Scunthorpe United 1 - 1 Northampton Town: Leaders Scunthorpe held at home by Northampton

Posted Sunday, October 09, 2016 by PA

Ten-man Northampton came from behind to claim a worthy point in a 1-1 draw at League One leaders Scunthorpe.

The Cobblers made light of having former Portsmouth and West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor see red for a late lunge in the 59th minute when Jak McCourt hammered in his first senior goal.

The strike cancelled out a stunning free-kick from Scunthorpe's Josh Morris a minute before the break, but was certainly no more than Northampton deserved for their battling display.

Morris, the division's top scorer, had given an indication of his ability at set pieces early on when a free-kick from similar range to the one he scored was saved brilliantly by goalkeeper Adam Smith.

After weathering a storm, Northampton grew into the game and Taylor saw a 24th-minute free-kick palmed away by Scunthorpe's Luke Daniels.

It was the Iron though who went in front when Morris' exquisite effort from just outside the box, his 12th league goal of the campaign, found the far top corner.

A difficult task for Northampton - who have not won at Scunthorpe since 1980 - became even harder when Taylor saw red for his foul on Neal Bishop.

But the Cobblers rallied and found an equaliser in the 74th minute when they broke upfield from a United attack and McCourt drilled the ball home at the second attempt.