Match report

Plymouth Stuns Northampton 3-2 in League One Thriller

Northampton
Northampton
2–3
FT
Plymouth
Plymouth
May 2, 2026

Plymouth staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Northampton 3-2 in a pulsating League One encounter at the Sixfields Stadium. Northampton took an early two-goal lead through Elliott List and M. Jacobs, but Plymouth, spearheaded by L. Tolaj and M. Boateng, equalized before B. Wiredu's decisive late goal sealed the victory for the visitors.

Key Facts

  • • Northampton led 2-0 after goals by Elliott List (13') and M. Jacobs (18')
  • • L. Tolaj (28') and M. Boateng (40') scored for Plymouth
  • • B. Wiredu (74') scored the winner for Plymouth
  • • Conor McCarthy (Northampton) was sent off in the 62nd minute
  • • Plymouth managed to equalize and win despite being down to 10 men for a significant part of the game

Lineups

Northampton

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 Lee Burge (G)
  • 3 Conor McCarthy (D)
  • 6 Jordan Willis (D)
  • 35 Max Dyche (D)
  • 12 Nesta Guinness-Walker (M)
  • 8 Cameron McGeehan (M)
  • 23 Terry Taylor (M)
  • 26 Kyle McAdam (M)
  • 15 Jake Evans (F)
  • 17 Michael Jacobs (F)
  • 10 Elliot List (F)

Substitutes

  • 7 Sam Hoskins
  • 11 Kamarai Swyer
  • 4 Dean Campbell
  • 40 Neo Dobson
  • 27 Jack Vale
  • 34 Ross Fitzsimons
  • 32 Mataeo Moon-Arnaez

Plymouth

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (G)
  • 8 Joe Edwards (D)
  • 2 Mathias Ross (D)
  • 15 Alex Mitchell (D)
  • 45 Wes Harding (D)
  • 28 Ronan Curtis (M)
  • 19 Malachi Boateng (M)
  • 17 Caleb Watts (M)
  • 35 Owen Dale (M)
  • 27 Aribim Pepple (F)
  • 9 Lorent Tolaj (F)

Substitutes

  • 4 Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu
  • 10 Xavier Amaechi
  • 5 Julio Pleguezuelo
  • 3 Jack Mackenzie
  • 29 Matthew Sorinola
  • 13 Zak Baker
  • 23 Bradley Ibrahim

Timeline

  1. Northampton
    13' Northampton Goal · Normal Goal
    Elliott List · Assist: M. Jacobs
  2. Northampton
    18' Northampton Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Jacobs · Assist: N. Guinness-Walker
  3. Plymouth
    28' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Tolaj · Assist: Joe Edwards
  4. Plymouth
    34' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    O. Dale

    Foul

  5. Plymouth
    40' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Boateng · Assist: L. Tolaj
  6. Northampton
    45'+1 Northampton Card · Yellow Card
    Conor McCarthy

    Foul

  7. Plymouth
    55' Plymouth subst · Substitution 1
    Off: O. Dale · On: X. Amaechi
  8. Plymouth
    55' Plymouth subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Caleb Watts · On: B. Wiredu
  9. Plymouth
    59' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    M. Ross

    Foul

  10. Northampton
    62' Northampton Card · Yellow Card
    Conor McCarthy

    Foul

  11. Northampton
    62' Northampton Card · Red Card
    Conor McCarthy

    Foul

  12. Northampton
    63' Northampton subst · Substitution 1
    Off: N. Guinness-Walker · On: S. Hoskins
  13. Northampton
    64' Northampton Card · Yellow Card
    Elliott List

    Foul

  14. Plymouth
    66' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    M. Boateng

    Foul

  15. Plymouth
    69' Plymouth subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Joe Edwards · On: J. Pleguezuelo
  16. Northampton
    70' Northampton subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Elliott List · On: K. Swyer
  17. Plymouth
    70' Plymouth subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Ross · On: J. MacKenzie
  18. Plymouth
    74' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    B. Wiredu · Assist: X. Amaechi
  19. Plymouth
    79' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    R. Curtis

    Argument

  20. Northampton
    84' Northampton Card · Yellow Card
    Jake Evans

    Foul

  21. Northampton
    85' Northampton subst · Substitution 3
    Off: K. McAdam · On: D. Campbell
  22. Northampton
    85' Northampton subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Jake Evans · On: N. Dobson
  23. Northampton
    85' Northampton subst · Substitution 5
    Off: M. Jacobs · On: Jack Vale
  24. Plymouth
    87' Plymouth subst · Substitution 5
    Off: R. Curtis · On: Matthew Sorinola

Match Stats

Stat Northampton Plymouth
Fouls 17 14
Pass Accuracy 57% 64%
Offsides 2 3
Red Cards 1 0
Total Shots 7 26
Corners 2 8
Total Passes 259 263
Yellow Cards 4 4
Blocked Shots 2 7
Shots on Target 4 10
xG — —
Shots off Target 1 9
Possession 49% 51%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 148 168
Shots Inside Box 3 21
Saves 6 2
Shots Outside Box 4 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Plymouth's quick response with goals from L. Tolaj and M. Boateng within 12 minutes, which ignited a turnaround against Northampton's early dominance
  • ▸ The dismissal of Northampton's Conor McCarthy, which shifted the momentum in favor of Plymouth and allowed them to maintain pressure and secure the win