COBBLERS BOSS LEFT RED-FACED
CHRIS Wilder revealed his embarrassment at Northampton’s first-half showing after they were put to the sword by Burton Albion.
The title-chasing Brewers blew Northampton away and led 3-0 at the break thanks to a Zander Diamond own goal and strikes from Phil Edwards and Lucas Akins.
Lawson D’Ath gave the shellshocked Cobblers brief hope with a superb solo goal on 54 minutes but Burton comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to leave them needing to match Shrewsbury’s result on the final day to lift the League Two title.
“I am very disappointed by our performance,” fumed Northampton boss Wilder. “We wanted to give Burton a game and we did not do that.
“We gifted them a goal and gave them a start which they didn’t need.
“We got a response in the second half which we needed because they embarrassed me and the fans in the first half.
“We have had a good second half of the season, but today was not good enough. Burton were better than us and wanted it more .They showed why they have been promoted.”
Burton hit the front after four minutes when Diamond diverted Stuart Beavon’s cross into his own goal after Beavon had charged down Shwan Jalal’s clearance.
Beavon nearly made it 2-0 on 15 minutes when he burst through on goal before being denied by a smart save from Jalal.
Beavon headed just over on 15 min- utes before Akins had a goal ruled out for offside on 22 minutes as the Burton onslaught continued.
Edwards made it 2-0 on 30 minutes after Northampton switched off from Nasser El Khayati’s corner before Akins converted the penalty he had won on 41 minutes after he had been fouled by Jason Taylor to make it 3-0.
D’Ath gave the Cobblers hope on 54 minutes when he controlled the ball beautifully on his chest before thundering an unstoppable volley past Jon McLaughlin.
Tom Naylor lashed a fierce effort just wide on 67 minutes while Marc Richards skied a free-kick out of the stadium to sum up a miserable day as Northampton’s outside hopes of the play-offs were ended.
“We came out looking sharp and passed the ball well,” said Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. “I thought we were very good in the first half and clinical, which is what you need to be.
“We have been very good at home this season and have always looked to put teams on the back foot. It is something we will need to do next season.
“I am very pleased with the performance. Northampton are a good team and came back at us in the second half. “Once we got back to understanding what they were about, we dug in and saw the game out comfortably. The level of professionalism was very pleasing.”