Match ends, Northampton Town 1, Burton Albion 2.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town1BurtonBurton Albion2
Alex McDonald's stunning late free-kick earned Burton Albion a dramatic win at fellow promotion-hopefuls Northampton.
The hosts should have gone ahead when Kaid Mohamed somehow blazed the ball over the bar from six yards when it seemed impossible to miss.
Burton took advantage to lead at half-time through Jacob Blyth's low strike.
Ryan Cresswell fired the Cobblers level when the Brewers failed to clear but McDonald's shot earned the visitors a second win in five league games.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Northampton:
"We've missed chances in the first half. In the second half, they made it difficult for us, sitting behind the ball and sitting deep.
"The front four have been good enough for the majority of the season but weren't today. At home, you look for them to spark, and they found it difficult.
"We've played OK, but to win games at the top of the league, you've got to play a little bit better than OK.
"Look at the quality of the goal that has done us. Not being greedy - maybe we take a draw and move on. But we always go for a win."
Burton Albion manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:
"I'm absolutely over the moon. That's probably the biggest result of our season in some ways because we've not been as good as we'd have liked to have been over the last few weeks.
"But we're still in a great position and there's still bags of belief in the squad.
"You'd think that coming here today and having to change the team at the last minute might have caused a problem, but I have to say I thought all the players were magnificent today.
"It was a really really tough game. I thought we worked ever so hard to restrict Northampton to very few chances."
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Archer
- 12TozerSubstituted forAlfeiat 68'minutes
- 36Cresswell
- 6Collins
- 30StevensBooked at 90mins
- 11Hackett
- 18Ravenhill
- 25Byrom
- 23MohamedSubstituted forD'Athat 49'minutesBooked at 66mins
- 14NichollsSubstituted forLangmeadat 76'minutes
- 24Toney
Substitutes
- 2Alfei
- 4Carter
- 5Langmead
- 13Snedker
- 17Robertson
- 19D'Ath
- 20Moyo
Burton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McLaughlan
- 2Edwards
- 6Sharps
- 4Mousinho
- 5TaftSubstituted forMcCroryat 68'minutes
- 23Palmer
- 10AkinsBooked at 80mins
- 8WeirSubstituted forSladeat 84'minutes
- 11MacDonald
- 20McGurkSubstituted forHarnessat 76'minutes
- 12Blyth
Substitutes
- 7Bell
- 14McCrory
- 16Lyness
- 18Knowles
- 24Slade
- 27Harness
- 30Austin
- Referee:
- Gary Sutton
- Attendance:
- 4,935
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamBurton
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 1, Burton Albion 2.
Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kelvin Langmead (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
Enda Stevens (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Enda Stevens (Northampton Town).
Post update
Marcus Harness (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ivan Toney (Northampton Town).
Post update
Philip Edwards (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Ian Sharps.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Northampton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Enda Stevens (Northampton Town).
Post update
Marcus Harness (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Northampton Town 1, Burton Albion 2. Alexander MacDonald (Burton Albion) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Post update
Foul by Joel Byrom (Northampton Town).
Post update
Alexander MacDonald (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Liam Slade replaces Robbie Weir.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Alfei (Northampton Town).
