WARNE IRKED AS IN-FORM RAMS HIT BY COBBLERS
DERBY County’s fourgame winning run was halted by Northampton, much to boss Paul Warne’s annoyance as they slipped up in the race for promotion.
The Rams saw their League One charge hit a major stumbling block at Sixfields where Sam Hoskins scored the only goal of the game.
Derby also had defender Sonny Bradley sent off for a straight red card in stoppagetime.
“It’s obviously frustrating and disappointing,” admitted Warne. “I didn’t think we were amazing, but I still felt we created enough chances to win the game. We had a bit of control in the first half, not a lot, but the goal we conceded was farcical and credit to Northampton, I congratulate them for the win.
“The chance they took was harder than the chances we missed and sometimes it’s determined on that and you need those moments to go your way but they didn’t today.
“We got more and more frustrated in the second half. There were a lot of stoppages and a lot of lying down and we just didn’t look very cohesive.
“Northampton literally got every player behind the ball apart from one, but we played too slow at times and we moved the ball side to side with no purpose.
“We lost Nathaniel (Mendez-Laing) to injury, he’s done a hammy, which is horrific news, and Sonny’s been sent off at the end so as bad days go, it’s right up there.”
Derby dominated possession early on and they should taken a 20th-minute lead, but Martyn Waghorn side-footed over with the goal at his mercy.
Northampton struck against the run of play midway through the first half when Louis Appere chased down a long ball and showed brilliant vision to pick out Hoskins, who
volleyed first-time into the bottom corner.
Derby responded well, but they could not find a leveller before half-time, despite Ebou Adams twice going close, first denied by Sam Sherring’s goalline clearance and then heading over when well-placed.
Mendez-Laing almost converted Kane Wilson’s cross after the restart before Manny Monthe hit a post at the other end.
Derby applied plenty of late pressure, but could find no way through Northampton’s resilient rearguard and their misery was compounded by a straight red card for Bradley in stoppage-time.
Cobblers manager Jon Brady dedicated the win to the club’s chief executive James Whiting, who’s currently recovering from illness in hospital.
“I’m so proud of the boys for that performance,” said Brady. “We’ve been through some tough moments recently, but that win today was for James Whiting and we send him our best wishes.
“We’re a close-knit club and I’ve just text him saying that one was for him today.
“We needed one or two blocks on the line and yes, they missed a good chance in the first half, but we’ve scored a magnificent goal, a great cross and a brilliant finish, and we’ve also hit the post and we were also denied a stonewall penalty.
“Considering what’s happened with the players we have out and what people have said about us, that we’re on holiday, it’s one of our best wins of the season.
“You saw the commitment the players showed today, they worked so hard, and it’s a really, really good performance. To beat Derby County with 10 players out is remarkable and everyone to a man was brilliant.”
NORTHAMPTON: Moulden 7, McGowan 6 (Hondermarck 59, 6), Moore 6 (Koiki 89), Sherring 9, Monthe 8, Leonard 6, Sowerby 6, Fox 7 (McWilliams 89), Pinnock 6, Appere 7 (Simpson 89), Hoskins 7 (Bowie 90). Subs not used: Gape, Dadge.
DERBY: Wildsmith 6, Nelson 6, Bradley 6, Cashin 6, Wilson 7, Thompson 5 (Blackett-Taylor 64, 6), Hourihane 6, Adams 6 (Smith 64, 6), Sibley 6 (Elder 64, 6), Waghorn 6 (Washington 69, 6), Mendez-Laing 7 (Ward 69, 6). Subs not used: Loach, Radcliffe.