With draws yet to turn into victories, we’re crying out for a first league success since the opening day. So will this week’s trip to Crewe be the turning point?
An entertaining Saturday afternoon at Sixfields by all accounts with both sides coming off the back of good midweek efforts against Premier League clubs. Brighton, of course, came out on top in their game with the richest club in Manchester and they came very close to rounding off a terrific week with another win.
But Bayo had other plans and headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to claim a very well deserved point from the game. We’d been the victims of a late, late goal the previous Tuesday at the Stadium of Light so it was good to see us on the right end of the goal at the death this time out. Also an impressive sight was Frank Fielding coming up for the corner at the end...now when was the last time a Cobblers keeper did that?
But despite a good performance and a point, we’re still looking for that illusive first win since the opening day and sit just above Saturday’s opponents Crewe in the table. The ship has been steadied by the Sunderland performance and the gutsy draw against Brighton but the time is now to be turning those draws into victories.
Chris Doig is trying his best to regain fitness and we’ll be a stronger unit at the back once the skipper returns. Doig played well in the reserve team game against Ipswich Town when he was up against the impressive front two of former Cobblers loanee Dean Bowditch and the pacy Danny Haynes. Liam Dolman has come in and looked less assured again but time will tell whether Stuart Gray will against favour Dolman over either Doig or Hughes when he has everyone at his disposal.
Crewe are fellow strugglers and have suffered since selling Nicky Maynard to Bristol City. In the Alex’s last home game, Southend came away with a dramatic 4-3 victory but a scrappy 1-0 win would suit every Cobblers fan this weekend. The gangly Dennis Lawrence has this week signed for Crewe and will provide a threat from set plays.
Our last couple of away games has seen us blow leads at Huddersfield, Tranmere and Sunderland so at no point will Town fans be getting too excited until the final whistle blows at Gresty Road. With the Cobblers poised just goal difference away from being in the bottom four, we know that defeat would send us teetering towards to foot of the table.
We now need an away performance, and most importantly at this stage, a win to ease away from the nether regions of the table. Crewe’s a tough place to go but we know that it’s certainly not beyond our reach to come away with the points.
Up The Cobblers!
Danny
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