Cobblers offer flashes of promise in opening day draw with Swindon

There was a fair amount to like about Town’s first half performance at Sixfields, particularly the energy and positivity they played with at times, although it did not translate into clear-cut opportunities.

Chris Hogg’s men did enjoy the better moments and could have snuck ahead, and that remained in the case in a very even second half, which saw the hosts twice go close to snatching all three points.

Cobblers finished with 11 shots in the game, three on target, compared to four and nought for Swindon, reflecting a very solid defensive effort and an attacking display that provided flashes of promise but lacked real quality and composure when it mattered.

Hogg made four changes from the team that ran Leicester close in the Carabao Cup, including handing full debuts to Lee Clark, Matty Warhurst and Logan Briggs. Wormleighton also started and he operated as one of the two wing-backs, with James Maxwell on the opposite side, in a 3-4-3.

The first 10 minutes were understandably edgy and cagey, with neither side able to exert much control, before Maxwell had the first shot of the afternoon, his effort from a well-worked corner blocked by a defender.

Cobblers took more of a grip on proceedings as the first half wore on and they almost moved ahead after an excellent passage of play midway through, but some last-ditch defending denied Warhurst following a driving run by Briggs.

The home side were doing a lot of good things, particularly in the middle third of the pitch, and they found some promising positions, but lacked a bit of sharpness and composure when it really mattered.

Swindon offered more of a threat late in the first half and Ollie Clarke blazed over when space opened up in the penalty box, before Connor Evans almost forced in a corner on the cusp of half-time.

The visitors edged the start of the second half and twice nearly got in behind Town’s defence as the home side’s play became somewhat ragged and sloppy.

Cobblers did go close though when Briggs went on a long, windy run from halfway, beating two defenders on the way, and forced goalkeeper Connor Ripley into a decent save.

Hogg turned to his bench with 20 minutes to go as Harvey Saunders and Jack Perkins replaced Lee Evans and Warhurst, and Saunders’ pace did cause problems for the Swindon defence.

Again, however, tuning periods of promise into opportunities on goal was a challenge that Cobblers couldn’t overcome, despite so nearly winning it in stoppage-time when Saunders burst clear on the right, only to drag wide.

Cobblers: Jeacock, Donacien, Guthrie (c), Moore, Wormleighton, Maxwell, L Evans (Perkins 71), Fornah, C Evans (Swyer 90), Briggs (List 90), Warhurst (Saunders 71)

Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Dyche, Hoskins

Swindon: Ripley, Clark, Negru, O Clarke (c) (Palmer 67), Nichols (Griffiths-Brown 90) Middlemas (Pearman 67), Majekodunmi (Tafazolli 67), Virtue, Kirkman, Millard (Hungbo 51), Drinan

Subs not used: Ward

Referee: Scott Oldham

Attendance: 7,120

Swindon fans: 1,534