MORRIS STRIKE STUNS JUSTIN
NEW Northampton boss Justin Edinburgh watched from the stands as they went down to promotion-chasing Scunthorpe thanks to a late wonder strike by Josh Morris.
Edinburgh replaced Rob Page this week and was given an indication of the size of the task that awaits him.
Morris’s winner takes the Iron to within a point of league leaders Sheffield United, much to the delight of manager Graham Alexander.
“It’s a brilliant win for us,” he said. “We had to defend a lot and we had to put our heads on the line but we kept our quality and won it in the end.
“Northampton have vast experience throughout their ranks, they’ve got a way of playing that puts you under the cosh, you have to deal with it and we did that well.
“The goal that won it for us was a strike to win any. It was fantastic and the work ethic from the whole team was unbelievable. It’s a massive win for us away from home.”
Alex Revell should have put the Cobblers in front early on, although an heroic double save from Scunthorpe keeper Luke Daniels and a goal-line clearance from captain Stephen Dawson kept Northampton at bay.
The hosts were left rueing missed chances as only four minutes later Scunthorpe opened the scoring after Dawson floated a fine ball into the box which was well met by the head of Dutchman Kevin van Veen.
Northampton found an equaliser just before half-time after Revell latched onto a cross from Matt Taylor.
He managed to squeeze his header in at the back post.
Rejuvenated by their equaliser Northampton came out for the second half with real intent, almost taking the lead after a Zander Diamond effort rattled the post.
Scunthorpe stood up to their host’s tenacity, firing back, and set-piece specialist Morris saw his thunderous free-kick crash off the crossbar and S away from danger.
It took a late moment of magic to sink the Cobblers in the end, Morris’s wonderful leftfooted strike from all of 30 yards flew past Adam Smith to send high-flying Scunthorpe home with all three points.
Northampton caretaker manager Paul Wilkinson said: “It was frustrating and disappointing. We controlled a lot of the game but we didn’t really take advantage of our opportunities.
“When you’re playing top-ofthe-table teams like Scunthorpe they’re going to punish you, and they punished us.
“It was frustrating to concede a late goal, but Josh Morris is a special player. There’s not many at this level that could smash the ball into the top corner of the net from all of 30 yards, but it came from us not dealing with the ball, and it’s that that cost us.
“On another day I feel we could have won that game.”