Tranmere Rovers 4-1 Northampton Town

The Cobblers are hammered at Prenton Park as we're brought right back down to earth after the highs of Tuesday night.


Stuart Gray called upon the services of young keeper Chris Dunn following Mark Bunn's departure to Blackburn Rovers but the rest of the side was unchanged from Tuesday night's win at Bolton.

Mark Hughes had the first attempt at goal early on but his free kick was too far out to cause any problems. Ryan Gilligan did put us in front, though, just a few minutes later as he took advantage of a poor backpass from Ian Goodison to pounce for his first goal of the season.

Goodison almost put the ball in the net at the other end but his shot hit the post. The Cobblers held out until ten minutes before the break when it all started to go wrong. Bas Savage had Tranmere level with a low drive into the corner of the net before Chris Doig got injured and was taken off for treatment.

During Doig's time off the pitch, Tranmere struck twice more to turn the game completely on its head. First, Anthony Kay scored with a deflected shot before Kay headed onto the bar and Chris Curran put the ball in from the rebound.

Liam Dolman replaced Doig at the start of the second half with the Cobblers having a mountain to climb. We did start the better team and had some good attacks but the final effort wasn't forthcoming despite Adebayo Akinfenwa's attempts to lift his side.

In stoppage time, Chrsi Greenacre beat the offside trap and Ian Moore converted his pass to make it 4-1 for the icing on Tranmere's cake.

It was a bitter disappointment for the Cobblers after Tuesday nights' cup win and we now prepare for this Tuesday's game at home to Brighton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round with changes bound to be made.

Cobblers face Sunderland in Carling Cup

The Cobblers will travel to Premier League side Sunderland in the Carling Cup after the draw for Round Three was made this afternoon.

Roy Keane's men will host the Cobblers on week commencing September 22nd and we will be looking for another upset following the 2-1 win at Bolton on Tuesday night.

The Black Cats progressed to Round Three with an extra time victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening.

Bunn set for Blackburn move

Cobblers keeper Mark Bunn is set to join Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers subject to a medical.

Bunn, 23, will undergo a medical at Ewood Park on Sunday and will join Rovers for an undisclosed fee. The Cobblers placed a £1 million price tag on the goalkeeper at the end of last season but with Bunn's contract set to expire next summer, we would have had no option but to sell when a good offer came in.

The stopper has spent four years at Sixfields, during which he spent some time on loan at non-league neighbours Kettering Town. He signed a new deal with the Cobblers back in January but now moves to join up with former MK Dons boss Paul Ince at Ewood Park.

Tranmere Rovers (A) Preview...

The Cobblers make the trip to Prenton Park tomorrow afternoon to face Tranmere Rovers, hot on the heels of our Carling Cup shock against Bolton.


Team News

Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore has a near full strength squad available to him for Saturday's game. Liverpool loan man Godwin Antwi is his only injury concern with Gareth Edds on standby again to replace him.

Stuart Gray has Adebayo Akinfenwa available after the striker got the all clear from a specialist to play a part in this weekends' game. But Jason Crowe has a foot injury so Gray will leave it until the last minute before making a decision on him. Leon Constantine and Colin Larkin remain doubts.

Form

Tranmere weren't involved in League Cup action on Tuesday night but their last game ended in defeat. Rovers went down 3-1 at promotion hopefuls Leicester City last weekend. They have three points on the board so far, those points coming in a 1-0 win over Hartlepool the previous week.

The Cobblers are back on a high after a disappointing couple of league games that saw us lose to MK Dons and draw 0-0 with Millwall. The Carling Cup win over Bolton was one of the shocks of the round and gave us some much needed confidence going into the Tranmere game.

Recent Meetings

03/05/08: COBBLERS 2-0 TRANMERE

On the final day of last season, Adebayo Akinfenwa gives the Cobblers a third minute lead. Chris Greenacre equalises in the final few minutes of the first half but Poul Hubertz hits the winner in his final game for the club mid-way through the second half. The win propelled the Cobblers to a finishing place of ninth in League One.

29/09/07: TRANMERE 2-2 COBBLERS

The Cobblers take a 2-0 half time lead through Andy Kirk and Poul Hubertz but for the second time in a month let the lead slip as Chris Shuker and Gareth Taylor level things up.

06/01/07: TRANMERE 1-1 COBBLERS

In Stuart Gray's first game in charge, Scott McGleish gives us an 11th minute lead but John Mullin equalises with just three minutes to go.

16/09/06: COBBLERS 1-3 TRANMERE

Goals from Calvin Zola, Gareth Taylor and John Mullin give Tranmere the points at Sixfields. Scott McGleish grabs a late consolation but it's not enough to stop Rovers forcing another home defeat on us at the start of last season.

21/04/03: TRANMERE 4-0 COBBLERS

In the game that confirmed our relegation back to the basement division, Tranmere hammer the poor Cobblers in a game that saw them score twice in injury time.

14/12/02: COBBLERS 0-4 TRANMERE

Simon Haworth grabs a brace and Ryan Taylor and Alex Hay one each in an easy away day for Rovers back in December 2002.


Head to Head...Rovers v Cobblers...

Games Played: 36
Tranmere Wins: 12
Draws: 10
Cobblers Wins: 14

Cobblers stun Bolton in Carling Cup

The Cobblers were making their first ever trip to the Reebok Stadium and Stuart Gray's side were up against the odds at an established Premier League side.

But we started well and Adebayo Akinfenwa had an early chance. New Bolton signing Danny Shittu slipped and Akinfenwa had a good opportunity but home keeper Jussi Jaaskelinen did well to save.

At the other end, fellow new Bolton signing Riga focred Mark Bunn into a good save, with Bunn pushing the ball away for a corner. With the action continueing at a quick pace, Shittu hit the post from a cross in from Joey O'Brian before heading just wide.

But it was the Cobblers who had a shock lead in the twentieth minute. Andy Holt crossed the ball in and Gary Cahill handled, giving Akinfenwa the chance to slot home a penalty.

With Bolton still stunned, Bayo headed home a cross from Abdul Osman to send the travelling fans into dreamland and give us a 2-0 lead.

Before the break, Gary Cahill's night got even worse as he was sent off for a high lunge at Giles Coke, capping a disappointing night for the Bolton man but giving the Cobblers a real chance of an upset.

In the last minutes of the half, Mark Bunn was called into action, tipping a defelcted Joey O'Brien free kick over the bar to give us a superb 2-0 half-time lead.

The Cobblers held their own in the early stages of the second half and killed the game, with Bolton struggling to deal with the sending off of O'Brian. Ryan Gilligan forced Jaaskelinen into a save on the hour mark before Jason Crowe also had a good effort saved.

Bolton substitute Kevin Nolan volleyed towards goal with fifteen minutes to go but Mark Bunn was in a good position to save. But Nolan would go on to halve the deficit with a little under ten minutes to play. Nolan chased a high ball into the area and managed to flick it over Bunn and into the top corner.

Heidur Helgason thought he had brought the home side level with a couple of minutes to play but the "goal" was ruled out for offside. And that was that. We held on and recorded our most famous result in this competition in ten years, since the two legged win over West Ham United in 1998.

The draw for the next round takes place on Saturday lunch time and the Premier League big guns now come into contention.

Bolton Wanderers (A) Carling Cup Second Round Preview

The Cobblers travel to Premier League side Bolton Wanderers tonight in the Second Round of the Carling Cup.

Team News

Bolton boss Gary Megson is set to name a full strength side as he looks to do well in the Carling Cup this season. Record signing John Elmander and midfielder Matt Taylor picked up injuries at Newcastle on Saturday and will sit out of tonight’s game. But new signings Danny Shittu and Riga are to be given home debuts.

Danny Jackman, Colin Larkin and Leon Constantine all missed Saturday’s goalless draw with Millwall at Sixfields. Jackman and Larkin may come back into contention but Constantine will miss out once again. Stuart Gray is waiting on news from Wolves as to whether loanee Mark Little will be allowed to play in the game.

Form

Bolton kicked off the Premier Legaue campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday as Michael Owen came off the bench to give the Toon a narrow win.

