In a Halloween night classic, No Saints pulled off their best performance of the season as an eight man squad helped us to a big victory over Kashima Antlers.
Antlers took the lead early on but Jamie finished well to draw us level. Jamie hit his second to give us the lead but our plucky opponents grabbed an equaliser with a well taken goal. But No Saints were too strong and goals from Nathan, Andy, Abib and myself with a slightly deflected shot gave us a 6-2 victory and takes us into the top two of the table again.
We now know that the promotion dream is in our onw hands and four wins from our final four games will see us into League One. Plenty of hard work still to come though and we'll take each game as it comes but next week's clash with the Closers can't come soon enough!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
No Saints vs Kashima Antlers Preview...
No Saints look once again to bounce back tonight after two straight defeats dropped us to third in the table ahead of tonight’s Halloween night clash with Kashima Antlers.
Last time out, in the opening game of the season, two a piece from Abib and Andy gave us a 4-2 win over Antlers but they should be a sterner test this time around with more experience of the league so it’ll be a big test for us to get back to winning ways.
It looks like we have a full strength squad to choose from and with the team just a point off the top two, all is still to play for as the league gathers pace. The tight nature of the table means anything can happen and the excitement is building in the No Saints camp as we desperately need a win tonight.
Last time out, in the opening game of the season, two a piece from Abib and Andy gave us a 4-2 win over Antlers but they should be a sterner test this time around with more experience of the league so it’ll be a big test for us to get back to winning ways.
It looks like we have a full strength squad to choose from and with the team just a point off the top two, all is still to play for as the league gathers pace. The tight nature of the table means anything can happen and the excitement is building in the No Saints camp as we desperately need a win tonight.
**Seasonal fans will notice a change to the usual team photo this week!**
The Midweek Review...31/10/07
So the away day blues are now over as the Cobblers recorded their first away win of the season with a smash and grab effort at Oldham Athletic that now sets up an interesting test at home to Southend United this weekend.
Listening to the Oldham game in a small coffee/book shop in Southampton on Saturday I was waiting for the inevitable goal for the home side as they seemed to press us back from the word go. Former Cobblers target Craig Davies was causing all the problems but the Cobblers had not a lot in response with Hoobs strangely dropped to the bench alongside Alex Russell. But we held on and held on before the inspirational substitution that saw Russell score with his first touch.
That was all she wrote and Oldham’s pressure decreased after our goal to give us a massive three points and push up to the heady heights of tenth in the League One table.
Stuart Gray took a chance in changing things around at the start of the game but it certainly paid off this time, adding another arrow to his growing bow of management. How many times did we scream at Colin Calderwood to make a change when things weren’t going our way and see him wait until stoppage time to do anything? Interestingly, Calderwood’s Forest failed to break down the same Oldham side at the City Ground last night in a 0-0 stalemate. Forest were booed off at half time and full time and there was no way though for CC’s men.
Managers live and die on their decisions and Stuart Gray got it spot on again on Saturday with his theory of “it’s not the team that starts the game that matters, it’s the team that finishes it,” certainly paying off.
Darlington away in the F.A.Cup is a big test with the Quakers third in the League Two table as it stands. They have a lot of experienced heads on the pitch while Dave Penney is doing a superb job on the sidelines to put them in a challenging position. It is, though, a game that’s winnable and we’ll hopefully go into the game on the back of positive results in two league games at Sixfields.
The game at home to Southend on Saturday is a chance to make the step up to the next level for the first time since our time back in League One. Southend sit three points clear of the Cobblers in fourth place and a win would take us to the brink of the playoff challenge, something we’ve not even come close to in the last year and a half.
Whether we’re good enough to make the step up remains to be seen but whatever the result on Saturday we shouldn’t get carried away. The good thing is that we’ve won the last two games without being on top form and if we can reach the peak of our ability there’s no reason why Southend can’t be beaten. But to be in this position and be a win away from a possible place in the top six is testament to the hard work of the players so far this season. There’s a lot of hard work to come and a couple of defeats could take us right back into the bottom half but we’ve seen enough to think that we can turn ourselves from a mid-table side to one that maybe can challenge the playoff chasers.
Following Southend we come up against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night and an entirely different test altogether. After a decent start, Rovers have fallen a little in recent weeks and occupy one of the places above the bottom four. The outlook ahead of the game will depend on the result against Southend but the Sixfields attendances could well begin to creep up if we continue our fine home form.
So we now have the chance to climb to our highest league position in nine and a half years and really set up an exciting winter period.
Up The Cobblers!
Listening to the Oldham game in a small coffee/book shop in Southampton on Saturday I was waiting for the inevitable goal for the home side as they seemed to press us back from the word go. Former Cobblers target Craig Davies was causing all the problems but the Cobblers had not a lot in response with Hoobs strangely dropped to the bench alongside Alex Russell. But we held on and held on before the inspirational substitution that saw Russell score with his first touch.
That was all she wrote and Oldham’s pressure decreased after our goal to give us a massive three points and push up to the heady heights of tenth in the League One table.
Stuart Gray took a chance in changing things around at the start of the game but it certainly paid off this time, adding another arrow to his growing bow of management. How many times did we scream at Colin Calderwood to make a change when things weren’t going our way and see him wait until stoppage time to do anything? Interestingly, Calderwood’s Forest failed to break down the same Oldham side at the City Ground last night in a 0-0 stalemate. Forest were booed off at half time and full time and there was no way though for CC’s men.
Managers live and die on their decisions and Stuart Gray got it spot on again on Saturday with his theory of “it’s not the team that starts the game that matters, it’s the team that finishes it,” certainly paying off.
Darlington away in the F.A.Cup is a big test with the Quakers third in the League Two table as it stands. They have a lot of experienced heads on the pitch while Dave Penney is doing a superb job on the sidelines to put them in a challenging position. It is, though, a game that’s winnable and we’ll hopefully go into the game on the back of positive results in two league games at Sixfields.
The game at home to Southend on Saturday is a chance to make the step up to the next level for the first time since our time back in League One. Southend sit three points clear of the Cobblers in fourth place and a win would take us to the brink of the playoff challenge, something we’ve not even come close to in the last year and a half.
Whether we’re good enough to make the step up remains to be seen but whatever the result on Saturday we shouldn’t get carried away. The good thing is that we’ve won the last two games without being on top form and if we can reach the peak of our ability there’s no reason why Southend can’t be beaten. But to be in this position and be a win away from a possible place in the top six is testament to the hard work of the players so far this season. There’s a lot of hard work to come and a couple of defeats could take us right back into the bottom half but we’ve seen enough to think that we can turn ourselves from a mid-table side to one that maybe can challenge the playoff chasers.
Following Southend we come up against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night and an entirely different test altogether. After a decent start, Rovers have fallen a little in recent weeks and occupy one of the places above the bottom four. The outlook ahead of the game will depend on the result against Southend but the Sixfields attendances could well begin to creep up if we continue our fine home form.
So we now have the chance to climb to our highest league position in nine and a half years and really set up an exciting winter period.
Up The Cobblers!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Darlington Test for Town in cup...
The Cobblers have been drawn away at League Two high flyers Darlington in the first round of the F.A. Cup. We will make the trip to the Darlington Arena in two weeks' time in a tricky looking tie.
The Cobblers were the first away team drawn out of the hat and will come up against former favourite at Sixfields Martin Smith along with the likes of Julian Joachim and Pawell Abbott.
Last time the sides met was a 1-0 win for the Cobblers en route to automatic promotion from League Two a couple of years ago. Josh Low scored the only goal that day so let's hope for a repeat of that to take us through to Round Two! The Cobblers were beaten by League Two opposition in the F.A. Cup last season as Barnet dumped us out 4-1 at Underhill in the second round.
The Cobblers were the first away team drawn out of the hat and will come up against former favourite at Sixfields Martin Smith along with the likes of Julian Joachim and Pawell Abbott.
Last time the sides met was a 1-0 win for the Cobblers en route to automatic promotion from League Two a couple of years ago. Josh Low scored the only goal that day so let's hope for a repeat of that to take us through to Round Two! The Cobblers were beaten by League Two opposition in the F.A. Cup last season as Barnet dumped us out 4-1 at Underhill in the second round.
Oldham Athletic 0-1 Northampton Town
The Cobblers recorded their first away win of the season as Alex Russell's goal was enough to see off Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park despite a long period of pressure from the home side.
Stuart Gray began with a surprise inclusion for Ryan Gilligan in for Poul Hubertz with the big Dane dropping to the bench. Joe Burnell was also included in place of Daniel Jones with Chris Doig returning to the starting line-up in a back three. Alex Russell was also dropped to the bench. Former England international Michael Ricketts and ex-Cobblers target Craig Davies started up front for the home side.
Brad Johnson ha the first real attempt of the game but his snap shot went comfortably wide of Marlon Beresford's post. The Cobblers' first scare of the game when big Oldham defender Neil Trotman won a header from a corner and nodded the ball just over the cross bar.Just past the twenty minute mark, Oldham went the closest that either side had come as Michael Ricketts played in Craig Davies who took the ball past Mark Bunn. But his run took him too wide and Davies shot wide from the angle with Cobblers defenders back on the line.
Davies shot wide again a minute later as the home side took charge of the game.Davies caused more problems on the half hour mark before setting up John Paul Kalala but the former Grimsby man shot over.
Neil Kilkenny also shot over the bar as Oldham pressed for the lead before Craig Davies shot into the side netting. The Cobblers were being pressed back more and more as the half went on and the home side looked by far the more likely to score.
Michael Ricketts almost made the breakthrough just before half time but his header from six yards out produced a fine save from Mark Bunn but the Cobblers got to half-time with the game at 0-0 and perhaps a little fortunate to still be level.
Stuart Gray made a half-time change with Colin Larkin replaced by Poul Hubertz up front in a bid to change the flow of the game in our favour.
The home side had the first effort of the second half but Chris Taylor could only direct his shot wide from his position at the back post. The Cobblers' first effort of the half came when Hubertz headed wide from a corner.
Oldham continued their pressing on the Cobblers goal and were still well on top as we passed the hour mark.On 65 minutes, Daniel Jones and Alex Russell replaced Danny Jackman and Joe Burnell as we brought some fresh legs into the game.
Incredibly, it was Russell's first touch that gave the Cobblers the lead as he smashed the ball home from the edge of the area past Beresford to stun the home fans who had seen their team dominate most of the game.
Craig Davies blasted a shot over the bar from the edge of the area minutes after the goal as the home side continued to be frustrated in front of goal.With fifteen minutes to go, Andy Kirk tested Marlon Beresford with a header and it took two attempts for the Oldham keeper to get a hold of the ball.
Deane Smalley then flicked a header over the bar from a free kick at the other end but the Cobblers held on.
Oldham seemed less dangerous when behind than they were at 0-0 as the Cobblers hung on to the lead late on to record a massive victory despite being pushed back for most of the game. A win's a win though and for the second week in a row we seem to have won ugly but Stuart Gray will certainly take that!
Stuart Gray began with a surprise inclusion for Ryan Gilligan in for Poul Hubertz with the big Dane dropping to the bench. Joe Burnell was also included in place of Daniel Jones with Chris Doig returning to the starting line-up in a back three. Alex Russell was also dropped to the bench. Former England international Michael Ricketts and ex-Cobblers target Craig Davies started up front for the home side.
Brad Johnson ha the first real attempt of the game but his snap shot went comfortably wide of Marlon Beresford's post. The Cobblers' first scare of the game when big Oldham defender Neil Trotman won a header from a corner and nodded the ball just over the cross bar.Just past the twenty minute mark, Oldham went the closest that either side had come as Michael Ricketts played in Craig Davies who took the ball past Mark Bunn. But his run took him too wide and Davies shot wide from the angle with Cobblers defenders back on the line.
Davies shot wide again a minute later as the home side took charge of the game.Davies caused more problems on the half hour mark before setting up John Paul Kalala but the former Grimsby man shot over.
Neil Kilkenny also shot over the bar as Oldham pressed for the lead before Craig Davies shot into the side netting. The Cobblers were being pressed back more and more as the half went on and the home side looked by far the more likely to score.
Michael Ricketts almost made the breakthrough just before half time but his header from six yards out produced a fine save from Mark Bunn but the Cobblers got to half-time with the game at 0-0 and perhaps a little fortunate to still be level.
Stuart Gray made a half-time change with Colin Larkin replaced by Poul Hubertz up front in a bid to change the flow of the game in our favour.
The home side had the first effort of the second half but Chris Taylor could only direct his shot wide from his position at the back post. The Cobblers' first effort of the half came when Hubertz headed wide from a corner.
Oldham continued their pressing on the Cobblers goal and were still well on top as we passed the hour mark.On 65 minutes, Daniel Jones and Alex Russell replaced Danny Jackman and Joe Burnell as we brought some fresh legs into the game.
Incredibly, it was Russell's first touch that gave the Cobblers the lead as he smashed the ball home from the edge of the area past Beresford to stun the home fans who had seen their team dominate most of the game.
Craig Davies blasted a shot over the bar from the edge of the area minutes after the goal as the home side continued to be frustrated in front of goal.With fifteen minutes to go, Andy Kirk tested Marlon Beresford with a header and it took two attempts for the Oldham keeper to get a hold of the ball.
Deane Smalley then flicked a header over the bar from a free kick at the other end but the Cobblers held on.
Oldham seemed less dangerous when behind than they were at 0-0 as the Cobblers hung on to the lead late on to record a massive victory despite being pushed back for most of the game. A win's a win though and for the second week in a row we seem to have won ugly but Stuart Gray will certainly take that!
Friday, October 26, 2007
No Saints 3-6 POSH
No Saints suffered another set back on Wednesday with a second successive defeat, this time to POSH.
After going a goal down to a penalty early on, POSH hammered home their advantage with three more before we hit back with a superb fight back. Abib scored twice, either side of Dave’s Goal of the Season contender as he marched round three defenders before slotting home.
We threw everything at POSH in search of an equaliser but unfortunately they hit us on the break and grabbed two further goals to make it 6-3.
We’ll be looking to bounce straight back next week against bottom club Kashima Antlers but promotion is still in our grasp as we still sit just a point off the top two with half a season still to play.
Meanwhile, the No Saints End of Season party will take place at the Old Fat Cat on Thursday, November 29th.
After going a goal down to a penalty early on, POSH hammered home their advantage with three more before we hit back with a superb fight back. Abib scored twice, either side of Dave’s Goal of the Season contender as he marched round three defenders before slotting home.
We threw everything at POSH in search of an equaliser but unfortunately they hit us on the break and grabbed two further goals to make it 6-3.
We’ll be looking to bounce straight back next week against bottom club Kashima Antlers but promotion is still in our grasp as we still sit just a point off the top two with half a season still to play.
Meanwhile, the No Saints End of Season party will take place at the Old Fat Cat on Thursday, November 29th.
Oldham Athletic (A) Preview...
The Cobblers make the long trip north to Oldham tomorrow afternoon, once again going after their first away win of the season. Stuart Gray’s side have played six times away from Sixfields in the league this season, drawing three and losing three so hopefully that first win is just a day away.
