Cobblers go west in search of three on the bounce

We make the long trip to Torquay this afternoon looking for three wins in a row against a newly promoted Gulls outfit,who are draw specialists in League Two this season. United's last six games have ended all square if you count the 2-2 scoreline at the end of ninety minutes in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Southampton. But this run also included and impressive performance at Notts County, another 2-2, so it's not going to be easy.

The Cobblers are flying at the moment with back to back league wins and the goals flying in. Adebayo Akinfenwa looks like he's getting back to his old ways and hitting the net again but not just that - he's been getting stuck in and chasing balls down and the ninety minutes at Morecambe last weekend would have done him the world of good. His form along with the goals of Steve Guinan, who now tops the club's leading scorer's charts with six, means that the absence of Courtney Herbert is not so disastrous as it could have been.

We will, of course, be saying hello to an old friend in Chris Hargreaves this afternoon and he's sure to get a fine reaction from the Claret faithful. How we needed someone with even half of Chrissy's energy during the relegation fall last season!

Elsewhere for the Gulls, Marvin Williams sits out through injury but Jake Thomson could start after joining from Southampton and should certainly have somewhat of an unknown quantity about him. Michael Brough returns to Torquay squad for the game as well after his loan spell at Stevenage ended.

So all set for a good 'un this afternoon with both sides scoring freely and conceding almost just as freely...anyone for a 0-0?! Surely, if Sammo can lead us to a third straight win he could well be looking at his first month as boss ending with the Manager of the Month award.

Come on Town!

It's Fleetwood in the cup!

The Cobblers' FA Cup First Round opponents will be Blue Square North side Fleetwood Town won through in the Fourth Qualifying Round on Tuesday night. Fleetwood saw off Kidderminster Harriers to win a place in the First Round proper at Sixfields on Saturday week.

The non league outfit entered the competition in the Second Qualifying Round, meaning that they have had to come through three rounds already to reach this stage of proceedings. The Fishermen had beaten Farsley Celtic and Vauxhall Motors before seeing off Kidderminster and will provide a potential banana skin for the Cobblers.

Memories of that awful day at Canvey Island and the replay at Basingstoke Town come to mind but it's a massive chance to reach Round Two for Sammo's team in the new Cobblers boss' first FA Cup encounter as manager.

Cobblers given home tie in FA Cup

The Cobblers will host one of two non league sides in the first round of this season's FA Cup after the draw was made this afternoon. Either Kidderminster Harriers or Fleetwood Town will make the trip to Sixfields in two weeks after they decide their replay on Tuesday night at Fleetwood's Highbury Stadium.

The two sides drew 0-0 at Aggborough yesterday and must go again to decide who makes it into the first round proper. Ties will take place on the weekend of November 6th/7th.

Another grand fight back earns Town all three points

Morecambe 2-4 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, October 24th 2009


It’s getting quite entertaining following the fortunes of the Cobblers under Ian Sampson. We thought the incredible opening to Sammo’s tenure with back to back fight backs to draw 2-2 was settling down with a single goal win over Lincoln last week but this afternoon we once again turned a game around, this time coming out on top after a thrilling second half at Morecambe.

Without Courtney Herbert once again, Sammo handed Adebayo Akinfenwa a start up front with Steve Guinan. Guinan had been the only scorer against Lincoln and he was off the mark early in this one as the Cobblers took the lead from his delightful curling effort from long range that beat Ben Smith in the home goal.

We had started brightly and had a good spell following the goal with Luke Guttridge twice coming close and Guinan having a volley saved well by Smith. With so much possession and chances it was somewhat inevitable that Morecambe would equalise and they duly did so from the spot with twenty five minutes gone.

Mark Duffy went down under a challenge from Andy Holt and Phil Jevons stepped up to send Chris Dunn the wrong way. The game calmed down for a while but the Shrimps took advantage of our slip and took the lead before half time as Ian Craney crossed for Stewart Drummond to head home and undo all of the Cobblers’ early promise.
But once again a half time resurgence spurred us into life. Akinfenwa shot wide in our first real effort of the second half before Andy Holt’s free kick broke to Guttridge who fired in a good strike only for Smith to pull off another good save. The tide was turning as Ben Marshall came off the bench to replace John Curtis as we looked for more spark from the middle of the pitch.

