Northampton Town confirm talks with EFL over Scunthorpe United over their team selection

Northampton Town have denied making a complaint to the English Football League about Scunthorpe United’s team selection against Bristol Rovers.

The Cobblers missed out on automatic promotion on goals scored after their 3-1 win wasn’t enough following the Gas’ final day heroics which saw them win 7-0 at the Memorial Stadium.

It overturned at what was at one point an eight goal swing during a 3-0 lead for Northampton, with Jon Brady’s side tasked with now overcoming Mansfield Town over two legs.

An article published by the Guardian said that the club would launch a formal complaint to the EFL over the side that The Iron side that took to the field.

It said that Northampton believed that the line up ‘compromised the integrity’ of the final day in League Two.

But Northampton Town later confirmed that discussions had been held with the EFL but that it was more about the rules moving forward and that preparations are now on their game with Mansfield Town with no official complaint lodged.

Their first leg match is on Saturday evening at 19.45 GMT at the One Call Stadium before playing four days later at Sixfields, as they hope for an immediate return to League One after going down with Rovers last season.

Their club chairman Kelvin Thomas said to the Northampton Chronicle: “As a club we have been overwhelmed by the support shown across all of football following a very tough day Saturday.

“We have obviously spoken to the EFL regarding some matters but probably more so about the rules going forward and we certainly do not expect anything to change in the short term. I have already congratulated the Bristol Rovers chairman on their promotion.

“We are now totally focused on the play-offs against Mansfield. We can’t lose sight of the fact that this group of players achieved 80 points over the season which we finished very strongly winning four of our last five games.”

Rules state that any team sheet from their last match should include at least 10 outfield players that appeared in their last game.

Keith Hill yielded three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with mid-table Hartlepool United a week before their match at the Memorial Stadium.

Academy graduate Oliver Lobley, who made his league debut at the Mem aged 18years-old scored an unfortunate own goal that began Rovers’ remarkable swing. He was taken off during the first-half and substituted for the more experienced Mason O’Malley, who has over 50 appearances.

Scunthorpe’s team consisted of seven teenagers including 17-year-old goalkeeper Owen Foster, who was making just his second league start.

Whilst there were six players who had fewer than five senior appearances between them making for a youthful side, that has been playing since Scunthorpe’s relegation from the Football League was confirmed.

“It’s the way that I’ve decided to go with the young players to try and give them the experience,” said Hill on his team selection.

“I wanted them to enjoy the experience of playing in front of a big crowd against a good side, but from a football perspective they were miles better than us.”