Northampton beaten at home by Lincoln City

Northampton slipped to a home reverse as Lincoln City won 1-0 at Sixfields.

One goal decided the contest in the Cobblers’ favour as Tendayi Darikwa bundled in a winner for the visitors, who picked up their first win in five games.

Defeat saw Northampton slip to 20th position in League One, although they do maintain a five point advantage on the division’s bottom 4 that occupy the relegation zone directly below them.

Having seen a home match with Barnsley last week postponed due to a frozen pitch, Kevin Nolan’s side returned to Sixfields to seek back-to-back league wins for the first time under their recently appointed boss and indeed first time this season.

Northampton had started reasonably brightly without making big chances, with their closest chance seeing Freddie Draper nearly head into his own net.

Lincoln made a few half chances as the first half progressed without threatening, but with 38 minutes gone, it would be the visitors that struck first. Ben House’s initial strike hit the post with Nik Tzanev beaten, but Darikwa charged on to meet the loose ball first and he duly drilled in the rebound.

The visitors nearly doubled their lead when Draper was denied by Tzanev a few moments later.

Northampton did make a bright enough start to the second half, with TJ Eyoma’s header just going wide before Lincoln goalkeeper Zach Jeacock thwarted Tom Eaves’ header.

Eaves nearly equalised in a spectacular manner later on, with the striker’s 25-yard half-volley having to be tipped over by Jeacock.

But the home side ultimately ran out of time for an equaliser, with the result also seeing Northampton fail to score at home for their third game in a row at Sixfields.

The Cobblers now face back-to-back away games, starting with a tricky-looking trip next weekend to face second place Wycombe.