Ten-man Scunthorpe United saw their unbeaten run in League Two come to an end as they suffered a 2-0 loss at Northampton Town.
Emmanuel Onariase saw red after 20 minutes at Sixfields, and the hosts went on to ease to victory thanks to second half goals from Danny Rose and Sam Hoskins.
The Iron’s hopes of extending their unbeaten streak to five games suffered a major blow when Onariase was shown a straight red card after barging over Rose as he charged towards goal.
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Despite that setback, Scunthorpe almost took the lead as Liam Roberts was forced into a save from Devarn Green, before George Taft saw his header deflected just wide.
From there though, Northampton dominated, and Paul Lewis threatened with a header before Rory Watson was called into action with a superb point-blank save from Hoskins.
Lewis struck the crossbar with another header after the break before the Cobblers got their reward, with Rose poking the ball home from Hoskins’ cross just after the hour mark.
The Iron put some pressure on their hosts as they looked to rescue a point late on, but their hopes were dashed when Hoskins forced the ball home in stoppage time after Dylan Connolly’s effort was cleared off the line.
The manager’s thoughts
Neil Cox told the club’s website: “After the sending off it was difficult.
“We had a game plan and we knew in the first 15 minutes they were going to try and get it in behind us. Manny (Onariase) got himself sent off and then it was going to be difficult, but we got organised and managed to keep it at 0-0 at half time.
“In the second half we came out in a different way and tried to be braver in possession and play through the thirds. Then we conceded a goal from the counter-attack which we shouldn’t be doing - we should be organised, and should be getting closer to them.”
On the red card, Cox added: “I thought it was a definite red card. It went over Manny’s head, and he didn’t react quickly enough, it bounced, and the lad was in front of him. Manny decided to make a challenge and the lad went down. It’s a definite sending off.”
How they lined up
Northampton Town: Roberts, McGowan, Guthrie, Horsfall, Hoskins, Lewis, Pinnock (Connolly 64), Koiki, Flores, Etete (Kabamba 74), Rose (McWilliams 84).
Not used: Maxted, Sowerby, Pollock, Nelson.
Scunthorpe United: Watson, Taft (Bunn 76), Onariase, Green, Beestin, Rowe, Wood, Thompson, Jarvis (Scrimshaw 68), Davis, Hackney (Perry 61).
Not used: Collins, Hippolyte, O'Neill, Pugh.