The Cobblers were held to a goalless draw by Millwall at Sixfields at the weekend as we were frustrated by the Lions and had to settle for a point, our fourth point of the season. We progressed into Round Two by defeat Millwall though, at the New Den just a couple of weeks ago.


Head to Head...Wanderers v Cobblers...

Games Played: 10

Bolton Wins: 5

Draws: 1

Cobblers Wins: 4

The Quest for Real Football...Part One...AFC Wimbledon 3-1 Bromley

After the atrocities that met us at Milton Keynes last weekend, it was time to begin the quest for real football. The only place that the quest could possibly begin was at AFC Wimbledon, home of the real Dons, the Wombles.

It was spitting as we headed out for a McDonalds “breakfast” down the road. We were late for the breakfast menu so had to go for a cheeseburger to ease in the day and for Jamie to recover from his hangover from Sunday night antics. As we tucked into the heart attack in a bun, we pondered a nearby poster advertising the fact that you could get the chance to meet the band McFly if you entered their competition. As much as I enjoy the dulcet tones of McFly and their beautiful, well thought out lyrics such as “that weirdo with five colours in her hair” (gets me every time that one), we didn’t enter the competition and moved on with more important matters.

Passing the bank holiday regulars with their bags for life packed with shopping they put off until Monday “cos we’ve got a long weekend this week, Brian” and old joggers with bum bags, we headed out of Southampton and ran into the expected amount of caravans, and the more unexpected kayaks, on backs of cars.

We also passed a car advertising the really, really exciting sounding “Wicked Campers.” Fair to say we were disappointed not to be in that car because wherever it was going it looked like they were going to have lots of happy fun! Especially as the advertisement promised that they owned a “licence to thrill.” Maybe they were going to see McFly. *

As we hit traffic, Jamie needed the toilet. Now I know this is probably a very insignificant part of the story but I use it as a warning. If you need to go while stuck in traffic, DO NOT put on Champagne Supernova by Oasis. At the start of the song is an awful lot of waterfall sounds and this makes it very hard not to think of how much your bladder is hurting. Of course, I showed great sympathy in this situation, turned the song off like the good friend I was and in no way laughed and tried to make the situation worse by making peeing sounds. Or by saying “Weeeee” a lot. I didn’t do that at all.

After passing by a country fair at Hampton court and a postcard and paper collection fair (ah, that’s where Wicked Campers were going), we took a stop off for directions and headed for Kingstonian’s home, also the home of AFC Wimbledon.

In the quest for real football, this was exactly what I was looking for. In the middle of a busy estate, Kingsmeadow is accessible down a small road and welcomes you with open arms. I was delighted to find a club house in the grounds and we joined the ever increasing number of blue and yellow clad fans for a pre-match pint in the ample size room.

This was just what I was looking for. It couldn’t have possibly been more perfect a setting for the start of the quest. Once inside, it got better. Three sides of terraces are shadowed by the main stand at Kingsmeadow and the home fans had already started to flock in with 45 minutes left to kick off still.

A man shouted to his friend, a Wimbledon player, that the ref was the same as they had the other week, a couple of players talked to friends in the stands and we took up a position behind the goal with the loudest section of home fans. This was it. This was why I was here and it was a million miles from last week at MK Dons and I was loving it!

There was a real sense of history by just seeing the fans with old Wimbledon flags donning the terraces, excited families teaching their kids some of the clubs’ past glories and hardy souls who you just knew had been there and done it in the top flight and all the way back from the bases of the football pyramid again.

The game began with a raucous atmosphere. Wimbledon went into the game with a 100% record, having won their first four games in Blue Square South since promotion last season and their fans were in full voice. It didn’t take long for them to have their spirits lifted more. The tricky Anthony Finn collected the ball on the edge of the area and curled it in off the post to give Wimbledon the lead. Finn ran back the length of the field to celebrate with his mate in the stand...now would you find that anywhere else but non league?! Brilliant!

The standard of football was something that I certainly wasn’t expecting. Both sides were playing a good passing game with Wimbledon edging it in attacking quality. Bromley’s number ten was clearly a former Wimbledon player with the abuse he was getting and he could hear everything that was being shouted such is the closeness of the stand to the pitch. He nearly silenced the mob with a goal but missed when five yards out, skying a shot over the bar when it was easier to score.

The first half was a close affair but the Wombles deserved their lead at the break as their mascot celebrated his “birthday” with a song-along and a presentation of the new home shirt. The second half didn’t come into life until Bromley scored their equaliser as Danny Hockton converted a left sided cross to stun the home side. Warren McBean did well on the left and crossed for Hockton to powerfully finish the ball into the roof of the net.

A free kick from substitute Chris Hussey forced the visiting keeper into a fine save shortly after the goal and Hussey would continue to cause problems down the left hand side through the rest of the afternoon. It looked like Bromley had held on for a point until a late, late show gave Wimbledon all three points.

Jon Main was put clean through on goal and keeper Gareth Williams brought him down to give Wimbledon a penalty with just two minutes to go. Main picked himself up and cooly slotted the ball home. Main added a third in stoppage time to seal a good win for the home side and to make it five wins from five for Wimbledon this season.

The afternoon was a tremendous success. An extraordinary crowd for Blue Square South of 3,149 had gathered, we had delved straight into the culture of non league and witnessed a whole hearted game that was full of passion and character. The main thing was that the quest had began in superb surroundings. This club are on the up and I for one hope they eventually overtake the plastics of Milton Keynes. It’s good luck to AFC Wimbledon and I will no doubt return at some point.

A quite brilliant day out in all and it has certainly lifted the clouds of Milton Keynes from last week. Thank you AFC Wimbledon...even if this quest were to go no further, I would still have my faith in real football back.

*Visit http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/ to learn about the real Wicked Campers.

Northampton Town 0-0 Millwall

The Cobblers were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Sixfields by Millwall this afternoon.
Stuart Gray’s squad was made up of changes and forced emissions from the squad as Stuart Gray brought in new signing Mark Little for his first start since returning to Sixfields this week. Abdul Osman start in midfield with Giles Coke and Luke Gutteridge while Ryan Gilligan seemed to have a more forward role with Adebayo Akinfenwa up front. Youngster Joe Benjamin was named among the substitutes.

Millwall started well and made an early attack on the left hand side. David Martin did well to use his pace and beat two players but his cross was blocked.

It took us until the thirteenth minute to get our first effort on goal as Adebayo Akinfenwa had a good chance from a cross but headed wide when well positioned. A few minutes later, Giles Coke set out on a good run from midfield and won a corner after bursting through the visitor’s defence. But Lions defender Paul Robinson got back just in time.

On the half hour mark, Ahmet Brkovic curled a right footed effort just wide of Mark Bunn’s post before Luke Gutteridge shot wide from distance at the other end.

Coke was in the middle of the action again as he robbed Brkovic on the edge of the area but his shot sailed just over the cross bar. The midfielder again had a good effort just before the break but the game was goalless as the sides went in at half time.

After the break, the game never seemed to get going as Millwall came more and more into the game as time wore on.

The Cobblers had the first attack of the second half as Mark Little did well down the right hand side, setting up Ryan Gilligan for the cross, and Chris Hackett had to clear well at the back post.
Millwall forced a succession of corners in the following minutes as the Cobblers faded with Giles Coke’s long range effort the only shot on goal for us.

Just before the hour mark, Liam Davis replaced Luke Gutteridge as the formation changed again and Davis shot wide with his first real contribution after good build up play from Andy Holt and Ryan Gilligan.

The game desperately faded after that with neither side doing enough to test the opposition keeper. Joe Benjamin came on for his first appearance in the first team, replacing Giles Coke but the game ended goalless in a disappointing afternoon at Sixfields.

Little makes Cobblers return

Defender Mark Little has returned to Sixfields on a month long loan deal following the sale of Gabor Gyepes to Cardiff City.

Gyepes joined the Championship side earlier this week and Stuart Gray has moved quickly to bring Little back to the club.

The Wolves defender played a big part in the Cobblers' run in last season having joined on loan from Molineux and now re-joins the club on an initial one month loan deal.