Stuart Gray is still without Ian Henderson for another couple of weeks but skipper Chris Doig comes into contention again after coming through Tuesday nights’ 3-1 reserve win over Southend United unscathed. Giles Coke played an hour of the same game but he will probably need a couple more second string games to gain full fitness.
Oldham have doubts over two defenders going into the game with the Cobblers. Sean Gregan has an Achilles injury that forced him out of Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at Doncaster and is more than likely to miss the game. He could be joined on the sidelines by summer signing John Thompson who has a knee problem. Stefan Stam is standing by to fill in at the back.
THE STORY SO FAR…OLDHAM ATHLETIC IN 2007/08…
Oldham came flying out of the blocks in the opening week of the season as they overcame promotion hopefuls Swansea City 2-1 at Boundary Park before hammering Mansfield Town 4-1 in the League cup the following Tuesday night.
Defeat at Carlisle and at home to newly promoted Bristol Rovers brought them crashing down to earth before Burnley sent them out in Round Two of the League Cup at Turf Moor. Back in the league and it was four defeats in a row in all competitions as another promoted side, Hartlepool United, defeated the Latics 4-1.
Oldham saw off Accrington Stanley in the JPT but continued to fall down the league table with another defeat, this time 1-0 at home to Southend United.
Back to back wins at Walsall (3-0) and at home to Crewe (3-2) picked them up again before Leeds United scored a late winner to cruelly end the winning run. Two draws followed at Cheltenham and Huddersfield to steady the ship a little and keep the side just outside the bottom four.
The Latics were sent crashing out of the JPT on Tuesday night, beaten 3-0 by holders Doncaster Rovers.
RECENT MEETINGS…
28/01/07: COBBLERS 2-3 OLDHAM
Ritchie Wellens gives Oldham a second minute lead before Andy Kirk hits back mid-way through the half. But goals from Paul Warne and Chris Porter put the visitors three up. A Jordan Robertson goal two minutes from time isn’t enough for the Cobblers to avoid defeat.
23/12/06: OLDHAM 3-0 COBBLERS
Ian Sampson’s first game in charge is a heavy defeat last Christmas as Oldham score three without reply.
22/03/03: COBBLERS 0-2 OLDHAM
Wayne Andrews’ double condemns the Cobblers to defeat at Sixfields.
29/10/02: OLDHAM 4-0 COBBLERS
Oldham serve up a hammering at Boundary Park. Wayne Andrews, former Cobbler Carlo Corazzin and two from David Eyres complete a comfortable win.
29/12/0/01: COBBLERS 0-1 OLDHAM
David Eyres scores ten minutes from time to give Oldham all three points.
28/08/01: OLDHAM 4-2 COBBLERS
Stuart Balmer and Paul Rickers give the home side a two goal lead but Richard Hope gets one back just inside the second half. Lee Duxbury and Matthew Tipton extend Oldham’s lead before Hope strikes again in stoppage time with a consolation.
FOR THE RECORD….COBBLERS v LATICS…
GAMES PLAYED: 28
OLDHAM WINS: 12
DRAWS: 7
COBBLERS WINS: 9
Stuart Gray is still without Ian Henderson for another couple of weeks but skipper Chris Doig comes into contention again after coming through Tuesday nights’ 3-1 reserve win over Southend United unscathed. Giles Coke played an hour of the same game but he will probably need a couple more second string games to gain full fitness.
Oldham have doubts over two defenders going into the game with the Cobblers. Sean Gregan has an Achilles injury that forced him out of Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at Doncaster and is more than likely to miss the game. He could be joined on the sidelines by summer signing John Thompson who has a knee problem. Stefan Stam is standing by to fill in at the back.
THE STORY SO FAR…OLDHAM ATHLETIC IN 2007/08…
Oldham came flying out of the blocks in the opening week of the season as they overcame promotion hopefuls Swansea City 2-1 at Boundary Park before hammering Mansfield Town 4-1 in the League cup the following Tuesday night.
Defeat at Carlisle and at home to newly promoted Bristol Rovers brought them crashing down to earth before Burnley sent them out in Round Two of the League Cup at Turf Moor. Back in the league and it was four defeats in a row in all competitions as another promoted side, Hartlepool United, defeated the Latics 4-1.
Oldham saw off Accrington Stanley in the JPT but continued to fall down the league table with another defeat, this time 1-0 at home to Southend United.
Back to back wins at Walsall (3-0) and at home to Crewe (3-2) picked them up again before Leeds United scored a late winner to cruelly end the winning run. Two draws followed at Cheltenham and Huddersfield to steady the ship a little and keep the side just outside the bottom four.
The Latics were sent crashing out of the JPT on Tuesday night, beaten 3-0 by holders Doncaster Rovers.
RECENT MEETINGS…
28/01/07: COBBLERS 2-3 OLDHAM
Ritchie Wellens gives Oldham a second minute lead before Andy Kirk hits back mid-way through the half. But goals from Paul Warne and Chris Porter put the visitors three up. A Jordan Robertson goal two minutes from time isn’t enough for the Cobblers to avoid defeat.
23/12/06: OLDHAM 3-0 COBBLERS
Ian Sampson’s first game in charge is a heavy defeat last Christmas as Oldham score three without reply.
22/03/03: COBBLERS 0-2 OLDHAM
Wayne Andrews’ double condemns the Cobblers to defeat at Sixfields.
29/10/02: OLDHAM 4-0 COBBLERS
Oldham serve up a hammering at Boundary Park. Wayne Andrews, former Cobbler Carlo Corazzin and two from David Eyres complete a comfortable win.
29/12/0/01: COBBLERS 0-1 OLDHAM
David Eyres scores ten minutes from time to give Oldham all three points.
28/08/01: OLDHAM 4-2 COBBLERS
Stuart Balmer and Paul Rickers give the home side a two goal lead but Richard Hope gets one back just inside the second half. Lee Duxbury and Matthew Tipton extend Oldham’s lead before Hope strikes again in stoppage time with a consolation.
FOR THE RECORD….COBBLERS v LATICS…
GAMES PLAYED: 28
OLDHAM WINS: 12
DRAWS: 7
COBBLERS WINS: 9
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Midweek Review...24/10/07...
It’s been a relatively quiet week at Sixfields this week but the win over Cheltenham at the weekend followed by the return to action of Giles Coke and Chris Doig in the reserves yesterday means it’s been a positive week all in all.
I couldn’t make it to Sixfields on Saturday but most reports tell me of a poor game with not a lot of chances at either end other than the goals. Still, a wins’ a win and another three points at home, taking us into the top half and up to four wins on the bounce at fortress Sixfields! I would imagine a much sterner test in our next home game with Southend the visitors but there’s no reason why we can’t rise to the challenge. A point at Oldham would bring us some stability in mid-table and possibly set up a good attendance for the visit of the Shrimpers.
It’s great to see Andy Kirk topping the leading goal scorers list on Sky Sports News and it’s been a very long time since one of our players has had that accolade, particularly at this level. I admit to being one of those who thought it would be best for Kirk to move on this summer but the faith that Stuart Gray has shown in him has reaped all the benefits and long may the Northern Ireland man prove me and a few others wrong!
The reserves’ win over Southend United yesterday saw Chris Doig play a full 90 minutes while Giles Coke put in an hour before coming off unscathed. Both players seem to be ahead of their target in terms of getting back to action and Doig may even feature at Boundary Park on Saturday. It may well take a couple more reserve games for Coke to break into the first team but it sounds like good progress from the summer signing.
We once again turn our attention to the away form this weekend in a bid to make a further move up the table. As long as we keep winning our home games, anything picked up away will be a bonus but with the games getting trickier at Sixfields we need to get some wins under our belt on the road. I’m sure that the illusive first away win is not too far away and it would be a big weight off our shoulders if we were to get it at Oldham.
So as we head into the cold winter months and the clocks go back this weekend to create the dark evenings we enter a vital period of the season. We’re now five points clear of the bottom four and if we can keep on improving on that figure by the time Santa comes a knocking it will set up an exciting second half of the campaign.
Up the Cobblers!
I couldn’t make it to Sixfields on Saturday but most reports tell me of a poor game with not a lot of chances at either end other than the goals. Still, a wins’ a win and another three points at home, taking us into the top half and up to four wins on the bounce at fortress Sixfields! I would imagine a much sterner test in our next home game with Southend the visitors but there’s no reason why we can’t rise to the challenge. A point at Oldham would bring us some stability in mid-table and possibly set up a good attendance for the visit of the Shrimpers.
It’s great to see Andy Kirk topping the leading goal scorers list on Sky Sports News and it’s been a very long time since one of our players has had that accolade, particularly at this level. I admit to being one of those who thought it would be best for Kirk to move on this summer but the faith that Stuart Gray has shown in him has reaped all the benefits and long may the Northern Ireland man prove me and a few others wrong!
The reserves’ win over Southend United yesterday saw Chris Doig play a full 90 minutes while Giles Coke put in an hour before coming off unscathed. Both players seem to be ahead of their target in terms of getting back to action and Doig may even feature at Boundary Park on Saturday. It may well take a couple more reserve games for Coke to break into the first team but it sounds like good progress from the summer signing.
We once again turn our attention to the away form this weekend in a bid to make a further move up the table. As long as we keep winning our home games, anything picked up away will be a bonus but with the games getting trickier at Sixfields we need to get some wins under our belt on the road. I’m sure that the illusive first away win is not too far away and it would be a big weight off our shoulders if we were to get it at Oldham.
So as we head into the cold winter months and the clocks go back this weekend to create the dark evenings we enter a vital period of the season. We’re now five points clear of the bottom four and if we can keep on improving on that figure by the time Santa comes a knocking it will set up an exciting second half of the campaign.
Up the Cobblers!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Cheltenham Town (H) Preview...
The Cobblers welcome struggling Cheltenham Town to Sixfields tomorrow as we look to bounce back from the 4-1 defeat at Luton Town on Monday night. We’ll be looking to extend the winning run at home to four victories in a row and keep out of reach of the pack at the foot of the table.
Stuart Gray is without Chris Doig and long term absentee Giles Coke, though both may play a part in the reserve game next week. Ian Henderson is the latest to be added to the injured list after picking up a knee injury at Kenilworth Road on Monday night. Poul Hubertz returns to the starting line-up after his one match suspension and will partner Andy Kirk up front once again.
Steven Gillespie is back in contention for Cheltenham after coming through a reserve team game in midweek while Andy Lindegaard returns after suspension.
THE STORY SO FAR…CHELTENHAM TOWN IN 2007/08…
Cheltenham began the season as many people’s tips for the drop but started with a 1-0 home win over Gillingham at Whaddon Road.
After a 4-1 reverse at Southend in the League cup, they suffered their first league defeat away at Millwall. A home draw with Swindon followed before another away defeat, this time at Carlisle by the single goal.
The first victory on their travels soon followed though as the Robins picked up an impressive 3-2 success at Huddersfield but were then beaten a week later at home to Swansea City. A draw with high flying Tranmere Rovers looked to get the side back on track but two bad away days culminating in defeat at Doncaster and Port Vale kept them in the lower reaches of the table.
Town’s first home game of October ended in a 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic before they progressed in the JPT away at Swindon.
Last weekend saw a Kris Commons hat-trick condemn Cheltenham to a heavy 3-0 home defeat as Forest continued their fine form and the club now sit in place before the visit to Sixfields.
RECENT MEETINGS…
26/12/06: COBBLERS 2-0 CHELTENHAM
Two goals from Scott McGleish, one a penalty, seal a much needed win for caretaker manager Ian Sampson on Boxing Day last year.
26/09/06: CHETENHAM 0-2 COBBLERS
Andy Kirk and a Scott McGleish penalty are enough for our first win at Whaddon Road.
11/02/06: CHELTENHAM 3-1 COBBLERS
Steve Guinan, Kayode Odejayi and a John Melligan spot kick seal a comfortable win for the home side. Scott McGleish hits an injury time consolation.
24/09/05: COBBLERS 1-2 CHELTENHAM
Two goals from Kayode Odejayi either side of an Ian Taylor strike gives The Robins a win at Sixfields.
16/04/05: CHELTENHAM 1-0 COBBLERS
Damian Spencer scores the only goal of the game for the home side.
07/12/04: COBBLERS 1-1 CHELTENHAM
Scott McGleish gives the Cobblers an early lead but Damian Spencer comes off the bench to level the scores.
FOR THE RECORD…COBBLERS v ROBINS…
GAMES PLAYED: 12
COBBLERS WINS: 4
DRAWS: 2
CHELTENHAM WINS: 6
Stuart Gray is without Chris Doig and long term absentee Giles Coke, though both may play a part in the reserve game next week. Ian Henderson is the latest to be added to the injured list after picking up a knee injury at Kenilworth Road on Monday night. Poul Hubertz returns to the starting line-up after his one match suspension and will partner Andy Kirk up front once again.
Steven Gillespie is back in contention for Cheltenham after coming through a reserve team game in midweek while Andy Lindegaard returns after suspension.
THE STORY SO FAR…CHELTENHAM TOWN IN 2007/08…
Cheltenham began the season as many people’s tips for the drop but started with a 1-0 home win over Gillingham at Whaddon Road.
After a 4-1 reverse at Southend in the League cup, they suffered their first league defeat away at Millwall. A home draw with Swindon followed before another away defeat, this time at Carlisle by the single goal.
The first victory on their travels soon followed though as the Robins picked up an impressive 3-2 success at Huddersfield but were then beaten a week later at home to Swansea City. A draw with high flying Tranmere Rovers looked to get the side back on track but two bad away days culminating in defeat at Doncaster and Port Vale kept them in the lower reaches of the table.
Town’s first home game of October ended in a 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic before they progressed in the JPT away at Swindon.
Last weekend saw a Kris Commons hat-trick condemn Cheltenham to a heavy 3-0 home defeat as Forest continued their fine form and the club now sit in place before the visit to Sixfields.
RECENT MEETINGS…
26/12/06: COBBLERS 2-0 CHELTENHAM
Two goals from Scott McGleish, one a penalty, seal a much needed win for caretaker manager Ian Sampson on Boxing Day last year.
26/09/06: CHETENHAM 0-2 COBBLERS
Andy Kirk and a Scott McGleish penalty are enough for our first win at Whaddon Road.
11/02/06: CHELTENHAM 3-1 COBBLERS
Steve Guinan, Kayode Odejayi and a John Melligan spot kick seal a comfortable win for the home side. Scott McGleish hits an injury time consolation.
24/09/05: COBBLERS 1-2 CHELTENHAM
Two goals from Kayode Odejayi either side of an Ian Taylor strike gives The Robins a win at Sixfields.
16/04/05: CHELTENHAM 1-0 COBBLERS
Damian Spencer scores the only goal of the game for the home side.
07/12/04: COBBLERS 1-1 CHELTENHAM
Scott McGleish gives the Cobblers an early lead but Damian Spencer comes off the bench to level the scores.
FOR THE RECORD…COBBLERS v ROBINS…
GAMES PLAYED: 12
COBBLERS WINS: 4
DRAWS: 2
CHELTENHAM WINS: 6
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Club v Country....
I’m not even going to mention the England game much here but the dismal Euro 2008 qualifying campaign has brought up, once again, the club v country row that always pops up whenever England play huge games.
