Two spot kicks from Toney the only bright spot
Town: Leutwiler, McGivern, Lancashire (Sarcevic 43), Sadler; Riley, Ogogo ©, Black (Deegan 33, Brown; Dodds; Toney, Waring (Leitch-Smith 68)Subs: Halstead, O’Brien, Sarcevic, Deegan, Mangan, Leitch-Smith, Ebanks-Blake
Northampton: Smith, Moloney, Diamond, Zakuani (Nyatanga HT), Buchanan ©; McCourt; Anderson, Hoskins, O’Toole (Richards 85), Hooper; Revel
Subs: Cornell, Byrom, Richards, Gorre, Potter, Beautyman, Nyatanga
Ref: Trevor Kettle
Assistants: David Plowright and Nigel Smith
Fourth Official: Joe Hull
Attendance: 5023
Town forward Ivan Toney scored two penalties against his old club but it could not stop Northampton Town from running away 4-2 winners at Greenhous Meadow.
The on-loan Newcastle forward had reduced the deficit from the spot just before half time after Gabriel Zakuani and Paul Anderson had given the away side a two-goal lead, but further goals courtesy of Sam Hoskins and another from Anderson in the second half sealed a convincing victory, despite Toney’s late consolation.
The loss means that it is now 10 games without a win in all competitions for Town, with the game most likely being the last in charge for caretaker Danny Coyne, with a permanent manager expected to be appointed early next week.
Jayson Leutwiler was forced into early action just five minutes in John-Joe O’Toole’s cross setting up a powerful header from Paul Anderson, but the Swiss keeper was level to it with a brilliant stop down to his left.
Town were matching their opponents in the early stages and produced a good chance of their own.
Junior Brown nodded across the face of goal after a short free kick, where after a scramble fell to Louis Dodds, but the Northampton keeper Adam Smith made a smart save with his legs.
The pressure then began to mount with Northampton coming forward, and the vibrant JJ Hooper was causing problems down the right side.
The winger made a good run and shot just wide, then a minute later he centred a cross, which was headed wide by Hoskins.
Northampton’s spell of dominance was confirmed midway through the half but the decisive moment was soft from Town’s point of view.
The set piece delivery from Jak McCourt was well flighted, and Zakuani leapt highest to head his side in front.
The away side doubled the lead just after the half hour, as Hooper again asserted himself, firing a cross in behind the Town backline and Anderson was on hand to bundle it home.
Impressive though was Town’s response to the double blow, especially for a side without a win in nine, and having lost both Ian Black and Oliver Lancashire in injury in the first half.
Ivan Toney found himself one on one with the first goalscorer Zakuani, and after a swift bit of footwork the forward was fouled, and given a chance to score against his former employers from the spot.
He took his chance to grab his fourth of the season and to give Town a route back into the game.
He looked set to equalize in first half added time as some neat work from George Waring set him through, but he couldn’t get his shot away.
Half Time: Shrewsbury 1-2 Northampton
As in the first half, Northampton started brightest and produced an early flurry of half chances with Hooper and Alex Revell putting weak efforts just wide, and McCourt stung the palms of Leutwiler from distance.
Toney was providing Town’s most likely route back into the game, as he sent a looping header over the bar 10 minutes into the second half.
Ultimately though, Town couldn’t pick up where they left off at the end of the first half and the away side extended their lead with 25 minutes to play.
Another corner delivery from McCourt caused problems and whilst the original ball in was headed clear, it was met with sweet low volley into the bottom left corner from the impressive Hoskins to make it 3-1.
That goal appeared to take any momentum away from Town, as Northampton then looked more and more likely to get another goal.
Toney continued to work up front for Town and after a period of pressure he nearly brought his side back into the game with a rasping drive from range, but the effort was just wide of the target.
That turned out to be one of the last efforts for the home side as Town toiled in trying to find a way back into the game, as their pressing allowed Northampton chances on the counter.
Anderson made the points completely safe by sealing his brace in the final minute of added time.
Toney completed his own brace in added time with a second penalty after Brown was brought down, and Town will hope that the new manager can help lift them off the bottom of League One in the coming weeks.
Full Time: Shrewsbury 2-4 Northampton