The agreement is with a view to an extension and initially takes the deal up to and including the game at Huddersfield Town on September 20th. The 20-year-old will take the number 16 shirt at Sixfields and was registered in time to play in tomorrow's League One game with Millwall at Sixfields.

Rediscovering football's soul...

After the shocking aura of MK Dons, it’s time to stand up for real football and thus begins my campaign to rediscover the essence of the English game. Football is not about corporate deals, forming a club from somewhere else and moving it or for using as a personal play thing for a bored millionaire. It’s about standing on open terraces, getting drenched as your team gets hammered 4-0 and eating burgers that are as cold as the ice on the steel gate that keeps you from running on the pitch.

So this Monday, Bank Holiday Monday, I begin my quest at the only place possible as I visit Kingstonian’s ground to watch AFC Wimbledon. I need revitalising and to rediscover what made me fall in love with the beautiful game in the first place.

So the good fight begins this bank holiday and come and join us if you have a free afternoon and you’re sick of the money spinning people in football. It wasn’t like this in my day I tells ya!

No Saints 2-4 Kashima Antlers

No Saints put in a disastrous performance in the rain as we went down 4-2 to severely dent our promotion hopes. Kashima hadn’t beaten us before last night and were at the wrong end of the table with three points.

But after a sloppy game from us and some good play from the Antlers, they took home a well deserved victory. Antler took the lead before half time after a tight first half. The game opened up as we looked for an equaliser and eventually found it through Jamie’s third goal of the season.

We pushed forward and could have taken the lead but Kashima broke away and scored a cheeky backheel goal after a punch out by Aaron in goal. As we pushed forward looking for the equaliser, Kashima exploited the gaps in our defence and eased in two more to put the game beyond doubt.

Abib added his seventh of the season late on but it was too little too late in a game that mirrored last season’s awful showing against the Eagles. We must now bounce back the way we did then in order to save our promotion bid. We’re still in second place but face leaders Posh next week with everything to play for.

The Midweek Review...20/08/08...

After a deeply depressing day at Stadium: mk, we reflect on how much can change in football within seven days in this weeks’ Midweek Review...

Just a week ago we were sailing happily through the opening waves of the season with both Cheltenham Town and Millwall put to the sword and a good tie at Bolton drawn out of the Carlin Cup hat. Just a week later and we’ve lost a derby, a defender and a hell of a lot of pride.

It wasn’t just the defeat at the Dons that was upsetting but the entire feel of the place. It’s like MK Dons have killed football and thrown it away so it can make way for a new corporate entertainment system. Stadium: mk had all the atmosphere of a theatre and they can’t have know what had hit them when some fans, i.e. the Cobblers 3,000 strong army, started making noise.

Of course that didn’t last for long as we put in one of our most soulless performances in recent years to match the general atmosphere of the stadium. The players quite simply didn’t turn up. Constantine was wandering about behind Bayo when he should have been in front of him, Gilligan was the only one actually trying to make some movement and Jason Crowe had one of his worst showings for a very long time.

Whether or not the goal was in or not doesn’t matter in the slightest- we didn’t deserve a thing out of the game. The right winger had sent in a few warning crosses and it was no surprise when he crossed for the goal. Just after that, our shape was changed and Jackman went to left-back. About ten minutes too late, Mr Gray.

Gray has promised changes for this Saturday’s home game with Millwall but it’s going to take some effort to erase the memories of the Dons defeat. I expect Coke and Osman to start while Larkin could get one of the forward roles.

Gabor Gyepes left Sixfields yesterday to join Championship side Cardiff and he goes with the club’s best wishes. Gyepes was outstanding at the end of last season and is certainly a Championship level player. We just have to hope that the release fee was substantial enough for Gray to be able to spend some money in the transfer window now.

The Cobblers will always fall to these sorts of things and we just cannot help it if we have a good player and a Championship side comes calling. Jason Crowe snubbed Plymouth of course but we don’t stand a chance when big money is offered to our better players. Northampton Town is simply not a big enough draw for anyone choosing between life in the Championship and with the Cobblers.

Mark Bunn is still undecided on his future and we can’t afford to let him stall for much longer. His value is going down all the time with under a year left on his contract and he could ridiculously walk away on a free transfer next summer. We simply cannot afford to let that happen and everything must be done to keep him under contract.

Millwall visit this weekend with the Cobblers shaken from this week’s events so it’s looking like a very tricky encounter. We could really have done with an away game this week to ease a little pressure off the players because should we start badly against the Lions the team could face a Dons backlash.

But looking more positively and we now must bolster the squad in the transfer window or look for loans because we still have a quality backbone of a starting eleven. We must no refocus and start turning the season back around the right way, the way it was going last week.

It’s never dull with the Cobblers at least and maybe next week we’ll have all forgotten the awful performance at Plastic Land. Maybe.

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

Gyepes in Cardiff transfer

Cobblers defender Gabor Gyepes has joined Championship side Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee.

The former Wolves defender, signed in last seasons' January transfer window by Stuart Gray, had a minimum fee release clause in his contract. Cardiff offered that fee and Gyepes joined the Bluebirds this afternoon after agreeing terms.

Town chairman David Cardoza explained, "Once Cardiff City offered us a figure that triggered the release clause, we were duly bound to allow Gabor to talk to Cardiff and he has now agreed terms."

"We always knew that he wanted to play in the Championship and we wish Gabor every success and thank him for his efforts."

"He has been a quality player for us over the last eight months and we thank him for that. Our attention now turns to adding to our own squad, and work on that is already well underway."

MK Dons 1-0 Northampton Town

The Cobblers put in a disastrous performance at Stadium:mk and fall to a debated second half goal from Aaron Wilbraham to end the good start to the season.

We’d near enough sold out our 3,000+ allocation and the expectations were high as we entered the plastic land of the Dons. From the minute you arrive at Stadium:mk, you’re thrown into a world where football seems to come second to the corporate suites. I was prepared to see what I thought of the surroundings at the ground despite the Dons having an acrimonious introduction to football. But what I found was a stadium that drains any sort of soul out of the beautiful game. The stadium itself is top draw and there’s no complaints there. But the place just has an aura of having been built up from money rather than from a proud history of football in the area. I never thought that I would say this but at least Rushden and Diamonds have some sort of heritage and background. I really wanted to beat this lot today.

That made it even more frustrating when the game got under way and we just hadn’t turned up. The optimistic songs in the cramped bar before the game sung of Stuart Gray’s men winning promotion but the perfect start to the season was well and truly blown.

The Cobblers started well enough and Ryan Gilligan hit an ambitious shot from distance and the ball looped just over Willy Gueret’s cross bar. Gilligan was starting to shine in midfield at the end of last season and seemed the only one in there up for the game in the early goings. Time and again he would make darting runs while Bayo and Constantine stood and waited. Bayo’s flick ons were met by nothing except a desperate Gilligan run.

The home side started to get a grip on proceedings and seemed a lot cooler on the ball than we were. Mark Bunn was called into action mid-way through the half when a cross from the left was headed down by Aaron Wilbraham and Bunn had to produce a fine stop to push the ball away for a corner.

The Cobblers’ midfield couldn’t get a hold of the game and we were losing a battle in the middle of the pitch. Akinfenwa did well from a long Bunn ball and shrugged off his defender in a rare attack. But Bayo could only scuff a golden chance just wide. Late in the half he tested Gueret from distance before the final action of the half saw Constantine shot tamely from a free kick.
Despite having the clearer chances, there was something needing to be changed if we were to hammer home any sort of advantage but it took until the Dons had scored for anything to happen.

On the right hand side, their winger had slowly been getting into the game and beating Chris Doig every time for pace, getting a good delivery in and it was inevitable that he would be the one to unlock the Cobblers defence for the goal that turned out to be the winner.

There was utter confusion in the Cobblers ranks from a cross and two or three efforts flew in before Bunn seemed to claw away a shot from Wilbraham in magnificent style. But the linesman saw it cross the line and the Dons were in front in controversial circumstances.

The mood was dropping in the away end and Giles Coke and Abdul Osman were introduced for Gilligan and Luke Guttridge in a bid to rescue something from the game.

Crowe curled a shot wide left footed in his best effort of a poor game for the right wing-back while Dons threatened to add a second as substitute Kevin Gallen found space and forced Bunn into a save at his near post.

