Northampton remain winless after draw at home to Crawley

Northampton Town remain in search of their first win this season as they drew 1-1 with Crawley Town.

The Cobblers had taken the lead through Nathan Opoku’s first goal for the club, but the sending off of Lee Evans hindered their momentum and they would see their lead disappear when Dion Pereira equalised.

A draw means that, while Northampton have taken a point from three of their first four games of the new campaign, they remain without a win so far this season.

Chris Hogg’s side began the match on the front foot, with Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh firing an early opportunity over the top and Sam Hoskins having an effort blocked.

Northampton opened the scoring after 38 minutes as a cross was flicked on by O’Brien-Whitmarsh to Opoku, who was able to glance the ball home and put the Cobblers ahead.

Osman Kamara came close to a quick equaliser for the visitors, as the Crawley man saw a strike kept out by home keeper Zach Jeacock.

Ten minutes after the break, however, Northampton’s situation changed when Evans was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge on the visitors’ Dylan Morgan.

Crawley would find an equaliser with 67 minutes on the clock, as Pereira scored the rebound after Jeacock saved his initial effort.

The visitors would duly look likelier to score again. Klaudio Krasniqi hit the post, Jeacock made fine saves to deny Pereira and Louie Watson, and Crawley would have a goal disallowed for offside.

Max Dyche would head a late effort just wide for the hosts, but no breakthrough goal came as the match ended all square.

The Cobblers’ quest to pick up that first win will now see them turn their attentions to Saturday, when they host Newport County.