Portsmouth 1-2 Northampton Town

James Collins has scored 15 goals in 48 appearances for Northampton Town this season

League Two champions Northampton Town won their final game of the season against play-off contenders Portsmouth.

The Cobblers took the lead when Nicky Adams crossed in for Jack Whatmough to put the ball into his own net.

The hosts had Kieron Freeman sent off for a challenge on John Joe O'Toole but restored parity a minute later when Kal Naismith fired from 25 yards.

James Collins sealed victory for the visitors when he tucked home David Buchanan's cross from close range.

Because the result meant they finished sixth, Portsmouth will now play Plymouth in the play-offs.

Paul Cook's side will play at Fratton Park on 12 May in the first leg before the reverse fixture at Plymouth's Home Park on 15 May.

Northampton's victory means they have gone 24 games unbeaten in League Two, as they finish the season 13 points clear at the top of the League Two table.

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Richardson on Portsmouth v Northampton

Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Solent: "It is a 2-1 defeat, it is not in good taste.

"Obviously going down to 10 men so early in the second half doesn't help. With 11 men on the pitch we would have expected a different result.

"There were two good teams on the pitch, we are playing against the champions so you have got to give them every credit."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Portsmouth

• 24Murphy
• 2DaviesBooked at 38mins
• 16WhatmoughSubstituted forWilkinsonat 69'minutes
• 15Barton
• 38HaunstrupSubstituted forTollittat 77'minutes
• 33CloseSubstituted forMayat 60'minutes
• 17FreemanBooked at 47mins
• 26EvansBooked at 75mins
• 11Roberts
• 14Naismith
• 7McGurkBooked at 69mins

Substitutes

• 1Jones
• 3Stevens
• 8Doyle
• 18Tollitt
• 25Wilkinson
• 30May
• 32Oxlade-Chamberlain

Northampton

• 1Smith
• 12Lelan
• 5Diamond
• 22Prosser
• 16Buchanan
• 21O'Toole
• 23Rose
• 7D'AthBooked at 45minsSubstituted forHoskinsat 80'minutes
• 10AdamsSubstituted forPotterat 62'minutes
• 11Holmes
• 27MarquisSubstituted forCollinsat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 4Taylor
• 6Cresswell
• 8Byrom
• 14Hoskins
• 15Potter
• 19Collins
• 26Clarke

Referee:

Mark Brown

Attendance:

18,746

Match Stats

Home TeamPortsmouthAway TeamNorthampton

Possession

Home51%

Away49%

Shots

Home8

Away7

Shots on Target

Home5

Away4

Corners

Home0

Away6

Fouls

Home15

Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Portsmouth 1, Northampton Town 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Portsmouth 1, Northampton Town 2.

Posted at 90'+4'

Alfie Potter (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Gareth Evans (Portsmouth).

Posted at 90'+1'

Josh Lelan (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Ben Tollitt (Portsmouth).

Posted at 89'

Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Conor Wilkinson (Portsmouth).

Posted at 84'

Attempt saved. Kal Naismith (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 84'

Attempt saved. Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Goal!

Posted at 81'

Goal! Portsmouth 1, Northampton Town 2. James Collins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Buchanan.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Sam Hoskins replaces Lawson D'Ath.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Portsmouth. Ben Tollitt replaces Brandon Haunstrup.

Booking

Posted at 75'

Gareth Evans (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 74'

Alfie Potter (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Gareth Evans (Portsmouth).

Posted at 73'

Zander Diamond (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Conor Wilkinson (Portsmouth).

Posted at 72'

Josh Lelan (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Conor Wilkinson (Portsmouth).

Posted at 72'

Attempt saved. James Collins (Northampton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 71'

Attempt saved. Conor Wilkinson (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, Portsmouth. Conor Wilkinson replaces Jack Whatmough.

Booking

Posted at 69'

Adam McGurk (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 68'

Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Adam McGurk (Portsmouth).

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, Northampton Town. James Collins replaces John Marquis.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Jack Whatmough.

Posted at 65'

Attempt saved. John Marquis (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

Posted at 64'

Foul by Alfie Potter (Northampton Town).

Posted at 64'

Ben Davies (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Lawson D'Ath (Northampton Town).

Posted at 63'

Ben Davies (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Northampton Town. Alfie Potter replaces Nicky Adams.

Posted at 62'

(Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Adam McGurk (Portsmouth).

Substitution

Posted at 60'

Substitution, Portsmouth. Adam May replaces Ben Close because of an injury.

Posted at 60'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 59'

Delay in match Ben Close (Portsmouth) because of an injury.

Posted at 57'

Attempt missed. Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

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