Saturday 9 February 2008

Cobblers fight back to force a draw at Sixfields

Northampton Town: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman, Little, Hughes, Johnson, Holt, Hayes, Gilligan, Hubertz, Burnell. Subs: Gyepes, Coke, Akinfenwa, Henderson, Dunn.

Leeds United: Ankergran, Kenton, Marques, Michalik, Sheehan, Prutton, Hughes, Howson, Johnson, Beckford, Kandol. Subs: Heath, Sweeney, Flo, Lucas, Elding.

Referee: Steve Tanner.

The fast flowing and exiciting first half was dominated by Leeds United who showed some of the determination and confidence they had started the season with but had lost in recent weeks.

Northampton Town, a much improved side since their visit to Elland Road on 5th January, took longer to settle down but improved as the half went on.

United went ahead after 37 minutes when Jonathan Howson volled in, from 12 yards, a pass by Bradley Johnson, 0-1.

It was United who started the second half slowly and it wasn't until the 69th minute when a chance came. Beckford shot wide from 20 yards.

Johnson, who had done little since his assist for Howson's goal was replaced by Peter Sweeney in the 70th minute.

Leeds were simply not trying and they paid the price in the 75th minute when Cobbler's substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa sent the ball into the back of the net from six yards, 1-1.

The goal fired up United and they began to pass the ball about with more effort. Tore Andre Flo came on for David Prutton in the 79th minute but a goal would not come. Sweeney had a 35 yard shot saved in the 88th minute and wasted another chance with a weak free kick from 25 yards in extra time.

With only 15 games to go, United need to play the full 90 minutes not just the first 45. Gary McAllister now has until Tuesday, when United face Nottingham Forest at Elland Road, to get the promotion challenge back on track. The leaders are getting further and further away.

Attendance 7260 (1268 Leeds).

Northampton Town 1 Leeds United 1

No comments: