Tonight sees the first of three huge relegation battles take place as the Cobblers welcome Swindon Town to Sixfields in a rearranged fixture. The original game was postponed due to heavy snow but that means that the fixture now takes place at an even more vital time for both clubs.
Team News
The Cobblers are without skipper Chris Doig who picked up an Achilles injury during the weekend win over Stockport County whilst Carl Magnay has returned to Chelsea after his injury sustained in the game at Peterborough forced him out of his loan contract. Adebayo Akinfenwa is fighting to be clear of a migraine that he played with for an hour on Saturday whilst loan strikers Scott Vernon and Aleksander Prijovic will battle to partner the big man up front.
Swindon could be without defender Jamie Vincent, who limped out of Saturday’s home win against Hereford through injury. Craig Easton is back in training but isn’t expected to play any part this evening whilst Patrick Kanyuka and Jon-Paul McGovern are both missing.
Form
Stuart Gray’s side recovered from the derby defeat at Peterborough by hammering Stockport County 4-0 at the weekend. The returning Adebayo Akinfenwa struck first before Abdul Osman added a second just before half tie. Second half goals from Luke Guttridge and Scott Vernon wrapped up a win that took us two points clear of the bottom four.
Swindon were also big winners on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Hereford United distancing themselves from the relegation zone by a couple of points as well. Simon Cox scored twice before Billy Paynter wrapped up a second successive 3-0 win for the Robins.
Last Time Out…21/10/08…SWINDON 2-1 COBBLERS
Billy Paynter and Simon Cox were the Swindon scorers earlier in the season as the Cobblers fell to defeat at the County Ground. Giles Coke’s late goal wasn’t enough and we went home pointless from this midweek encounter.
Previous Meetings…
02/02/08: SWINDON 1-1 COBBLERS
Blair Sturrock gives Swindon the lead just before the hour mark but Adebayo Akinfenwa comes off the bench to score his first goal for the Cobblers to equalise.
11/08/07: COBBLERS 1-1 SWINDON
On the opening day of last season, Andy Kirk gives us the perfect start by scoring in the ninth minute but Swindon earn a share of the spoils after Christian Roberts converts a penalty. Roberts is unlucky not to win it later in the game after crashing a shot against the cross bar.
08/03/03: COBBLERS 1-0 SWINDON
Paul Harsley's winner gives the Cobblers a rare success in the relegation season.
21/09/02: SWINDON 2-0 COBBLERS
Johnnie Jackson gives Swindon a first half lead before former Cobbler Sam Parkin adds insult to injury by slotting home a penalty late on.
02/02/02: SWINDON 2-1 COBBLERS
Marco Gabbiadini scores an own goal after just five minutes before Danny Invincible doubles the Robins' lead. Jamie Forrester hits back with ten minutes to go but it's not enough.
Head to Head…Cobblers v Robins…
Games Played: 126
Cobblers Wins: 45
Draws: 26
Swindon Wins: 56
No comments:
Post a Comment