The most high-profile figures involved as the subject of the latest debates are Frank Lampard and Michael Owen, for different reasons. Owen, for his miraculous recovery from injury and whether he was fit enough to play for his country and Lampard for apparently not giving as much effort for England as he does for Chelsea.
Both situations are quite ridiculous. Owen, if fit, should play for Newcastle and England equally and not sit out of one game to benefit the other. I can totally understand his point of view of wanting to play in every football game he plays and I wonder if Sam Allardyce would have the same feelings if he were the England boss and McClaren in charge of Newcastle? Lampard’s situation is that he’s getting the brunt of the latest “boo boy” campaign and England “fans” are saying that he’s not producing the goods for his country as he does for Chelsea. Lamps is a world class player whoever he plays for and it’s not fair that he gets the brunt of the stick with every misplaced pass whereas Steven Gerrard’s glorious miss may well go more unnoticed than if it was Lampard’s error.
In the players’ case, they should be able to play equally as much and as well for their country and club but sometimes one bad game for England will be a lot more noticeable. Example, if Lampard has a bad game for Chelsea but they win, it’s taken as an off day and Chelsea move on the following week. But a bad game for England and suddenly with the nation watching it gets more exposure and he has to wait months sometimes to put it right. In which time he’s played outstanding football for Chelsea and rebuilt his reputation enough for us to expect a dominating performance from him for England.
It’s becoming more and more difficult for these players to play for England and the media hype may have been one of the reasons why we lost one of our best internationals of recent years, Paul Scholes, way before his time was due.
Journalists are trained to be impartial so probably don’t have a club to follow, hence the enormous outrage they feel when England don’t perform and the hype they build around the group in major competitions. This brings me on to another argument completely and the one of the England fan.
I totally agree that the PLAYERS should give 100% for both club and country but in the space of three days I have once again had it confirmed to me where the FAN’s loyalty should lie in the club v country debate.
The debate was brought up again on the way to football last night and I was again left to defend my opinion that club should come before country in any situation.
Going back to Monday night and our game with Luton Town, live on Sky Sports. We lost the game 4-1 yet I was left with an immense feeling of pride that my club were in the spotlight, my club were battling hard and my club gave it everything to try and get a result.
Two penalties went against us. I felt angry and deflated that a couple of decisions that went against us were costing us a good result.
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. I made it to the pub in time for the second half. A penalty decision went against England. It was never a penalty. It changed the game and set up the Russian revival. All I felt was disappointment and even thought we deservedly had the group out of our hands again. The campaign has been dismal and drawing at home to Macedonia and away at Israel is not good enough.
If I should have felt deflated and annoyed at the result, I appologise. It’s a shame but when you don’t deserve something, you don’t deserve something. Simple. But however good or bad England are, it will never, ever compare to the hurt I feel if Northampton Town let me down. Of course it’s happened in the past and it sticks with me for a hell of a lot longer than if England do it.
Last season The Cobblers were absolutely taken apart by Barnet, 4-1, in the FA Cup Second Round. On that day a lot of professional footballers let a lot of Cobblers fans down and were dumped out of the cup in disastrous fashion. I hardly spoke all the way home. Just a couple of months earlier, England lost 2-0 in Croatia in a vital qualifier. Again, fans were let down but I felt nowhere near the levels of hurt I felt by the Barnet defeat.
In comparison I must turn from disappointments to times when both teams came close to glory, and my best example that I always use when arguing the case for club over country.
It all went on in the summer of 2004 as within a matter of months there was double heartache in penalty shoot outs.
First, the playoffs. The Cobblers were 2-0 from the home leg of the playoff semi-final to Mansfield Town and no-one gave us a chance in the second leg at Field Mill. The Cobblers stormed into an incredible 3-0 lead to completely change the tie but in the most emotional game of football I’ve ever witnessed, Mansfield pulled a vital goal back to level the aggregate score at 3-3. Extra time was played with no break through and penalties loomed. I’d never been more nervous in all my life as we stepped up to the plate. Eric Sabin missed the vital kick. We were out of the promotion hunt and denied a place at The Millenium Stadium for the final. The pain I felt that night has never been matched at a football game since but it was to be tested just a couple of months later.
England came up against Portugal in the Euro 2004 Quarter Finals and after Wayne Rooney’s injury we clamoured through extra time to penalties. The nerves were back but I realised that this was nowhere near as important to me as the Mansfield shoot out. England, of course, were beaten and the pub I was in descended into a crowd of saddened faces and angry drunk people.
I think that was when I realised where my loyalties lied. The England game was forgotten within a week when the competition was over. Field Mill took a couple of years and a promotion to fully sink. The outpour of emotion when we beat Chester to win automatic promotion following another playoff defeat (this time to Southend the year following Mansfield) was two years in the making.
Maybe it’s because England games only come along once in a while. Maybe it’s because I spend thousands of pounds a year travelling to places like Stockport, Rochdale, Carlisle and Doncaster (via Worksop) to watch the Cobblers. But in any case, I would every time say that a season in the Premiership would mean more to me than an England World Cup win.
Of course I get caught up in the hype of it all when a major competition comes up. The World Cup was amazing in terms of following England in the packed out Walkabout in Southampton. And I’m in no way saying that I don’t care about England because I really do and will support them with a passion every time they play.
But Northampton Town come first for me and that’s the way it will always be. If a Cobblers game clashed with an England game I wouldn’t care one bit and get to the Town game if it were possible to be there.
Call me selfish if you like but I would rather have my club be successful than my country but after 15 years of all the emotions possible in following Northampton Town I don’t think I’m being too harsh on my country.
Bring on Cheltenham!
The most high-profile figures involved as the subject of the latest debates are Frank Lampard and Michael Owen, for different reasons. Owen, for his miraculous recovery from injury and whether he was fit enough to play for his country and Lampard for apparently not giving as much effort for England as he does for Chelsea.
Both situations are quite ridiculous. Owen, if fit, should play for Newcastle and England equally and not sit out of one game to benefit the other. I can totally understand his point of view of wanting to play in every football game he plays and I wonder if Sam Allardyce would have the same feelings if he were the England boss and McClaren in charge of Newcastle? Lampard’s situation is that he’s getting the brunt of the latest “boo boy” campaign and England “fans” are saying that he’s not producing the goods for his country as he does for Chelsea. Lamps is a world class player whoever he plays for and it’s not fair that he gets the brunt of the stick with every misplaced pass whereas Steven Gerrard’s glorious miss may well go more unnoticed than if it was Lampard’s error.
In the players’ case, they should be able to play equally as much and as well for their country and club but sometimes one bad game for England will be a lot more noticeable. Example, if Lampard has a bad game for Chelsea but they win, it’s taken as an off day and Chelsea move on the following week. But a bad game for England and suddenly with the nation watching it gets more exposure and he has to wait months sometimes to put it right. In which time he’s played outstanding football for Chelsea and rebuilt his reputation enough for us to expect a dominating performance from him for England.
It’s becoming more and more difficult for these players to play for England and the media hype may have been one of the reasons why we lost one of our best internationals of recent years, Paul Scholes, way before his time was due.
Journalists are trained to be impartial so probably don’t have a club to follow, hence the enormous outrage they feel when England don’t perform and the hype they build around the group in major competitions. This brings me on to another argument completely and the one of the England fan.
I totally agree that the PLAYERS should give 100% for both club and country but in the space of three days I have once again had it confirmed to me where the FAN’s loyalty should lie in the club v country debate.
The debate was brought up again on the way to football last night and I was again left to defend my opinion that club should come before country in any situation.
Going back to Monday night and our game with Luton Town, live on Sky Sports. We lost the game 4-1 yet I was left with an immense feeling of pride that my club were in the spotlight, my club were battling hard and my club gave it everything to try and get a result.
Two penalties went against us. I felt angry and deflated that a couple of decisions that went against us were costing us a good result.
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. I made it to the pub in time for the second half. A penalty decision went against England. It was never a penalty. It changed the game and set up the Russian revival. All I felt was disappointment and even thought we deservedly had the group out of our hands again. The campaign has been dismal and drawing at home to Macedonia and away at Israel is not good enough.
If I should have felt deflated and annoyed at the result, I appologise. It’s a shame but when you don’t deserve something, you don’t deserve something. Simple. But however good or bad England are, it will never, ever compare to the hurt I feel if Northampton Town let me down. Of course it’s happened in the past and it sticks with me for a hell of a lot longer than if England do it.
Last season The Cobblers were absolutely taken apart by Barnet, 4-1, in the FA Cup Second Round. On that day a lot of professional footballers let a lot of Cobblers fans down and were dumped out of the cup in disastrous fashion. I hardly spoke all the way home. Just a couple of months earlier, England lost 2-0 in Croatia in a vital qualifier. Again, fans were let down but I felt nowhere near the levels of hurt I felt by the Barnet defeat.
In comparison I must turn from disappointments to times when both teams came close to glory, and my best example that I always use when arguing the case for club over country.
It all went on in the summer of 2004 as within a matter of months there was double heartache in penalty shoot outs.
First, the playoffs. The Cobblers were 2-0 from the home leg of the playoff semi-final to Mansfield Town and no-one gave us a chance in the second leg at Field Mill. The Cobblers stormed into an incredible 3-0 lead to completely change the tie but in the most emotional game of football I’ve ever witnessed, Mansfield pulled a vital goal back to level the aggregate score at 3-3. Extra time was played with no break through and penalties loomed. I’d never been more nervous in all my life as we stepped up to the plate. Eric Sabin missed the vital kick. We were out of the promotion hunt and denied a place at The Millenium Stadium for the final. The pain I felt that night has never been matched at a football game since but it was to be tested just a couple of months later.
England came up against Portugal in the Euro 2004 Quarter Finals and after Wayne Rooney’s injury we clamoured through extra time to penalties. The nerves were back but I realised that this was nowhere near as important to me as the Mansfield shoot out. England, of course, were beaten and the pub I was in descended into a crowd of saddened faces and angry drunk people.
I think that was when I realised where my loyalties lied. The England game was forgotten within a week when the competition was over. Field Mill took a couple of years and a promotion to fully sink. The outpour of emotion when we beat Chester to win automatic promotion following another playoff defeat (this time to Southend the year following Mansfield) was two years in the making.
Maybe it’s because England games only come along once in a while. Maybe it’s because I spend thousands of pounds a year travelling to places like Stockport, Rochdale, Carlisle and Doncaster (via Worksop) to watch the Cobblers. But in any case, I would every time say that a season in the Premiership would mean more to me than an England World Cup win.
Of course I get caught up in the hype of it all when a major competition comes up. The World Cup was amazing in terms of following England in the packed out Walkabout in Southampton. And I’m in no way saying that I don’t care about England because I really do and will support them with a passion every time they play.
But Northampton Town come first for me and that’s the way it will always be. If a Cobblers game clashed with an England game I wouldn’t care one bit and get to the Town game if it were possible to be there.
Call me selfish if you like but I would rather have my club be successful than my country but after 15 years of all the emotions possible in following Northampton Town I don’t think I’m being too harsh on my country.
Bring on Cheltenham!
No Saints 0-5 Red Star Five
In a disappointing turn of events last night, No Saints slipped to a first defeat of the season to a strong Red Star Five outfit, going down 5-0 in the end.
Top scorers Andy and Abib were missing but Will made his debut in goal, putting in a good performance after over three years without a game of football! We were 1-0 down at half-time thanks to a fluke of a goal that trickled into the net but it was in the second where Red Star truly found their form and with some good finishing ended our recent run of victories.
We battled hard right to the end though and deserved a couple of goals ourselves for the effort. We were beaten on quality last night and there’s nothing we can do about that apart from move on to next week’s game against POSH and bouncing back in style!
No Saints drop to second in the League Two table on goal difference but are still two points clear of third placed The Closers.
Top scorers Andy and Abib were missing but Will made his debut in goal, putting in a good performance after over three years without a game of football! We were 1-0 down at half-time thanks to a fluke of a goal that trickled into the net but it was in the second where Red Star truly found their form and with some good finishing ended our recent run of victories.
We battled hard right to the end though and deserved a couple of goals ourselves for the effort. We were beaten on quality last night and there’s nothing we can do about that apart from move on to next week’s game against POSH and bouncing back in style!
No Saints drop to second in the League Two table on goal difference but are still two points clear of third placed The Closers.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
No Saints vs Red Star Five Preview...
No Saints look to continue our winning start to the season tonight as we take on third placed Red Star Five who have won two and lost one of their opening games. Red Star will provide tough opposition after coming out of the blocks as early league leaders with two wins in their first two games before last weeks’ defeat to The Closers.
We’re missing Abib and Andy tonight along with long-term injury victim Phil but we do welcome a new goalkeeper, Will, to the squad. Hopefully it’ll help having a full time keeper in place and we’ll be going all out to bridge the gap left by Abib and Andy’s absence this week.
There’s no reason why we can’t win with a depleted squad though and we did it last week so the white army’s dream season can continue. A draw will be enough to keep us top of the table but we’ll be all out to win the game and further push for promotion!
We’re missing Abib and Andy tonight along with long-term injury victim Phil but we do welcome a new goalkeeper, Will, to the squad. Hopefully it’ll help having a full time keeper in place and we’ll be going all out to bridge the gap left by Abib and Andy’s absence this week.
There’s no reason why we can’t win with a depleted squad though and we did it last week so the white army’s dream season can continue. A draw will be enough to keep us top of the table but we’ll be all out to win the game and further push for promotion!
The Midweek Review...17/10/07...
Following on from a second half full of set piece destruction from Luton Town on Monday night, we look to bounce back this weekend as struggling Cheltenham Town visit Sixfields.
Huddled into a corner of my local pub in Southampton, I was optimistic about the game on Monday night. The Red Lion pub very kindly agreed to put the game on for me and the other three or four people in the place who clearly weren’t interested in the slightest about what was going on!
The optimism I had soon went right out of the window despite a positive opening to the game from the Cobblers. Darren Currie was superb all night and his goal was unstoppable. Cue Bradley Johnson and a rocket out of nowhere to bring us level and to silence some recent critics, myself being one who thought he should have had a bit of a rest!
Johnson’s goal brought a round of applause from the rest of the watching public in the pub and it felt good to be cheering the goal for my team. It’s part and parcel of being a lower league fan living away from the home of your team that you have to get used to getting strange looks when wearing the shirt but it’s all about the pride of flying the flag wherever you are!
Back to the game and I thought that for most of the first 45 we put it a really good effort and battled for every ball in a new formation. Daniel Jones impressed on the left hand side and we have to hope his desire for first team football continues on past January. It was only towards the end of the half when I began to get worried of defeat. Currie was running the show when he got the ball and along with David Bell on the right, it always looked like we would be in for a difficult second half.
After we had a clear penalty turned down in the first half when Kirk was pushed over, it was disappointing once again to concede two spot kicks in the space of 45 minutes as our incredible run of having penalties awarded against us continued. Matthew Spring converted the first and Currie swung in the free kick that Paul Furlong claimed to touch to make it 3-1. Spring made it four from the spot at the end of the game but there was no need for the afters when he got involved with Mark Bunn as the ball rolled into the net.
Hopefully we will look back on it as one of those games where luck deserted us once again on our travels. I’ve heard a few negative comments after the game but seeing us up in lights and having the best view possible of the game made me see a very new picture of our side.
