Cheltenham Town 1-1 Northampton Town

The league's bottom club Northampton Town started life under Chris Wilder with a scrappy draw at Cheltenham Town.

Wilder left League Two rivals Oxford United last week and was unveiled at Sixfields on Monday.

He saw his side fall behind after only 90 seconds when goalkeeper Matt Duke was duped by the swirling wind and Jamie Cureton tapped in with ease.

But they earned a valuable point thanks to Matty Blair, who poked home at the far post from Leon McSweeney's cross.

Cheltenham were the better side for the majority of the game but, after their 75th-minute equaliser, the Cobblers pushed for victory, Ian Morris and Darren Carter both going close.

Northampton remain six points adrift at the foot of the table while Cheltenham slip down a place to 13th.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cheltenham Town assistant manager Neil Howarth told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"The performance wasn't too bad. We were creating chances and passing the ball. The conditions and the pitch were unbelievably bad and we're playing a team who won't finish bottom of the league."

"They've had a lift this week with a new manager coming in and also signing players. It wasn't a good time to be playing Northampton but we certainly did enough to win.

"We've not won enough at home. We've taken the lead enough times and sometimes it's the hardest thing in the world to come back. We have been too easy to score against at home this season."

Cobblers manager Chris Wilder tells BBC Radio Northampton:

"The players showed tremendous character in tough conditions. We were the better side in the second half and the spirit of the team was superb. It's a together squad.

"They've had a lot chucked at them in a short space of time this week, so we will get better. But there's something to work with.

"We've made a lot of changes this week. We're coaches as well as managers and we want to work with the players. I'm not expecting any more signings."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Cheltenham

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

1Brown
20Jombati
22Braham-Barrett
31LucasSubstituted forMcGlashanat 85'minutes
5Brown
28Ihiekwe
8Deering
23Roofe
9HarrisonSubstituted forGornellat 85'minutes
7Cureton
14RichardsBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

4Taylor
6Elliott
10Gornell
11McGlashan
12Roberts
21Vincent
32Brundle

Northampton

Formation 4-4-2

1Duke
12TozerSubstituted forMcSweeneyat 57'minutes
3Widdowson
34Ravenhill
6Collins
27Kouo-Doumbe
32Blair
4CarterBooked at 62mins
25German
18ConnellSubstituted forSinclairat 57'minutes
8Morris

Substitutes

2McSweeney
7Sinclair
10O'Donovan
13Snedker
17Deegan
23McGinty
24Toney

Referee:: Paul Tierney
Attendance:: 2,707

Match Stats

Home TeamCheltenhamAway TeamNorthampton

Possession: Home52%; Away48%

Shots: Home8; Away4

Shots on Target: Home3; Away2

Corners: Home6; Away8

Fouls: Home8; Away6

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Northampton Town 1.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Northampton Town 1.

90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Troy Brown.
90'+1'
Post update
Leon McSweeney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Matthew Richards (Cheltenham Town).
90'
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Michael Ihiekwe.
85'
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Terry Gornell replaces Byron Harrison.
85'
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Jermaine McGlashan replaces Lee Lucas.
84'
Post update
Attempt missed. Matthew Richards (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
83'
Post update
Joe Widdowson (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Post update
Foul by Byron Harrison (Cheltenham Town).
76'
Goal!
Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Northampton Town 1. Matty Blair (Northampton Town) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Leon McSweeney.
74'
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Troy Brown.
71'
Post update
Lee Collins (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
71'
Post update
Foul by Byron Harrison (Cheltenham Town).
70'
Post update
Attempt missed. Emile Sinclair (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
69'
Post update
Darren Carter (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69'
Post update
Foul by Kemar Roofe (Cheltenham Town).
68'
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Craig Braham-Barrett.
64'
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Scott Brown.

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