joined the latter on a permanent basis in August 2014. A move to Fleetwood Town followed in the summer of 2016, and in two and a half years at Highbury he made 108 appearances and scored 13 goals. He moved to Lincoln City in the January 2019 transfer window and played 50 times for the Red Imps in a season and a half.

Read more in the matchday program.

Luke Guttridge struck the second-half winner as Northampton scraped through to the FA Cup second round after beating plucky Fleetwood at Sixfields.

Fleetwood created the better chances early on, but Guttridge got the opener when he turned in John Johnson’s cross.

Sean Clancy deservedly equalised in the 41st minute, drilling the ball home from a tight angle.

But Guttridge restored the hosts’ lead with a fine free-kick and Northampton held off Fleetwood’s late rally.

James Adcock

He qualified as a referee in 2000, aged 16, following in his father’s footsteps, who also officiated on the EFL. Adcock was appointed to the EFL as an assistant referee in 2008 and to the National List of Referees in 2011-12. He had also previously worked as a PE teacher at a secondary school for nine years.

So far this season James has referred -0 games giving a total of 19 yellow cards and 2 red cards.

His last Cobblers match was 3-0 win over Blackpool in 2015.

The EFL have introduced a change to the way season ticket holders watch home league matches via the iFollow streaming service.

All season ticket holders will have access to watch the Fleetwood Town game on Tuesday on iFollow.

To check….

1. Log in to iFollow
2. Click your name in the top navigation bar to get to the ‘My Account page’
3. Click the + sign next to ‘Purchased Packages’

If you have access, you will see ‘Season Ticket – Northampton Town’ listed here.

Northampton have won 45% of their last 20 home league games and Fleetwood have lost 40% of their last 20 away league games.

The last time Fleetwood won away in the league was 1 game ago against Bristol R. The last time Northampton lost a home league game was 1 match ago against Accrington.

Northampton last kept a clean sheet at home 2 games ago, and have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 20 home games. Fleetwood last failed to score away in the league 4 games ago and have missed the net in 4 of their last 20 away league games.

Of the 9 league games Northampton has won at home, they scored first 9 times. Of the 8 away games Fleetwood has lost, they conceded first 6 times.