Frustration for Cobblers as they are held at home by relegation rivals Rochdale

Town did have their chances despite struggling to find top gear and Gavin Bazunu was the busier goalkeeper but, with no way through, their long wait for a home goal in 2021 continued.

Cobblers' best spell of the game came either side of half-time but Ryan Edmondson and Ryan Watson both missed good chances and the home side seemed to lose heart after those misses, with Dale finishing the stronger.

Wigan, Burton and AFC Wimbledon all picked up big wins on the same night but results elsewhere will not matter if Northampton, now second-bottom, do not start winning themselves.

Jon Brady made four changes as Alan Sheehan and Mickel Miller both started while Ryan Waston and Ryan Edmondson were also back in the side.

After a tepid start, the game briefly burst into life with a couple of chances around the 10-minute mark. For Cobblers, Edmondson chased down a lost cause and retrieved possession before finding Watson, who got into the box and forced Bazunu into a sharp stop down to his left.

Dale responded immediately and carved out a good opening themselves two minutes later, but Stephen Humphrys planted his free header wide of the target.

The blustery conditions were not helping matters and Cobblers seemed to be caught between styles somewhat.

They tried to pass their way through Rochdale but but with the visitors organised and disciplined, they failed to make much headway and often resorted to going long.

Town did improve and controlled the final 15 minutes of the half, and Edmondson was at the heart of their best moments as he created half chances for Miller and Watson, both of whom were too close to Bazunu with their efforts.

Watson had a third chance just shy of half-time when picked out by Joseph Mills but his touch was too heavy and Dale were able to get in a block.

Sam Hoskins came on at half-time and he made an immediate impact, slipping through Edmondson for the best chance of the game but Bazunu was quickly off his line to make the save.

A similar chance fell to Marshall not long later but he blasted over via a deflection and Cobblers then lost their way with Rochdale coming on strong.

The visitors could easily have led too as substitute Kwadwo Baah was left unmarked from a long throw, but Jonathan Mitchell saved well with his legs.

Cobblers carried very little attacking threat in the final 10 minutes but they were agonisingly close to snatching the winner just 90 seconds from time when Peter Kioso's low cross, but nobody was able to get the touch needed to put the ball in the net.

Match facts

Cobblers: Mitchell, Kioso, Jones, Sheehan, Mills (c), McWilliams, Morris, Watson (Sowerby 83), Marshall (Rose 88), Miller (Hoskins 45), Edmondson

Subs not used: Arnold, Bolger, Horsfall, Chukwuemeka

Rochdale: Bazunu, McLaughlin, McNulty, O'Connell (c), Morley, Keohane, Rathbone, Grant (Baah 65), Shaughnessy, Newby, Humphrys

Subs not used: Lynch, Osho, McShane, Roberts, Done, Brierley

Referee: Kevin Johnson