Liverpool 2 Northampton 2 (AET): Michael Jacobs strike sends Roy Hodgson crackers as woeful Reds crash out on penalties

Down and out: Roy Hodgson cannot believe it as his side crash out of the Carling Cup at home to League Two Northampton


Northampton win 4-2 on penalties

Roy Hodgson's troubled reign was fast approaching crisis point as Liverpool slumped to one of the most embarrassing cup defeats in their history amid a chorus of boos at a disbelieving, half-empty Anfield.

Liverpool have never before lost to fourth division opposition but could have few complaints about bowing out of the Carling Cup to a Northampton side who sensed an upset and pursued it with increasing vigour and self-belief.

Ian Sampson's outsiders could easily have gone through in normal time, almost settled it in the extra half-hour and finally held their nerve to spring the upset of the tournament so far in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.

They were that good, and Liverpool were that bad. An away FA Cup defeat by non- League Worcester in 1959 arguably still stands as the greatest humiliation of Liverpool's illustrious past, but there are those who witnessed this sorry capitulation who would beg to differ.


First up: Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool off to the perfect start with his opener inside ten minutes


Hodgson said: ‘We didn’t play anywhere near the level I had hoped for until the last 15 minutes of extra time.

‘Even when it goes to penalties, you have home advantage and it is in front of the Kop. I’m not in

the mood for talking about positives. It’s a setback.’

Sampson said: ‘It’s a myth that League Two sides are all kick and rush. We had a 5ft 8in striker and a 5ft 5in midget behind him.

'We are a young team, and I was delighted with the way they followed instructions to the letter and put their bodies on the line, even when they were falling over with cramp.’


Stuck in: Northampton's Billy McKay refuses to take the threat ofDavid Ngog lightly with a crunching tackle


Liverpool went in front in the ninth minute through Milan Jovanovic and looked set for a comfortable passage into the fourth round.


As a sorry indictment of their shortcomings, they failed to muster another serious threat on Chris Dunn's goal until well after the 90-minute mark.

By then, they had been pegged back by a 56th-minute equaliser from 21-year old striker Billy McKay and were heading for an extra period that did little to ease the sense of dismay and barely-concealed disaffection on the Kop.

Northampton went ahead in the 98th minute with a goal from teenage winger Michael Jacobs and, cheered on by a massive following that almost filled the Anfield Road end, repelled Liverpool's increasingly frantic quest for an equaliser with ease until the 116th minute.

David Ngog gave his side at least a fighting chance of avoiding the unthinkable with a far-post header near the end of extra time to leave the tie deadlocked again.

Even then, the League Two side showed no inclination to take their chances in a penalty shoot-out as they poured forward and so nearly went ahead once more, Martin Kelly pulling off a desperate goalline clearance from substitute Nathaniel Wedderburn.

Northampton had edge proceedings on endeavour and even ability over the course of two hours but would surely be found out when it came down to a sheer test of nerve.

How wrong we were about these players accustomed to performing before crowds of 5,000 or so, who were up against a team packed with international experience despite all the alterations to the line-up that left it severely weakened.


Heads, you win: Northampton's Andrew Holt beats both Danny Wilson and Sotiros Kyrgiakos (R) to the ball


It looked like developing along those lines, as Northampton substitute Steve Guinan stepped up and blazed the first spot-kick over.

But there was another twist to come in a remarkable encounter, as Ngog sidefooted his kick yards wide and, after successful attempts by Thornton, Liam Davis and Jacobs for Northampton and Jonjo Shelvey and Daniel Agger for Liverpool, young Nathan Eccleston struck the bar.


Midfielder Abdul Osman marched forward purposefully for the allimportant penalty and despatched it beyond Brad Jones to send Northampton through, to the elation of their squad, supporters and officials in the directors' box.


Dream land: Michael Jacobs celebrates (below) after his goal puts the Cobblers ahead in extra time


Hodgson, though, had made 11 changes to his starting line-up and left himself wide open to criticism by leaving no options on a bench packed with untried youngsters.


Liverpool ran out of energy and ideas long before the end of normal time. Just as significantly, while opposite number Ian Sampson spent virtually the entire second half pacing the technical area and cajoling his players into one last effort, Hodgson stayed in his seat, forlornly watching his side stumble from one basic error to another.


Kop that: Osman beats Brad Jones in front of stunned Liverpool fans


The cries of 'You're getting sacked in the morning' may have been a touch harsh, not to mention premature, but the sound of jeers and boos ringing round the ground from home fans at the other end will have set alarm bells ringing for the former Fulham boss and Liverpool's hierarchy.

Age and inexperience could not even be put forward as an excuse. Hodgson may have rung the changes and left Liverpool desperately short of know-how and proven pedigree, but their opponents were not only 69 places below them on the League ladder but relying for inspiration on the likes of 21-year-old McKay and lively young winger Jacobs, who is just 18.


Delirious: Northampton players erupt with joy after Abdul Osman holds his nerve and tucks away the decisive penalty to win it 4-2


There were no excuses, and Hodgson knew it as he made his way down the tunnel, drenched from the night's downpour and shocked by his side's failings.


source: dailymail