Cobblers claim crucial point at Fleetwood to edge out of relegation zone

The game was not a thriller by any means but Town can again take positives from a decent away performance, especially as they created the best two chances of the contest.

Neither Danny Rose nor Ryan Edmondson could convert but Cobblers did at least jump out of the bottom four ahead of a big game with relegation rivals Wigan Athletic this weekend.

Peter Kioso made his Cobblers debut at right wing-back as Keith Curle reverted to a three-man defence, restoring both Fraser Horsfall and Danny Rose to the team.

Jack Sowerby and Mickel Miller missed out with injuries picked up on Saturday and defender Alan Sheehan also remained absent, although he was part of the coaching staff.

Kioso's first act as a Cobbler was to win a crucial and possibly goal-saving header at the back post with just two minutes played as Fleetwood made a bright start.

Sam Hoskins unleashed a couple of speculative efforts that flew off target and then Joseph Mills did likewise, but Fleetwood were the better side and Harvey Saunders went close with a shot that deflected just wide.

Jonathan Mitchell's first two saves were routine, keeping out Saunders and then tipping over Callum Camps' 35-yard free-kick, but Town gradually improved and carved out the best chance of the half on 34 minutes.

Hoskins picked up the ball in midfield and slid a nice pass through to Edmondson but, faced one-on-one with Cairns, he went for a dink and Fleetwood's goalkeeper made the block.

Goalless at the break, Fleetwood started the second-half as they did in the first and went close when Callum Connolly slashed into the side-netting.

But again Town grew into the contest and had an excellent opportunity with Kioso crossing for an unmarked Rose who got his header all wrong.

Paddy Madden shot over on the turn and Saunders also cleared the crossbar from the edge of the box, but it was Cobblers who finished by far the stronger.

Curle sent on Ricky Korboa and Ryan Watson and the latter was inches from breaking the deadlock with a terrific long-range strike that grazed the side-netting.

Watson was heavily involved and took two more efforts, the second forcing a decent stop from Cairns, but despite pushing for a winner, the visitors had to be contest with an away point.

Match facts

Fleetwood: Cairns, Andrew, Connolly, Mulgrew (Holgate 63), Duffy (McKay 71), Rossiter, Saunders, Donacien, Finley (J Morris 74), Madden (c), Camps (Vassell 71)

Subs not used: Coleman, Rydel, S Morris

Cobblers: Mitchell, Jones, Bolger (c), Horsfall, Kioso, Mills (Korboa 69), McWilliams, Morris, Hoskins, Rose (Ashley-Seal 88), Edmondson (Watson 73)

Subs not used: Berry, Harriman, Missilou, Chukwuemeka

Referee: Martin Coy