Dale take all three points

Northampton Town 1-2 Rochdale
League Two
Saturday, September 19th 2009


Desperately seeking a win, desperately seeking three points and desperately unlucky not to gain at least one point in the end. Sammo’s reign at Sixfields won’t last too much longer should results not turn but you have to feel for the man. With no pre-season to build his side, no friendlies to try out formations and no time to bring in his own players barring any loans that come in this week it’s a near impossible task. The big players have gone but now we’re still expecting to do well against strong League Two opposition, one of which, Rochdale, came away from Sixfields with three points.

Dale’s solid defence was a basis to frustrate Town and anyone expecting an easy time in League Two was taught a lesson on Saturday as the visitors produced a fine away performance. Sammo began the game with Ben Marshall playing off Adebayo Akinfenwa up front but it took time for him to settle into a new role and the Stoke loan man only got going when switched wide to accommodate the introduction of Luke Guttridge. It was that change that gave us some stability and Guttridge could yet be the player to ignite the season.

Before that substitution though, Sammo watched on as Rochdale frustrated his Town side in the early going with no-one willing to take responsibility and shoot when given the chance. There appeared to be a real fear of taking the shot on and for all the hard graft there was no end product.

It was Rochdale who broke the deadlock when Chris O’Grady slid in a shot under the body of Simon Brown, who is yet to convince Cobblers fans that he is a better option than Chris Dunn in between the sticks for Town. A half-time deficit didn’t look like being turned over after the break and it would take a lot to turn the game around against a stubborn resistance.

Enter Guttridge and a change of shape that brought us back into the game. Ryan Gilligan was having a terrific game and his battling midfield play earned him the man of the match award along with a goal that briefly brought us level. It was always going to be a scrappy one and when a corner wasn’t cleared, Gilligan forced the ball home and it was game on once more.

Unfortunately for us, Dale didn’t take long to respond and stunned Sixfields with a beauty of a winner. Will Buckley was given space and he took it with real quality with a fine curling finish into the top corner of Brown’s net. It was a killer blow that took the stuffing right out of Sammo’s men and ended up sending the small band of away fans home happy.

The Cobblers were still so close to pulling level late on though, as Ben Marshall connected with a cross from the right to head the ball onto the cross bar. The ball bounced away to safety, taking away any chance of even a draw.

And so we go to 21st in League Two and it’s a massive job for whoever take this job full time. The players are giving it a go at least but the simple fact is that they’re not quite good enough. Bayo was poor with his shooting worryingly wayward. Shining lights came in the form of the 3 G’s, Guttridge and Guinan but it’s going to tough to turn this season back on its head.

Shrewsbury away next Saturday is not what we need...another side in and around the playoffs for the past couple of seasons and it’s going to be another big game. Points need to be put on the board soon, however and wherever we really don’t mind. Plain to say, we’ll take a Pat Gavin ‘in off the arse’ next weekend!