Northampton and Derby draw competitive Cup tie

Northampton Town and Derby County could not be separated after a closely fought contest ended in a 0-0 draw at the PTS Academy Stadium.

In an engaging encounter played at a decent tempo, both sides had good chances but were left to rue a lack of killer instinct in the final third.

It was the home side who started on the front foot and five minutes in they created the first clear cut opportunity. Their first corner of the match caused Derby problems and a penalty box scramble ensued. The ball eventually ricocheted into the path of Vadaine Oliver, who, off balance, from six yards out, screwed a right foot shot goalwards and hit the top of the crossbar. 

Three minutes later and Oliver went close again as he rose highest to meet an inviting cross from Ryan Watson and headed it narrowly wide of the post.

With just under 15 minutes on the clock came arguably the turning point of the match. Derby threatened for the first time in the match and Jack Marriott found himself clean through on goal only to be cynically dragged down by Northampton captain Charlie Goode on the edge of the box. It was a blatant denial of a goalscoring opportunity but referee Darren England, who made his Premier League debut earlier this month, waved play on. 

With VAR not in use at non-Premier League grounds during this round of the Cup there was no chance for this mistake to be corrected and proved crucial with Goode going on to be named man of the match. He produced a commanding centre half display keeping Derby’s forward players relatively quiet.

This galvanised Derby though, who began to grow into the game and create chances of their own. Captain, Wayne Rooney, was the first to go close as his thirty yard goal bound effort was deflected behind for a corner before Jason Knight dragged a shot wide of the target. 

Northampton weren’t phased by Derby’s pressure though and carved out another good chance 25 minutes in as Goode hurled a long throw into the box which found its way to Williams whose turn and snap shot rippled the side netting.

Goode was in action at the other end a minute later as he blocked a fierce Chris Martin drive to keep the scores level.

The rest of the half passed without much incident, so much so that the fourth official felt no need to add any stoppage time on at the end of the half; something of a rarity in the game these days.

It was Derby who had the better chances of a less eventful second half with a low driven cross from Knight being fumbled wide by goalkeeper David Cornell and Curtis Davies unable to direct two free headers on target.

Northampton’s only notable chance of the second half fell to substitute Matt Warburton who curled a right footed shot wide of the left hand post following good work from the ever industrious Paul Anderson.

Chris Martin had the last chance of the game for Derby, in the dying seconds of added time, but he could only head a dangerous free-kick from Rooney high over the bar leaving the sides needing to do battle again in ten days’ time to decide who will progress to the fifth round.