NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder made a winning return to former club Northampton as his Blades side cruised to victory in a preseason friendly at Sixfields.

Oliver Norwood scored a brace of first-half penalties for the Premier League outfit, who looked comfortable throughout the contest despite a spirited Cobblers performance.

The Blades fielded a strong side which featured erstwhile England captain Phil Jagielka, but newly-acquired Ravel Morrison was a notable absentee. Meanwhile, Northampton manager Keith Curle named an experimental starting line-up including four new signings and trialist Remeao Hutton.

Northampton were quicker out of the traps and forged two chances in the opening five minutes when Andy Williams saw both his daisy-cutting shots saved by Simon Moore.

This early danger appeared to jolt the Blades into retaliative action as they quickly responded with an attack of their own, though David McGoldrick spurned the opportunity to put his side in front when he glanced a headed effort wide.

Plenty of lively and accomplished play was on show from both sides in an end-to-end first half-hour, with the best chance falling to Sheffield midfielder John Fleck, whose powerful strike was brilliantly stopped by David Cornell in the Cobblers’ goal.

Chris Lines saw an opportunity to put Northampton in front when Sam Hoskins won a free-kick on the edge of the Sheffield box, but hit his effort just wide of the left post.

The stalemate was broken after 31 minutes, courtesy of Blades skipper Oliver Norwood’s first converted penalty of the afternoon. Callum Robinson was upended in the box by Remeao Hutton and Norwood duly made no mistake when firing the spot-kick past Cornell into the bottom-left corner.

Soon after, Sheffield were given a gift-wrapped opportunity to double their advantage when Fleck played the industrious McGoldrick in on goal, but his powerful shot was denied by the quick reactions of Cornell.

Yet the Blades’ second goal did come before half-time. Keiron Freeman fell down somewhat easily after a challenge by Joe Martin in the box, and referee Andy Woolmer was swift in pointing to the spot once again. Norwood thus stepped up to confidently slam home his second penalty kick of the contest.

A bright first half from both teams was followed by a sluggish second period in comparison, with clear-cut chances thin on the ground. Ryan Watson did almost halve the arrears for Northampton after 55 minutes when clattering the post with an inswinging free-kick, whilst Sam Hoskins had his scuffed shot denied by Moore moments later.

Despite not quite firing on all cylinders, Sheffield appeared satisfied with their two-goal lead and proceeded to close out the match in a straightforward fashion.

The fixture proved a useful exercise for both sides- the Blades gained much-needed match fitness as they prepare for their first Premier League season in over a decade, whilst the Cobblers were tested against elite opposition and gave a reasonable account of themselves.

Though they were in the opposition dugout, Chris Wilder and his assistant Alan Knill received warm applause from the home fans after the final whistle had sounded; the duo remain heroes in the eyes of the Sixfields faithful after masterminding the Cobblers’ runaway success in League Two during the 2015/16 season.

Northampton face local rivals MK Dons on Friday in their next preseason fixture, whilst Sheffield United take on National League side Chesterfield in three days’ time.

Blades manager Chris Wilder felt his side’s performance was encouraging, saying:

“There’s still work to be done, but there were some good things. I thought we controlled the game for long periods. We need to get a bit tidier and tighter around the edge of the opposition’s box because we had the opportunity to extend our lead and score a few goals but I keep saying to people that that will come.

“[There were] some good performances out there. We’ve structured preseason to have different types of tests. We started off with a good intensity to our play.

“For the first ten or fifteen minutes we were in quite a battle, which I was glad we were in.

“It was difficult for the forwards. I think Keith [Curle] deliberately didn’t put any water on the pitch to dry it out and make it a slow pitch.

“We just have to keep improving. The numbers we’re churning out statistically are good.

“We could have played [Ravel Morrison] today but it would have been a risk, and I don’t see the point of risking somebody that is going to play a part with us for a season and hopefully is going to have a career at Sheffield United. The boy is desperate to play… but he’s still not a hundred percent, so when he’s off and running he’ll show what he’s capable of.

“Are we ready to play our first Premier League game? No, but this is why we have to go through the process of preseason. The game went flat after sixty-five or seventy minutes and it became too easy… but we have to have these different tests and challenges.”

Northampton boss Keith Curle was confident for the forthcoming campaign after watching his team, saying:

“”I thought we started the game quite well and got on the front foot. I like challenges… I want us to be stretched, exposed and get used to accepting the challenges.

“There are little things within the game because we’ve got a new group that we still need to work on. We’re playing against a Premier League team so we needed to keep organised, keep our shape and try to deny them many goalscoring opportunities.

“I’d start [the league season] tomorrow.”

Teams and Player Ratings

Northampton Town: (3-4-1-2): Cornell 7/10, Hutton (trialist) 7, Goode (c) 6, Turnbull 7, Martin 5, Bunney 6, Hoskins 6, Lines 6, Watson 6, Smith 6, A Williams 6

Subs: Warburton (for Lines, 45’) 7, Oliver (for Smith, 45’) 5, Yebli (trialist) (for Williams, 45’) 6, Hall-Johnson (for Goode, 58’) 6, McWilliams (for Watson, 62’) 6, J Williams (for Martin, 64’) 6, Simpson (trialist) (for Hoskins, 67’) 6, Pollock (for Hutton, 68’) 5

Sheffield United: (3-5-2): Moore 7, Stevens 7, O’Connell 8, Egan 8, Jagielka 8, Freeman 6, Lundstram 6, Norwood (c) 8, Fleck 7, McGoldrick 8, Robinson 7

Subs: Freeman (for Robinson, 45’) 6, Basham (for Jagielka, 58’) 7

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 3825 (1143 away fans)

Star Men: Jordan Turnbull for Northampton and Oliver Norwood for Sheffield United.

words Toby Foster, D3D4 Northampton Town writer