Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town
SKY BET LEAGUE 2
Saturday August 31st, 3.00pm
Memorial Stadium
BRISTOL ROVERS 1
Tom Lockyer 2
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 5,695 (299 Cobblers fans)
Bristol Rovers: Steve Mildenhall, Michael Smith, Tom Parkes, Mark McChrystal, Lee Brown, Tom Lockyer, Oliver Norburn, John-Joe O'Toole, Ellis Harrison, David Clarkson (sub Eliot Richards 83), Ryan Brunt (sub Matt Harrold 28).
Subs not used: Conor Gough, Garry Kenneth, Matt Gill, Mitch Harding, Alefe Santos
Cobblers: Matt Duke, Ben Tozer, Kevin Amankwaah (sub Ivan Toney 86), Lee Collins, Matt Heath, Chris Hackett, Gary Deegan, Darren Carter, Ishmel Demontagnac (sub Jacob Blyth 72), Roy O’Donovan, Clive Platt
Subs not used: Dean Snedker, JJ Hooper, Connor Roberts, Matty Harriott
Referee: Mr M Haywood
Booked:
Bristol Rovers: Ellis Harrison (53)
Cobblers: Chris Hackett (42, 1st of the season), Gary Deegan (55, 3rd), Clive Platt (63, 1st), Matt Heath (68, 2nd), Darren Carter (77, 1st), Roy O'Donovan (81, 1st)
5 cautions on or before 31 December; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Bristol Rovers: none
Cobblers: Roy O'Donovan (90, 1 match ban, misses MK)
Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
The Cobblers were without Joe Widdowson (hamstring), Ian Morris (groin) and Danny Emerton (illness) for the trip to Bristol Rovers. Matt Heath, Chris Hackett, Ishmel Demontagnac and Clive Platt all came into the side with Jacob Blyth dropping to the bench where he was joined by new signing Matty Harriott.
Bristol Rovers took the lead in just the 2nd minute, Tom Lockyer with a header from inside the six-yard box from a left wing cross.
Steve Mildenhall tipped away a Clive Platt header as the Cobblers responded well to falling behind.
There was a strong shout for a Cobblers penalty on 38 minutes when Matt Heath appeared to be tugged back in the area from a Platt knockdown but the referee said no.
There was another strong appeal for a penalty just a few minutes later when Chris Hackett appeared to be fouled, however the referee again disagreed and booked the Cobblers winger for diving.
After a quiet start to the second half John-Joe O'Toole and Roy O'Donovan traded half chances for either side.
Jacob Blyth came on for Ishmel Demontagnac in the Cobblers first change.
O'Donovan became the sixth Cobblers player to be booked before Ivan Toney replaced Kevin Amankwaah for the final few minutes.
Chris Hackett was denied by the woodwork on 89 minutes, his beautifully curled free-kick on the edge of the area cannoning against the inside of the post and away to safety.
Toney had a shot on goal in stoppage time but the youngster couldn't keep his effort down and Rovers hung on to claim the narrowest of victories.
To make matters worse O'Donovan picked up a second yellow card deep into injury time to ensure Town ended the contest with ten men.
BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 4
CORNERS: (0) 1
FOULS: (7) 14
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 4
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (1) 3
FOULS: (4) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta.
Subscribe to our official YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/officiallyntfc