Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 1, Northampton Town 0.
PlymouthPlymouth Argyle1NorthamptonNorthampton Town0
Plymouth sealed back-to-back league wins for the first time this season as Lewis Alessandra's late goal condemned Northampton to the bottom of the table.
Argyle defender Curtis Nelson went close at both ends in the first half, heading onto his own post before forcing a good save from Matt Duke.
Luke Norris went closest for the Cobblers, but Pilgrims goalkeeper Luke McCormick made a magnificent save.
Alessandra sealed the win as he took a deft Reuben Reid pass and slotted home.
The goal had been coming for Argyle, who still have the worst scoring record in League Two, with Reid and Alessandra both having gone close before the 90th-minute winner.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Devon:
"Just after half-time they had a little spell where we got a bit sloppy and Luke McCormick's had one or two shots to save, which I didn't really like the look of, but after that I thought we created lots and lots of chances.
"The goal to win the game was an excellent move. Youngy's (Luke Young) come on, and I like my subs sometimes to come on and change the game, and I think Youngy's just played four or five passes, which no-one really did in the whole game.
"We're just getting on a little run. Clean sheets are a good habit but our problem has been scoring goals, and the pleasing thing is we could've scored three or four."
Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd tells BBC Radio Northampton:
"It's sickening, and I need to make some changes. It's not acceptable.
"I am really irritated by what I've seen in that last five minutes. You do not concede in the last few minutes.
"There's no point in doing half a job, preparing like we do, working hard all week and then throwing it all out the window because we're not disciplined enough to win a game.
"I'm extremely annoyed at some of the players and I need to do something about it. These players are good enough and yet we are languishing where we are."
Line-ups
Plymouth
Formation 3-5-2
- 23McCormick
- 2Berry
- 28Reckord
- 5BranstonBooked at 74minsSubstituted forYoungat 76'minutes
- 16TrotmanBooked at 83mins
- 4Blanchard
- 8BocoSubstituted forHayesat 81'minutes
- 6Hourihane
- 9ReidSubstituted forHarveyat 90+4'minutes
- 7Alessandra
- 17Nelson
Substitutes
- 1Cole
- 3Blackman
- 14Young
- 18Harvey
- 19Hayes
- 20Bencherif
- 27Gurrieri
Northampton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Duke
- 6CollinsBooked at 66mins
- 3Widdowson
- 8Morris
- 18Reid
- 27Kouo-Doumbe
- 11Hackett
- 4Carter
- 33Norris
- 32Ferdinand
- 29Dallas
Substitutes
- 7Demontagnac
- 12Tozer
- 17Deegan
- 19Emerton
- 21McNamara
- 24Toney
- 26Harriott
- Referee:
- Trevor Kettle
- Attendance:
- 6,547
Match Stats
Home TeamPlymouthAway TeamNorthampton
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 1, Northampton Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthias Kouo-Doumbe (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Tyler Harvey replaces Reuben Reid.
Post update
Foul by Reuben Reid (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Joe Widdowson (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Plymouth Argyle 1, Northampton Town 0. Lewis Alessandra (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Reuben Reid.
Post update
Attempt missed. Conor Hourihane (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Matt Duke.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lewis Alessandra (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Darren Carter (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Alessandra (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Darren Carter (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Neal Trotman (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Neal Trotman (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Luke Norris (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Alessandra (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Paul Hayes replaces Romuald Boco.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Luke Young replaces Guy Branston.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Conor Hourihane.
