Cobblers and Argyle draw blank

Northampton and Plymouth Argyle shared a goalless draw at Sixfields on Saturday as both clubs took another step closer towards safety.

The League Two game always had the look of a stalemate and, although Northampton had the majority of the chances, Argyle went closest when Paul Wotton hit the woodwork in the second half. With top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa on the bench after missing the midweek victory at Burton due to injury, the Cobblers lacked firepower. But Toni Silva missed a great chance to get them off to the perfect start when he blazed over from close range in the first minute. Ben Tozer was just off target with a long range effort and Michael Jacobs tested goalkeeper Jake Cole with a stinging free-kick as the home side made a lively start. Argyle gradually got into the game but there were few chances for Juvhel Tsoumou and Onismor Bhasera, although the two strikers combined just before the break with Tsoumou shooting straight at Matt Duke after cutting into the box. Wotton went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 75th minute when his scorching 25-yard free-kick struck the crossbar and bounced down on to the line before Duke gathered after a scramble. The final chance fell to Ben Harding in stoppage time but Cole was equal to his fierce volley.