ROYALS HAPPY TO BE IN HUNT FOR PLAY-OFFS AFTER BIG POINT

By Gary Beveridge

NORTHAMPTON 0

NORTHAMPTON: Burge 6, Eyoma 7, Mbete-Tabu 6, Guinness-Walker 5, McGowan 6 (Odimayo 68, 6), Perry 6 (Hondermarck 89, 6), Taylor 7, Pinnock 6 (Roberts 68, 6), Hoskins 6 (Dyche 79, 6), McGeehan 6 (Fosu 67, 6), Costelloe 6. Subs not used: Tzanev, Wilson.

READING 0

READING: Pereira 7, Rushesha 7 (Yiadom 87, 6), Mbengue 7, Bindon 7, Abrefa 6, Knibbs 8, Wing 7, Savage 6, Campbell 6 (Carroll 87, 6) Wareham 6 (Camara 75, 6), Ehibhatiomhan 6 (Bodin 75, 6). Subs not used: Button, Garcia, Stickland.

Att: 7,614 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Greg Rollason 6/10

NOEL Hunt was happy with a positive point after his play-off chasing Reading side were held to a goalless draw.

In a game of few chances, the home side edged the first half as Ben Perry and Dara Costelloe both went close, while Cobblers goalkeeper Lee Burge saved well from Jayden Wareham. Northampton’s best opportunity fell to Tyler Roberts in the second half, but he was denied by Joel Pereira, and then Reading so nearly won it when Charlie Savage side-footed wide with four minutes left after Nesta Guinness-Walker had been shown a red card.

“It’s a positive point for us,” said Hunt. “We knew that Northampton would be tough. I’ve watched them under Kev [Kevin Nolan] and they’ve been at it since he’s come in.

They’re fighting for their lives and we knew they would be right up for it.

“We just needed to find that moment of quality in the final third and I thought we had it when Charlie popped up late on after a good passage of play but it wasn’t to be.”

The Cobblers were first to threaten at Sixfields through Perry, who poked under onrushing goalkeeper Pereira but into the side-netting, before Burge saved from Savage.

The first half was devoid of clear-cut chances although Burge kept out Wareham’s powerful strike, while Costelloe chose to take a touch instead of shooting when unmarked in the box, and the opportunity was lost.

It was more of the same in the second half with Pereira saving comfortably from Cameron McGeehan before the best chance for Northampton on dropped to substitute Roberts at the back post, but he couldn’t beat the goalkeeper.

Nesta Guinness-Walker was sent off with 13 minutes left after picking up two yellow cards, but the point takes

Northampton five clear of the bottom four with four games to go.

“We always respect the point,” said boss Kevin Nolan. “I think when it was 11 versus 11 we were the more likely team to score. The subs came on and made a difference and Tyler had that chance. It was a fantastic save by the goalkeeper.

“I felt we could have built a bit of momentum going into the last ten, 15 minutes, and who knows what might have happened.

“The red card changed things, but I thought the way the lads managed the game and saw it out was