We’re a team that’s still learning and the more fickle Cobblers fans must be patient as Stuart Gray builds the side he wants. The team gave everything on Monday night and I have no complaints with the performance. The result was much harsher than it should have been but it’s clear that we now have a team we can be proud of.
I’m positive that we’ll be in League One this time next year. We’re not ready for promotion just yet but there’s no way we should be involved in the relegation dog fight again this time around. For the mean time, let’s enjoy watching these kids develop to as good as they can get and stop the negativity when it does go wrong.
Cheltenham at home is certainly a winnable game and four Sixfields wins in four would be something to make Luton instantly forgotten.
Up The Cobblers!
Huddled into a corner of my local pub in Southampton, I was optimistic about the game on Monday night. The Red Lion pub very kindly agreed to put the game on for me and the other three or four people in the place who clearly weren’t interested in the slightest about what was going on!
The optimism I had soon went right out of the window despite a positive opening to the game from the Cobblers. Darren Currie was superb all night and his goal was unstoppable. Cue Bradley Johnson and a rocket out of nowhere to bring us level and to silence some recent critics, myself being one who thought he should have had a bit of a rest!
Johnson’s goal brought a round of applause from the rest of the watching public in the pub and it felt good to be cheering the goal for my team. It’s part and parcel of being a lower league fan living away from the home of your team that you have to get used to getting strange looks when wearing the shirt but it’s all about the pride of flying the flag wherever you are!
Back to the game and I thought that for most of the first 45 we put it a really good effort and battled for every ball in a new formation. Daniel Jones impressed on the left hand side and we have to hope his desire for first team football continues on past January. It was only towards the end of the half when I began to get worried of defeat. Currie was running the show when he got the ball and along with David Bell on the right, it always looked like we would be in for a difficult second half.
After we had a clear penalty turned down in the first half when Kirk was pushed over, it was disappointing once again to concede two spot kicks in the space of 45 minutes as our incredible run of having penalties awarded against us continued. Matthew Spring converted the first and Currie swung in the free kick that Paul Furlong claimed to touch to make it 3-1. Spring made it four from the spot at the end of the game but there was no need for the afters when he got involved with Mark Bunn as the ball rolled into the net.
Hopefully we will look back on it as one of those games where luck deserted us once again on our travels. I’ve heard a few negative comments after the game but seeing us up in lights and having the best view possible of the game made me see a very new picture of our side.
We’re a team that’s still learning and the more fickle Cobblers fans must be patient as Stuart Gray builds the side he wants. The team gave everything on Monday night and I have no complaints with the performance. The result was much harsher than it should have been but it’s clear that we now have a team we can be proud of.
I’m positive that we’ll be in League One this time next year. We’re not ready for promotion just yet but there’s no way we should be involved in the relegation dog fight again this time around. For the mean time, let’s enjoy watching these kids develop to as good as they can get and stop the negativity when it does go wrong.
Cheltenham at home is certainly a winnable game and four Sixfields wins in four would be something to make Luton instantly forgotten.
Up The Cobblers!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Luton Town 4-1 Northampton Town
The Cobblers were beaten at Kenilworth Road in a score line that in no way reflected the game. The Hatters deserved the three points on their second half performance but the 4-1 end result was more that a little harsh on a battling Cobblers side.
Stuart Gray had to reshuffle the pack with Poul Hubertz suspended for the game but Jason Crowe and Andy Holt both returned from hamstring injuries to bolster the squad and Holt started the game in a more advanced position than usual to support Andy Kirk and Colin Larkin up front.
The Cobblers started the game brightly and forced an early corner that Daniel Jones swung into the area left footed. Andy Holt made the connection but the ball was cleared off the line by the Hatters defender.
But with their first attack of the game, Luton were ahead. David Bell put a sweeping ball across the penalty area and Darren Currie met it with a superb curling right footed strike that soared past Mark Bunn and into the top corner.
The home side were in the ascendancy and Mark Bunn made a good save at his near post from Bell just a couple of minutes after the goal before Mark Hughes somehow cleared a cross that beat Bunn off his own goal line and headed it away for a corner.
At the other end, Daniel Jones got down the left hand side and sent in a cross shot that dipped at the last second and hit the cross bar. But the Cobblers were level ten minutes later after a strong period of play. Brad Johnson picked the ball up on the right hand side, cut inside and hit an unstoppable left footed strike past Dean Brill in the Luton goal.
The Cobblers upped the momentum and looked like taking the lead themselves with some good passing movements. Mark Hughes had a goal bound effort from a corner blocked on the line before Andy Kirk seemed to be pushed in the area following a cross from the right hand side but it went unnoticed by the officials.
Luton came back into the game as the half drew to a close and Darren Currie had a left footed shot beaten away by Mark Bunn before Paul Furlong missed a glorious opportunity with just a couple of minutes of the half left. Furlong was put in by Currie and got in front of his man but fired his shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar as an engaging first half came to a close at 1-1.
Luton were back in front right at the start of the second half as Brad Johnson was adjudged to handle a goal bound shot and Matthew Spring gave the home side the lead once more.
Johnson tried to make amends straight away by hitting another stunning effort from further out than his earlier goal and it looked like another stunning goal but Brill managed to tip the ball over the bar this time.
The next goal was vital in the game and disappointingly it came for Luton as Currie’s in swinging free-kick eluded everyone, possibly taking a slight touch off Paul Furlong, to nestle into the corner of Bunn’s net.
Danny Jackman and Colin Larkin were replaced by Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers never really looked like getting back into the game. On the other hand we never gave up the fight and Henderson was unlucky with a far post header while Alex Russell curled a free kick just over the bar.
Luton completely killed off the game in the final stages of the game as Mark Hughes fouled Paul Furlong. Matthew Spring stepped up again and this time Bunn got a hand to the ball but it summed up our luck in the game when the ball bounced into the corner of the net. Spring then totally unnecessarily squared up to Bunn in celebration and should have been booked after both Bunn and Hughes were shown cards in the build up to the taking of the kick.
So a disappointing night in front of the Sky cameras for the Cobblers but a proud effort from the side and 4-1 was in no way reflective of the battle that we put in. Stuart Gray must now pick the team up in time for the weekend visit of Cheltenham Town as we look to make it four home wins in a row at Sixfields.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Made some good stops in both halves to deny Luton further goals. (8)
DANIEL JONES: Has made the left-back slot his own in recent weeks and was one of the better players on the pitch last night. (8)
MARK HUGHES: Unlucky with the penalty after another solid nights’ work including a brilliant goal line clearance in the first half. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Struggled against Furlong and had a difficult night at the back. (6)
JASON CROWE: Not one of his brighter performances as he returned from injury. (6)
DANNY JACKMAN: Linked the play well in a new position for him. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Took the goal superbly and could have had another. At the centre of most of the good work from the side and battled hard. (8)
ALEX RUSSELL: Another good show from the loanee and create chances for the front three. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Out of the game for a lot of it but did well in build up to goal. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Provided some height in the absence of Hubertz but never really looked like filling the big Dane’s shoes. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Quiet night in front of goal for the striker with just a couple of wayward shots to his name. Missed Hubertz more than anyone. (6)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Looked lively when he came on and nearly scored with a header. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Could have had a goal himself but too late to make an impact. (6)
Stuart Gray had to reshuffle the pack with Poul Hubertz suspended for the game but Jason Crowe and Andy Holt both returned from hamstring injuries to bolster the squad and Holt started the game in a more advanced position than usual to support Andy Kirk and Colin Larkin up front.
The Cobblers started the game brightly and forced an early corner that Daniel Jones swung into the area left footed. Andy Holt made the connection but the ball was cleared off the line by the Hatters defender.
But with their first attack of the game, Luton were ahead. David Bell put a sweeping ball across the penalty area and Darren Currie met it with a superb curling right footed strike that soared past Mark Bunn and into the top corner.
The home side were in the ascendancy and Mark Bunn made a good save at his near post from Bell just a couple of minutes after the goal before Mark Hughes somehow cleared a cross that beat Bunn off his own goal line and headed it away for a corner.
At the other end, Daniel Jones got down the left hand side and sent in a cross shot that dipped at the last second and hit the cross bar. But the Cobblers were level ten minutes later after a strong period of play. Brad Johnson picked the ball up on the right hand side, cut inside and hit an unstoppable left footed strike past Dean Brill in the Luton goal.
The Cobblers upped the momentum and looked like taking the lead themselves with some good passing movements. Mark Hughes had a goal bound effort from a corner blocked on the line before Andy Kirk seemed to be pushed in the area following a cross from the right hand side but it went unnoticed by the officials.
Luton came back into the game as the half drew to a close and Darren Currie had a left footed shot beaten away by Mark Bunn before Paul Furlong missed a glorious opportunity with just a couple of minutes of the half left. Furlong was put in by Currie and got in front of his man but fired his shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar as an engaging first half came to a close at 1-1.
Luton were back in front right at the start of the second half as Brad Johnson was adjudged to handle a goal bound shot and Matthew Spring gave the home side the lead once more.
Johnson tried to make amends straight away by hitting another stunning effort from further out than his earlier goal and it looked like another stunning goal but Brill managed to tip the ball over the bar this time.
The next goal was vital in the game and disappointingly it came for Luton as Currie’s in swinging free-kick eluded everyone, possibly taking a slight touch off Paul Furlong, to nestle into the corner of Bunn’s net.
Danny Jackman and Colin Larkin were replaced by Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers never really looked like getting back into the game. On the other hand we never gave up the fight and Henderson was unlucky with a far post header while Alex Russell curled a free kick just over the bar.
Luton completely killed off the game in the final stages of the game as Mark Hughes fouled Paul Furlong. Matthew Spring stepped up again and this time Bunn got a hand to the ball but it summed up our luck in the game when the ball bounced into the corner of the net. Spring then totally unnecessarily squared up to Bunn in celebration and should have been booked after both Bunn and Hughes were shown cards in the build up to the taking of the kick.
So a disappointing night in front of the Sky cameras for the Cobblers but a proud effort from the side and 4-1 was in no way reflective of the battle that we put in. Stuart Gray must now pick the team up in time for the weekend visit of Cheltenham Town as we look to make it four home wins in a row at Sixfields.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Made some good stops in both halves to deny Luton further goals. (8)
DANIEL JONES: Has made the left-back slot his own in recent weeks and was one of the better players on the pitch last night. (8)
MARK HUGHES: Unlucky with the penalty after another solid nights’ work including a brilliant goal line clearance in the first half. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Struggled against Furlong and had a difficult night at the back. (6)
JASON CROWE: Not one of his brighter performances as he returned from injury. (6)
DANNY JACKMAN: Linked the play well in a new position for him. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Took the goal superbly and could have had another. At the centre of most of the good work from the side and battled hard. (8)
ALEX RUSSELL: Another good show from the loanee and create chances for the front three. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Out of the game for a lot of it but did well in build up to goal. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Provided some height in the absence of Hubertz but never really looked like filling the big Dane’s shoes. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Quiet night in front of goal for the striker with just a couple of wayward shots to his name. Missed Hubertz more than anyone. (6)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Looked lively when he came on and nearly scored with a header. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Could have had a goal himself but too late to make an impact. (6)
Monday, October 15, 2007
Luton Town (A) Preview...
The Cobblers travel to Luton Town this evening for a live Sky encounter at Kenilworth Road. The team are still searching for their first victory on the road this season and will be hoping the jump into the top half of the table with a positive result.
Stuart Gray waits on the fitness of Jason Crowe and Andy Holt before naming his squad for the game with Holt rated as more likely than Crowe to make it. Chris Doig is definitely missing, as is Poul Hubertz who picked up his fifth booking of the season at Millwall meaning he is suspended.
Luton will be without summer signing Dave Edwards with a groin strain picked up in the Johnstones Paint Trophy tie with Gillingham. Defender Chris Coyne is also set to sit out of the game but David Bell could return.
THE STORY SO FAR…LUTON TOWN IN 2007/08…
The Hatters began the season with two victories following relegation from the Championship as they beat Hartlepool in the league and Dagenham in the Carling Cup, both by a 2-1 score line.
The following weekend brought about their first defeat as Swindon won 2-1 at the County Ground but the team recovered to beat Gillingham 3-1 at home. Then came the highlight of Luton’s season so far and a 3-0 home win the Carling Cup over Premiership side Sunderland, with David Bell giving them the lead before a double from Paul Furlong completed the win.
Back in League One and Town were beaten by Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road. They saw off the Cobblers in the Johnstones Paint Trophy but then slipped to two defeats at home to Bristol Rovers and away at highflying Tranmere.
Following victory at home to Port Vale, their Carling Cup campaign continued to impress as they saw off Charlton Athletic in Round Three. The Hatters were beaten at Huddersfield 2-0 before being held at Yeovil and at home to Doncaster.
Town’s most recent game was the incredible Johnstones Paint Trophy tie with Gillingham at The Priestfield Stadium. Chris Dickson gave Gillingham the lead before Paul Furlong (2) and Matthew Spring put Luton 3-1 up at half-time. But in a disasterous collapse by the visitors, Gillingham came back with just fifteen minutes left on the clock. First, Dickson struck twice to complete his hat-trick and then Mark Bentley completed the fight back in the 88th minute to win the game 4-3.
Luton currently sit in 17th place in League One going into the game with the Cobblers.
RECENT MEETINGS…
4/09/07: LUTON 2-0 COBBLERS (JPT Southern Section First Round)
Veterans Don Hutchison and Paul Peschisolido give Luton progression into the second round.
5/02/03: LUTON 3-2 COBBLERS
Darryl Burgess puts the Cobblers ahead in the 23rd minute but the lead doesn’t last long as John Hughes equalises three minute later. Kevin Nicholls puts Luton 2-1 up on the hour before Watford loanee Richard Johnson equalises from the spot. But the home side took the points with an 81st minute winner from Hughes.
02/01/02: COBBLERS 3-0 LUTON
A double from Jamie Forrester and one from Marco Gabbiadini seal a comfortable Sixfields success for the Cobblers.
10/02/01: COBBLERS 0-1 LUTON
In Joe Kinnear’s first game in charge of the Hatters, Stuart Douglas heads the only goal of the game in the fourth minute.
09/09/02: LUTON 0-2 COBBLERS
One in each half from Jamie Forrester and Steve Howard give us all three points.
10/04/99: COBBLERS 1-0 LUTON
Carlo Corazzin’s 34th minute strike is enough to win the game for the Cobblers.
FOR THE RECORD…HATTERS v COBBLERS…
GAMES PLAYED: 75
LUTON WINS: 35
DRAWS: 14
COBBLERS WINS: 26
Stuart Gray waits on the fitness of Jason Crowe and Andy Holt before naming his squad for the game with Holt rated as more likely than Crowe to make it. Chris Doig is definitely missing, as is Poul Hubertz who picked up his fifth booking of the season at Millwall meaning he is suspended.
Luton will be without summer signing Dave Edwards with a groin strain picked up in the Johnstones Paint Trophy tie with Gillingham. Defender Chris Coyne is also set to sit out of the game but David Bell could return.
