Northampton begin new campaign with 0-0 draw at home to Swindon Town

Northampton Town’s League Two season started with a goalless draw against Swindon Town at Sixfields.

A couple of decent chances would fall the way of the hosts in Chris Hogg’s first league game in charge of the Cobblers, but neither they nor the Robins could commence their League Two season with the three points.

A reshuffled Cobblers side began brightly enough, with James Maxwell seeing a strike deflected wide and the hosts winning three corners in quick succession, if without creating a big opportunity.

In the latter stages of the half, Northampton would come close, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans having a strike blocked and a last-minute blocked by Stephan Negru stopping Matty Warhurst a strike on goal from a good position.

Swindon’s best chance of the half saw the ball fall in a good position for Ollie Clarke, but he could only blaze his effort over the top.

The Robins would have more possession early in the second half but Northampton created the best individual chance of this phase of the game, with Swindon keeper Connor Ripley denying home debutant Logan Briggs.

Substitute Harvey Saunders would have late chances to win the day for Northampton, with one effort blocked before a great chance in injury time saw him break clear of the Swindon backline only to fire wide.

The Cobblers will now face an early EFL Trophy game on Tuesday when they welcome Brighton’s academy side to Sixfields, while their league campaign resumes next Saturday with a trip to Crewe Alexandra.