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)
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