Football is a funny old game. Except, if you're a Rochdale fan making your way back up to Lancashire at this moment in time. A few facts that have been banded about recently include Notts' defence being the meanest in all the leagues, Steve Cotterill is yet to lose in charge of Notts County and Rochdale have not been promoted since the invention of the wheel.
Today, Cotterill took his Magpies side to Sixfields to face the other inform team in League Two; Northampton Town. The Cobblers got turned over at Meadow Lane earlier in the season 5-2 but a lot has changed since then including the managers job at both clubs. Ian Sampson has guided the Cobblers from mid-table obscurity to play-off hopefuls whilst Steve Cotterill has turned County from free-flowing, promotion candidates to stubborn title favourites. Neither team had lost since February, so this was always going to be a close one.
Northampton were missing top scorer Akinfenwa, whilst their counterparts welcomed back John Thompson and Johnnie Jackson who was named amongst the substitutes.
The Cobblers dominated the first half with their dogged determination and desire to win the ball. These endeavours resulted in Northampton having 6 first half corners and the best chance of the half; a one-on-one situation between Steve Guinan and Kasper Schemiechel with the Notts 'keeper getting the upper hand and saving with his foot. A stubborn Notts defence restricted the rest of Northampton's chances to long-distance shots and corners. Meanwhile, at the other end an ineffective Luke Rodgers (who must surely have his eye on New York already) failed to combine with Lee Hughes and muster a shot to trouble Cobblers 'keeper, Steele.
Rodgers was replaced at half-time for cult-hero Delroy 'the face' Facey whose impact on the game must not be undervalued. Suddenly, Notts had an outlet - one who could hold the ball up instead of simply letting it bounce off him. A ball straight into the Cobblers' area at the start of the second half led to a defensive blunder by Craig Hinton; allowing Ben Davies to take control of the ball and place it into the far corner with his left foot for his 14th of the campaign.
The lead was nearly short-lived as a Guttridge shot found its way goal-bound after Schmeichel failed to punch away successfully. Fortunately, Graeme Lee spared the Danish star and managed to hack the ball away and keep the score at 1-0.
Notts could have doubled the lead after brilliant work from Delroy Facey down the left who managed to get a cross off and straight onto Hughes' head, but the County top scorer was unfortunate to see his header hit Steele and with the rebound Hughes, once again; found Steele in his way. Notts managed to hold out for a vital 3 points as fellow title-chasers Rochdale capitulated away to Torquay and were hit for 5 without reply. Notts are now 3 points closer to Dale and the title.
You pies!
Custom Search