Northampton Town picked up their first victory of 2021 as a Ryan Watson double saw off Plymouth Argyle at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Watson struck a goal in each half, with the first being Northampton’s first at home since December 29th, as Jon Brady picked up his first win as Cobblers caretaker manager.

In a tightly congested battle to avoid relegation from League One, the result lifted Northampton from bottom to 22nd, with the team one point from safety and 2 points from 18th place Burton Albion.

The game’s first big chance had seen Luke Jephcott denied by home goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, before Mickel Miller had Northampton’s first major opportunity when his cross-shot nearly caught out Michael Cooper, and the Rotherham loanee would also be denied by Cooper again later in the half.

The opening goal came in the final five minutes of the first half, as Watson picked up Ryan Edmondson’s lay-off and lashed it past Cooper to put the home side in front.

Plymouth enjoyed a lot of possession in the opening stages of the second period but found all attempts to break through the Northampton backline fruitless, and instead it was the home side with the game’s second goal.

It would be Watson with the second goal for both team and himself, as the midfielder got the final touch to turn the ball home following a post-corner goalmouth scramble.

A miserable evening for Plymouth got worse as Sam Woods was dismissed in added time for a bad foul on Ricky Korboa, but it was elation for Northampton who ended their 11 game winless run and pick up a potentially priceless three points.