Edinburgh bags best point at Cobblers
IT MIGHT have been just a point but Northampton manager Justin Edinburgh felt it was the best one he has gained in his time in charge of the Cobblers.
John-Joe O’Toole’s fifth goal in four games secured Northampton a draw at Southend United as the attacking midfielder, who had a short loan spell with the Shrimpers in 2014, fired home on the stroke of half-time.
And visiting boss Edinburgh, himself an ex-Southend player, was happy to have avoided defeat.
“I said to the players at the end there that it’s the best point we’ve gained since I’ve been here,” he said.
“To leave here with a point is a fantastic performance because Southend are on a great run at the moment.
“Everyone put their body on the line and we showed great character to fight back twice like we did.
“We rode our luck at times in the second half but we defended well too and it’s a fantastic result.”
Southend scored the first of four first-half goals in the 20th minute when Jermaine McGlashan, who was released by Northampton boss Edinburgh at Gillingham last season, tapped home from close range after Simon Cox had failed to make contact with Ben Coker’s left-wing cross.
Northampton equalised nine minutes later when Marc Richards netted from 20 yards after Matt Taylor’s left-wing cross had been cleared into his path by Coker.
However, the Shrimpers were back in front within two minutes when Jason Demetriou’s left-footed shot deflected into the path of Cox, who volleyed in from close range as he became just the second Southend player in 57 years to score in six successive home games.
Northampton hit back for a second time just before the break when O’Toole bundled the ball home after Taylor’s 25 yard free-kick had struck the inside of the left-post.
Shrimpers substitute Nile Ranger was twice denied by impressive Cobblers goalkeeper Adam Smith in the second half as the game ended in a draw.
Southend boss Phil Brown said: “The referee must have been the only person in the stadium who saw a foul for the free-kick Northampton scored from.
“I honestly have no idea why it was given.
“But if we are going to do anything this season then we are just going to have to climb the mountain ourselves.
“Nobody else will help us, especially the referees it seems.”