Birmingham held as Northampton produce impressive display

Table-topping Birmingham were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Northampton at Sixfields.

Tomoki Iwata’s own goal gave the Cobblers a deserved lead before Keshi Anderson levelled and despite plenty of second-half pressure, the Blues could not find a winner.

The table was flipped on its head in the first half as Northampton dominated and carried most of the attacking threat, racking up 10 shots to Birmingham’s two.

Dara Costelloe, Sam Hoskins and Cameron McGeehan were all close early on before Costelloe’s aggressive pressing forced Iwata to divert into his own net as Birmingham made a mess of playing out from the back.

McGeehan headed another chance over but the visitors crucially hauled themselves level in first-half stoppage time when, almost out of nothing, Anderson headed in Cristoph Klarer’s cross.

Birmingham were much improved in the second half and Jay Stansfield poked a good chance wide before an unmarked Willum Willumsson headed off target.

The visitors applied plenty of late pressure but Northampton defended stoutly and stood firm to claim an important point in their battle to avoid relegation.