THE STORY SO FAR…LUTON TOWN IN 2007/08…
The Hatters began the season with two victories following relegation from the Championship as they beat Hartlepool in the league and Dagenham in the Carling Cup, both by a 2-1 score line.
The following weekend brought about their first defeat as Swindon won 2-1 at the County Ground but the team recovered to beat Gillingham 3-1 at home. Then came the highlight of Luton’s season so far and a 3-0 home win the Carling Cup over Premiership side Sunderland, with David Bell giving them the lead before a double from Paul Furlong completed the win.
Back in League One and Town were beaten by Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road. They saw off the Cobblers in the Johnstones Paint Trophy but then slipped to two defeats at home to Bristol Rovers and away at highflying Tranmere.
Following victory at home to Port Vale, their Carling Cup campaign continued to impress as they saw off Charlton Athletic in Round Three. The Hatters were beaten at Huddersfield 2-0 before being held at Yeovil and at home to Doncaster.
Town’s most recent game was the incredible Johnstones Paint Trophy tie with Gillingham at The Priestfield Stadium. Chris Dickson gave Gillingham the lead before Paul Furlong (2) and Matthew Spring put Luton 3-1 up at half-time. But in a disasterous collapse by the visitors, Gillingham came back with just fifteen minutes left on the clock. First, Dickson struck twice to complete his hat-trick and then Mark Bentley completed the fight back in the 88th minute to win the game 4-3.
Luton currently sit in 17th place in League One going into the game with the Cobblers.
RECENT MEETINGS…
4/09/07: LUTON 2-0 COBBLERS (JPT Southern Section First Round)
Veterans Don Hutchison and Paul Peschisolido give Luton progression into the second round.
5/02/03: LUTON 3-2 COBBLERS
Darryl Burgess puts the Cobblers ahead in the 23rd minute but the lead doesn’t last long as John Hughes equalises three minute later. Kevin Nicholls puts Luton 2-1 up on the hour before Watford loanee Richard Johnson equalises from the spot. But the home side took the points with an 81st minute winner from Hughes.
02/01/02: COBBLERS 3-0 LUTON
A double from Jamie Forrester and one from Marco Gabbiadini seal a comfortable Sixfields success for the Cobblers.
10/02/01: COBBLERS 0-1 LUTON
In Joe Kinnear’s first game in charge of the Hatters, Stuart Douglas heads the only goal of the game in the fourth minute.
09/09/02: LUTON 0-2 COBBLERS
One in each half from Jamie Forrester and Steve Howard give us all three points.
10/04/99: COBBLERS 1-0 LUTON
Carlo Corazzin’s 34th minute strike is enough to win the game for the Cobblers.
FOR THE RECORD…HATTERS v COBBLERS…
GAMES PLAYED: 75
LUTON WINS: 35
DRAWS: 14
COBBLERS WINS: 26
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Gig Review: Athlete (Southampton Guildhall)
While No Saints were battling to that third win in a row, I was being taken back in time, aching lots and enjoying the sounds of the first band I “discovered” before they hit the mainstream many moons ago!
Back in my school days I was recommended a band by a friend and with no downloading available back then, I went out and brought Athlete’s fist CD release, El Salvador. I liked what I heard and got a hold of their album Vehicles and Animals as soon as I could. The album still holds good memories for me and last nights’ gig brought back visions of school days and college in a time where music was becoming more and more important in my life as a route away from the daily grind of student life.
It was perhaps my nostalgia getting the better of me but throughout the 90 minute set that Athlete played I was more excited when the band played their old stuff with Shake Those Windows, Beautiful and You Got The Style a welcome nod to their breakthrough album.
Playing songs from all three albums, including the latest Beyond The Neighbourhood release, Athlete showed real knowledge of what their audience would want and mixed their set list well. Highlights included the stand-out Half Light and Wires plus the single Hurricane that really set the crowd alight.
The audience were in full voice throughout and created a fine atmosphere inside Southampton Guildhall, crammed to capacity, and ended with a superb encore of Twenty Four Hours.
Overall it was what I expected from a band that I had wanted to see for a long time. Understandably they geared a little toward their new album and although it’s solid in itself, I still found myself liking their older stuff. I feel very old this morning having realised I’ve just seen a band where I know most of the songs they played from three albums and ache from standing for so long!
So it was nostalgia that won the day for me and the gig left me feel both sadness that those carefree days when I first listened to the band are over but also looking at all the things I’ve done since then and realising how crazy it’s been since I first lent me ears to El Salvador (disappointed this wasn’t played last night by the way!). I still recommend Beyond The Neighbourhood though and I certainly think it’s worth a purchase if you get the chance.
Next up on my gig radar is The Kaiser Chiefs in December though we’re hoping to get to the Joiners here in Southampton sometime soon as well!
Back in my school days I was recommended a band by a friend and with no downloading available back then, I went out and brought Athlete’s fist CD release, El Salvador. I liked what I heard and got a hold of their album Vehicles and Animals as soon as I could. The album still holds good memories for me and last nights’ gig brought back visions of school days and college in a time where music was becoming more and more important in my life as a route away from the daily grind of student life.
It was perhaps my nostalgia getting the better of me but throughout the 90 minute set that Athlete played I was more excited when the band played their old stuff with Shake Those Windows, Beautiful and You Got The Style a welcome nod to their breakthrough album.
Playing songs from all three albums, including the latest Beyond The Neighbourhood release, Athlete showed real knowledge of what their audience would want and mixed their set list well. Highlights included the stand-out Half Light and Wires plus the single Hurricane that really set the crowd alight.
The audience were in full voice throughout and created a fine atmosphere inside Southampton Guildhall, crammed to capacity, and ended with a superb encore of Twenty Four Hours.
Overall it was what I expected from a band that I had wanted to see for a long time. Understandably they geared a little toward their new album and although it’s solid in itself, I still found myself liking their older stuff. I feel very old this morning having realised I’ve just seen a band where I know most of the songs they played from three albums and ache from standing for so long!
So it was nostalgia that won the day for me and the gig left me feel both sadness that those carefree days when I first listened to the band are over but also looking at all the things I’ve done since then and realising how crazy it’s been since I first lent me ears to El Salvador (disappointed this wasn’t played last night by the way!). I still recommend Beyond The Neighbourhood though and I certainly think it’s worth a purchase if you get the chance.
Next up on my gig radar is The Kaiser Chiefs in December though we’re hoping to get to the Joiners here in Southampton sometime soon as well!
No Saints 5-3 The Players
No Saints recorded their third straight victory last night to take us to the top of the League Two table! Andy (2), Abib, Dave and Nathan were all on the score sheet in a 5-3 win over The Players.
From the morning reports I’ve heard, it was a battling team effort with No Saints taking an early lead through an Abib free-kick. The Players hit back to lead 2-1 but No Saints clawed their way back into the game, showing good spirit to make it 3-2 by half-time with two from Andy, including one straight from kick off!
In the second half, Nathan made it 4-2 before The Players’ constant moaning at the referee cost them a player into the sin-bin. Controversy followed as the referee didn’t spot another man coming on in the place of the sin-binned player and The Players scored while he was on the pitch! Incredibly the goal was allowed to stand but luckily Dave volleyed home a 5th for No Saints to restore the two-goal lead.
With Red Star Five losing out to The Closers, No Saints now sit proudly on top of the table with three games gone. With a full-time keeper hopefully joining us next week for the game with Red Star we’ll be hoping to continue the fine run of form that now takes us to five wins in the last six games over the end of last season and the start of this one!
The White Giants continue to rise!
From the morning reports I’ve heard, it was a battling team effort with No Saints taking an early lead through an Abib free-kick. The Players hit back to lead 2-1 but No Saints clawed their way back into the game, showing good spirit to make it 3-2 by half-time with two from Andy, including one straight from kick off!
In the second half, Nathan made it 4-2 before The Players’ constant moaning at the referee cost them a player into the sin-bin. Controversy followed as the referee didn’t spot another man coming on in the place of the sin-binned player and The Players scored while he was on the pitch! Incredibly the goal was allowed to stand but luckily Dave volleyed home a 5th for No Saints to restore the two-goal lead.
With Red Star Five losing out to The Closers, No Saints now sit proudly on top of the table with three games gone. With a full-time keeper hopefully joining us next week for the game with Red Star we’ll be hoping to continue the fine run of form that now takes us to five wins in the last six games over the end of last season and the start of this one!
The White Giants continue to rise!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
No Saints...The Taem Photo...
We manahed to get our first team photo made last week and below is the result, with our brand new shiny kits!
(TOP ROW, Left to Right: Danny Brothers, Nathan Le Page, Andy Hadley, Jamie Shoesmith)
(BOTTOM ROW, Left to Right: Aaron Nyiro, Abib Aidara, Dave Stuart-Marquez)
No Saints v The Players Preview...
No Saints go into the third game of the season tonight missing both myself and Jamie for gig visiting and London working respectively! But we still have a strong side to put out with the team looking to make it three wins from three games at the start of the new season.
Vice captain Dave takes charge of the troops this evening in my absence as we take on The Players, who have won once and lost once this season. Their victory came last week when they saw off POSH by a 12-10 score line!
So an interesting evening in prospect over at Eastleigh and I wish the White Giants all the best as they look to make history and become the first No Saints side to win three successive games!
Vice captain Dave takes charge of the troops this evening in my absence as we take on The Players, who have won once and lost once this season. Their victory came last week when they saw off POSH by a 12-10 score line!
So an interesting evening in prospect over at Eastleigh and I wish the White Giants all the best as they look to make history and become the first No Saints side to win three successive games!
The Midweek Review 10/10/07
So now we’re ten games into the season and the table is finally beginning to take shape with the Cobblers well placed in mid-table. Three home wins on the bounce keeps us four points clear of the bottom four and Andy Kirk moves up to eight for the season. All is well, for now at least!
With the defeat to Millwall last Tuesday and three key players missing along with the fact that Port Vale would have been trying to impress any new manager, the signs were for a tricky game at Sixfields on Saturday afternoon. Fortunately for us, Andy Kirk was once again finding himself in the right place at the right time and thanks to good build up on both occasions down either flank, we were sitting pretty at half time.
I sent a text to my flatmate at home during half-time saying “surely we can’t throw away a two goal lead…we would never do such a thing” following the collapses at Orient and Tranmere. My text, in truth, was more out of jest than worry. Vale weren’t threatening a great deal and I don’t think anyone in the ground was expecting the nervous second half that ensued. Dad jinxed it by saying “we won’t throw it away, not at home”
Fortunately he was just about right, thanks to a combination of Mark Bunn, the cross bar and the referee not falling for Rico’s dive at the end and we hung on for another vital three points. After the unbeaten run ended at the Den it was always going to be vital to bounce back as soon as possible and any sort of win would have done.
Full credit to Danny Jackman for his performance on Saturday in an unfamiliar position of right-back. I was a little critical of his performance there against Millwall in the second half but he did superbly well and combined with Colin Larkin to make the second goal. Liam Dolman also continues to flourish in the centre of defence and took the extra responsibility in a positive way to block out the Vale fight back.
It was nice to see Marc Richards (pre-dive) get a good reception while he was warming up. I think the mood would certainly have changed if he had been awarded the late penalty in stoppage time but he deserved a warm welcome back to Sixfields
We don’t have a game on Saturday afternoon due to the derby game with Luton Town being switched to Monday night for Sky coverage. Despite the game being broadcast live there should still be a decent turn out from the Cobblers with the game being our only real away “derby” of the league season.
We’ve already been beaten by the Hatters in the Johnstones Paint Trophy this season but the league game should provide a more accurate picture of the quality in both sides. We go in search of our first away win of the season at Kenilworth Road and victory there would certainly set up the next phase of the season very well indeed.
So a free weekend ahead as England take centre stage. The other sides in League One will have played a game more come Monday night but it’s nice to know that we should still be in a decent position going into the game no matter what the Saturday results bring.
Up The Cobblers!
With the defeat to Millwall last Tuesday and three key players missing along with the fact that Port Vale would have been trying to impress any new manager, the signs were for a tricky game at Sixfields on Saturday afternoon. Fortunately for us, Andy Kirk was once again finding himself in the right place at the right time and thanks to good build up on both occasions down either flank, we were sitting pretty at half time.
I sent a text to my flatmate at home during half-time saying “surely we can’t throw away a two goal lead…we would never do such a thing” following the collapses at Orient and Tranmere. My text, in truth, was more out of jest than worry. Vale weren’t threatening a great deal and I don’t think anyone in the ground was expecting the nervous second half that ensued. Dad jinxed it by saying “we won’t throw it away, not at home”
Fortunately he was just about right, thanks to a combination of Mark Bunn, the cross bar and the referee not falling for Rico’s dive at the end and we hung on for another vital three points. After the unbeaten run ended at the Den it was always going to be vital to bounce back as soon as possible and any sort of win would have done.
Full credit to Danny Jackman for his performance on Saturday in an unfamiliar position of right-back. I was a little critical of his performance there against Millwall in the second half but he did superbly well and combined with Colin Larkin to make the second goal. Liam Dolman also continues to flourish in the centre of defence and took the extra responsibility in a positive way to block out the Vale fight back.
It was nice to see Marc Richards (pre-dive) get a good reception while he was warming up. I think the mood would certainly have changed if he had been awarded the late penalty in stoppage time but he deserved a warm welcome back to Sixfields
We don’t have a game on Saturday afternoon due to the derby game with Luton Town being switched to Monday night for Sky coverage. Despite the game being broadcast live there should still be a decent turn out from the Cobblers with the game being our only real away “derby” of the league season.
We’ve already been beaten by the Hatters in the Johnstones Paint Trophy this season but the league game should provide a more accurate picture of the quality in both sides. We go in search of our first away win of the season at Kenilworth Road and victory there would certainly set up the next phase of the season very well indeed.
So a free weekend ahead as England take centre stage. The other sides in League One will have played a game more come Monday night but it’s nice to know that we should still be in a decent position going into the game no matter what the Saturday results bring.
Up The Cobblers!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Northampton Town 2-1 Port Vale
The Cobblers hung on for all three points and survived a second half revival by Port Vale to seal a third straight home victory. Andy Kirk moved on to eight goals for the season by scoring twice in the first half to sink Vale with David McGoldrick grabbing one back in the second half.
I journeyed up to Northampton on Friday night to have a couple of days away from the south coast and it was nice to wake up on a Saturday morning for a home game with no travelling to do! There’s always debate about whether away days are a better option than home games for entertainment and I would certainly always prefer an away day out over a game at Sixfields.
But there’s something to be said about the traditions of a home game, having a lie in before a cooked breakfast and a couple of drinks before hand in the comfort of your own stadium. This was the first home game this season where I’ve not been travelling on the day itself and it brought back all the goodness of the Saturday home game for me. Another plus is that there’s no chance your warm-up will be disrupted because the team bus is late getting to the ground of course!
Saturday was a nice day for it but Sixfields was a little subdued with only just over 4,000 in attendance, not helped by the small following from Port Vale.
Stuart Gray had big injury problems ahead of the game with Jason Crowe, Andy Holt and Chris Doig all missing with hamstring injuries. This meant a start for Ian Henderson in midfield as Daniel Jones dropped to let back and Danny Jackman to right back in a 4-4-2 formation.
