Northampton Town 2 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

In a match that started in frantic fashion, Walsall took the lead after just 70 seconds when Erhun Oztumer tapped into an empty net following some calamitous goalkeeping from David Cornell.

The Cobblers levelled just four minutes later when Chris Long nodded in from close range.

And the striker put his side into the lead just before half-time with a crisp low drive from 25-yards.

From that point the game proved flat and uneventful. But that all changed in stoppage time when Amadou Bakayoko was given a straight red for a late lunge of Matt Crooks. The midfielder was then given a second yellow card for his reaction to the tackle.

When naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney kept faith with the team that secured victory over high-flying Scunthorpe last weekend.

Sticking with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Zeli Ismail started on the right wing, with Kieron Morris on the left and Erhun Oztumer in the number 10 role. Ama Bakayoko was the lone front man.

In keeping with the festive season, Northampton lined up in a 4-3-2-1 system – also known as the Christmas Tree – with Long leading the line and Matt Crooks and John-Joe O’Toole operating just behind.

The Cobblers entered the clash with boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink having demanded a response from his players after they were thumped 5-1 by Oldham last Saturday.

Yet they found themselves a goal down after just 40 seconds following some truly calamitous defending from goalkeeper David Cornell.

After Liam Kinsella had played the ball forward, the keeper needlessly charged out of his box despite Aaron Pierre being in control of proceedings.

And the glovesman’s arrival caused the defender to hesitate with Bakayoko then doing brilliantly to nip in, win the ball and then square for Oztumer to tap home.

Incredibly, just three minutes later, Northampton were level.

Sam Foley’s cross was met in the box by O’Toole but his header was brilliantly parried away by Mark Gillespie. But the ball dropped kindly for Long who nodded in from close range.

The Cobblers – and Cornell in particular – were looking very nervy with the Saddlers coming close to retaking the lead in the 15th minute.

Kieron Morris did well to weave his way into the box and past two defenders before prodding the ball towards goal.

And his effort somehow slipped under Cornell but fortunately for the home side David Buchanan had positioned himself on the goal line and was able to clear.

Whitney’s men were in control of proceedings but they were dealt a blow midway through the half when Flo Cuvelier came off in some pain following a late challenge by Crooks.

Joe Edwards replaced the Belgian midfielder.

Hasselbaink’s men had only scored six goals at home all season, but they took the lead against the run of play in the 41st minute with Long again doing the damage.

After collecting the ball in space on the edge of the box, the striker turned before unleashing a fizzing low drive which crept past Gillespie and into the net.

Buoyed by the goal, the Cobblers started the second half on the front foot with the home side enjoying a lot of possession inside the Saddlers half.

But as the clock ticked past the hour mark, neither side were creating anything of note with the ball seemingly stuck in midfield.

Whitney responded by switching Daniel Agyei for Morris.

It was the Cobblers who threatened next though with Matt Grimes trying to catch out Gillespie with a quick free-kick but the keeper did well to scramble across his goal and parry the ball away.

Walsall responded with Luke Leahy fizzing a volley wide from 25-yards. Then after Ismail had been fouled on the right, Oztumer sent a free-kick straight into the arms of Cornell.

With the fourth official indicating four minutes of stoppage time, Walsall pressed for an equaliser.

But the game then descended into chaos when the ball slipped under Cornell allowing Jon Guthrie to gain possession and hit the byline.

The defender sent the ball into the six-yard box but there was nobody on hand to tap it home with Crooks collecting the loose ball.

Frustrated, Bakayoko then slid in and completely took the defender out with referee Charles Breakspear having little option but to show a red card.

Crooks then picked up a second yellow of his own for dissent, such was his fury at the challenge.

Key moments

2 Goal Walsall! Amadou Bakayoko pounces on a dreadful defensive mix-up between Aaron Pierre and David Cornell. The striker then squares for Erhun Oztumer to side-foot home.

5 Goal Northampton! Sam Foley’s cross is met by John-Joe O’Toole whose header is well saved by Mark Gillespie. But the ball falls for Chris Long to nod in from close range.

16 Kieron Morris works his way into the box and past two defenders. He then prods an effort towards goal which David Buchanan clears off the line.

26 Oztumer's free-kick is collected by Bakayoko who then fires a low shot across Cornell and wide of the far post.

28 Mark Gillespie's long free-kick is flicked on by Bakayoko to Zeli Ismail, who powerfully curls over the bar.

32 Luke Leahy trades passes with Bakayoko before firing over.

40 Foley's deflected shot, from 30-yards, is easily held by Gillespie.

41 Goal Northampton! Foley turns smartly on the edge of the box before drilling a low right-footed shot beyond Gillespie.

70 Matt Grimes tried to catch out Gillespie with a quick free-kick but the keeper does well to get across and parry the ball away.

75 Luke Leahy fizzes a strike wide from 25-yards.

78 Crooks sees a shot blocked on the edge of the area, the loose ball falls for Long but his strike is blocked by James Wilson for a corner.

91 Jon Guthrie hits the byline and sends in low cross but nobody is there to tap it home.

91 Bakayoko is sent off for a late challenge on Crooks.

92 Crooks is also sent off for dissent.

Teams

Northampton: Cornell, Moloney, Taylor, Pierre, Buchanan, Grimes, Crooks, McGugan (McGivern 95), Foley, O'Toole, Long (Poole 96).

Subs not used: Coddington, Smith, McWilliams, Waters, Richards.

Walsall: Gillespie, Leahy, Guthrie, Wilson, Kinsella (Devlin 82), Chambers, Cuvelier (Edwards 23), Ismail, Oztumer, Morris (Agyei 65), Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Ganley, K. Roberts, Flanagan, Jackson.