Northampton Town 2 Walsall 1 '“ match review, player ratings and highlights

Only last week, Jack Byrne’s goal after just four minutes set Oldham Athletic on their way to a crushing 5-1 victory as Northampton failed to recover from going behind, something which they have not done all season.

So you could forgive most of those inside Sixfields for fearing the worst when their team fell behind in such disastrous fashion as Aaron Pierre dithered and David Cornell hesitated to allow Amadou Bakayoko to rob the ball back and square for Oztumer who duly found the bottom corner.

You feared it had almost become routine for Northampton this season: another week, another early setback and another disappointing yet depressingly inevitable slide towards defeat.

But this time, finally, it would be different. Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink got the crowd going, the fans responded and the players rallied. It was tense and it was far from straightforward but the Cobblers ended their winless run with three oh-so priceless points.

This 2-1 victory, packed full of guts and grit, will not win any beauty contests but given the situation Northampton found themselves in at the bottom of League One – and still do – style does not matter; it’s all about getting the right result any which way you can.

And make no bones about it: this was as close to a must-win game as you can get in December. Sure, it’s not even Christmas and there’s ample time left in the season but the demanding fixture list over the festive period, coupled with the resurgent form of relegation rivals, meant Town could ill-afford to get cut adrift ahead of the January transfer window.

And the value of three points in a relegation battle was clear at full-time as Hasselbaink’s men not only kept pace with those around them but also manoeuvred themselves out of the bottom four, a timely boost ahead of the visit of red-hot Blackburn Rovers next weekend.

But as Saturday proved, the form book counts for little on the day. Walsall went into the contest on a three-game winning run while Town, on the back of their humbling defeat at Boundary Park, had not tasted victory in six.

Jon Whitney’s men would have been even stronger favourites for three points after Oztumer’s early blow, however Chris Long’s first-half brace gave Northampton the victory they deserved for a fantastic, gritty team performance.

The Saddlers probed and pushed for most of the second-half but made very little headway and even fewer inroads against a home team who showed refreshing fight and bite all over the pitch, with Cornell almost a bystander in goal following his early brain fade.

That’s the thing about this team. Although they struggle to score goals and too regularly fall by the wayside once on the back foot, on the rare occasions they do get ahead, they’re very difficult to break down and therefore peg back.

Town didn’t exactly outplay the Saddlers on Saturday, nor where they ever going to given the two teams’ respective positions, but from the moment Long headed in the leveller and then sweetly pinged them ahead, their game management and dogged approach kept Walsall at arm’s-length.

The visitors’ chances mostly came in the first-half, however after Oztumer was gifted an early Christmas present, not once did they create a clear sight of Cornell’s goal.

And, finally, at long, long last, the Cobblers came from behind to win a game. Not since Stevenage away in the title-winning season, some 92 fixtures ago, have they conceded the first goal and taken all three points. There may have been a sense of trepidation when Oztumer found the bottom corner inside two minutes – understandably so too – but this time Northampton showed the type of character and belief that they will need to stay out of the relegation zone.

Their hopes of doing that also rely on the fitness of one key player.

It’s amazing how much difference one man can make to a team. John-Joe O’Toole did nothing out of the ordinary on Saturday but his general attitude and approach gave the Cobblers a whole new dimension.

All you need to do is take one quick glance at the statistics to realise how important he has become. The Cobblers have won four of the five league matches in which he has started this term, with the team scoring seven goals in those outings, compared to two wins and 11 goals from the other 17 games.

How can one man have such an affect? It’s his style of play. O’Toole provides a focal point from which his team-mates can play off. He’s willing to get into the faces of opposition players and that gives defenders headaches. He also wins headers and flick-ons and always plays on the edge, which in turn means Northampton can play higher up the pitch and get bodies around him.

Striker Long, so often an isolated figure up front, is the main beneficiary because he becomes more involved and sees more of the ball; he knows O’Toole will attract defenders and therefore that create space for the Burnely loanee to run into, as he did against Walsall.

But Long and O’Toole were not the only star performers on Saturday. Matt Grimes gave the type of midfield performance that demonstrated why he is so highly-rated. Dogged off the ball and classy on it, he was here, there and everywhere in running the midfield almost highhandedly.

In defence, Ash Taylor was his usual steady self and Pierre recovered impressively from his shaky start to emerge from the game with credit. Full-backs Brendan Moloney and David Buchanan kept Walsall’s tricky wingers relatively quiet while also getting forward and providing width, something that the two wide men, both more central players by trade, did not always do.

There was a feisty element to Saturday’s game too and it all boiled over in injury-time when Bakayoko deservedly saw red for a horror challenge on Foley, with Town’s Matt Crooks also given his marching orders for his part in the ugly aftermath.

But that did not take the gloss of a monumental victory. It was a game Northampton simply had to win. With more fighting displays like this one, and with a few new arrivals in January, they’ll give themselves every chance of staying up.

How they rated...

David Cornell - Calamitous mix-up with Pierre presented Oztumer with an early Christmas present and that visibly knocked his confidence as he never looked at ease. Thankfully he had little to do from then on and his team-mates spared his blushes... 5

Brendan Moloney - Steady on his 100th appearance for the club. Didn’t always make best use of the ball but kept getting forward to support attacks and did his job at the other end... 7

Ash Taylor - Typically combative display in the middle of the back four, playing his part fully in the second-half rearguard when Walsall were restricted to very few chances... 7

Aaron Pierre - Recovered admirably from his part in Walsall’s opener to emerge with credit, making two timely interceptions and one strong tackle in the few instances when the visitors did get into Town’s box... 7

David Buchanan - Hardly put a foot wrong defensively, bar one occasion when the tricky Ismail got the better of him. Found good positions going forward, highlighted by his assist for Long’s second... 7

Sam Foley - Architect of the equaliser, working space to deliver a terrific cross, as he battled valiantly up and down the right side. Fantastic work ethic and willingness to support attacks... 7

Matt Crooks - Returned to his more natural position of central midfield but was outshone by his partner and then picked up his second silly red card of the season, ruling him out for two matches... 6

Matt Grimes - Showed all the attributes you want from a central midfielder, in and out of possession. Did the dirty side of it and ran his socks off, seemingly covering every blade of grass. Produced some quality shimmies and touches on the ball too... 8

Lewis McGugan - Displayed moments of real quality on the ball and also worked hard off it, even out of position on the left. Set-pieces were mixed but he brings so much to the party when he’s on it... 7

John-Joe O’Toole - His aggression and belligerent approach makes such a visible difference to the team as a whole. Gave Town a focal point to play off and that was invaluable in relieving the pressure as Walsall chased the game. Tormented the visiting defence which in turn got Long more involved... 8

Chris Long - Won the game for his side with two goals that could hardly have been more different, one being a poacher’s finish and the other a fine individual effort as he created something out of nothing. Now five for the season, making him the club’s top scorer, and more will surely come with better service... 8 CHRON STAR MAN

Substitutes

Ryan McGivern - 6

Regan Poole - 6