So the season came to a psychological end at least up at Roots Hall on Saturday as any lingering playoff hopes were ended with a 1-1 draw. With a bout of illness sweeping the club, though, a draw was a fine result despite the implications that means the top six are just out of reach.
At the start of the game we knew that nothing less than a win would do as Leeds had already beaten Carlisle at Elland Road earlier in the day. Without Giles Coke, Brett Johnson and Joe Burnell through the bug going round the club we were a bit patched up while a couple of other players reportedly played with the illness.
A positive note was the return to action of skipper Chris Doig. Since injuring himself at Darlington in the F.A. Cup in November, Doig has struggled to get back to full fitness but it was a great sign to see him back at Roots Hall. Doig had a typically good game and his power at the back was a welcome addition to the defence.
Colin Larkin took his goal well after getting a rare start and will be hoping he’s done enough to get back into the starting line-up for Oldham’s visit this Saturday. Bayo had a quiet game other than a bustling run that was blocked off and he could do with a rest if Hoobs is fit enough to start.
The inevitable onslaught on our goal began and the expected equaliser came through former Cobblers loan man Lee Barnard who Colin Calderwood brought to the club during his reign. Southend could be aggrieved that they didn’t win the game but they still showed a lot of quality going forward and will make the playoffs with ease.
The playoffs are set to be the best in this division for many years with Forest, Leeds, Southend and Doncaster/Carlisle looking likely to slug it out for a place in the Championship and shows just how tough a job it’s been this season in League One. Looking at it that way and a mid-table finish is a great achievement for Stuart Gray.
Gabor Gyepes signing on is a great start to building next season’s squad and he joins the likes of Bunn, Crowe, Hughes, Doig, Jackman and Coke in being signed up.
Of the players out of contract, Joe Burnell seems a favourite with Gray so could sign again but Gyepes signing may mean the end, unfortunately, for Brett Johnson who showed real promise mid-season. Ryan Gilligan is touch and go while I expect Danny May to be moved on.
Looking ahead now it’s a fight to finish as high as we possibly can with three games left in the season. The Oldham game gives us a chance to break into the top ten while the one at Port Vale could be trickier now as teams suddenly start to play when they are relegated and playing with a bit more freedom!
We round things off with a home game against Tranmere so there’s still a chance of building on the 59 points that we have so far. Bit first up is Oldham and we can end any chance of them getting into the playoffs with a win whilst also replacing them in tenth place.
The season may be coming to an end but now we must show some appreciation for what has been a terrific campaign, especially after the mid season blip that threatened to pull us towards to bottom four. Instead we have real stability and a base with which to build on for the summer.
Up The Cobblers!
Danny
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