There wasn’t any time when we threw everything at the home side in a bid to get level but Colin Larkin was brought on up front. Larkin was put through on goal late on and passed for Akinfenwa. The big man seemed to have another free run on goal but delayed his shot for too long and Gueret got down to smother the ball.

Four minutes of injury time were played, minutes clocked up by the referee’s time wasting more than anything else, but there was no break-through and the Cobblers’ first trip to Stadium:mk was a huge disappointment.

Dons were nothing special and will struggle against the better sides in the league, a group that before today we looked like being a part of. But the Cobblers simply didn’t turn up and there could well be major changes in the starting line-up come next week’s home game with Millwall.

MK Dons (A) Preview...

The Cobblers travel up the road to Milton Keynes tomorrow afternoon as we take on the MK Dons for the first time.

Form

The Dons faced a tough opening day fixture at relegated Leicester City and went down 2-0 at the Walker Stadium. But they recovered from that early set back to impressively knock Norwich out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

The Cobblers were 4-2 home winners over Cheltenham last Saturday before a Jason Crowe goal was enough to see off Millwall at the Den in the Carling Cup.


Team News

Giles Coke and Abdul Osman both played a part in Tuesday night’s Carling Cup win over Millwall and both come back into contention for a first league start of the season. There were no fresh injury worries for Stuart Gray after Tuesday and he has a near full strength squad to choose from.

Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo welcomed back defender Danny Swailes in their 1-0 Carling Cup win over Norwich in the week and he could come into contention. Meanwhile, Drissa Diallo is also close to a first team return.

Recent Meetings

There have been no meetings between the sides in the short history of the MK Dons. We have been avoiding playing each other for the past couple of seasons but now we’re in the same league for the very first time.

The Managers’ views....

MK Dons boss Roberto Di Matteo: “I think our players are experienced enough to stay focused on the game and not get caught up in different thoughts. It’s our first home league game so we want to do well and derby games are always a bit different, a bit special.”


Cobblers chief Stuart Gray: “We are all looking forward to Saturday’s game and I’m sure the supporters are as well. Local derbies are always special occasions, I played in quite a few high profile derbies as a player but I haven’t been involved in too many as a manager.”

The Midweek Review...14/08/08...

The Midweek Review returns with a look back on a successful first week of the season for the Cobblers with two wins out of two.

The 2008/09 season started in shaky fashion and as the Cheltenham game approached half time with the Cobblers a goal behind, we were starting to fear the worst. The moaners were just about warming up when Doigy popped up to level the scores just before the break and Sixfields sighed a collected sigh of relief.

After the break it was much a different story and the two penalties gave us the cushion we needed. The first one was a good decision but the second could be seen to be harsh. Bayo and Hughes fought over the spot kicks and Hughes was pretty angry that he lost those battles, but who’s going to argue with Bayo?! Out of all the squad, Hughes is probably one of the only ones daring enough to try.

Cheltenham breathed fresh life into their fight as the referee gave them a penalty, rightfully so against a clear Doig push and the game was momentarily back on as Townend hammed the ball past Bunn. But Bayo unselfishly set up Leon Constantine for a debut goal and from then on it was never in doubt.

Had Constantine not scored he may well have suffered a blow to his confidence even this early in his Cobblers career having missed two or three good chances already in the game. But it’s good to have him off the mark and hopefully that’s the first of many. The partnership between Bayo and Constantine showed early promise and there’s more to come from those two.

It was then on to Millwall in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night and another good win, this time a more ground out result, took us through to Round Two. Bayo got another ninety minutes under his belt in preparation for the trip to the plastics on Saturday while Jason Crowe notched his first goal of the campaign.

By all account we were fairly comfortable barring Millwall hitting the post and forcing Bunn into a fine save. Our reward was a trip to Bolton after the draw was made last night and the game falls into the same category as Middlesbrough away in last seasons’ Second Round. We will go there as underdogs and defeat wouldn’t be frowned at whilst victory gives us the headlines so certainly nothing to lose at the Reebok. It would have been nice to get them at home but the draw meant that we were unseeded and drawn away before it even began!

We now turn our attentions to Milton Keynes on Saturday. A third straight victory and we would threaten to get a little too excited with just a week of the season gone! Defeat, and we would not hear the end of it from the Milton Keynes public, many of whom would have been Cobblers fans ten years ago in the Wembley days.

Giles Coke played 45 minutes on Tuesday and could push for a start while Abdul Osman may play a part as well. It’s a packed competition for midfield places now and that can only be a good thing with just three central place up for grabs.

The Dons await in our first ever meeting then but we all know that the real derby happens in a little under a month from today when the Posh visit Sixfields. One game at a time though and hopefully come 5pm on Saturday we’ll be top of League One! How many times will you be able to say that in the coming months?!

Up The Cobblers!

Danny

No Saints 4-1 Real Manuel

No Saints made it four games unbeaten tonight despite losing the services of goalkeeper Scott last week and Phil, during the game.

Will fired us in front for a 1-0 half time lead before Abib took centre stage to score twice as we held firm at the back. Manuel pulled one back before a few minutes of panic crept into the red and white camp, after twice throwing away leads this season.

But Abib sealed a stunning hat-trick with a flick and a swivel and placed the ball home for one of the best goals in No Saints history. The man himself compared it to "Dennis Beckham" before realising he meant Bergkamp. Which makes more sense.

We reach the half way point next week as we take on Kashim Antlers.

Cobblers travel to Bolton in Carling Cup...

The Cobblers will travel to the Reebok Stadium in the Second Round of the Carling Cup to face Bolton Wanderers after the draw was made this evening.

Jason Crowe's goal at the Den last night gave us a 1-0 win over Millwall and we will now face the Premier League outfit in two week's time, week commencing August 25th.

Millwall 0-1 Northampton Town

The Cobblers beat Millwall in the First Round of the Carling Cup for the second successive season as Jason Crowe’s goal was enough to win the game at the Den.

Stuart Gray started with the same team that beat Cheltenham 4-2 at the weekend with Abdul Osman starting on the bench following his return from suspension and Giles Coke also making up the squad after a recent injury.

Ryan Gilligan had an early chance to give us the lead but his shot from a Danny Jackman cross hit the post when the midfielder should have scored. But it wasn’t long before we were in front. On fifteen minutes, Liam Davis did well on the left hand side and crossed the ball in. Adebayo Akinfenwa dummied it and Jason Crowe swooped to finish left footed into the corner.

With the Cobblers dominating proceedings early on, Akinfenwa went close with a header but was adjudged to have fouled the defender anyway. Leon Constantine had a shot blocked by Zak Whitbread before the home side started to come back into the game.

Forward Lewis Grabban shot wide when put through on goal before the same player was booked after having angry words with the referee but the Cobblers were in front at the break.
Stuart Gray brought Giles Coke and Abdul Osman off the bench at the break for their first games of the season.

Just after half-time, Millwall’s new signing Treso Kendal missed with a good chance of a headed goal but put it wide of Mark Bunn’s post. Bunn was in action ten minutes later when Grabben forced him into a fine save.

On the hour mark, Giles Coke went on a mazy run from midfield and beat two players before being brought down midway into Millwall’s half. The Cobblers were holding their own and keeping Millwall at bay until the last fifteen minutes when the home side started to come back into the game.

Chris Hackett created a chance on the right hand, delivering a right footed cross for Kendal to head wide when he could have scored the eqauliser. Minutes later, Grabben did well inside the area and hit the post in Millwall’s last real chance of the game.

Akinfenwa had a shot blocked with ten minutes to play but the Cobblers hung on well to record a second win in the opening week of the season. We will now go into the hat with the Premier League side not in European competition.

Stuart Gray’s attention now turns to the game at MK Dons on Saturday as we look for a perfect first week of 2008/09!

Millwall (A) Carling Cup First Round Preview...

MILLWALL VS NORTHAMPTON TOWN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH 2008
CARLING CUP FIRST ROUND


The Cobblers travel to Millwall tomorrow evening following a successful start to the season. It’s the second time in two seasons we’ve faced the Lions in the Carling Cup but this time, they have home advantage.


