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!
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