John Johnson almost made it 2-2 after being set up by Bayo before we were denied a spot kick when the same player appeared to be kicked inside the area.
The pressure paid off in dramatic style though as Marshall crossed for Holt to volley home with twenty minutes to go and it was well and truly game on. The fighting spirit installed under Sammo can not be questioned and the Cobblers pulled the game back on its head when Johnson started and finished a move that ended in our third goal as he stabbed in from close range.

With the game swinging from end to end, it was always looking like a sixth goal would come and luckily it came in the right end as Bayo turned his man and scored his second in three games to seal a terrific three points for the Cobblers.
The win takes us up to fifteenth and we’re still six points from a place in the top six but it’s real signs of life from a season that looked buried back in August. Slowly but surely, Ian Sampson is proving to be the right man for this immense task of reigniting the spark of Northampton Town.

Town keen to keep unbeaten run going

Two seaside trips are up next for the Cobblers as we hope to build on the solid foundation of the early Sammo era. We’ve now gone five game unbeaten in all competitions and with the promise of Courtney Herbert and the tremendous fight backs against Bradford and Bury it was nice to get a clean sheet and a good three points last week.

Lincoln are typical of a lot of sides that will come to Sixfields this season, setting up to frustrate and it was important that we struck the winner whilst not being tested to the extremes at the other end. Chris Dunn has done well to reclaim his place in the first team and keeping out the Imps will add to his confidence. Simon Brown coming in must have done something for Dunn, with the extra competition a real benefit to go alongside Brown’s experience.

Herbert was missing for the Lincoln game but I don’t believe any of the reports linking him with a move away from Sixfields already. For one thing the lad is still very raw despite the blistering pace that takes him away from his marker. Add to that the fact that he’s made just four appearances for the club in League Two and you get basic logic that he’ll surely be here until the end of this season at the very least. We’ve seen many a young gun come through the ranks over the years and Herbert now needs to be settled and allowed to do his job. We can’t afford to heap pressure on his shoulders and hopefully, again, experience can help him through with the likes of Bayo and Steve Guinan around.

Morecambe away represents another big test for Sammo’s men. Away games under his leadership haven’t fell kindly so far with trips to Notts County, Shrewsbury and Bury yielding just the one point, at Gigg Lane, but this is a chance to really kick on and extend that unbeaten run. Four points from these two away games - we’re at Torquay next Saturday – would be very nice indeed!

Cobblers sign out of contract defender

The Cobblers have today brought in defender Pat Kanyuka on an initial three month contract after the former Swindon Town and QPR man impressed during a recent trial. Kanyuka played along side two other trialists in the reserves this week in a 3-1 defeat to Norwich City. Kanyuka, 22, has been with the club for two weeks and has made an impression on Ian Sampson as he earns a short term deal.

Competion for places is now heating up in the Cobblers' back line with Chris McCrady, Dean Beckwith, Craig Hinton already in the squad. Kanyuka joins the ranks just in time for Saturday's trip to Morecambe and looks likely to at least make the bench.

Guinan goal pushes Lincoln aside

Northampton Town 1-0 Lincoln City
League Two
Saturday, October 17th 2009


Two managers new to life in a top job, two former players from completely opposite sides of the ladder of success, two rookies at taking a managerial position at this level. Ian Sampson took on Chris Sutton and came out on top in a tight game typical of the old battles between these two teams. The two men leading their sides to battle couldn’t have had any more of a different upbringing in the game with Sutton playing at the highest level and Sammo plugging away with loyal graft in the bottom two leagues of English football. But it was Sammo to come out of the game with all three points on a scrappy afternoon at Sixfields.

