After 120 minutes of edge of the seat action on Tuesday night, we were edged out by Premier League Sunderland. Why, oh why, we asked, can’t we play like that in the league? This Saturday sees us try to turn the League One form around against Brighton.
Starting off the week that put us back in the nation’s spotlight was a Saturday afternoon slump at Huddersfield Town. Karl Hawley got us off and running but then came another downfall just like the one at Tranmere as Huddersfield tore past us on the pitch and in the league table at the same time. Their third goal was a big mistake from young Chris Dunn and Liam Davis’ first goal for the Cobblers couldn’t prevent defeat.
There’s been a lot of talk about Dunn recently and whether he’s ready to step into the large shoes of Mark Bunn. The first few performances from Dunn have been ok but nothing more and his defenders haven’t had the confidence in him so evident when Bunn was between the posts. By the time Bunn was our number one he’d been out on loan a couple of times and bided his time behind Lee Harper and Dunn has gone straight into the spotlight so there’s nothing to say that he can’t push on with his Cobblers career. But after a couple of shaky results and a good performance from Frank Fielding on Tuesday could mean the Blackburn loan man keeps his place for this weekend.
I was hooked, as were thousands more I would imagine, to Tuesday night’s commentary of the trip to Sunderland. When I turned on at 20 minutes fully expecting us to be behind, I couldn’t quite believe my ears when I heard that Colin Larkin had given us the lead! After Huddersfield and Tranmere though, and with us being the Cobblers, there was still a lot to do even at half-time.
But even the most pessimistic (and there are a lot) Cobblers fan would have been looking towards another upset when Luke Guttridge calmly side footed us into an incredible 2-0 lead. There were four minutes of Town fans singing about Wembley before Sunderland got one back through Anthony Stokes and the nerves began going into stoppage time. With a couple of minutes left of time added on, they got a corner and you could hear a collective grumble of Town fans all over the country.
Inevitably, Stokes grabbed a second goal and extra time came and went with us doing most of the running against a Sunderland side wanting to just get to penalties. The shoot-out went the way of the home side and we were unfairly dumped out of the Carling Cup in circumstances that made you wish you were there even though it ended in heartache. Hearing stories from fans who were there of Sunderland fans shaking their hands after the game and players giving everything for the cause makes you feel gutted that those nights don’t come around too often.
Leon Constantine was the unfortunate man to miss the vital spot kick and he’s been in for a bit of stick recently but there seems to have been a big change in the front man’s performance up at the Stadium of Light. His hard work for the team didn’t go unnoticed and we have to now hope and pray that his form continues to improve in the league and not just for the big games.
Frank Fielding made a good showing and should keep his place against Brighton while Karl Hawley comes back to challenge for a place in the front two. With Brighton having gone one step further than us by beating Premier League opposition on penalties, their tails will be up but having played a day later tiredness could also creep in.
Stuart Gray is desperate for a league win and this weekend is a big chance to start turning things around with a home game that is winnable. Brighton have a decent away record including a win at Sixfields in the JPT already to their names so will be no pushover but we have to see it as a chance to push away from the bottom four.
We must hope that the performance against Sunderland can be repeated on Saturday and we don’t get another hangover like the Tranmere hammering that followed our win at Bolton.
Up The Cobblers!
Danny
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