As Leeds United descend on Sixfields this weekend in the first sell out of the season for the Cobblers, things couldn’t be going an awful lot better. A draw at Swindon, salvaged by Bayo’s header, was a step further in the right direction and now we face the test of Leeds once again as we look to restore some pride after last month’s 3-0 defeat at Elland Road.
Swindon was a typical mid-table clash if ever you saw one. Going into the game with The Robins in 10th and ourselves 11th it was never going to be a run away win for either side on paper and so it proved. The Cobblers started the game well and had Gilly’s early effort found the back of the net rather than the goalkeepers’ outstretched hand we certainly could have had some momentum.
With two evenly matched sides, it was disappointing to fall behind to a very soft goal at the near post from Blair Sturrock, formerly on trial at Sixfields and taking a rare break from following his Dad around the football league. It was looking desperate for us as we poured forward looking for the equaliser and had it not been for an outstanding block from Mark Little, who continues to impress at the back, it would have been game over even before Big Bad Bayo entered onto the County Ground stage.
But the debutant’s introduction was just what we needed and fair play to Stuart Gray for taking a gamble and throwing both him and Henderson on late on to try and press for the leveller. Bayo’s strength and shot forced the corner which he then headed home and earned the draw. We could even have won it late on if Jonathon Hayes, a lot more creative in the wider position, had blasted into the net and not over.
But it was a top point at a tough ground and one which doesn’t hold many successful recent memories for Cobblers fans.
Giles Coke was left out of Saturday’s game with a new injury problem but he looks on the way to recovery and could even make it to the Leeds game. Chris Doig looks a little further away it seems but Brett Johnson’s performances are certainly making up for the skipper’s absence.
The return against Leeds once again, an very annoyingly so, finds the Yorkshire Club on a poor run of form. New boss Gary McAllister will be wanting to put that right at the weekend so expect once again a fired up Leeds side. This time we’ll have Hoobs back, Bayo in contention and Coke maybe even getting in the side so it’ll be an altogether different look to the side that went down at Elland Road. Victory would surely ensure that we are nearly there in terms of safety barring an absolute disaster in the later months of the season.
After Leeds it’s on to Yeovil on what promises to be a cold night on the unforgiving open terrace. I’ve managed to persuade a couple of friends to make the journey with me from Southampton and a stop off in Yeovil over night provides this seasons’ random adventure away game!
But first things first and Leeds are on the horizon. Can we possibly get something from the game in a Sixfields sell out? I would suggest it’s very possible but we can’t afford to be anywhere near our performance level back in January. A good backing from the home crowd from the off and containing them early on will be what the doctor ordered and then maybe, just maybe, we’ll be sitting just two points away from our visitors come 5pm on Saturday!
Up the Cobblers!
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