A point gained for Northampton as Doncaster unable to close the gap on the automatic promotion places

It was an afternoon of missed chances and direct football that could have seen either side take the three points at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Northampton’s main aim as they headed into this League One campaign was to simply survive in the division and ensure that they have a place in the third tier for the 2021-22 season.

After the sacking of Keith Curle just one day after their 1-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic, everything could have gone south as the Cobblers were left in the hands of under 18’s boss Jon Brady with the assistance of Ian Sampson and Marc Richards.

Doncaster were left in the same position at the start of March with their now ex-manager Darren Moore leaving the position and joining Sheffield Wednesday as their new manager with the Owls looking to survive in the Championship.

Ex-Rovers player Andy Butler has taken the hot seat at the Keepmoat Stadium as he looks to deliver a second Play-Off campaign in the space of three seasons.

Since the sacking of Curle, Brady and co were able to deliver only eight points in the space of eight league matches keeping them one point above the drop zone as they headed into the fixture against Doncaster.

With Rovers, Moore left them without a win in six consecutive League One matches and only managing to pick up one point out of a possible 18.

Butler took charge and turned the tide with back-to-back wins against Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle, keeping the South Yorkshire side within touching distance of the automatic places in League One.

The game between the two was very scrappy as long ball after long ball was played forward looking for the wingers so either side.

None of them were able to get a grip on proceedings in the first-half and the second-half looked identical to what happened in the first 45.

Doncaster looked to gain possession and tried to work that lion share of holding the ball into something much more than just a long ball and a tame shot which was either saved by Jonathan Mitchell in the Northampton goal or it would come to nothing.

The visitors committed 18 fouls in the whole match as they forced referee Tom Nield to create a stop/start encounter instead of a free-flowing game which favoured the Cobblers.

The best chance of the game probably fell to Northampton, but they were masters of their own downfall as Ryan Watson stopped the ball from crossing the line.

The midfielder lay on the goal-line and stopped the ball with his back as Doncaster were able to eventually clear the danger.

Shots were wayward apart from that for Northampton as they only mustered up one shot on target – both sides only generating six shots on goal out of the 18 taken between the teams.

The Cobblers will definitely take the point away from home as relegation-battling AFC Wimbledon and Rochdale picked up points in vital encounters for the bottom four against tough opponents.

The gap between 19th placed Bristol Rovers and bottom of the pile Wimbledon is three points as six League One sides including Northampton fight for survival.

Doncaster meanwhile were able to stay in fifth position, with Ipswich closing the gap to two points.

Six points separate 10th place Gillingham and Doncaster who sit in fifth as wins will be crucial if the South Yorkshire side are to get promoted into the Championship.

Runaway leaders, Hull City, are now six points clear of Peterborough but have played three more league fixtures than the Posh.

With games in hand on teams above, Butler’s men must take their chances and win games against the bottom sides of the League One table if they are to get promoted to the second tier.

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