Lincoln were always tough opponents in days gone by and the trend didn’t change on Saturday afternoon. The Imps were always in and around the Cobblers’ faces in League Two, denying us on several occasions with their bustling ways. Time, it seems, hasn’t changed things. It’s credit to Sammo that he led us to this victory, gained with a bundle of a goal from Steve Guinan.

Guinan was an automatic choice up front in the absence of injury victim Courtney Herbert and Billy McKay also began the game with Bayo still in use as an impact substitute. That title certainly ringed true, for until the big man’s half time introduction the game was flat with Lincoln battling away and causing us few chances to attack.

The Imps, in fact, had the better of the actual chances with a Stefan Oakes free kick sailing just wide and Sergio Torres breaking through the Town defence to test Chris Dunn, who was equal to the shot and the sides went in level at half-time.

Bayo was brought on and immediately had an impact, setting up Luke Guttridge who fired in the first real shot of the game for his side that Rob Burch had to be alert to. Akinfenwa then headed wide from a trademark long throw from Andy Holt but we did find the breakthrough as we stepped things up, the clock running past the seventy minute mark.

A free kick from Guttridge was nodded back by Holt and Guinan eventually scrambled the ball home from close range to score the only goal of the game. Lincoln’s only contribution to the rest of the game was adding to their growing number of bookings, a total of six by the end of the game that earned the club a fine.

Pretty it was not, exciting it most definitely was not but three points it was and a clean sheet to go with it makes the previous two draws against Bradford and Bury look a lot better now. We’re slowly starting to move up the table and are unbeaten in five games in all competitions. There will be plenty of games like this one to come and the fact that we managed to grab the three points here could be vital come the final knockings.

League Two will be frustrating at times but it’s games like these that will be the backbone of any possibly push for the top half and the playoffs and with two tough away trips coming up at improving Morecambe and Torquay (who shared a 2-2 draw this weekend) we can be happy with the weekend’s work.

Lincoln City (H) Preview

The Cobblers host Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City at Sixfields tomorrow afternoon with the Imps back on form following the appointment of the former Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers star. Sutton has helped City to back to back wins in the last two outings and leads his side to Sixfields full of confidence. The Cobblers have reason to be upbeat themselves having secured fight backs in the last two games, coming from two down against Bradford and Bury to earn draws.


Team News

Dean Beckwith should come back into contention for the Cobblers and Liam Davis is the only other long term injury, with the midfielder due back in a couple of weeks. Ryan Gilligan returns to the squad after serving a one match ban for the bury game last weekend.

Lincoln are boosted by the return of Robert Kovacs and Cian Houghton to their side. Both were missing through suspension and international duty respectively last weekend and come back into the squad. The Imps are without Paul Connor and Paul Green who are still a few weeks away from a return to the first team.


Last Time Out...Cobblers 1-1 Lincoln (26/11/05)

The Cobblers salvaged a point in the last meeting between the teams at Sixfields with a last gasp goal from Josh Low. Gary Birch had given the visitors an early lead but Low swooped to equalise in stoppage time for earn us a share of the spoils.

Cobblers: Harper ,Bojic ,Chambers ,Doig ,Crowe ,Low ,Taylor ,Jess (Mendes ,56 ) ,Martin Smith ,Kirk ,McGleish (Hunt ,85)

Lincoln: Marriott ,McAuley ,Morgan (Bloomer ,71 ) ,McCombe ,Brown ,Kerr ,Keates ,Mayo ,Asamoah ,Birch (Foster ,89 ) ,Logan


Head to Head...Cobblers v Imps...

Games Played: 48

Cobblers Wins: 12

Draws: 23

Lincoln Wins: 13

Would the real Bayo please stand up?

Is it me or is Bayo still a little bit unhappy? The interview after the Bury game sees him a but less Bayo like to me...he seems TOO laid back and care free. Last season for the most part he seemed over the moon whenever he scored and was a prety happy fella but after Saturday's draw he seemed a little less himself.

Gone was the glint in the eye, the thrill of scoring, in its place a mere shrug of the shoulders attitude and you have to wonder if he'll ever be the same player for us again and whether he still wants to be here.