Form

The Cobblers defeated Cheltenham Town on Saturday with the help of two penalties from Adebayo Akinfenwa. Chris Doig and Leon Constantine were also on the score sheet as we made a perfect start to the League One campaign.

Millwall were involved in a seven goal thriller at the weekend as they narrowly lost out to Oldham 4-3. Tresor Kendol took just a minute to score his first goal for the Lions but Oldham equalised through Andy Liddell soon after. Ruben Hazel’s own goal and one from young Lewis Grabban gave Millwall a 3-1 lead but Oldham stormed back. Liddell scored from the spot before Lewis Alessandra and Chris Taylor won it in the last ten minutes for the home side.

With both sides involved in high scoring matches at the weekend, it should be a goal fest at the Den. Put your bets on 0-0 then!

Team News

Abdul Osman has served his once match ban and should make his competitive debut for the club after joining from Gretna in the summer. Giles Coke may not be risked after he missed the opening game of the season with an ankle injury while Adebayo Akinfenwa should feature to give him more match fitness.

Millwall captain Paul Robinson could be suspended for the Cobblers clash. Robinson was sent off during Saturday’s 4-3 reverse at Oldham and will sit out the game should a planned appeal be rejected.


Recent Meetings

01/01/08: COBBLERS 1-1 MILLWALL

Dean Bowditch, a loan signing from Ipswich looks to have won the game for the Cobblers but in stoppage time, Gary Alexander scores an equaliser.

02/10/07: MILLWALL 2-0 COBBLERS

The Cobblers bus arrives late, we get just a five minute warm up and Chris Doig and Jason Crowe are injured early on. This enables Millwall to ease to a 2-0 victory through Alan Dunne and Paul Robinson.

14/08/07: COBBLERS 2-0 MILLWALL (Carling Cup First Round)

In the first round of last season’s competition, Bradley Johnson scores in the first half before Andy Kirk seals the win in the second. The Cobblers progress but are knocked out in Round Two by Premier League Middlesbrough.

23/01/07: COBBLERS 3-0 MILLWALL

In the controversially rearranged league match at Sixfields, the Cobblers ease to victory with a comfortable success. Scott McGleish, Andy Holt and Bradley Johnson are all on target as Stuart Gray continues to turn the season around.

23/09/06: MILLWALL 0-1 COBBLERS

Cobblers’ loanee Mitchell Cole scores the only goal of the game at the end of the first half to give us a vital away win in the early days under John Gorman.


Head to Head...Lions v Cobblers...

Games Played: 111
Millwall Wins: 52
Draws: 19
Cobblers Wins: 40

Northampton Town 4-2 Cheltenham Town

The Cobblers got off the mark in style this afternoon as two penalties from Adebayo Akinfenwa and goals from Chris Doig and Leon Constantine saw us win on the opening day of the season.

Stuart Gray was without suspended new signing Abdul Osman whilst Giles Coke was missing with an ankle injury. There were, however, debuts for Liam Davis, Luke Guttriudge and Leon Constantine. Adebayo Akinfenwa shook off his injury worries to earn a start up front with Constantine.

On a wet afternoon at Sixfields, the first few minutes of the season were uneventful as both sides looked anxious not to make the first mistake. Adebayo Akinfenwa was forced off the pitch in the opening exhanges to have stitches on a head wound. While he was receiving treatment, Luke Guttridge forced Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs into a save from his glancing header.

Bayo returned to action ten minutes later before Guttridge had a shot deflected over and Ryan Gilligan tested Higgs with a powerful shot. But it was the visitors that took a surprise lead with ten minutes of the half to go. David Bird found space and fired in a shot that was deflected past Mark Bunn by Gabor Gyepes and the Robins were in front.

But it wasn’t long before the Cobblers were level. Following a corner, Liam Davis did well on the left hand side and he crosed for Gyepes to knock the ball down and Chris Doig fired the ball home from close range.

Leon Constantine shoudl have had us in front before the break as he went through one on one with Higgs but shot straight at the Cheltenham keeper, meaning that the sides went in level at half time.

The second half began with Cheltenham back on the front foot and Danny Jackman had to be alert to clear a header from Bird off the goal line. At the other end, Liam Davis was put through but Higgs did well to spread himself and deny the former Coventry man.
Just after the hour mark, the Cobblers were awarded a penalty as Bird brought down Danny Jackman in the area. Akinfenwa and Mark Hughes argued over who would take the spot kick but Bayo won the battle and stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and give us the lead.

Just a couple of minutes later and the referee was pointing the spot again as Luke Guttridge was tripped by former Cobbler Jerry Gill. Akinfenwa stepped up again and went the other way with his penalty this time and we were suddenly 3-1 ahead.
The Cobblers stormed forward looking for a fourth and Danny Jackman did well to break away and send a low shot in but Higgs did well down to his left.

At the other end, Mark Bunn tipped a Shane Duff header over the bar but from the corner, Cheltenham won a penalty as Duff was adjudged to have been pushed. Michael Townsend stepped up and blasted the ball down the middle of the goal to beat Bunn and make it 3-2.
But the Cobblers were soon back in the ascendancy. A Danny Jackman cross caused problems and Akinfenwa did well to hold the ball up before unselfishly setting up Leon Constantine who had the simplest of tasks to finish the ball for a fourth for the Cobblers.

Akinfenwa was then replaced by Colin Larkin and left the field to a standing ovation while Liam Davis left the field for Andy Holt.

Holt’s first real action was to set up Constantine who volleyed the ball against the cross bar late on before Holt’s cross narrowly avoided Larkin but we’d done enough to secure three early points for the 2008/09 season.

Take a look at the league table tonight as you’ll see us in second place! Yes there’s 45 more games to go but for this week we can say that the only thing separating Northampton Town from the top of League One is alphabetical order!

Gray’s men now travel to Millwall on Tuesday night in the first round of the Carling Cup before heading to Stadium:MK for the first away league game of the campaign against the Dons.

Cheltenham Town (H) Preview...

NORTHAMPTON TOWN vs CHELTENHAM TOWN

COCA COLA LEAGUE ONE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH 2008

And so its finally arrived. The start of the new season is upon us as Cheltenham Town visit Sixfields tomorrow afternoon. The Robins narrowly escaped relegation last season but will be a stiff test for Stuart Gray’s side.

Team News
Gray will be without new signing Abdul Osman who serves a one game suspension, carried over from his time at Gretna. But Liam Davis, Leon Constantine and Luke Guttridge debuts. Giles Coke is struggling to be fit with an ankle injury but Adebayo Akinfenwa should make the squad after playing in a behind closed doors friendly this week.

Shane Duff should play after recovering from a thigh strain but midfielder Scott Brown remains a doubt. Michael Townsend should return for the Robins after being on the sidelines through a lengthy illness.

Recent Meetings

29/03/08: CHELTENHAM 1-1 COBBLERS
Steven Gillespie fired Cheltenham in front in the first half but Giles Coke volleyed home in the second half to give us a share of the spoils.

20/10/07: COBBLERS 2-1 CHELTENHAM
Andy Kirk gave the Cobblers the lead but Damian Spencer equalises five minutes into the second half. With ten minutes to go, Ryan Gilligan scored to win it.

26/12/06: COBBLERS 2-0 CHELTENHAM
A double from Scott McGleish gives us a comfortable home win on boxing day.

26/09/06: CHELTENHAM 0-2 COBBLERS
Goals from Andy Kirk and Scott McGleish seal our first win at Whaddon Road.

11/02/06: CHELTENHAM 3-1 COBBLERS
The Cobblers are well beaten at Whaddon Road as Steve Guinan, Kayode Odejayi and John Melligan score. Scott McGleish gets a late consolation.

24/09/05: COBBLERS 1-2 CHELTENHAM
Two goals from Kayode Odejayi either side of an Ian Taylor striker gives The Robins a Sixfields victory.

Head to Head...Cobblers v Robins...
Games Played: 14
Cobblers Wins: 5
Draws: 3
Cheltenham Wins: 6

No Saints 2-2 Hen 222

No Saints were pegged back in the final minute for the second time this season as new side Hen 222 scored a last gasp goal to earn a draw.

