As competitive football returned across the English Football League, West Ham United loanee Michael Forbes marked his Northampton Town debut with his first goal in senior football.
The 21-year-old centre-back, who had started in Northampton’s final pre-season fixture, a 3-0 win over EFL Championship outfit Birmingham City, was one of eight summer signings in Kevin Nolan’s opening day XI.
Northampton began their third consecutive League One campaign with a familiar opponent, Wigan Athletic, the same side they met on the final day of last season. Wigan, unbeaten in 12 matches stretching back to last term, carried that momentum into the new campaign by racing into a two-goal lead before half-time thanks to efforts from new recruit Fraser Murray and academy graduate Jensen Weir.
Just 20 seconds into the second half, Murray added a second with a deflected effort into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Lee Burge with no chance and Northampton with a mountain to climb.
Despite the scoreline, the Cobblers didn’t let their heads drop and continued to push forward in search of a way back into the contest. They went close on a couple of occasions before Forbes rose highest from a corner to net his first goal in senior football.
Although not in the circumstances he might have hoped for, Forbes’ debut goal is a promising sign. Manager Kevin Nolan, who worked with Forbes during his time at West Ham, spoke highly of the young defender ahead of the season.
“He was a youth team player at West Ham when I was there. I know what he is capable of and the levels he is capable of reaching,” Nolan explained. “He had some really bad luck last season with injuries, but he’s back now and we feel we can provide the platform for Michael to develop and kick on.
“We believe we can help him reach the levels we know he is capable of and that includes playing international football again.”
Elsewhere in League One, Gideon Kodua was named on the bench for Luton Town as they began their campaign with a 1-0 win over newly promoted AFC Wimbledon, courtesy of a late Ryan Johnson own goal.
