COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE
Tuesday December 4th, 7.45pm
Liberty Stadium
SWANSEA CITY 3
Jason SCOTLAND 16, 67 pen, Darren PRATLEY 19
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Attendance: 10,957 (116 Cobblers fans)
Swansea: Dorus de VRIES, Alan TATE, Ferrie BODDE, Leon BRITTON, Darren PRATLEY, Jason SCOTLAND (sub Guillem BAUZA 88), Marcos PAINTER (sub Kevin AUSTIN 90), Dennis LAWRENCE, Andy ROBINSON (sub Thomas BUTLER 65), Angel RANGEL, Paul ANDERSON
Substitutes not used: Andrea ORLANDI, Warren FEENEY
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Danny JACKMAN, Mark HUGHES, Guy BRANSTON, Andy KIRK, Colin LARKIN (sub Dean BOWDITCH 67), Ian HENDERSON, Bradley JOHNSON, Ryan GILLIGAN, Liam DOLMAN
Substitutes not used: Andy HOLT, Chris DUNN, Daniel JONES, Poul HUBERTZ
Referee: Mr S Cook
Booked:
Swansea: none
Cobblers: Danny JACKMAN (55, 1st of the season), Jason CROWE (78, 5th - misses FA Cup replay at Walsall), Bradley JOHNSON (89, 5th - misses FA Cup replay at Walsall)
5 cautions on or before 28 February; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 8 April; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Swansea: none
Cobblers: none
Sending offs: 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.
Northampton Town travelled to the impressive Liberty Stadium for this Coca-Cola League One fixture with Swansea City. Stuart Gray made two changes to the side that had drawn with Walsall in their 2nd round FA Cup tie, recalling on-loan defender Guy Branston in place of Andy Holt with Ian Henderson coming in for Poul Hubertz.
The Cobblers had the first chance of the night, but Mark Hughes header from Danny Jackman's 5th minute corner was held by Dorus de Vries. Moments later Jason Scotland headed wide at the other end from Paul Anderson's cross.
Heavy rain and a swirling wind was making life difficult for the players, but it was the home side who had the lead on 16 minutes. Jason Scotland appeared to bring the ball under control from Branston's clearance with his arm, but he was allowed to continue and fired a powerful shot home beyond Bunn.
That lead was doubled within a couple of minutes when Darren Pratley was in the right place to shoot home via the inside of the post from the edge of the area.
Andy Kirk was close to halving the deficit on 39 minutes, but his header from Jackman's corner was held by de Vries. At the other end Mark Bunn produced a fine save to deny Jason Scotland after the Swans striker had broken clear of the Cobblers defence.
Kirk had the ball in the net from Henderson's through ball in first half injury time only for the goal to be ruled out because of a marginal offside decision and the Cobblers left the field two goals down at the interval.
Ryan Gilligan drove wide of the target from 25 yards for the Cobblers on 47 minutes, before Andy Robinson 'scored' for the home side, but an offside flag cut short any celebrations.
Danny Jackman was booked after a trip on Pratley, before another Gilligan drive was deflected behind for a corner.
Mark Bunn made a very good stop to push away a powerful shot from Scotland on 63 minutes before Ferrie Bodde sent in a long range effort just wide. Andy Robinson was then replaced by Thomas Butler in Swansea's first change.
Bunn then did well to tip a curler from Anderson around the post, but the home side were awarded a penalty from the resulting corner for what the referee must have deemed as holding on Dennis Lawrence by Branston. Jason Scotland scored from the spot.
Dean Bowditch came on for Colin Larkin in the Cobblers first change, and the substitute soon had a shot from 18 yards deflected wide. Jason Crowe was booked on 78 minutes after catching Butler.
Paul Anderson broke through on 82 minutes only to be denied by Bunn, before Guillem Bauza came on for Scotland. Bradley Johnson then let his frustration get the better of him and was booked for dissent.
Kevin Austin them came on for Marcos Painter but by then the result was already settled in favour of the home side.
SWANSEA MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 9
CORNERS: (0) 5
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 7
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 9
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 1
CORNERS: (2) 6
FOULS: (5) 12
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (5) 5
The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by the Press Association.
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