With just six men scraped together late in the day with Phil returning and Dave coming back to action earlier than expected, Hen took the lead early on. My first of the season, slipping under the keeper's hands made it 1-1 before Phil put us in front with a fine finish. Late in the game, Phil hit the post and then Hen took the ball up the other end to equalise with a monute to go!

The bad news now is that goalkeeper Scott has broken his finger so we'll be without him for the remainder of the season, a season that promised a lot but could be a bigger struggle than we first thought!

League One Preview 2008/09...Part Six...

SWINDON TOWN

Manager: Maurice Malpas
Ground: County Ground
Capacity: 15,728

Last Season: After promotion in 2007, it was a season of consolidation for the Robins. Maurice Malpas took them to mid-table, briefly flirting with the playoffs until the final third of the season.

Players In: Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) FREE, Michael Timlin (Fulham) FREE, Kevin Amankwaah (Swansea) FREE

Players Out: Miguel Commingues (Cardiff) FREE, Sofiane Zaaboub (Walsall) FREE, Chris Blackburn (Aldershot) FREE

This season: Swindon will be looking to push on this season but could struggle with no great activity in the transfer market. Maurice Malpas needs to keep the fans onside early on to avoid being a scapegoat but I can’t see them competing at the top end of the table.

Key Man: Simon Cox

Cox signed with Swindon again last January, turning down a move to the Cobblers. He hit six goals since the move and will be looking to get into the 20+ mark if Swindon are to make any ground on the top half.



TRANMERE ROVERS

Manager: Ronnie Moore
Ground: Prenton Park
Capacity: 16,789

Last Season: Tranmere missed the playoffs last season, finishing below the Cobblers after we beat them on the final day of the season. With high hopes for a top six finish, Rovers fans will want a better return this time out.

Players In: Bas Savage (Millwall) FREE, Gareth Edds (MK Dons) FREE

Players Out: Shane Sheriff (Shrewsbury) FREE, Calvin Zola (Crewe) FREE, Robbie Stockdale (Grimsby) FREE, Steve Davies (Derby) Undisclosed

This season: Rovers will be looking to fulfil their playoff ambition this time out but Ronnie Moore has a task on his hand to raise his squad’s game to the next level. They could just miss out on the top six once again.

Key Man: Chris Greenacre

Greenacre’s goals are key in getting Rovers into the top half at least and he will be feeding off the likes of Adnan Ahmed and Chris Shuker to provide the chances.


WALSALL

Manager: Jimmy Mullen
Ground: Bescot Stadium
Capacity: 9,000

Last Season: Richard Money departed the Bescot with Walsall in the top half of League One towards the end of last season. The Saddlers made an excellent start and were in the top six going into the final third of the season. But a big slump forced them out of the playoff recogning.

Players In: Chris Palmer (Wycombe) FREE, Marco Reich (Kickers Offenbach) FREE

Players Out: Martin Brittain, David McDermott (Kidderminster) FREE,

This season: Jimmy Mullin hasn’t had a top job since 1996 when he was with Burnley and will have to do a lot to win over the Bescot fans in terms of managment ability. Walsall could find it difficult in their second season back and may struggle.

Key Man: Tommy Mooney

Mooney is getting on a bit but his experience is crucial to the side staying out of trouble at the wrong end of the table.




YEOVIL TOWN

Manager: Russell Slade
Ground: Huish Park
Capacity: 9,665

Last Season: After a playoff semi final defeat the season before, Yeovil made a decent enough start but since the turn of the year suffered an almighty slump in form and ended up having to win their final couple of games to stave off a relegation battle.

Players In: Darren Way (Swansea) FREE, Danny Schofield (Huddersfield) FREE

Players Out: Andy Kirk (Dunfermline) FREE, Marcus Stewart (Exeter) FREE, Scott Guyett (Bournemouth) FREE, Steve Midenhall (Southend) FREE, Anthony Barry (Chester) FREE, Marvin Williams (Brentford) Undisclosed

This season: Town finished with a couple of good wins to save them from a relegation battle but starting again they must keep that form going or Russell Slade could face a backlash from expectant Huish Park fans.

Key Man: Danny Schofield

The new signing from Huddersfield will provide a much needed spark to the midfield, something that was very much missing in Town’s slump to the lower reaches of the table last season.

League One Preview 2008/09...Part Five...

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

Manager: Darren Ferguson
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 15, 314

Last Season: Peterborough finished second in League Two last season, fulfilling the high ambitions of the new owners to finally progress to the next level. Aaron Maclean hit 33 goals in total last season and will be keen to prove himself in League One.

Players In: Scott Rendell (Cambridge) Undisclosed, Sergio Torres (Wycombe) £150,000

Players Out: Adam Newton (Brentford) FREE


This season: Boro’ will be looking to build on the momentum that saw them promoted last season and Darren Ferguson is slowly learning the trade. Whether they can compete in the higher reaches of League One remains to be seen but the bookies have made them fourth favourites for promotion.


Key Man: Aaron MacLean

Maclean stormed through League Two last season and his pace and power will cause problems at this level as well. There’s already been scouts from even higher leagues having a look at the striker and he’s key to any sort of Posh promotion bid this time out.



SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Manager: Nigel Adkins
Ground: Glanford Park
Capacity: 9,183

Last Season: Scunthorpe were relegated last season, finishing eight points off the pace at the end of the season. After two seasons in the Championship, United suffered and will do well to pick themselves up again after a disappointing campaign.

Players In: Kenny Milne (Falkirk) FREE, Garry Thompson (Morecambe) FREE, Gary Hooper (Southend) £175,000

Players Out: Adam Butler (Huddersfield) FREE, Jim Goodwin (Huddersfield) FREE, Daniel McBreen (York) FREE, Martin Paterson (Burnley) £1 million

This season: Scunthorpe will be looking to bounce straight back up from League One but will have their work cut out without forward Martin Paterson who joined Burnley in the summer. Nigel Adkins will have to pick his troops up from the word go if they are to be in with a chance of returning to the Championship.

Key Man: Paul Hayes

Hayes was prolific in his first few season with the Irons but joined Barnsley and scored just eleven goals in over sixty games. Hayes rejoined Scunthorpe last summer and score eight times in the Championship but may find League One defences more forgiving.



SOUTHEND UNITED

Manager: Steve Tilson
Ground: Roots Hall
Capacity: 12, 306

Last Season: After a storming end to the season, Southend made the playoffs and went into them as one of the form teams of the league. But after a goalless first leg against Doncaster were shell shocked and lost the return 5-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Players In: Ian Joyce (Grays) FREE, Steve Midehall (Yeovil) FREE, Osei Sankofa (Charlton) FREE, Paul Furlong (Luton) FREE

Players Out: Steve Collis (Crewe) FREE, Darryl Flahavan (Crystal Palace) FREE, Charlie Macdonald (Brentford) Undisclosed, Gary Hooper (Scunthorpe) £175,000, Kevin Maher (Oldham) FREE, Zoltan Liptak (Ujpest Dozsa) £60,000, Mark Gower (Swansea) FREE

This season: Steve Tilson has made a lot of changes in the transfer window but still has a squad strong enough to push for another playoff campaign. The loss of goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan will be a massive disappointment though.

Key Man: Adam Barrett

Rock solid at the back and handy on set plays, Barrett is the type of defender that everyone would want in their side. Ever committed and powerful in the air, Barrett forms part of the backbone of the Southend team.



STOCKPORT COUNTY

Manager: Jim Gannon
Ground: Edgeley Park
Capacity: 11,540

Last Season: Stockport saw of plucky Rochdale in the League Two playoff final last season after finishing fourth in the league table. Liam Dickinson was the main man, scoring 21 goals but he’s now joined Derby County.

Players In: John Mullins (Mansfield) Undisclosed, Owain Fon Williams (Crewe) FREE, Peter Thomson (Linfield) £100,000, Carl Baker (Morecambe) £175,000

Players Out: Liam Dickinson (Derby) £750,000, Adam Griffin, David Poole, Adam Proudlock (All Darlington) FREE, Ashley Williams (Swansea) £400,000

This season: Selling two of their key players for big sums won’t help County’s cause and they may struggle if they can’t find a replacement for the prolific Liam Dickinson. Peter Thompson has been brought in from Linfield to try and fill Dickinson’s boots.

