The Cobblers will be aiming to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fleetwood when they host Doncaster Rovers at their Sixfields Stadium. The Cobblers have been producing fine displays in the League One of late, and, no doubt, they are high on confidence ahead of the visit of Doncaster Rovers. The Donny, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from an expected loss at Hull City.
When
Northampton 1 – Fleetwood 0
Cian Bolger’s first goal for Northampton secured his side only a second home win of the season – a hard-fought 1-0 victory over in-form Fleetwood.
The visitors quickly asserted themselves as the dominant force at Sixfields, with Callum Camps and Sam Finley dragging wide of the target from the edge of the penalty box
Ched Evans went closer still when shooting into the side-netting after getting behind the defence, before his free-kick was well-saved by Steve Arnold.
Northampton did not have a chance of note in the first half, but within three minutes of the restart they were ahead. Nicky Adams delivered a pinpoint corner and Bolger timed his run to perfection to head home.
Fleetwood struggled to repeat their first-half dominance after the break but it was all one-way traffic in the final 15 minutes and they so nearly levelled when Finley dragged just wide.
That was to be their only real chance, however, as Northampton defended stoutly and clung on.
Hull 2 – Doncaster 1
Tom Eaves’ late goal earned League One leaders Hull victory at home to Doncaster.
The substitute cashed in on Joe Lumley’s bad fumble off Richie Smallwood’s deflected strike to poke the ball home with three minutes remaining.
Hull had taken a deserved lead after 26 minutes when Josh Magennis’ powerful free-kick had too much pace for Lumley.
Doncaster were fortunate not to have conceded a second 10 minutes later when Greg Doherty’s rising strike struck a post – with Hakeeb Adelakun’s follow-up cleared off the line by Joe Wright.
Hull manager Grant McCann also felt his team should have had a 55th-minute penalty against his former employers, but Mallik Wilks was instead booked for diving after a collision with Lumley.
The visitors were the better side for long periods of the second half and showed plenty of spirit to equalise when substitute Tyreece John-Jules swept home Josh Sims’ right-wing cross after 81 minutes.
But Eaves had the final word with the winning goal just two minutes after replacing Magennis from the bench.
Match report supplied by PA Media
Doncaster 3 Northampton 0
Doncaster earned consecutive League One wins for the first time this season as they comfortably saw off struggling Northampton.
Veteran midfielder James Coppinger marked his return from injury with a goal before Niall Mason scored his second penalty in as many games to give Rovers a cushion at half-time. Andy Butler made sure of the three points just after the hour mark.
Butler, Ben Whiteman and Tommy Rowe all went close to giving Doncaster the lead before Coppinger did, bundling in from close range in the 33rd minute after John Marquis and Alfie May both had efforts saved.
Northampton were rather toothless throughout but Shaun McWilliams drew a fine low save from Ian Lawlor.
Moments later, Matt Grimes clipped Marquis from behind in the box and Mason drilled home the penalty to make it 2-0 on 43 minutes.
Doncaster were comfortable after the break with Northampton struggling to threaten.
And they put the game to bed in the 66th minute when Butler forced the ball home after a Mathieu Baudry header was cleared off the line.
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Games won: 18
Games drawn: 10
Games lost: 21
John joined his local club, Millwall, in 2010 but struggled to establish himself in the first team. He had several loan spells, including helping Northampton Town gain promotion from League Two in 2015-16.
In July 2016 he signed for Rovers and went on to become Rovers’ most prolific goal scorer since the 1970s. He contributed 26 League goals in his debut season, the best return since Laurie Sheffield in 1965-66 as Rovers secured promotion from League Two.
A passionate and dynamic centre-forward, he scored a further 21 League goals in 2018-19, helping the club to reach the League One play-offs. His three FA Cup goals were also an important part of a run which took Rovers to the Fifth Round for only the fifth time in their history.
His record of 67 goals in 153 senior appearances put him 7th on Rovers all-time scorers list. He is now with Portsmouth.
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
Graham Salisbury will be the man in charge when Rovers head to the Cobblers on Saturday.
His last cobblers game was 4-1 win over Morecambe in January 2020.The game saw no yellow cards.
So far this season, Salisbury has taken charge of 10 matches handing out 34 yellow cards and no reds.
On Saturday, he will assisted by Garry Maskell and Gregory Read. Darren Wilding will be the fourth official.
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 not attending the game will have access to watch the Doncaster Rovers game on Saturday 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 four of their last five home games against Doncaster in the Football League, losing the other 0-2 in December 2006.
- Doncaster are looking to win back-to-back Football League meetings with Northampton for the first time since December 2006.
- Northampton are unbeaten in three league games (W2 D1), and are looking for back-to-back league wins (excluding play-offs) for the first time since February last season.
- Doncaster are without a win in three away league outings (D1 L2), and could lose consecutive such matches on the road for the first time since February last season.
