CARLING CUP ROUND ONE
Tuesday August 14th, 7.45pm
Sixfields
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NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Bradley JOHNSON 38, Andy KIRK 62
MILLWALL 0
Attendance: 2,382 (228 away fans)
Cobblers: Mark BUNN, Jason CROWE, Danny JACKMAN (sub Daniel JONES 75), Mark HUGHES, Chris DOIG, Ian HENDERSON, Ryan GILLIGAN, Bradley JOHNSON*, Andy HOLT, Andy KIRK (sub Colin LARKIN 73), Poul HUBERTZ (sub Brett JOHNSON 68).
Substitutes not used: Chris DUNN, Joe BURNELL.
Millwall: Chris DAY, Danny SENDA, Andy FRAMPTON, Danny SPILLER, Paul ROBINSON, Alan DUNNE, Gary ALEXANDER (sub Scott BARRON 74), Neil HARRIS, Ryan SMITH, Ben MAY, Zak WHITBREAD.
Substitutes not used: Zoumana BAKAYOGO, Preston EDWARDS, Neal ARDLEY, Richard SHAW.
Referee: Mr M Russell
* SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH
Booked:
Cobblers: Ian HENDERSON 85 (1st of season), Mark BUNN 90 (1st)
Millwall: Zak WHITBREAD 37, Ryan SMITH 76
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:
Cobblers: none
Millwall: 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 welcomed Millwall to Sixfields for this Carling Cup first round tie. The hot weather for the Swindon game had been replaced by a wet and windy evening as the two sides embarked on the first of the 2007/2008 cup competitions. Poul Hubertz made his first start for the club against his former employers, coming in to replace Colin Larkin who dropped to the bench.
The Danish striker was sent sprawling to the turf in the 2nd minute after a very heavy challenge from Zak Whitbread that looked very much like a foul, but the referee saw nothing wrong.
Mark Bunn made a fine 11th minute stop, going down low to push a drive from Ryan Smith round the post. From the resulting corner, Zak Whitbread sent his effort over the bar under pressure from a number of defenders.
Andy Kirk fired a 20th minute shot over Chris Day's cross bar after a positive run from Ian Henderson had created the opportunity, while Jason Crowe's speculative effort flew wide of the near post on 29 minutes.
Zak Whitbread was booked when his handball denied Andy Kirk a goalscoring opportunity just outside the Millwall area on 37 minutes. After the wall had been moved back, Bradley Johnson sent in a powerful free kick that was dropped by keeper Chris Day, the ball falling just beyond the keeper, against the cross bar but also crucially, over the line according to the assistant referee.
Ian Henderson curled a shot wide from distance 3 minutes before the break, while at the other end Mark Bunn did well to parry an effort from Andy Frampton, the ball being put behind for a corner by Mark Hughes under pressure from Gary Alexander to ensure the Cobblers led at half time.
Neil Harris had an effort deflected behind in the opening moments of the second half, while from the resulting corner Mark Bunn saved a rasping drive from Ryan Smith.
Bunn then beat away a long range free kick from Danny Spiller, while at the other end Hubertz twice saw efforts blocked in a spell of Cobblers pressure.
Chris Day went down low to save a drive from Ryan Gilligan, before the Cobblers lead was doubled, Poul Hubertz doing very well to deliver an inch perfect cross for Andy Kirk to head beyond Day from close range.
Kirk came close to a second goal for him and a third for the Cobblers on 67 minutes, getting in between the Millwall central defenders and firing in a low drive that beat Day but rebounded back off the inside of the post.
Stuart Gray made his first change on 68 minutes with Brett Johnson replacing Hubertz, the Danish striker leaving the field to a standing ovation.
Colin Larkin came on for Andy Kirk, who also left to a standing ovation, before a flowing Cobblers move ended with Ian Henderson sending a finish beyond Chris Day, but the offside flag cut short the celebrations.
The changes continued with Scott Barron replacing Gary Alexander for Millwall, while for the Cobblers, Daniel Jones replaced Danny Jackman.
Ryan Smith was booked for hauling back Daniel Jones on 76 minutes, before Whitbread, forward for a set play, headed just wide for Millwall.
Ian Henderson was cautioned for impeding a goal kick on 85 minutes and then drove wide when clear on goal on 89.
Mark Bunn was booked for timewasting in injury time, but in the end it did not matter, Northampton Town were safely in the hat for round 2 of the Carling Cup.
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 7
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (10) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4
MILLWALL MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (3) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (4) 9
CORNERS: (3) 11
FOULS: (11) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
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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