Key Man: Owain Fon Williams

The new signing from Crewe could be a busy man this season so he must be ready to be thrown in at the deep end.

League One Preview 2008/09...Part Four...

MILLWALL

Manager: Kenny Jackett
Ground: The New Den
Capacity: 20,146

Last Season: The Lions never recovered from a poor start to last season and manager Willie Donachie paid the price with his job in early October. Kenny Jackett steadied the ship but ‘Wall still finished in a disappointing 17th place.

Players In: Ashley Grimes (Manchester City) Undisclosed, David Forde (Cardiff) FREE, Nadim Abdou (Plymouth) FREE, Tony Craig (Crystal Palace) Undisclosed

Players Out: Gavin Grant (Wycombe) FREE, Chris Zebroski (Wycombe)£20,000, Tom Brighton (St Mirren) FREE, Bas Savage (Tranmere) FREE


This season: Twice in the last two seasons Millwall have lost their managers after poor starts to the season so Kenny Jackett must begin well. Jackett hasn’t been too involved in the transfer market though and will be relying on home form to improve on last season.

Key Man: Gary Alexander

It’s a big season for Alexander after a disappointing first season at the Den that saw him find the net just seven times in the league. His presence is still vital for the Lions though and more support from midfield could see Alexander improve his tally.



MK DONS

Manager: Roberto Di Matteo
Ground: Stadium: MK
Capacity: 22,000

Last Season: The Dons, under Paul Ince, won League Two ahead of Peterborough United on 97 points. They also saw off Grimsby Town in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final to claim a successful double.

Players In: Peter Leven (Chesterfield) FREE, Florian Sturm (FC Vaduz) FREE

Players Out: Lloyd Dyer (Leicester) FREE, Mustapha Carayol (Torquay)Undisclosed, Gareth Edds (Tranmere) FREE


This season: With Paul Ince taking up the chief job at Blackburn, Roberto Di Matteo was swiftly brought in as his replacement. Di Matteo could be seen to be a gamble having no previous experience in a top job but his name alone could be enough to bring better players to Stadium: MK. Many people’s favourites behind Leeds and Leicester for promotion.

Key Man: Keith Andrews

Andrews was the star man in Dons’ midfield last season and at the time of writing has not left the club as expected. If Di Matteo can persuade him to stay, he will be the lynchpin for any success this season once again. Elsewhere, striker Jemal Johnson has bags of pace and could do some serious damage.



NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Manager: Stuart Gray
Ground: Sixfields
Capacity: 7,500

Last Season: The Cobblers struggled early on last term but bounced back with another terrfic second half of the season. Things looked gloomly in December as we went seven games without a win but the seventh game of that sequence, a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest began to turn things around. We flirted with the playoffs but 9th was a positive improvement on the season before.

Players In: Leon Constantine (Leeds) FREE, Luke Guttridge (Colchester) FREE, Abdul Osman (Gretna) FREE, Liam Davis (Coventry) FREE

Players Out: Joe Burnell (Oxford) FREE, Poul Hubertz (Released)


This season: Holding on to key players out of contract and resigning Adebayo Akinfenwa during the close season was a massive boost for Stuart Gray. Add to that the pacy Liam Davis, holding midfielders Luke Guttridgeand Abdul Osman and striker Leon Constantine and we have, on paper, a better squad than the one that finished last season. We’re desperate for a good start to a season this time around so we can be up there from the start. If that happens, anything is possible.

Key Man: Giles Coke

Many will argue Mark Bunn deserves this title but this could well be Coke’s season. The midfielder started to show glimpses of what he’s all about in the second half of last season and along with Osman, Gutteridge and Jackman we playes willing to hold back and let Coke off the leash. With a full pre-season behind him, we could have a hell of player on our hands.



OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Manager: John Sheridan
Ground: Boundary Park
Capacity: 13,559

Last Season: Oldham made a good late charge and nearly made it into the playoffs but finish 8th in the end, a place and a point above the Cobblers. A final day hammering of Crewe was enough to give their fans hope for this season.

Players In: Kevin Maher (Southend) FREE, Craig Fleming (Gretna) FREE, Keiron Lee (Manchester United) FREE, Chris O’Grady (Rotherham) Undisclosed, Dale Stephens (Bury) Undisclosed, Danny Whitaker (Port Vale) FREE

Players Out: Mike Pearson (Barrow) Undisclosed


This season: Oldham got most of their transfer activity cone early in the summer and signing Keiron Lee from Manchester United on a free transfer could bea good bit of business in the future. Kevin Maher will add depth to their midfield whilst the squad that finished last season will be fancying their chances as dark horses this time around.

Key Man: Danny Whitaker

The signing from Port Vale can turn games from midfield and given better team mates than he had last season at Vale Park could turn him into an even better prospect himself.

Bayo scores in unofficial friendly

Adebayo Akinfenwa scores on his return to action as the Cobblers draw 2-2 with Q.P.R. in a behind closed doors friendly game.

Bayo, who has been struggling to be fit for the new season, played 45 minutes at Rangers' training ground this afternoon and got on the scoresheet in the process. Ian Henderson scored the other goal and Town boss Stuart Gray was happy with the workout.

He said, "Bayo looked strong and got a goal. He played 45 minutes, that was always the plan, and he came through without any problems. This was a big step forward for him."

"We also topped Chris Doig up with 75 minutes and he came through fine as well. In fact, everyone came through unscathed and it was a successful exercise for us."

Guttridge completes Cobblers move

Midfielder Luke Guttridge completes his move to Sixfields following a successful trial period.
Guttridge has signed a two year deal at the club and joins on a free transfer after leaving Colchester United at the end of last season.

The midfielder began his career at Torquay United before moving on to Cambridge United where he stayed until 2005. Joining Southend United, he helped the club to the League One title in the 2005/06 season.

But Guttruidge couldn't hold down a place in the Championship and joined Leyton Orient initially on loan and then on a permanant deal until the end of the 2006/07 season. Colchester signed him that summer but Guttridge spent just one season at Layer Road before becoming a free agent once again.

He has been on trial at Sixfields for the past couple of weeks and impressed Stuart Gray enough to earn a contract.

League One Preview 2008/09...Part Three...

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

Manager: Stan Ternant
Ground: Galpahrm Stadium
Capacity: 24,500

Last Season: Huddersfield were again below the expectant level of performance last season as their hungry fans were left dissatisfied once again with a mid-table finish. Luke Beckett hit twelve goals with veteran Andy Booth still finding the net with nine but more fire power is needed if the Terriers are to get anywhere near the playoffs.


Players In: Andy Butler (Scunthorpe) FREE, Chris Lucketti (Sheffield United) FREE, Gary Roberts (Ipswich) FREE, Keigan Parker(Blackpool) FREE, Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe) FREE

Players Out: Frank Sinclair (Lincoln) FREE, Robert Page (Chestefield) FREE, Danny Schofield (Yeovil) FREE, Chris Brandon (Bradford) FREE


This season: Town will be hopeful that new signing Keigan Parker can fire them to the higher reaches of the table. An expectant band of fans will return to the Galpharm with ticket prices reduced in the club’s bid to bring more through the gate and they will be hoping that the ploy works as Stan Ternant looks to deliver the goods.

Key Man: Keigan Parker

The signing of Parker on a free from Blackpool could turn out to be the bargain of the summer in League One. The forward has a proven pedigree at this level and could be the difference between mid-table and the playoffs for his new side.




LEEDS UNITED

Manager: Gary McAllister
Ground: Elland Road
Capacity: 40,204

Last Season: After the fifteen point deduction at the start of last season, Leeds still overturned the odds and managed to sneak into the playoffs. Denis Wise’s departure to Newcastle made them stutter a little mid-season but Gary McAllister steadied the ship eventually and took them to the playoff final where they were beaten by Doncaster Rovers.


