It’s derby week and the tension is building ahead of the first game against Peterborough United in nearly two and a half years.
That last meeting at London Road was one of the most memorable in recent times with Sean St.Ledgers’ superb slip up letting in Scott McGleish who fired us a step closer to promotion from League Two. I’ve always felt the away days inthe derby are far better than the home games but we need to raise the roof at Sixfields on Saturday to try and recreate some of the atmosphere usually reserved for the Moys Terrace at London Road.
It can be difficult to create any real atmosphere at Sixfields but we know it can happen. Ask Bristol Rovers! The first twenty minutes or so could be vital with our recent form worrying the claret faithful. If we don’t get going early on the crowd could start to turn, particularly if we fall behind and Boro will take the game to us. But if we’re right on the game from the off, the home support will be more important than ever. We’ve seen in the past that a good performance brings a good atmosphere but we need to be creating that atmopshere even before kick off.
The signing of Frank Fielding creates an interesting battle for the goalkeeper’s jersey, although Chris Dunn will more than likely keep his place for now. Fielding comes with high reviews from Wycombe Wanderers where he was on loan last season and will push Dunn all the way. This certainly can’t be a bad thing as the pressure from Bunn a few years back forced him into the side over Lee Harper and it’s a real test of whether you can stand up and be counted as the number one when someone is breathing down your neck.
As for The Posh, their defence looked shaky during the bizarre 5-4 win over Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon but the lively Craig Mackail-Smith will cause us problems with his pace and trickery. They are above us in the league after that win but a victory for us would take us back above them in the early league standings.
The Cobblers’ official website has been building up the game with interviews, reports and memories from past Cobblers-Boro games and it’s all creating the tension specially reserved for these games. Memories like the McGleish winner and Sammo’s unforgettable strike at Christmas time make this game what it is and let’s all hope and pray that come 5pm on Saturday we’re looking back on another moment that will live with us for a very long time.
Up The Cobblers!
Danny
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