I do wonder whether he'll still be here come January and whether he actually still wants to be here despite the change in manager. If Sammo can get the big man back on his side and firing the way he used to, get the real Bayo back, then it'll be like a new signing without having to wait until the transfer window.

Battling Cobblers come back again

Bury 2-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, October 20th 2009

The Cobblers completed their third comeback of the week to secure a hard fought draw at Bury this afternoon. Following the recovery against Bradford from two goals down last weekend and the 2-1 reversal against Bournemouth in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday we once again came back from a two goal deficit at Gigg Lane.

It was once again Courtney Herbert who took the game by the scruff of the neck to turn it around with the first strike of the comeback trail but even before that he was causing his usual problems. In the thirteenth minute the 20-year-old took the ball down and shot just wide of the post to signal his intent.

But it was Bury that had the best of the first half and deservedly took the lead and it was a Cobblers corner that led to it. The home side cleared their lines and David Worrall broke to have a shot blocked by John Curtis before tucking home the rebound past Chris Dunn.

It was to get worse just a couple of minutes later as we were suddenly 2-0 down as Ryan Lowe latched onto a hoof up field to lob the ball home and we were once again facing an uphill struggle, this time away from home though.

The half time team talk had to match the one from the last couple of games and the players’ character shone through once again in the second half. The game could well have been tucked away early on though as Chris McCready had to clear off the line.
But then it was time for another fight back. Herbert sprang into life and took the ball past three or four men before finishing well past Wayne Brown in the Bury goal. Suddenly we were right back in it and a substitution turned the game again. Adebayo Akinfenwa had been brought on before Herbert’s goal in the place of Steve Guinan and it was the big man that equalised with fifteen minutes left.

Akinfenwa got himself on the end of a Luke Guttridge cross and his header eluded Brown and flew in off the far post. Unlike last weekend, there was still time to even win it!

Bury had a couple of good chances to take the lead again but Chriss Dunn made a good double save before Akinfenwa headed over the bar from a corner in the last action of the game.

It was another show of real character from the Cobblers and a decent away point at the end of it. The league table isn’t exactly being eaten into but the next three games are critical with Lincoln, Morcambe and Torquay up next.

MK Dons trip in JPT

The Cobblers will take on MK Dons in the Third Round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after the draw was made this morning on Soccer AM. Ian Sampson's team will travel to Stadium: MK for the tie, to be played in week commencing November 9th.

Last season, we fell to a double defeat to the Dons, losing home and away by a single goal, the second of which was the first nail in our relegation coffin. With a place in the area semi-final up for grabs, this game should provide a bit more interest for the competition.

Bury (A) Preview...

Sammo takes charge of his first league game in full charge of the Cobblers tomorrow as we make the tough trip to Bury. After two good fight backs in the space of a week, the new boss will be hoping to record his first league win on the road at Gigg Lane and start to finally move up the League Two ladder.


Team News

Bury are without Andy Bishop who will be out for around two months with a number of problems. Danny Carlton is another long term absentee whilst Andy Morrell is also missing. Richie Baker limped out of the Shakers’ game against Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night and is doubtful for the Cobblers’ visit.

Ryan Gilligan sits out of the game as he serves a one match ban having picked up a fifth booking of the season in the Bournemouth game on Tuesday night. But Andy Holt, Luke Guttridge, Adebayo Akinfenwa and John Curtis have all trained this week and could play some part in the game.



Last Time Out…Bury 0-2 Northampton Town …League Two…28/01/06…

The Cobblers won at Gigg Lane in the side’s last meeting as we moved towards promotion in 2006. An own goal from Andy Parrish gave Colin Calderwood’s side the lead before Andy Kirk sealed it in the second half.

