Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 2, Northampton Town 0.
PlymouthPlymouth Argyle2NorthamptonNorthampton Town0
Lewis Alessandra scored his fourth goal in seven games as Plymouth beat Northampton to move into seventh place.
James Gray narrowly missed putting the visitors in front when he was unable to tap Darren Carter's cross home.
Anthony O'Connor then scored for Plymouth a minute later with a powerful 18-yard strike.
Northampton pushed hard after the break but Alessandra's cool strike, as he rounded keeper Matt Duke, ensured Plymouth's victory.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Northampton:
"If we'd have won here today it would have capped an unbelievable week. We need to dust ourselves down.
"The spirit in our team is outstanding and the players are hurting at the moment.
"Plymouth have had to scrap to get over the line today, just like we have in recent games. It shows how tight the league is."
Line-ups
Plymouth
Formation 3-5-2
- 23McCormick
- 5Nelson
- 16McHughSubstituted forBlizzardat 79'minutes
- 29HartleyBooked at 57mins
- 2Mellor
- 17Reid
- 19O'ConnorBooked at 29mins
- 27Talbot
- 13Holmes-DennisBooked at 59mins
- 7AlessandraSubstituted forBantonat 88'minutes
- 9ReidSubstituted forBruntat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Bittner
- 3Purrington
- 4Cox
- 8Banton
- 11Blizzard
- 14Harvey
- 28Brunt
Northampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Duke
- 2Moloney
- 36Cresswell
- 6Collins
- 3Horwood
- 19D'AthSubstituted forBodinat 61'minutes
- 4Carter
- 21TaylorBooked at 84mins
- 26Holmes
- 24Toney
- 14GraySubstituted forO'Tooleat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Bodin
- 10O'Toole
- 16Diamond
- 33Newey
- 34Clifton
- 42Jalal
- Referee:
- Steve Martin
- Attendance:
- 6,501
Match Stats
Home TeamPlymouthAway TeamNorthampton
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 2, Northampton Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Billy Bodin (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
(Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ivan Toney (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jason Banton (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Billy Bodin (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Jason Banton replaces Lewis Alessandra.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Brunt (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Ryan Brunt replaces Reuben Reid.
Goal!
Goal! Plymouth Argyle 2, Northampton Town 0. Lewis Alessandra (Plymouth Argyle) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Booking
Jason Taylor (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Reuben Reid (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jason Taylor (Northampton Town).
Post update
Bobby Reid (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jason Taylor (Northampton Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Dominic Blizzard replaces Carl McHugh.
Post update
Bobby Reid (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Billy Bodin (Northampton Town).
Post update
Attempt saved. Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top left corner.
