Burton Albion v Northampton Town
TEAM NEWS: CARETAKER manager Gary Rowett went back to basics with Burton Albion in his first game in charge following the departure of Paul Peschisolido after Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Torquay United.
Former keeper Adam Legzdins, signed on an emergency loan from Derby County, replaced Ross Atkins, while striker Greg Pearson, recalled from his loan at Crewe Alexandra, partnered Justin Richards in a 4-4-2 formation for the visit of fellow strugglers Northampton Town.
The one change at the back saw Ryan Austin come in for Patrick Ada, while in midfield, Jack Dyer and Jacques Maghoma were flanked by Lionel Ainsworth and Cleveland Taylor.
The Cobblers were without in-form striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, but did have former Brewers keeper Matt Duke in goal.
Former Albion winger Lewis Young was amongst the visitors’ substitutes.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Legzdins; Corbett, James (capt), Austin, A Webster; Ainsworth, Dyer, Maghoma, Taylor; Richards, Pearson; subs: Palmer, Phillips, Atkins (gk), Harriott, Ada.
COBBLERS (4-5-1): Duke; Johnson, Carlisle (capt), Langmead, Adams; Silva, Tozer, Guttridge, Harding, Jacobs; Williams; subs: Young, Charles, B Webster, Robinson, Hall.
HALF-TIME: The visitors started the brighter of the two sides.
On two minutes, Albion failed to clear and long throw-in from the left and when the ball eventually fell to right winger Toni Brito Silva, his effort was deflected over for a corner.
Ben Harind whipped in the corner from the right and it found Cobblers skipper Clarke Carlisle, whose header was straight at Legzdins.
The hosts’ first real chance came on 16 minutes when Ainsworth whipped in a free-kick from the left which was met by Pearson at the near post, but his glancing header cleared the bar.
Seven minutes later and Ainsworth sent over a corner won thanks to the hustling of Richards, but Webster’s looping header landed on the roof of the net.
The Brewers’ best chance so far came on 32 minutes when Aaron Webster drilled in a low cross from the left which looked destined to be tapped in by Pearson, but a defender in his line of sight may have put him off and he failed to connect.
Legzdins was called into action a minute later, getting down well at his near post to save left winger Michael Jacobs’ long-range effort.
Legzdins was called into action again on 41 minutes as the hosts failed to clear the danger after a Northampton free-kick had hit the defensive wall.
The ball was played in to Silva, who cut back from the right by-line and forced the Brewers keeper into a smart save at his near post.
The home side responded and two minutes later, Ainsworth crossed with the outside of his foot and Pearson’s header forced Duke into a save.
BURTON ALBION 0, NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
FULL TIME: The visitors created the first chance of the second half on 53 minutes.
Winger Silva, now operating on the left, created some space for himself on the corner of the penalty area and crossed to midfielder Ben Harding, but his shot was too close to Legzdins.
Jacobs should have done better for the Cobblers on 59 minutes but, after jinking past two players, he blazed over from the edge of the box when he should have at least tested Legzdins.
The Brewers responded inside two minutes and Taylor’s cross picked out Pearson, but his header was wide of the near post.
Rowett made his first change on 67 minutes, with winger Jimmy Phillips on for Richards.
His second saw Chris Palmer replace Taylor on 76.
Phillips almost gave Burton the lead on 81 minutes when he advanced to the edge of the box and unleashed a drive which Duke had to beat away.
The ball fell back to Phillips, who flashed a cross-shot wide of the far post, with Pearson just failing to add the killer touch.
At the other end, Jacobs had a shot beaten away by Legzdins with five minutes to go.
It was the same story a minute later as Luke Guttridge played in substitute Young, whose shot was beaten away by Legzdins.
Pearson was taken off on 90 minutes and replaced by Matty Harriott.
However, the Cobblers grabbed a goal two minutes into injury time as Legzdins dropped a free-kick and after blocking an initial shot, defender Kelvin Langmead blasted the ball home.
BURTON ALBION 0, NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