The first real effort of the game came from Brad Johnson who picked the ball up mid way inside the Vale half and struck a left footed effort that took a deflection and rolled away just past the post for a corner. Vale had their first attempt just a couple of minutes later as Justin Miller headed against Mark Bunn’s post but it was the Cobblers who took the lead with 20 minutes gone.
Ian Henderson made a strong run down the right and beat his man before delivering a perfect cross for Andy Kirk to volley home at the near post into the roof of the net.
Vale’s on-loan Southampton forward David McGoldrick tested Bunn at the other end but the Cobblers were in control of the game in the first half and looked the more likely side to score the second goal of the game. This did come on the half hour mark as a superb move down the right hand side involving Jackman and Colin Larkin ended with the latter pulling the ball back across goal for Kirk to tap home his and the Cobblers’ second of the afternoon.
Kirk could easily have had a hat-trick with five minutes of the half to play as a cross came in from the left hand side and the Ulsterman rose to meet the ball with a strong header but Vale keeper Joe Anyon clawed it away to safety.
We looked to be in complete control of the game at half-time but as we know from the Orient and Tranmere fight backs in previous weeks that nothing is that simple with the Cobblers and Vale gave us more than enough worries in the second half.
Brad Johnson began the second half as he started the first by providing our first shot on goal but his left footed effort sailed wide of Anyon’s post. I think if we’d have got the third goal of the game it would have been game over but Port Vale, to their credit, fought their way back into the game.
Ten minutes into the second half, McGoldrick picked up possession on the right hand side and was allowed a free run at goal before he arrowed a shot into the top corner of Bunn’s goal, setting up another tense second half.
Bunn had to be alert just a few minutes after the goal by saving from Shane Tudor before Luke Rodgers, who had been threatening all afternoon, turned well in the area and hammered a shot against the crossbar.
Brett Johnson was brought on to replace Ian Henderson on the left hand side as the Cobblers looked to hold on to what we had. But we did have our chances at the other end, with Poul Hubertz coming closest mid-way through the half. The big Dane turned his man on the edge of the area and hit a stinging left-footed shot that rattled the post and was cleared away by the Vale defence.
We desperately needed a third goal to put the game to bed and the claret faithful were getting edgy as the game wore on. Former Cobbler Marc Richards came off the bench with fifteen minutes to go and provided the last real talking point of the game. With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, there was a scramble in the Town area and the ball broke to Richards, who went down under a challenge inside the box, claiming a penalty. But the referee waved play on and booked Richards for his antics.
After four nervy minutes of stoppage time, the game was over and we had hung on for a good victory and it’s now three Sixfields wins in a row. It wasn’t the most convincing of performances but all that matters is that we’re now closer to the playoff places than we are to the bottom four and if we can just stay away from the pack at the bottom and leave enough of a distance between us, it can set us up for an exciting second half of the season.
It was a positive thing to see Danny Jackman do well at right back following an uncertain performance there at Millwall while Liam Dolman stepped up the plate to fill the void of Chris Doig. With Jason Crowe due back at Luton, with possibly Andy Holt as well we can hopefully challenge for our first away win of the season following some good success at home.
PLAYER RATINGS….
MARK BUNN: No chance with the goal and prevented yet another second half collapse. (7)
DANNY JACKMAN: Acquitted himself well in the unfamiliar right-back slot. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Growing with every game and rose to challenge of extra responsibility in the centre of defence. (7)
MARK HUGHES: Won so many challenges and headers to keep Vale out. (7)
DANIEL JONES: Another strong performance at left back. (7)
IAN HENDERSON: Great work for the goal and a threat throughout the game. (8)
BRAD JOHNSON: May need a rest despite a slightly improved performance. (6)
ALEX RUSSELL: Calmed the play down in the middle of the park following Vale’s goal. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Another strong performance on the right and he’s making the position his own. Good work to set up the second goal. (7)
ANDY KIRK: Worked hard and scored two poachers goals to move on to eight for the season. In the right place at the right time on both occasions. (8)
POUL HUBERTZ: Tired towards the end but so unlucky with the shot that hit the post. (7)
BRETT JOHNSON (SUB): Did well at left-back late on to stop the supply of the dangerous McGoldrick. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Only on for the dying minutes as we clung on to the points. (6)
I journeyed up to Northampton on Friday night to have a couple of days away from the south coast and it was nice to wake up on a Saturday morning for a home game with no travelling to do! There’s always debate about whether away days are a better option than home games for entertainment and I would certainly always prefer an away day out over a game at Sixfields.
But there’s something to be said about the traditions of a home game, having a lie in before a cooked breakfast and a couple of drinks before hand in the comfort of your own stadium. This was the first home game this season where I’ve not been travelling on the day itself and it brought back all the goodness of the Saturday home game for me. Another plus is that there’s no chance your warm-up will be disrupted because the team bus is late getting to the ground of course!
Saturday was a nice day for it but Sixfields was a little subdued with only just over 4,000 in attendance, not helped by the small following from Port Vale.
Stuart Gray had big injury problems ahead of the game with Jason Crowe, Andy Holt and Chris Doig all missing with hamstring injuries. This meant a start for Ian Henderson in midfield as Daniel Jones dropped to let back and Danny Jackman to right back in a 4-4-2 formation.
The first real effort of the game came from Brad Johnson who picked the ball up mid way inside the Vale half and struck a left footed effort that took a deflection and rolled away just past the post for a corner. Vale had their first attempt just a couple of minutes later as Justin Miller headed against Mark Bunn’s post but it was the Cobblers who took the lead with 20 minutes gone.
Ian Henderson made a strong run down the right and beat his man before delivering a perfect cross for Andy Kirk to volley home at the near post into the roof of the net.
Vale’s on-loan Southampton forward David McGoldrick tested Bunn at the other end but the Cobblers were in control of the game in the first half and looked the more likely side to score the second goal of the game. This did come on the half hour mark as a superb move down the right hand side involving Jackman and Colin Larkin ended with the latter pulling the ball back across goal for Kirk to tap home his and the Cobblers’ second of the afternoon.
Kirk could easily have had a hat-trick with five minutes of the half to play as a cross came in from the left hand side and the Ulsterman rose to meet the ball with a strong header but Vale keeper Joe Anyon clawed it away to safety.
We looked to be in complete control of the game at half-time but as we know from the Orient and Tranmere fight backs in previous weeks that nothing is that simple with the Cobblers and Vale gave us more than enough worries in the second half.
Brad Johnson began the second half as he started the first by providing our first shot on goal but his left footed effort sailed wide of Anyon’s post. I think if we’d have got the third goal of the game it would have been game over but Port Vale, to their credit, fought their way back into the game.
Ten minutes into the second half, McGoldrick picked up possession on the right hand side and was allowed a free run at goal before he arrowed a shot into the top corner of Bunn’s goal, setting up another tense second half.
Bunn had to be alert just a few minutes after the goal by saving from Shane Tudor before Luke Rodgers, who had been threatening all afternoon, turned well in the area and hammered a shot against the crossbar.
Brett Johnson was brought on to replace Ian Henderson on the left hand side as the Cobblers looked to hold on to what we had. But we did have our chances at the other end, with Poul Hubertz coming closest mid-way through the half. The big Dane turned his man on the edge of the area and hit a stinging left-footed shot that rattled the post and was cleared away by the Vale defence.
We desperately needed a third goal to put the game to bed and the claret faithful were getting edgy as the game wore on. Former Cobbler Marc Richards came off the bench with fifteen minutes to go and provided the last real talking point of the game. With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, there was a scramble in the Town area and the ball broke to Richards, who went down under a challenge inside the box, claiming a penalty. But the referee waved play on and booked Richards for his antics.
After four nervy minutes of stoppage time, the game was over and we had hung on for a good victory and it’s now three Sixfields wins in a row. It wasn’t the most convincing of performances but all that matters is that we’re now closer to the playoff places than we are to the bottom four and if we can just stay away from the pack at the bottom and leave enough of a distance between us, it can set us up for an exciting second half of the season.
It was a positive thing to see Danny Jackman do well at right back following an uncertain performance there at Millwall while Liam Dolman stepped up the plate to fill the void of Chris Doig. With Jason Crowe due back at Luton, with possibly Andy Holt as well we can hopefully challenge for our first away win of the season following some good success at home.
PLAYER RATINGS….
MARK BUNN: No chance with the goal and prevented yet another second half collapse. (7)
DANNY JACKMAN: Acquitted himself well in the unfamiliar right-back slot. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Growing with every game and rose to challenge of extra responsibility in the centre of defence. (7)
MARK HUGHES: Won so many challenges and headers to keep Vale out. (7)
DANIEL JONES: Another strong performance at left back. (7)
IAN HENDERSON: Great work for the goal and a threat throughout the game. (8)
BRAD JOHNSON: May need a rest despite a slightly improved performance. (6)
ALEX RUSSELL: Calmed the play down in the middle of the park following Vale’s goal. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Another strong performance on the right and he’s making the position his own. Good work to set up the second goal. (7)
ANDY KIRK: Worked hard and scored two poachers goals to move on to eight for the season. In the right place at the right time on both occasions. (8)
POUL HUBERTZ: Tired towards the end but so unlucky with the shot that hit the post. (7)
BRETT JOHNSON (SUB): Did well at left-back late on to stop the supply of the dangerous McGoldrick. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Only on for the dying minutes as we clung on to the points. (6)
Friday, October 05, 2007
Port Vale (H) Preview...
Port Vale are the visitors to Sixfields tomorrow afternoon as the Cobblers look to bounce back from the midweek defeat to Millwall. Vale began the season in poor form but recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town last time out so their season could be about to turn around.
Stuart Gray is without a handful of key players going into the game with Andy Holt, Jason Crowe and skipper Chris Doig all missing from the game. Danny Jackman and Daniel Jones both played a part at The Den though and should feature again. Poul Hubertz plays the final game before his suspension while Giles Coke remains on the sidelines long term.
Port Vale will be without suspended left-back Jason Talbot for the trip to Sixfields after he was sent off in the midweek win over Cheltenham Town. This could mean Paul Edwards moving to the left side of defence. Meanwhile, former Cobbler Ashley Westwood returns after his suspension.
THE STORY SO FAR…PORT VALE IN 2007/08…
Port Vale currently occupy one of the bottom four places in League One following a disappointing start to the season.
Vale began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Bristol Rovers before crashing out of the Carling Cup on penalties to League Two side Wrexham. After defeats to Yeovil (1-0) and Hartlepool (2-0), they picked up their first victory of the season away at Bournemouth at the start of September, Luke Rodgers getting the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute.
A goalless draw with Walsall followed but then Nottingham Forest took all the points from Vale Park in a 2-0 win with former Cobbler Luke Chambers getting the second. Vale were then beaten 2-1 by both Luton and Southend but hit back in midweek with a thumping 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town. Southampton loanee David McGoldrick scored the opener before Paul Edwards and Craig Rocastle completed the win.
RECENT MEETINGS…
06/02/07: PORT VALE 1-0 COBBLERS
A Danny Whitaker goal just after half-time gives Vale all three points and keeps the Cobblers in the relegation fight.
30/09/06: COBBLERS 0-2 PORT VALE
George Pilkington and loan signing Stefan Moore score in the first half an hour to seal a Sixfields win for The Valiants.
12/04/03: PORT VALE 3-2 COBBLERS
In an incredible finish to the game at Vale Park, two injury time goals put us closer to the drop. Marco Gabbiadini equalises a Michael Walsh opener before Lawrie Dudfield thinks he’s won the game as he scores in the 89th minute. But the home side incredibly hit back with goals from Adrian Littlejohn and Peter Clarke in stoppage time to all but relegate the Cobblers.
23/11/02: COBBLERS 3-0 PORT VALE
Marco Gabbiadini scores twice and Jamie Forrester seals the win with his 50th goal for the club.
***See this weeks’ Golden Games for more information***
26/02/02: COBBLERS 1-0 PORT VALE
Jamie Forrester’s 19th minute strike is enough to hand us a home victory.
22/09/01: PORT VALE 0-1 COBBLERS
Roy Hunter scores with fifteen minutes to go as the Cobblers record a good away win at Vale Park.
FOR THE RECORD…COBBLERS v PORT VALE…
GAMES PLAYED: 59
COBBLERS WINS: 24
DRAWS: 16
VALE WINS: 19
Stuart Gray is without a handful of key players going into the game with Andy Holt, Jason Crowe and skipper Chris Doig all missing from the game. Danny Jackman and Daniel Jones both played a part at The Den though and should feature again. Poul Hubertz plays the final game before his suspension while Giles Coke remains on the sidelines long term.
Port Vale will be without suspended left-back Jason Talbot for the trip to Sixfields after he was sent off in the midweek win over Cheltenham Town. This could mean Paul Edwards moving to the left side of defence. Meanwhile, former Cobbler Ashley Westwood returns after his suspension.
THE STORY SO FAR…PORT VALE IN 2007/08…
Port Vale currently occupy one of the bottom four places in League One following a disappointing start to the season.
Vale began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Bristol Rovers before crashing out of the Carling Cup on penalties to League Two side Wrexham. After defeats to Yeovil (1-0) and Hartlepool (2-0), they picked up their first victory of the season away at Bournemouth at the start of September, Luke Rodgers getting the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute.
A goalless draw with Walsall followed but then Nottingham Forest took all the points from Vale Park in a 2-0 win with former Cobbler Luke Chambers getting the second. Vale were then beaten 2-1 by both Luton and Southend but hit back in midweek with a thumping 3-0 win over Cheltenham Town. Southampton loanee David McGoldrick scored the opener before Paul Edwards and Craig Rocastle completed the win.
RECENT MEETINGS…
06/02/07: PORT VALE 1-0 COBBLERS
A Danny Whitaker goal just after half-time gives Vale all three points and keeps the Cobblers in the relegation fight.
30/09/06: COBBLERS 0-2 PORT VALE
George Pilkington and loan signing Stefan Moore score in the first half an hour to seal a Sixfields win for The Valiants.
12/04/03: PORT VALE 3-2 COBBLERS
In an incredible finish to the game at Vale Park, two injury time goals put us closer to the drop. Marco Gabbiadini equalises a Michael Walsh opener before Lawrie Dudfield thinks he’s won the game as he scores in the 89th minute. But the home side incredibly hit back with goals from Adrian Littlejohn and Peter Clarke in stoppage time to all but relegate the Cobblers.
23/11/02: COBBLERS 3-0 PORT VALE
Marco Gabbiadini scores twice and Jamie Forrester seals the win with his 50th goal for the club.
***See this weeks’ Golden Games for more information***
26/02/02: COBBLERS 1-0 PORT VALE
Jamie Forrester’s 19th minute strike is enough to hand us a home victory.
22/09/01: PORT VALE 0-1 COBBLERS
Roy Hunter scores with fifteen minutes to go as the Cobblers record a good away win at Vale Park.
FOR THE RECORD…COBBLERS v PORT VALE…
GAMES PLAYED: 59
COBBLERS WINS: 24
DRAWS: 16
VALE WINS: 19
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Golden Games: Cobblers v Port Vale
This weeks’ Golden Game is a trip back to the 2002/03 season as the Cobblers produced a fine home performance against Saturday’s opponents Port Vale to make it three straight victories in the league.
