Northampton suffer defeat at home to new League One leaders Cardiff

Northampton Town were beaten 3-1 at home by a Cardiff City side that moved to the top of the League One table.

Joel Colwill had put the Welshmen in front at Sixfields in the opening minutes, before an eventful sequence saw Ethan Wheatley equalise for the Cobblers and then score an own goal just three minutes later.

Chris Willock’s strike in second half injury time secured victories for the Bluebirds, with the Cobblers losing for the third time in four outings. They are now 17th in the League One table and 4 points above the relegation zone.

The contest at Sixfields was a first league meeting between the Cobblers and the side from the Welsh capital in 22 years, as well as Northampton’s first match after an international weekend enforced break last weekend.

Northampton fell behind within the opening seven minutes. Teenage full-back Ronan Kpakio teed up Colwill, who placed a strike beyond the grasp of home goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.

Despite falling behind, the hosts were causing Cardiff problems. Tom Eaves saw a strike bounce back off the past, Wheatley had a goal disallowed, Michael Forbes saw a header just creep wide and Nathan Trott in the Bluebirds goal denied Jack Perkins.

The hosts would make the pressure tell just before the hour. Forbes’ pass released Wheatley, who was able to advance, cut inside and drill in a fine strike.

But on the hour mark, the Manchester United loanee’s next contribution would be a more unfortunate one as Wheatley sliced Joel Bagan’s corner into his own net.

Cardiff could’ve made it 3-1 but they had a goal disallowed when Yousef Salech was deemed to have pushing an opponent before finishing.

Trott made saves to deny Wheatley and home sub Elliot List, the latter of whom had been one-on-one, as Cardiff tried to see the job through.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Cardiff would get the job done when Kpakio released Willock, who scored the third for the visitors.

The Cobblers will seek to return to winning ways next time out, when next Saturday they make the long trip south-west to play Plymouth Argyle.