Bury: Anthony Williams ,Scott ,Fitzgerald ,Challinor ,Parrish ,Jarman (sent off 45),Flitcroft (Barry-Murphy ,89 ) ,Mattis ,Buchanan ,Smart (Marrison ,64 ) ,Tipton

Northampton: Harper ,Chambers ,Dyche ,Doig ,Low (Johnson ,78 ) ,Taylor ,Martin Smith (Bojic ,78 ) ,Hunt (Rowson ,69 ) ,Crowe ,McGleish ,Kirk



Head to Head…Shakers v Cobblers…

Games Played: 51

Cobblers Wins: 21

Draws: 11

Bury Wins: 19


Saturday’s other League Two games…

Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham
Aldershot v Morecambe
Bournemouth v Chesterfield
Bradford v Crewe
Bury v Northampton
Dag & Red v Darlington
Grimsby v Burton Albion
Macclesfield v Lincoln City
Rochdale v Barnet
Rotherham v Hereford
Shrewsbury v Port Vale

Crosby appointed Assistant Manager

Sammo has moved quickly after being appointed Cobblers boss on Monday by naming Malcolm Crosby as his assistant. Crosy came in to help Sammo during his spell in caretaker charge and was confirmed as Assistant Manager this afternoon ahead of Saturday's trip to Bury.

Meanwhile, Jim Barron has left the club after three years at the club.

Dramatic finish sends Cobblers through in JPT

Northampton Town 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Southern Area Second Round
Tuesday, October 6th 2009

If Saturday’s last minute equaliser against Bradford was dramatic, then last night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round game was an epic finish as the Cobblers progressed through to the Southern Area Quarter Finals with a last gasp penalty from Ryan Gilligan to give Sammo an ideal start in his first game in full charge of the club.

With both sides struggling with injuries, there was no chance of “reserve” teams being put out for this one and Sammo had already reiterated his desire to go as far as possible in the competition with a place in the Wembley final at stake. Michael Jacobs started for the first time in the absence of John Curtis while Alex Dyer came into midfield following his heroics on Saturday.

Jacobs set up the first real chance of the game, an inviting cross that just missed its targets of Ben Marshall and Steve Guinan. Guinan had a couple of decent efforts after that, having a shot blocked before shooting wide but it was the Cherries that took the lead just after the half hour mark as Danny Hollands smashed the ball home after a knock down.

It stayed that way until half-time and we would need some more of the same fighting qualities shown on Saturday if we were to get back into the tie. Billy McKay replaced Gary Mulligan at the break and the Cobblers started brightly with Gilligan’s volley well saved by visiting keeper Dan Thomas.

The breakthrough came on 66 minutes and Steve Guinan was the man to get the crucial equaliser. Guinan scored in the First Round at Wycombe and headed home a free kick from Gilligan to put us right back in the game. This competition is not know for its dramatic endings so no-one in the ground could predict a manic last few minutes.
With just three minutes to go, Bournemouth won a penalty for a hand ball on Chris McCready but Lee Bradbury’s spot kick was saved by Chris Dunn. It looked like penalties would decide it after that and they did but fortunately for us just one was needed.

Substitute Courtney Herbert was felled in the area and Gilligan stepped up to slot home the winning goal in the 93rd minute and we were through to the next round and the last eight of the Southern Section. It’s not often we get past one round of the JPT, let alone two so this was a very good start for Sammo and the tide is slowly but surely starting to turn.

Our possible opponents, with the draw coming up on Saturday morning on Soccer AM are: Charlton, Swindon, Norwich, Hereford, Leyton Orient, MK Dons and Southampton so still a tough road ahead but either way this was another step in very much the right direction.

AFC Bournemouth (H) JPT Second Round Preview...

Ian Sampson takes charge of his first game in full charge of the Cobblers this evening as we look to progress in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. There's a Southern Area Quarter Final place up for grabs and interest should increase in the competition should we see off the Cherries at Sixfields.

Team News
Sammo looks likely to be without strikers Adebayo Akinfenwa and Courtney Herbet for the game with Luke Guttridge and Dean Beckwith also struggling. Andy Holt and John Curtis are rated at 50/50 so Seb Harris could play for the first time.

Bournemouth are also struggling with injuries with Sammy Igoe missing with a knee injury and Ryan Garry out of the squad having being diagnosed with swine flu. The Cherries are also without Jeff Goulding and Marvin Bentley.