Northampton Town 3-1 Port Vale
23/11/02
Attendance: 4,357
After a difficult start to the season, the Cobblers were in a poor league position going into the game but recent form had seen renewed hope being installed into the season. Prior to the Vale game, the Cobblers had won their last two league games against Luton Town (3-0) and QPR (1-0) plus a 3-2 win over Boston United in the F.A. Cup.
Jerry Gill made a return to the Cobblers line-up after missing the Boston cup-tie while Darryn Stamp was on the bench after finally recovering from the knee injury he picked up on the opening day of the season.
Marco Gabbiadini had the first Cobblers effort of the game as he shot from the edge of the area but Vale keeper Mark Goodlad was equal to it. Gabbiadini was involved again just minutes later as he headed a Paul Harsley cross just wide of the post. The Cobblers had started the game on the front foot with Paul Harsley and Jamie Forrester also going close early on.
Billy Paynter fired a warning shot for the visitors, shooting over the bar from twelve yards before Mark Boyd shot inches wide of Lee Harpers’ goal in a thrilling start to the game.
It was the Cobblers who took the lead though as Marco Gabbiadini picked the ball up and produced a glorious lob over Goodlad to put us in front. Jamie Forrester saw his own long range effort pushed away a few minutes later and then Ian Sampson headed a Paul Trollope corner over the bar.
So a thrilling first half at Sixfields ended with the Cobblers a goal to the good but Vale threatening well at the other end when given the chance.
Derek Asamoah began the second half on fire as he set up chances for Gabbiadini and Harsley but neither could finish off good moves and add to our lead. It was 2-0, though, soon after Harsley’s effort as Gabbiadini and Forrester combined well to give the former a chance at goal. Gabbiadini duly obliged and finished well into the bottom corner.
Gabbiadini went close to his hat-trick when teed up by Forrester before Vale looked to get back into the game but John Durnin was denied by Lee Harper.
Jamie Forrester rounded off the game in style as he produced a clever chip over Goodlad to seal a 3-0 victory and to score his 50th goal for the club.
Northampton Town 3-1 Port Vale
23/11/02
Attendance: 4,357
After a difficult start to the season, the Cobblers were in a poor league position going into the game but recent form had seen renewed hope being installed into the season. Prior to the Vale game, the Cobblers had won their last two league games against Luton Town (3-0) and QPR (1-0) plus a 3-2 win over Boston United in the F.A. Cup.
Jerry Gill made a return to the Cobblers line-up after missing the Boston cup-tie while Darryn Stamp was on the bench after finally recovering from the knee injury he picked up on the opening day of the season.
Marco Gabbiadini had the first Cobblers effort of the game as he shot from the edge of the area but Vale keeper Mark Goodlad was equal to it. Gabbiadini was involved again just minutes later as he headed a Paul Harsley cross just wide of the post. The Cobblers had started the game on the front foot with Paul Harsley and Jamie Forrester also going close early on.
Billy Paynter fired a warning shot for the visitors, shooting over the bar from twelve yards before Mark Boyd shot inches wide of Lee Harpers’ goal in a thrilling start to the game.
It was the Cobblers who took the lead though as Marco Gabbiadini picked the ball up and produced a glorious lob over Goodlad to put us in front. Jamie Forrester saw his own long range effort pushed away a few minutes later and then Ian Sampson headed a Paul Trollope corner over the bar.
So a thrilling first half at Sixfields ended with the Cobblers a goal to the good but Vale threatening well at the other end when given the chance.
Derek Asamoah began the second half on fire as he set up chances for Gabbiadini and Harsley but neither could finish off good moves and add to our lead. It was 2-0, though, soon after Harsley’s effort as Gabbiadini and Forrester combined well to give the former a chance at goal. Gabbiadini duly obliged and finished well into the bottom corner.
Gabbiadini went close to his hat-trick when teed up by Forrester before Vale looked to get back into the game but John Durnin was denied by Lee Harper.
Jamie Forrester rounded off the game in style as he produced a clever chip over Goodlad to seal a 3-0 victory and to score his 50th goal for the club.
No Saints 2-1 The Closers
No Saints put in a superb performance to record a second win in two games at the start of the season. Last night, The Closers, who had won 11-4 the week before, came into the game with a worrying top goal scorer who fired in five goals in the opening game.
But No Saints were solid from the off and produced a display to be proud of. The first half began with Abib slotting home two fine finishes to give us a two goal cushion. I had to come out of goal because of poor vision as day became night and Aaron and Nathan covered the rest of the game very well.
The second half was a gutsy defensive display but The Closers never really tested us until the latter stages. The big number seven began to use heavy handed tactics to try and roughen us up a bit but his frustration nearly, and probably should have, earned him a blue card. The Closers finally broke through and scored with a minute to go and set up a nervy last sixty seconds but we hung on and claimed an impressive victory.
Next up are The Players, the side beaten by the Closers last week, and despite their early defeat should still provide good opposition so no room for complacency as we look to make No Saints history by winning three games in a row for the first time ever!
But No Saints were solid from the off and produced a display to be proud of. The first half began with Abib slotting home two fine finishes to give us a two goal cushion. I had to come out of goal because of poor vision as day became night and Aaron and Nathan covered the rest of the game very well.
The second half was a gutsy defensive display but The Closers never really tested us until the latter stages. The big number seven began to use heavy handed tactics to try and roughen us up a bit but his frustration nearly, and probably should have, earned him a blue card. The Closers finally broke through and scored with a minute to go and set up a nervy last sixty seconds but we hung on and claimed an impressive victory.
Next up are The Players, the side beaten by the Closers last week, and despite their early defeat should still provide good opposition so no room for complacency as we look to make No Saints history by winning three games in a row for the first time ever!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Midweek Review 03/10/07
It’s been a busy week away from Sixfields as the Cobblers claimed a disappointing return of one point from the two away days at Tranmere and Millwall. The home game with Port Vale now takes on more importance as we look to get back on track after losing our unbeaten run.
This week has shown the real difference between being at a game and listening in on the radio commentary. Tranmere was as agonising a second half I’ve ever had to put my ears to and was part of the reason why I made the decision to go to Millwall on Tuesday night. Despite the dreadfulness of it all it was still a good feeling to be back and a part of the action again.
We once again let a two goal lead slip at Tranmere and that’s now twice it’s happened in a matter of weeks. It must be a major worry for Stuart Gray that we keep letting leads slip and the more it happens the more wary we’ll be when we’re in front in the future. We’ll almost certainly be in the same position again some time this season and we must install some sort of discipline in the side to prevent three points turning into one.
I only wish that a two goal lead was causing problems last night but Millwall never looked like surrendering their advantage as a lack of real warm-up and loss of two key players played a big part in the performance. But while we can point out the defensive slips that cost us the goal being down to players being out of position, there’s no excuse for not testing the keeper at the other end when given a chance. We seemed almost unwilling to shoot at times, trying to walk the ball in and playing short corners that ended up back in our defence in a very frustrating evening in South Bermondsey.
Colin Larkin showed some flair late on when he was moved up front and made a nuisance of himself by having the nerve to actually make Rob Douglas work and he’ll surely get his chance up top when Mr Hubertz is suspended at Luton. Another option would be Henderson who I thought did well when brought on in the latter stages at The Den.
So attention now turns to Port Vale at home on Saturday afternoon and we need to bounce back with victory pretty quickly or some of the more fickle Town fans will begin their moanings again. We shouldn’t be worried at the moment about our bottom half of the table position, as much as we shouldn’t have been getting too excited about our 11th place last week. It’s a tight league at the moment and hopefully when things start to even out we’ll have built a points gap between ourselves and the bottom four big enough to be comfortable with.
Up The Cobblers!
This week has shown the real difference between being at a game and listening in on the radio commentary. Tranmere was as agonising a second half I’ve ever had to put my ears to and was part of the reason why I made the decision to go to Millwall on Tuesday night. Despite the dreadfulness of it all it was still a good feeling to be back and a part of the action again.
We once again let a two goal lead slip at Tranmere and that’s now twice it’s happened in a matter of weeks. It must be a major worry for Stuart Gray that we keep letting leads slip and the more it happens the more wary we’ll be when we’re in front in the future. We’ll almost certainly be in the same position again some time this season and we must install some sort of discipline in the side to prevent three points turning into one.
I only wish that a two goal lead was causing problems last night but Millwall never looked like surrendering their advantage as a lack of real warm-up and loss of two key players played a big part in the performance. But while we can point out the defensive slips that cost us the goal being down to players being out of position, there’s no excuse for not testing the keeper at the other end when given a chance. We seemed almost unwilling to shoot at times, trying to walk the ball in and playing short corners that ended up back in our defence in a very frustrating evening in South Bermondsey.
Colin Larkin showed some flair late on when he was moved up front and made a nuisance of himself by having the nerve to actually make Rob Douglas work and he’ll surely get his chance up top when Mr Hubertz is suspended at Luton. Another option would be Henderson who I thought did well when brought on in the latter stages at The Den.
So attention now turns to Port Vale at home on Saturday afternoon and we need to bounce back with victory pretty quickly or some of the more fickle Town fans will begin their moanings again. We shouldn’t be worried at the moment about our bottom half of the table position, as much as we shouldn’t have been getting too excited about our 11th place last week. It’s a tight league at the moment and hopefully when things start to even out we’ll have built a points gap between ourselves and the bottom four big enough to be comfortable with.
Up The Cobblers!
No Saints v The Closers Preview...
We’re looking to make it two wins from two this evening as No Saints go into battle with fellow first week winners The Closers. Our opposition recorded an impressive 11-4 success last Wednesday and are likely to provide a massive test for the new era of the White Army!
A squad of at least seven is confirmed for tonight with Jamie shaking off a niggling injury to declare himself fit for the game. Dave returns to the squad after missing last week’s victory and boosts the numbers.
The Closers will more than likely be tougher opposition than Kashima Antlers last week but confidence is high in the No Saints camp ahead of the game. It’s a 7pm kick off so not a lot of time to prepare after work but it still should be a good battle ahead.
A squad of at least seven is confirmed for tonight with Jamie shaking off a niggling injury to declare himself fit for the game. Dave returns to the squad after missing last week’s victory and boosts the numbers.
The Closers will more than likely be tougher opposition than Kashima Antlers last week but confidence is high in the No Saints camp ahead of the game. It’s a 7pm kick off so not a lot of time to prepare after work but it still should be a good battle ahead.
Millwall 2-0 Northampton Town
The Cobblers were soundly beaten last night as Millwall scored from two free headers in the first half to end our unbeaten run and claim their first win in seven games. The day looked doomed from the off as traffic problems caused the Cobblers team bus to be held up and the match to be delayed by fifteen minutes.
There’s a certain warm feeling about night games. As the nights set in upon the early season, the evenings are often dark and murky as you sit inside eating a stew or spaghetti Bolognese to warm your stomach. But football in the evenings brings its own character to the cold nights. It had been a very long time since my last Cobblers game on a Tuesday night and with funds getting low I wasn’t sure about making the trip to Millwall.
I had a think, changed my mind a hundred times and then finally thought, “sod it” and made a Monday afternoon decision to make arrangements for the trip to the New Den. I don’t know what it was that changed my mind but withdrawal symptoms may have played a big part, having missed our last couple of games. My flat mate Jamie decided to join me and I think that finally inducts him as a Cobblers fan!
Of course he brought the camera along and the first issue of the evening was his specially prepared quiz on the Cobblers. Well, I say it was on the Cobblers but when there’s questions like “What is the link between Andy Kirk and Lisburn Distillery?” (For the record, Kirk’s father is manager there) it’s more than a little dubious! I scored 2 out of 9 and also discovered that Poul Hubertz’ surname is in fact Knudson.
As our train made its way through the evening towards Waterloo with only a businesslike looking gentleman for company we had to find our own entertainment. Fortunately, the brilliant train announcer gave us more than enough with his comedy nasal tone that reminded me of a country rambler. Anything to make the hour go quicker! I was even tempted to go and buy some overpriced Polo’s from the buffet cart for extra humour but thought I may just explode with excitement (and mintyness) should I do so.
Waterloo station soon loomed over the horizon and this was where the fun began as we rushed from train to train over Waterloo East and London Bridge stations in order to get to The Den in time. After a mad dash across London and making it just in time for the 7:45pm kick off, we were told that the game had been delayed by fifteen minutes!
The reason given was that traffic had held up our team coach, plus some of the supporters’ coaches meaning that we would only have limited warm-up time before hand. This was the start of a truly dismal evening.
Danny Jackman made a surprise return to the starting line-up at left-back while Daniel Jones was on the bench. Colin Larkin retained his place in midfield and Poul Hubertz started against his former team mates.
From the very start, the home side were well on top as we struggled to get a grip on the game and the slippery surface of the Den. Millwall were passing the ball well and seemed to have that extra edge early on. The Cobblers’ cause wasn’t helped when Chris Doig was taken off injured after just a few minutes of the game. Daniel Jones replaced the Scotsman and we moved to a 4-4-2 formation.
It was no surprise when Millwall’s early pressure paid off as Jay Simpson crossed for Alan Dunne to rise and nod home a free header in the centre of the goal.
Jason Crowe was the next injury victim and he was also taken off as the disastrous start to the game continued. Joe Burnell replaced Crowe and took his place in an unfamiliar right-back role.
The Cobblers had their first and only real effort of the first half from a corner that Mark Hughes met but was denied by the dogged defending of the home side as they twice blocked his goal bound shots.
This would be the closest we would come and it was Millwall who doubled their lead with a second free header of the night. Paul Robinson rose at the back post to easily nod home a cross from the right hand side. It was awful marking from the Cobblers and to make the same mistake twice was disappointing.
We didn’t look at all like we had any chance of a fight back but at least made an effort to get forward at the start of the second half.
Andy Kirk drilled a shot wide on the hour mark before Mark Bunn had to be alert at the other end, pushing away a stinging shot from Ali Fuseini. As the half wore on, it was obvious that it wasn’t to be our day but full credit to the Cobblers support of around 400 for keeping the spirits up throughout!
Colin Larkin moved up front to form a front three late on, with Hubertz and substitute Ian Henderson, and the Irishman had a couple of late chances to salvage something but both his volley and header were comfortably saved by home keeper Rob Douglas.
Hubertz was booked to end a frustrating return for him personally and he will now miss the live Sky game with Luton Town in two weeks’ time.
So a disappointing night all round and one of those nights where nothing goes your way. The team coach was late, the burger was cold, it was raining and we faced a couple of hours’ journey home. But does that change my initial view of the “warm feeling” I spoke of earlier of Tuesday night games? Strangely, no. And even more strange was that it almost felt right. It felt kind of comforting in a weird way that everything went wrong. When that happens and you just know it’s not your night you may as well enjoy yourself and I think the band of Cobblers fans, if demoralised by defeat, at least went down with a bit of spirit!
So hopefully that was just one of those nights and we can bounce back and forget about it at home to Port Vale on Saturday. If Crowe and Doig are both still injured it’s going to test to our small squad to its limits but it will be a time when others need to come in and stake their claim.
