Referee: K Stroud

Man of the Match: Paul Connor

	Northampton Town	Swansea City
Goals	Smith (34) Kirk (39)	Connor (30) Trundle (70)
Yellow Cards	Williamson (61)	O'Leary (32) Connor (59) Austin (67) Bean (87)
Red Cards	None	None
Substitutions	Jaszczun for Bojic (77) Barnard replaced Low (83) Crow for Kirk (83)	Thorpe for Forbes (64) Robinson replaced McLeod (64) Martinez for O'Leary (78)

It wasn't a return to form as such, but the Swans did manage to salvage a point away from home, something they haven't done in the 4 previous games on the road. The Jacks remain in 5^th spot, 4 points away from an automatic promotion place.

Kenny Jackett went with the 4-4-2 formation.

The only change to the side saw Gurney replaced by Monk. This meant Austin moved to the left, Ricketts to the right and Monk slotted in next to Iriekpen in the middle. Lee Trundle was available after an appeal got his red card from the last match against Rochdale rescinded.

Ricketts Monk Iriekpen Austin

Forbes Bean O'Leary McLeod

Subs: Martinez, Thorpe, Gurney, Robinson & Britton

Northampton lined-up as follows:

Harper, Bojic, Murray, Westwood, Willmott, Low, Rowson, Williamson, Smith, McGleish & Kirk

Subs: Hearn, Galbraith, Jaszczun, Barnard & Crow

It was the Cobblers that looked the better side in the opening exchanges. Scott McGleish put the ball wide after Rowson's shot was blocked in just the 2^nd minute. McGleish came close again soon after firing wide from Low's lay off.

In the 11^th minute Lee Williamson was given time and space to advance, he reached the edge of the box, still in space, but fortunately dragged his shot well wide, when it seemed easier to hit the target.

5 minutes later Bojic shot from long range, but Gueret saved well to palm the ball away as it bounced just in front of him.

The clearest cut chance for the Swans came a few moments later. After a McLeod corner was half cleared, Sam Ricketts played the ball back in and a touch across goal gave Forbes a seemingly easy tap in, but as he slid in, didn't create enough contact and angled the ball wide.

A huge let of for the Jacks came when Rowson's shot was parried well by Gueret, but Williamson was quickest to react following in on the edge of the box, but he powerful effort flew over the bar.

The Swans hadn't mustered many attacks on goal, so a period of pressure was exactly what was needed. Ricketts had the ball played out wide to him and from 25 yards shot on the half volley, but the shot went high into the stand.

On the half hour the Swans took the lead. Trundle found the ball at his feet, he turned his man a played a through ball for CONNOR. The striker found himself unmarked as the defence appealed for offside. He controlled the ball well and slotted neatly past the keeper, Harper.

O'LEARY had his name taken for a string of lat challenges. The home side pushed on to get a goal from the restart and put the Swans on the back foot. Just 4 minutes after we broke the deadlock, we were back on level terms as the defence failed to clear their lines. A cross from the left was flicked on to the far post where SMITH was left in acres of space. He controlled the ball looked up at his options and smashed the ball in at the near post under Gueret.

With all the pressure from the Northampton side, the Jacks nearly regained the lead on a counter attack, Bean intercepted deep in his own half and advanced with the ball, space kept appearing as he moved in on goal but his finish put the ball wide of the post, but showed that the team were still able to attack even whilst under pressure.

Just before the 40^th minute the Cobblers took the lead. Williamson crossed and new signing ANDY KIRK headed in from close range, his headed looping up and over Gueret.

No changes were made at half time and it wasn't until the hour mark that the game got going again.

There were a few scares with openings being created by the Cobblers, but it was Izzy Iriekpens header in the 61^st minute that looked destined to level the scores. McLeod showed his talent for crossing when he planted the ball in Izzy's head, he got lots of power into his downward header and angled it towards the corner, but Harper pulled off a tremendous save to claw the ball out.

With 25 minutes left Kenny Jackett made some substitutions, THORPE came on for MCLEOD and FORBES was replaced by ROBINSON. This forced a change in the game as the Swans changed to 4-3-3.

The long ball tactic was introduced to get the Swans back on track. It caused problems for the Northampton defence. Robinson had a shot from outside the area on his left foot, but the ball curled away from goal.

AUSTIN was booked for an extremely clumsy tackle on Low out wide, in fact he could have been sent from the field with the challenge being so late.

The change on formation must have worked as in the 70^th minute the equaliser came. Connor came up with a run down the left, leaving 2 defenders on the floor, he worked his way into the box and supplied TRUNDLE with a tap in. The Swans fans went mad as the players celebrated in front of them. There did seem to be an unintentional hand by Trundle in the process as he was left to put the ball over the line.

KIRK did put the ball in the net for the 2^nd time in the game, but the flag had gone up for offside well before he lobbed the advancing Gueret.

There was very little in the game towards the end as far as actual chances go, but the Cobblers had the upper hand for the remaining period. A good point away from home against a side pushing for the play-offs. However, the 3 points would have been more welcome as we continue to aim at a top 3 finish.