Last Time Out…Northampton 2-0 AFC Bournemouth…League Two...22/08/09...

In Bournemouth’s first league defeat of the season and the Cobblers’ first victory, Adebayo Akinfenwa gave us a sixth minute lead before Ben Marshall’s late strike sealed the points at Sixfields.


Head to Head…Cobblers v Cherries…

Games Played: 98

Cobblers Wins: 36

Draws: 24

Cherries Wins: 38


Tonight’s other JPT Second Round ties…

Accrington Stanley v Shrewsbury
Bradford v Notts County
Bury v Tranmere,
Carlisle v Macclesfield
Charlton v Barnet
Chesterfield v Huddersfield
Exeter v Swindon
Gillingham v Norwich
Hartlepool v Grimsby
Hereford v Aldershot
Leeds United v Darlington
Leyton Orient v Brighton
MK Dons v Southend
Port Vale v Stockport
Southampton v Torquay

Ian Sampson's Barmy Army!

Cobblers’ legend Ian Sampson has landed the managers’ job on a full time basis as he was officially named boss of Northampton Town this afternoon. Sammo has been steadily improving the side over the last few weeks and the fight, determination and heart of the group can not be questioned any more after the last couple of performances.

The former Town defender made 449 appearances for the club, agonisingly falling short of what could have been a dream farewell in the playoff final in game 450 when we were beaten at Mansfield Town in the dramatic semi final shoot out of 2004. Sammo had partnered Ray Warburton in a solid defence as the Cobblers reached Wembley in 1997 and 1998 and was within touching distance of the Championship before Grimsby Town ruined our day on that second appearance under the twin towers.

He’s now been given the job on a full time basis until the end of the season where it will more than likely be reviewed based on the previous months.

Youth comes good again as Dyer stars

Youth is most certainly the buzz word at Sixfields this week and Alex Dyer was the latest young gun to fire the Cobblers in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bradford City. After Courtney Herbert had introduced himself onto the League Two stage on Tuesday night, it was the turn of Dyer to repay the faith installed in him by Ian Sampson to lift his team back from the brink of defeat.

Dyer was introduced with around twenty minutes to play and with the Cobblers two goals down and looking down and out against the Bantams. But the player who had been blooded by Sammo in the youth and reserve teams in years gone by injected energy and flair into proceedings to hit the first goal of the comeback.

The Cobblers, of course, recovered fully to claim the point and Dyer should now earn a starting place in Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round tie with Bournemouth. With the early season full of doom and gloom, we’re starting to finally find some good news with the young Cobblers players stepping up to the plate and giving the long suffering claret faithful something to sing about.

Cobblers fight back to earn draw

Northampton Town 2-2 Bradford City
League Two
Saturday, October 3rd 2009

After the 3-1 midweek success over Rotherham came a fight back full of character and heart, traits always present from Sammo the player and now seemingly installed in Sammo the manager. The top job crept closer to the former defender’s grasp but it could have so easily slipped from his grasp as Bradford let slip a two goal lead to allow us back in late on.

It was a stirring recovery from the Cobblers, one that we certainly wouldn’t have seen a few months ago, with John Johnson heading home an equaliser in the last minute to send us home happy with a good week at the office.

Sammo was without Adebayo Akinfenwa and Dean Beckwith so young Courtney Herbert started once more after shaking off a rib injury. Chris McCready slotted in at the back in Beckwith’s absence. Bradford’s vocal travelling support were in full voice from the off, a proud Yorkshire fallen giant still standing as they look for promotion this season.

But it was the Cobblers who made the more impressive start. A battling and gallant opening saw us pick apart the visitors with short passes in the absence of Bayo and it worked wonders despite the end product not always being there. Luke Guttridge had a chance at the back post with a header that a fit and willing Akinfenwa would surely have put away whilst Herbert was causing problems with his pace once more and came close to making it two in a week.