It’ll be interesting to see how we respond on Saturday and another defeat would drag us right back into the bottom of the table pack but hopefully we can respond in style against a struggling Vale side.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: No chance with either goal but pulled off good save to keep the score down. (6)
JASON CROWE: Injury early on prevented us from mounting our usual quick breaks on the right. (5)
CHRIS DOIG: Also injured in the first ten minutes and defence looked unsure with only two in the middle. (5)
MARK HUGHES: Fought to try and keep us in the game but will be disappointed with marking for the goals. (6)
LIAM DOLMAN: Did OK in the second half but again will be annoyed with the defending for the goals. (5)
DANNY JACKMAN: Looked totally out of placed when switched to right back in the second half and some passes went well astray. (5)
BRAD JOHNSON: Mounted one or two attacks but needed to shoot on sight a bit more to at least give us something in the attempts column. (6)
ALEX RUSSELL: Strangely off on his passing at times but battled well. (6)
COLIN LARKIN: Should get his chance up front at Luton due to Hoobs being suspended and brought us our two best efforts of the game late on. (7)
ANDY KIRK: Had one shot wide but overall a day to forget. (5)
POUL HUBERTZ: Disappointing return to the Den for the big Dane and a frustrating afternoon complete with the booking. (5)
DANIEL JONES (SUB): Seemed to play all across the midfield due to reshuffles but lacked his usual pace down the flanks. (5)
JOE BURNELL (SUB): Played at right back in the first half and never really looked comfortable. (5)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Gave us something extra and possibly should have been on sooner as he began to create things late on. (6)
There’s a certain warm feeling about night games. As the nights set in upon the early season, the evenings are often dark and murky as you sit inside eating a stew or spaghetti Bolognese to warm your stomach. But football in the evenings brings its own character to the cold nights. It had been a very long time since my last Cobblers game on a Tuesday night and with funds getting low I wasn’t sure about making the trip to Millwall.
I had a think, changed my mind a hundred times and then finally thought, “sod it” and made a Monday afternoon decision to make arrangements for the trip to the New Den. I don’t know what it was that changed my mind but withdrawal symptoms may have played a big part, having missed our last couple of games. My flat mate Jamie decided to join me and I think that finally inducts him as a Cobblers fan!
Of course he brought the camera along and the first issue of the evening was his specially prepared quiz on the Cobblers. Well, I say it was on the Cobblers but when there’s questions like “What is the link between Andy Kirk and Lisburn Distillery?” (For the record, Kirk’s father is manager there) it’s more than a little dubious! I scored 2 out of 9 and also discovered that Poul Hubertz’ surname is in fact Knudson.
As our train made its way through the evening towards Waterloo with only a businesslike looking gentleman for company we had to find our own entertainment. Fortunately, the brilliant train announcer gave us more than enough with his comedy nasal tone that reminded me of a country rambler. Anything to make the hour go quicker! I was even tempted to go and buy some overpriced Polo’s from the buffet cart for extra humour but thought I may just explode with excitement (and mintyness) should I do so.
Waterloo station soon loomed over the horizon and this was where the fun began as we rushed from train to train over Waterloo East and London Bridge stations in order to get to The Den in time. After a mad dash across London and making it just in time for the 7:45pm kick off, we were told that the game had been delayed by fifteen minutes!
The reason given was that traffic had held up our team coach, plus some of the supporters’ coaches meaning that we would only have limited warm-up time before hand. This was the start of a truly dismal evening.
Danny Jackman made a surprise return to the starting line-up at left-back while Daniel Jones was on the bench. Colin Larkin retained his place in midfield and Poul Hubertz started against his former team mates.
From the very start, the home side were well on top as we struggled to get a grip on the game and the slippery surface of the Den. Millwall were passing the ball well and seemed to have that extra edge early on. The Cobblers’ cause wasn’t helped when Chris Doig was taken off injured after just a few minutes of the game. Daniel Jones replaced the Scotsman and we moved to a 4-4-2 formation.
It was no surprise when Millwall’s early pressure paid off as Jay Simpson crossed for Alan Dunne to rise and nod home a free header in the centre of the goal.
Jason Crowe was the next injury victim and he was also taken off as the disastrous start to the game continued. Joe Burnell replaced Crowe and took his place in an unfamiliar right-back role.
The Cobblers had their first and only real effort of the first half from a corner that Mark Hughes met but was denied by the dogged defending of the home side as they twice blocked his goal bound shots.
This would be the closest we would come and it was Millwall who doubled their lead with a second free header of the night. Paul Robinson rose at the back post to easily nod home a cross from the right hand side. It was awful marking from the Cobblers and to make the same mistake twice was disappointing.
We didn’t look at all like we had any chance of a fight back but at least made an effort to get forward at the start of the second half.
Andy Kirk drilled a shot wide on the hour mark before Mark Bunn had to be alert at the other end, pushing away a stinging shot from Ali Fuseini. As the half wore on, it was obvious that it wasn’t to be our day but full credit to the Cobblers support of around 400 for keeping the spirits up throughout!
Colin Larkin moved up front to form a front three late on, with Hubertz and substitute Ian Henderson, and the Irishman had a couple of late chances to salvage something but both his volley and header were comfortably saved by home keeper Rob Douglas.
Hubertz was booked to end a frustrating return for him personally and he will now miss the live Sky game with Luton Town in two weeks’ time.
So a disappointing night all round and one of those nights where nothing goes your way. The team coach was late, the burger was cold, it was raining and we faced a couple of hours’ journey home. But does that change my initial view of the “warm feeling” I spoke of earlier of Tuesday night games? Strangely, no. And even more strange was that it almost felt right. It felt kind of comforting in a weird way that everything went wrong. When that happens and you just know it’s not your night you may as well enjoy yourself and I think the band of Cobblers fans, if demoralised by defeat, at least went down with a bit of spirit!
So hopefully that was just one of those nights and we can bounce back and forget about it at home to Port Vale on Saturday. If Crowe and Doig are both still injured it’s going to test to our small squad to its limits but it will be a time when others need to come in and stake their claim.
It’ll be interesting to see how we respond on Saturday and another defeat would drag us right back into the bottom of the table pack but hopefully we can respond in style against a struggling Vale side.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: No chance with either goal but pulled off good save to keep the score down. (6)
JASON CROWE: Injury early on prevented us from mounting our usual quick breaks on the right. (5)
CHRIS DOIG: Also injured in the first ten minutes and defence looked unsure with only two in the middle. (5)
MARK HUGHES: Fought to try and keep us in the game but will be disappointed with marking for the goals. (6)
LIAM DOLMAN: Did OK in the second half but again will be annoyed with the defending for the goals. (5)
DANNY JACKMAN: Looked totally out of placed when switched to right back in the second half and some passes went well astray. (5)
BRAD JOHNSON: Mounted one or two attacks but needed to shoot on sight a bit more to at least give us something in the attempts column. (6)
ALEX RUSSELL: Strangely off on his passing at times but battled well. (6)
COLIN LARKIN: Should get his chance up front at Luton due to Hoobs being suspended and brought us our two best efforts of the game late on. (7)
ANDY KIRK: Had one shot wide but overall a day to forget. (5)
POUL HUBERTZ: Disappointing return to the Den for the big Dane and a frustrating afternoon complete with the booking. (5)
DANIEL JONES (SUB): Seemed to play all across the midfield due to reshuffles but lacked his usual pace down the flanks. (5)
JOE BURNELL (SUB): Played at right back in the first half and never really looked comfortable. (5)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Gave us something extra and possibly should have been on sooner as he began to create things late on. (6)
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Millwall (A) Preview...
Stuart Gray takes his troops to the New Den tonight as we look to extend our unbeaten run to six games. To add extra spice to the game, Poul Hubertz makes his first trip back to the Den since his summer move to Sixfields as he looks to build on his four goals so far this season.
The Cobblers are still without long term injury victim Giles Coke while Danny Jackman and Daniel Jones are still sidelined. Andy Holt picked up a knock on his hamstring during the draw at Tranmere on Saturday and could miss the trip, meaning Stuart Gray may have to reshuffle. Brett Johnson will be standing by for a recall should Holt not make it.
Cobblers’ summer target Gary Alexander is set to return to the Millwall line-up if he can shake off an illness while Alan Dunne is also expected to be back in the fold. But the home side are likely to be without Danny Spiller, Neil Harris and Zak Whitbread.
THE STORY SO FAR…MILLWALL IN 2007/08…
Millwall took four points from their opening two league games with a draw at Doncaster on the opening day of the season and victory over Cheltenham Town. Sandwiched in between, though, was a defeat to the Cobblers in the Carling Cup and league form soon began to suffer as well.
The Lions lost their next five games after the Cheltenham victory as Southend (1-0), Huddersfield (2-1), Swansea (3-2 in the JPT), Brighton (3-0) and Walsall (1-2) all sent the team to defeats.
There was brief rest bite with a goalless draw at Crewe but last weekend they were beaten once again, this time at home to Swindon Town
RECENT MEETINGS…
14/08/07: COBBLERS 2-0 MILLWALL (Carling Cup First Round)
We’ve already beaten Millwall this season in the Carling Cup as Bradley Johnson and Andy Kirk seal progress to the next round.
23/01/07: COBBLERS 3-0 MILLWALL
Goals from Scott McGleish, Andy Holt and Brad Johnson give us a convincing win over the Lions following the abandonment of the initial fixture.
23/09/06: MILLWALL 0-1 COBBLERS
Cobblers’ loanee Mitchell Cole scores a 42nd minute winner as the Cobblers claim all three points from the New Den.
20/02/01: COBBLERS 3-3 MILWALL
Paul Moody and Neil Harris give Millwall a 2-0 lead but the Cobblers stage a superb comeback. Marco Gabbiadini sets the ball rolling before two Dave Savage penalties turn the game around in the Cobblers favour. But there was one final twist in the tale to come as Belgian Christophe Kinet grabbed a dramatic 87th minute equaliser.
05/12/00: MILLWALL 4-1 COBBLERS (Football League Trophy First Round)
Christophe Kinet bags a hat-trick and Richard Sadlier one as The Lions’ hammer four past Adam Sollitt in the Cobblers goal. James Gould scores a consolation for the Cobblers.
12/09/00: MILLWALL 0-1 COBBLERS
Marco Gabbiadini scores the only goal of the game on the hour mark.
27/02/99: COBBLERS 1-2 MILLWALL
Stuart Nethercott puts Millwall in front on 59 minutes before Carlo Corazzin scores the equaliser ten minutes from time. But ‘Wall take home all the points as Richard Sadliers fires home with three minutes to play.
FOR THE RECORD…LIONS v COBBLERS
GAMES PLAYED: 109
MILLWALL WINS: 51
DRAWS: 18
COBBLERS WINS: 40
The Cobblers are still without long term injury victim Giles Coke while Danny Jackman and Daniel Jones are still sidelined. Andy Holt picked up a knock on his hamstring during the draw at Tranmere on Saturday and could miss the trip, meaning Stuart Gray may have to reshuffle. Brett Johnson will be standing by for a recall should Holt not make it.
Cobblers’ summer target Gary Alexander is set to return to the Millwall line-up if he can shake off an illness while Alan Dunne is also expected to be back in the fold. But the home side are likely to be without Danny Spiller, Neil Harris and Zak Whitbread.
THE STORY SO FAR…MILLWALL IN 2007/08…
Millwall took four points from their opening two league games with a draw at Doncaster on the opening day of the season and victory over Cheltenham Town. Sandwiched in between, though, was a defeat to the Cobblers in the Carling Cup and league form soon began to suffer as well.
The Lions lost their next five games after the Cheltenham victory as Southend (1-0), Huddersfield (2-1), Swansea (3-2 in the JPT), Brighton (3-0) and Walsall (1-2) all sent the team to defeats.
There was brief rest bite with a goalless draw at Crewe but last weekend they were beaten once again, this time at home to Swindon Town
RECENT MEETINGS…
14/08/07: COBBLERS 2-0 MILLWALL (Carling Cup First Round)
We’ve already beaten Millwall this season in the Carling Cup as Bradley Johnson and Andy Kirk seal progress to the next round.
23/01/07: COBBLERS 3-0 MILLWALL
Goals from Scott McGleish, Andy Holt and Brad Johnson give us a convincing win over the Lions following the abandonment of the initial fixture.
23/09/06: MILLWALL 0-1 COBBLERS
Cobblers’ loanee Mitchell Cole scores a 42nd minute winner as the Cobblers claim all three points from the New Den.
20/02/01: COBBLERS 3-3 MILWALL
Paul Moody and Neil Harris give Millwall a 2-0 lead but the Cobblers stage a superb comeback. Marco Gabbiadini sets the ball rolling before two Dave Savage penalties turn the game around in the Cobblers favour. But there was one final twist in the tale to come as Belgian Christophe Kinet grabbed a dramatic 87th minute equaliser.
05/12/00: MILLWALL 4-1 COBBLERS (Football League Trophy First Round)
Christophe Kinet bags a hat-trick and Richard Sadlier one as The Lions’ hammer four past Adam Sollitt in the Cobblers goal. James Gould scores a consolation for the Cobblers.
12/09/00: MILLWALL 0-1 COBBLERS
Marco Gabbiadini scores the only goal of the game on the hour mark.
27/02/99: COBBLERS 1-2 MILLWALL
Stuart Nethercott puts Millwall in front on 59 minutes before Carlo Corazzin scores the equaliser ten minutes from time. But ‘Wall take home all the points as Richard Sadliers fires home with three minutes to play.
FOR THE RECORD…LIONS v COBBLERS
GAMES PLAYED: 109
MILLWALL WINS: 51
DRAWS: 18
COBBLERS WINS: 40
Who is the smallest Teletubby?
Victory was ours last night for the first time ever in the pub quiz! With four members of No Saints making an appearance plus a few extras to help the cause greatly we finally managed to win after nearly two years of trying!
The Cricketers had been a regular hang out on Monday nights before we began football on Monday nights but obviously we had to cancel the visit to the quiz to allow for the No Saints heroics to begin. But now we’re playing on Wednesdays there’s a chance to get back into the swing of things at the quiz, especially as last nights’ prize was a crate of beer!
In a bizarre round, we were struggling with various answers relating to rivers and had to call on some “help”. It showed the extent of our knowledge that the only two answers we got straight away in that round were that Jack Dee won the first ever Celebrity Big Brother and that Po was the smallest Teletubby!
In other news, we’ve decided to make the treacherous trip to Millwall tonight, leaving straight after work to head for the New Den. Hopefully we’ll make it back alive to play in Wednesday’s big game with The Closers!
The Cricketers had been a regular hang out on Monday nights before we began football on Monday nights but obviously we had to cancel the visit to the quiz to allow for the No Saints heroics to begin. But now we’re playing on Wednesdays there’s a chance to get back into the swing of things at the quiz, especially as last nights’ prize was a crate of beer!
In a bizarre round, we were struggling with various answers relating to rivers and had to call on some “help”. It showed the extent of our knowledge that the only two answers we got straight away in that round were that Jack Dee won the first ever Celebrity Big Brother and that Po was the smallest Teletubby!
In other news, we’ve decided to make the treacherous trip to Millwall tonight, leaving straight after work to head for the New Den. Hopefully we’ll make it back alive to play in Wednesday’s big game with The Closers!
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