Players In: Alan Sheehan (Leicester) FREE, Enoch Showumni (Bristol City) FREE, Robert Snodgrass (Livingston) FREE, Luciano Becchio (Merida) FREE

Players Out: Leon Constantine (Northampton) FREE, Tomi Ameobi (Doncaster) FREE, Anthony Elding (Crewe) FREE, Curtis Weston (Gillingham) FREE, Matt Heath (Colchester) FREE


This season: There’s simply no excuses this season for Leeds- they must win promotion and anything less will be seen as a failure. Most of the squad are still together and they are red hot favourites to be a Championship side this time next season. Without a deduction this time around, Leeds will surely be title contenders.

Key Man: Jermaine Beckford

Beckford took League One by storm last season and he will once again be the focal point of Leeds’ attack. If they can hold onto him through the two transfer windows, United will be spearheaded by arguably the most dangerous striker in the league.




LEICESTER CITY

Manager: Nigel Pearson
Ground: The Walker Stadium
Capacity: 32,500

Last Season: In a desperate season last time out, Ian Holloway couldn’t keep his troops in the Championship and they were relegated on a dramatic last day of the season. With Southampton’s game against Sheffield United going this way and that, Leicester were holding onto a 0-0 draw at Stoke. But the point wasn’t enough as Southampton grabbed the win they needed to jump above the Foxes and send them down. Holloway was duely shown the door and ironically ex-Saints boss Nigel Pearson was installed as boss.


Players In: Karrea Gilbert (Arsenal) Loan, David Martin (Liverpool) Loan, Nicky Adams (Bury) FREE, Lloyd Dyer (MK Dons) FREE, Michael Morrison (Cambridge) FREE, Aleksander Tunchey (CSKA Sofia) £375,000

Players Out: Alan Sheehan (Leeds) FREE, Rab Douglas (Dundee) FREE, Louis Dodds (Port Vale) FREE, Gareth McAuley (Ipswich) FREE, Richard Stearman (Wolves) FREE, Iain Hume (Barnsley) £1.2 million


This season: Nigel Pearson managed to steer Southampton out of trouble last season and Leicester could have the man in charge they need to take them back into the Championship. The Foxes will be big favourites with Leeds to win promotion at the first attempt and they should be challenging for the top two.

Key Man: Matt Oakley

The former Southampton and Derby midfielder has bags of experience in the top two divisions and that extra bit of quality in the middle of the park could be the difference this season.




LEYTON ORIENT

Manager: Martin Ling
Ground: Brisbane Road
Capacity: 13,842

Last Season: Orient had an incredible start to the 2007/08 season with the club belittling any pre-season predictions about them by storming to top spot early on. It took until mid September for the O’s to suffer their first defeat but it was a mid-season slide that really did the damage to any promotion hopes. Orient slipped to mid-table by the end of the season, sliding away from the playoffs in the final few months.


Players In: Simon Dawkins (Spurs) Loan, Andrew Cave-Brown (Norwich) FREE, Jamie Jones (Everton) FREE, Danny Granville (Colchester) FREE, Ryan Jarvis (Norwich) FREE

Players Out: Jabo Ibehre (Walsall) FREE, Clayton Fortune (Darlington) FREE


This season: Orient once again need a good start to put pay to any lingering hangover from last season’s end of term slump. Ryan Jarvis should add real quality to the midfield while Danny Granville’s experience will be vital. The O’s have managed to keep hold of the nucleus of their squad and have added well so another good season should be ahead for Martin Ling’s side.

Key Man: Sean Thornton

The classy midfielder can turn a game on his day and is a danger from set pieces. With bags of experience and a good right foot, Thornton has the quality to really cause problems at this level.

League One Preview 2008/09...Part Two...

COLCHESTER UNITED

Manager: Geriant Williams
Ground: Weston Homes Community Stadium
Capacity: 10,000


Last Season: After shocking everyone in their first seaon in the Championship, Colchester were found out in the “difficult second season” and they didn’t have enough to stay in the league, finshing bottom of the table and a massive fifteen points from safety.

Players In: Matt Heath (Leeds) FREE, Matt Lockwood (Nottingham Forest) FREE, Paul Reid (Barnsley) FREE, David Perkins (Rochdale) FREE, Steven Gillespie (Cheltenham) £400,000

Players Out: Jamie Guy (Oxford) Loan, Kevin McLeod (Brighton) FREE, Danny Granville (Leyton Orient) FREE, Karl Duguid (Plymouth) FREE, Aiden Davison (Released), Teddy Sheringham (Released)

This Season: The U’s have a brand new stadium welcoming them back into League One but it will be tough to adjust to their new surroundings while having the pressure of bouncing back straight away to the Championship. Geriant Williams has done well in the transfer window, snapping up striker Steven Gillespie for £400,000 and he could provide much needed fire power.

Key Man: Dean Hammond

Hammond will be looking to run the midfield for Colchester following the departure of Karl Duguid and Kevin McLeod and his presence in the middle of the park could be crucial to supply the impressive looking forward line of Kevin Lisbie and Steven Gillespie with ammunition.



CREWE ALEXANDRA

Manager: Steve Holland
Ground: Grest Road
Capacity: 10,046


Last Season: Crewe survived the moving upstairs of Dario Gradi and the long term injury to striker Nicky Maynard to just avoid relegation on the final day of the season. Bournemouth’s draw with Carlisle United sent the Cherries down instead despite Crewe being beat 4-1 at home to Oldham.

Players In: Adam Legzdins (Birmingham) FREE, Joel Grant (Aldershot) £130,000, Calvin Zola (Tranmere) £200,000, Steve Collis (Southend) FREE, Anthony Elding (Leeds) Undisclosed,

Players Out: Owain Fon Williams (Stockport) FREE, Nicky Maynard (Bristol City) £2.25 million, Ben Williams (Carlisle) FREE

This Season: Losing striker Nicky Maynard for over 2 million pounds is a massive blow for The Alex. The prolific front man scored fifteen times last season despite breaking his leg on the opening day of the season. In his place, the impressive Joel Grant has signed from Aldershot and he should provide ammunition for fellow new signings Anthony Elding and Calvin Zola. It’ll still be tough for the Railwaymen but they should have enough to stay up again.

Key Man: Anthony Elding

Signed from Leeds United in the summer after not getting a look in at Elland Road. Before he joined Leeds though, he scored goals in 38 games at Stockport County so he will be looking to fill some of the void left by Maynard’s exit.




HARTLEPOOL UNITED
Manager: Danny Wilson
Ground: Victoria Park
Capacity: 7,629


Last Season: After promotion in 2007, Hartlepool, under Danny Wilson, made steady progress to achieve a mid-table finish. Richie Barker once again found the net on a regular basis, scoring sixteen times.

Players In: Ritchie Jones (Manchester United) FREE, Alan Power (Nottingham Forest)

Players Out: None

This Season: Having kept together most of their squad from last season and added the defensive nouse of Forest’s Alan Power, United should be a decent unit in League One once again. The signing of Ritchie Jones from Manchester United could prove to be a masterstroke. Wilson’s experience should put any relegation worries on the back burner.

Key Man: Richie Barker

Barker’s goals could well be the difference between a relegation battle and a shot at the top of the table for Danny Wilson’s men. Fellow striker James Brown has also been reportedly attracting the scouts from the Premier League.




HEREFORD UNITED
Manager: Graham Turner
Ground: Edgar Street
Capacity: 8,843


Last Season: Hereford were promoted in third place last season in League Two, punching well above their expected weight. Graham Turner did a magnificent job in charge at Edgar Street, a job made even more impressive by the fact that he had just fourteen professionals on the books at this stage last summer!

Players In: Toumani Diagouraga (Watford) FREE, Craig Samson (Dundee) Undisclosed, Matt Done (Wrexham) FREE

Players Out: Michael ingham (York) FREE, John McCombe (Port Vale) FREE, Wayne Brown (Bury) FREE

This Season: The season looks nothing short of a struggle for Hereford and they will have to get off to a good start if they are to stand any chance of falling behind the rest. Home form will be vital at the univiting Edgar Street, somewhere that the likes of Leeds and Leicester certainly won’t feel comfortable!

Key Man: Matty Done

The former Wrexham midfielder, 19, signed for United this season and his pace and skill could be vital for his new side. Done came through the ranks at Wrexham but turned down a new contract at the Racecourse Ground to move into League One.