You felt that we needed to score during the opening twenty minutes while we were on top but when that didn’t materialise the game took a worrying turn in the opposite direction as Bradford came more and more into the game as the half went on. In the end, we were happy with the half-time whistle and a chance to regroup.

The break didn’t stop the Bantams’ pressure though and they came out of the blocks flying in the second half, leading to a deflected goal five minutes in. Simon Ramsden’s shot cruelly struck a Town boot and the ball looped over the unfortunate Chris Dunn to send the hoards of Bantams into hysteria. Shell shocked by the goal, the Cobblers were wounded and Bradford struck again just four minutes later as Michael Boulding beat the offside trap to fire home what looked to be the sealer.

It was frustrating stuff with all the hard work of the early exchanges turned to dust in a matter of moments and it looked as if there would be no saviour. Cue the unlikely hero, Alex Dyer, a 70th minute substitute for John Curtis. Dyer grabbed hold of the game and immediately looked as if he could produce something.

That, he most certainly did but even his 77th minute well placed volley of a goal that looped in didn’t seem to be enough to salvage anything with desperate long balls late on and a flurry of corners and free kicks coming to nothing in the high winds of Sixfields. But then, late, late in the day it was John Johnson’s moment to savour.

The on loan Middlesbrough mad stooped to nod home a free kick and grab a delightful point from what looked like a certain defeat. The Bantam army fell silent for the first time and it could even have been more. It would have been greedy to hope for Ryan Gilligan’s low drive into the box in stoppage time to hit someone and go in but at the same time it was a relief to hear the final whistle with Bradford threatening to counter attack with pace.

So a point it was and a very entertaining one at that, with a frantic finish more suited to a match late in the season with points being scrambled for but this point could yet be part of a turn around that lands Ian Sampson with the position he desires.

Onwards to another Tuesday night outing, this time it’s the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round as we welcome league leaders Bournemouth to Sixfields.

Bradford City (H) Preview

Bradford City visit Sixfields tomorrow with the Cobblers looking for back to back wins to boost Sammo’s chances of getting the top job full time. The 3-1 win over Rotherham on Tuesday night saw relief all round but another big test is just around the corner as the Bantams come to town.

Team News

Adebayo Akinfenwa and Dean Beckwith are both doubts for the Cobblers with Liam Davis the only long term absentee. Bayo is struggling with a knee injury that’s limited him to small appearances in the last couple of games. Beckwith, meanwhile, has a groin problem and Ian Sampson will wait until the final minutes before a decision on him is made.

Bradford come into the game on the back of a goalless draw at Morecambe on Tuesday night but are without the suspended Gareth Evans so Michael Boulding should come in to replace him.

Last Meeting…Bradford City 1-2 Northampton Town (17/03/07)

With both sides struggling at the foot of League One in the last meeting between the two sides, Billy Paynter handed City the lead just after the hour mark. But two minutes later, Bradley Johnson fired the Cobblers level before Kenny Deuchar hit an 87th minute winner to steer us further away from the bottom four.

Head to Head…Cobblers v Bantams…

Games Played: 18

Cobblers Wins: 5

Draws: 2

Bradford Wins: 11

Herbert emerges from the depths of Long Buckby...

It was a dream home debut that helped earn Ian Sampson his first win in temporary charge of the Cobblers. The emergence of 20-year-old Courtney Herbert after signing from Long Buckby sparked us into life at Sixfields and may yet be the key moment in Sammo’s fledging post playing Cobblers career.

Herbert came off the bench in tough circumstances at Shrewsbury with the side already beaten and the game all but over. But Herbert’s pace and unpredictability earned him a wildcard start in Tuesday’s game with Rotherham to dramatic effect, with a well taken goal off the underside of the cross bar and his celebrations reflected the emotions of a week in which Herbert went from the Unibond league to local hero in a matter of days.

An rib injury called a halt to Herbert’s night on Tuesday but scans have revealed that nothing is broken so the youngster could be back in contention to play some part against Bradford tomorrow afternoon...could he put Sammo even further into favour with the Cardozas come decision time on the new boss?