Brilliant Cobblers thrash Plymouth after superb second half showing

There was very little sign of what was to come at half-time after Town failed to register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes but they turned on the style with rampant second half showing, started by a superb Eaves header just before the hour-mark.

That was the first of two assists for the excellent Jack Perkins before Pilgrims striker Lorent Tolaj saw red – both figuratively and literally – when sent off for a brainless off-the-ball swipe at Michael Forbes and Cobblers then turned the screw.

List scored with his first touch, slotting home Perkins’ cutback after a nice move, before Willis added the gloss with a thumping header, completing a fabulous afternoon for Kevin Nolan and his impressive men, who climb to 14th in League One. By contrast, the defeat leaves Plymouth 23rd in League One and piles the pressure on under-fire boss Tom Cleverley.

Nesta Guinness-Walker replaced Michael Jacobs on the bench but otherwise Nolan stuck with the same starting XI and subs that lost to Cardiff City last weekend.

Cobblers could have been behind early when an unmarked Tolaj headed into the side-netting from a corner but Plymouth were given a huge let-off when Town were initially awarded a penalty. Terry Taylor appeared have been fouled by Bali Mumba on first viewing, and the referee agreed, but replays showed that both men had a hold of each other and, after speaking to the linesman, Parkinson overturned his original decision.

The Pilgrims were generally shading the contest and they had the clearest sight of goal before half-time after Mumba caught Jordan Thorniley napping and nipped in before dragging wide of the far post.

Booked needlessly in the first five minutes, Thorniley was having a difficult time of it and he could count himself somewhat fortunate not to see red after committing a foul as Plymouth broke.

Set-pieces were dominating in a a stop-start, bitty game and another one yielded saw Cobblers go close when Thorniley’s free-kick on the halfway line floated over everyone’s head and landed at Wheatley’s feet but he either missed it or got a very faint touch as the ball hit the woodwork.

Plymouth continued to look the more dangerous team, albeit without sustaining consistent pressure, and another chance for Tolaj was headed straight at Ross Fitzsimons.

Nolan then made the decision to withdraw Thorniley, either due to a knock or for tactical reasons, as Max Dyche came on, and the game remained scrappy and disjointed with no breakthrough before the break.

Northampton needed to improve significantly in the final third and they did just that. Their first shot of the whole game, according to the official statistics, finally arrived in the 48th minute when Taylor took aim from 30 yards but it was blocked before it even reached the penalty box.

Cobblers were more of a consistent threat in the second half and they were inches from an opener just shy of the hour mark when Perkins did well to release Wheatley and he drove inside before striking the base of the post.

Perkins was involved again just moments later when the away side hit the front. A long throw was worked to the wing-back in space on the left and whilst he delivered a good cross, Eaves still had a lot of work to do but he did it brilliantly, sending a fabulous looping header over Conor Hazard.

Northampton had 30 minutes plus stoppage-time to hold on and they were given a major helping hand thanks to a moment of madness from Tolal. The Plymouth forward took a swipe at Michael Forbes after an off-the-ball coming together and the incident was spotted by the linesman, who called the ref over and out came a straight red card.

The home crowd were beginning to turn on the under pressure Cleverley and their side struggled to build any momentum, whilst the visitors enjoyed the space on the break.

Nolan turned to his bench with 15 minutes to play, sending on List and Jordan Willis, and it proved an inspired move. With the very next phase of pay, Fitzsimons found Wheatley on the left, he released Perkins and the wing-back claimed his second assist of the afternoon, squaring for List to tap in with his first touch.

And Northampton’s dream day got even better when the other substitute got in on the act. Eaves won a free-kick on the right, Taylor delivered a superb ball into the box and Willis unleashed a bullet header into the back of the net to make it three.

List twice went close to a second late on, flashing wide before stinging the palms of Hazard, and Dyche and Guiness-Walker also threatened, but the damage was well and truly done on a glorious afternoon for Cobblers and their terrific travelling fans at Home Park.

Plymouth: Hazard ©, Ross, Scuzs, Mitchell, Boateng, McCabe (Ralls 62), Galloway (Oseni 69), Sorinola (Benarous 69), Dale (Paterson 62), Mumba, Tolaj

Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Wiredu, Edwards

Cobblers: Fitzsimons, McCarthy (Willis 75), Thorniley (Dyche 35), Forbes, Burroughs, Perkins (Guinness-Walker 84), Campbell, Taylor © (List 75), Fornah, Wheatley, Eaves (Swyer 84)

Subs not used: Burge, Edwards

Referee: Stephen Parkinson

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