Away double ahead as massive week begins

It's been a good week in terms of others faltering in the race to catch up with games affected by the snow in January as three of the Cobblers' main rivals for a playoff berth were beaten on Tuesday night. Morecambe's victory over Burton Albion meant that they went above us but Albion's defeat used up one of their vital games in hand.

Further losses, for Accrington at Lincoln and for Aldershot at Hereford means that the Cobblers only move down one place, to tenth in the table ahead of a big game at Crewe tomorrow afternoon. Looking up, Notts County, who currently occupy the final playoff place dropped a couple of points in their 1-1 draw with struggling Grimsby Town as they also play catch up following that good run in the F.A. Cup.

It's the first of a huge week for the Cobblers as that trip is followed by one to Hereford on Tuesday night. It's a season defining week as games begin to run out and our recent good run on the road comes under real scrutiny.

Bayo Akinfenwa will be hoping that he brings the form to the game that had him breaking down Crewe in the second half during the clubs’ last meeting, back in November at Sixfields as he scored a brace to bring the Cobblers back from two goals down to draw 2-2.

It’s been revealed that Andy Holt will be out for a few more weeks so Liam Davis’ return comes at a perfect time for the winger to take his place. Steve Guinan is still a long way away from a return but apart from that Sammo has no fresh injury worries as we head north for Crewe.

Crewe were winners last Friday night as they went to Burton Albion and won 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Clayton Donaldson and Dario Gradi hopes to name an unchanged side for the clash with the Cobblers. Calvin Zola is rated at 50/50 for the game but Stephen Schumacher and Mat Mitchel-King are definitely missing.

It’s time to get back on track, put away the cobwebs of the Aldershot disaster and use the frustration picked up in that game to storm Gresty Road and come away with what would be one of the biggest wins of the season so far. There’s still hope, there’s still time. Don’t stop believing!