Northampton 2 United Under-23s 0

Manchester United's Under-23s lost 2-0 to League Two side Northampton Town in a pre-season friendly, with Billy Walters and Kevin van Veen scoring in the second half.

After a low-key opening, Regan Poole, who spent last term on loan with the Cobblers, misjudged a pass back to Kieran O’Hara but the keeper saved well when Walters tried to round him. Poole deflected a van Veen shot over the bar before the Reds’ first real effort on goal arrived 10 minutes before the interval.

Aliou Traore squared the ball to Zak Dearnley but he dragged a low shot from distance wide of James Goff’s right-hand post, with the keeper having it covered. Dearnley had an even clearer sight of goal following fine work…