Northampton beaten in relegation six-pointer away at Blackpool

Northampton Town suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Blackpool in a relegation six-pointer at Bloomfield Road.

The Cobblers had arrived on the Fylde Coast level on points with the Seasiders, but goals from Zac Ashworth and Ashley Fletcher decided proceedings in favour of Blackpool.

Defeat means Northampton have now failed to win in their last 6 League One matches, in a sequence that has seen them fall into the relegation zone. The Cobblers are a point from safety ahead of another six-pointer in midweek when they visit Rotherham.

Things got off to a bad start for the Seasiders as they fell behind after 3 minutes, with Ashworth scoring the rebound after George Honeyman had seen an initial strike blocked.

Kamarai Swyer had an effort cleared off the line before Sam Hoskins struck the post in Northampton’s best attempts to find a first half leveller.

But Blackpool would double their lead with a penalty within 5 minutes of the restart. The Seasiders’ top scorer Fletcher was brought down by Terry Taylor in the box, and Fletcher duly beat Ross Fitzsimons with the resulting penalty.

Blackpool had chances for more, with Kamarl Grant hitting the post and CJ Hamilton being denied by Fitzsimons, but the hosts had done enough to back the big three points and extend Northampton’s winless run.