A solitary goal from Adebayo Akinfenwa helped Northampton move into the play-off places with a win over Burton.

After the pitch passed an inspection early on Saturday, the hosts began well, with Akinfenwa heading Joe Widdowson's cross against the woodwork.

However, Cobblers top scorer Akinfenwa put his side in front when he looped in a header from Ben Tozer's delivery.

Jacques Maghoma almost produced a Brewers equaliser but his strike was deflected over the crossbar.

Burton keeper Dean Lyness denied Harding from furthering the hosts' lead and the Cobblers held on for their fourth successive home league victory to leapfrog their opponents in the League Two table.


Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd told BBC Radio Northampton:

"The fact that our supporters came in and were working from 7.30am to clear the pitch put a little bit more pressure on us. They did their bit, which we really do appreciate.

"It was up to us to keep their really good players quiet. In games like that you've got to grind out a win, and that's what we did.

"In the second half, we played some much better football and we played properly. Hopefully, our fans know they've got a team that might lose a few games but it certainly gives its all.

"Now we've got to back this up with a better away performance than we've put in of late."

Burton manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:

"They put us under pressure in the first 10 or 15 minutes.

"We knew that was going to happen and we dealt quite well with it.

"I was disappointed though, because I just felt we'd dealt with what they were going to do and we had three or four opportunities where balls were put in the box where you just need someone to go and get a toe end on it, but we couldn't do that.

"I'm not disappointed with the performance, but I'm disappointed with the result."
