So it's a welcome distraction from a topsy turvy league campaign this weekend as Southampton make the same journey that I've been making for six years from south to north for the FA Cup Second Round tie. The Saints beat us 2-0 in the Carling Cup at St.Mary's earlier this season and will be looking to complete another cup double having won twice at Sixfields in the League Cup and FA Cup back in 2004.
The usual stick has been thrown my way from work colleagues and friends down here and an easy win is expected for their beloveds so I'm even more desperate than usual for the Cobblers to make it to Round Three.
There was certainly nothing on Tuesday night to suggest that we will come anywhere near Southampton, particularly with our defensive frailties though the signing of Danny Swailes today hopefully means he can play a part.
The atmosphere should be hot with Saints bringing over 2,500 fans to Sixfields and pushing our home fans into the West and North stands as we look to bring some profit from the tie. Hopefully this will get our fans going a bit as well and give the players a much needed lift.
Kelvin Davis is the main absentee for Southampton going into the game as he pulled up with a groin injury during Tuesday night's 3-1 win at Hartlepool whilst Marek Saganowski is also missing with medial ligament damage.
The Cobblers will be waiting on Bayo Akinfenwa after the striker pulled up on Tuesday night at Aldershot whilst Chris McCready is also struggling with an injury from the same game. Liam Davis and Courtney Herbert are still not 100% with both suffering from injuries that has halted their respective seasons.
Everything points to an away win but this is the FA Cup and whatever sort of form we are or aren't in and however good Southampton look on paper you just never, ever know what's going to happen. We should get rolled over, but then we should have trounced Fleetwood in the previous round!
Here's hoping that I have restored some pride in the south when I return from the weekend...
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