Jayden Stockley scored the winner for Jon Brady’s side as home supporters voiced their frustrations at both the players and Kevin Nolan. Here are our player ratings from Sixfields...
9. Tyrese Fornah
He does have the type of quality Cobblers need but he's often faced with two or three defenders in wide areas and has to try and beat them all on his own. There's not enough combination play around the edge of the box. Had one shot very well blocked... 5 Photo: Pete Norton
10. Sam Hoskins
Loads of effort and willingness as always but just so few opportunities to really hurt Vale in the final third. Glanced a rare chance wide. Fantastic tracking back and defending denied Stockley a second and at least kept Cobblers in the game... 6 CHRON STAR MAN Photo: Pete Norton
11. Tom Eaves
Far from his best or most effective but there's not a lot he can do when supplied with so little equality against three centre-halves. The jeers and boos when he was taken off were harsh and unfair - he is being given a near-impossible task in this team... 4.5 Photo: Pete Norton
12. Kamarai Swyer
Tried to get on the ball and be positive but encountered many of the same problems that his team-mates had in the final third. Did have one decent chance which he side-footed wide... 5 Photo: Pete Norton