One team stands in the way of the Cobblers taking the playoff fight to the final day of the season. Bradford City, in an emotional occasion for their own club, block the route to the top seven and it promises to be a day full of drama from the off. City, and the travelling Cobblers fans, will pay their respect to the 56 people who lost their lives in the Valley Parade Fire before the game, creating a backdrop for a hugely important game.
With a big attendance expected, there will be plenty of atmosphere in both ends and the Cobblers players will need to be on their game from the off. Bayo is set to play once again at 60% fitness and we can only hope that he has a big impact once again before he’s replaced later in the game. The big man once again holds the key to what needs to be three points in Yorkshire.
Last season our campaign ended in Yorkshire with relegation at Leeds. We can only hope and pray that this season doesn’t end just up the road at Valley Parade.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thornton's wonder strike sparks team celebration
It was evident yesterday that after Kevin Thornton majestically swung his left foot to curl the ball into the top corner of the Shrewsbury net that he's been waiting a long time to produce a moment like that once again. Thornton's well documented problems off the pitch meant that a drop to non league to get himself back on track was very much needed.
After Sammo signed him on, we saw brief glimpses of a real talent and despite a red card a few weeks ago, hopefully the troubles are behind him. Thornton's first goal for the club against the Shrews was met with a massive celebration as he rushed to the bench to be surrounded by Cobblers substitutes in an outpouring of relief, perhaps the result of months of uncertainty over his career and a good bond with his new team mates.
If the midfielder can get to anywhere near 100% before the end of the season then we have a real ace in our pack!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Cometh the hour...
Northampton Town 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, April 24th 2010
The sun rays of early summer descended on Sixfields this afternoon and the Cobblers eventually claimed a big, big win to all but end Shrewsbury’s season and to keep alive our hopes that we could yet find our way into the top seven once again just in time for the season’s end.
The news that we were all waiting for was forthcoming at around ten past two with the announcement of Bayo on the team sheet and despite not scoring himself, the man who is quickly becoming an icon of Northampton Town, the striker was his usual presence and reminded us what we’d been missing in the previous three and a bit games. Andy Holt surprisingly kept his place in the back four even though Craig Hinton was available again but the man who is quickly becoming Mr reliable slotted in with a terrific display in the middle of defence.
Bayo was quickly in the middle of the action when his flicked header from a Holt throw in was just missed by Abdul Osman at the far post. It had been a decent opening from the Cobblers but the first half seemed more about neither team taking any major chances with so much at stake and both sides appeared to be waiting for the other to make their move.
Akinfenwa saw his header fly over the bar before an excellent double chance befell Liam Davis. Bayo worked the ball well on the right hand side of the goal before chipping it in towards Davis who appeared to only need to get a slight touch to give us the lead but couldn’t quite reach it. Seconds later, on his weaker right foot, Davis shot over the bar from a decent position and the game was still on a knife edge as the teams went in for the break.
With ten minutes of the second half played though we finally broke the deadlock in impressive style and of course Akinfenwa had to supply the assist. Bayo found Billy McKay who cleverly turned his man and shot low into the corner of the net for a simply massive goal.
You began to get the feeling that it would be 35 minutes of hell to come and for around twenty of those minutes we were starting to be pegged back with Shrewsbury threatening to end our season along with theirs. Andy Holt miscued and hit his own cross bar as panic set in whilst Jason Steele had a couple of dodgy kicks to edge our hearts closer to mouths.
But it was substitute Kevin Thornton who provided the icing on the cake, and in some style. Thornton, a replacement for Paul Rodgers, picked up the ball twenty five yards out and hit an absolute belter of a shot into the top corner of the net to give Sixfields a mass sigh of relief and a moment to savour.
That knocked the stuffing out of Shrewsbury and there was still time for McKay to hit the post and for Bayo, by then warming down on the sidelines after being replaced by Steve Guinan, to give us a wave and a dance.
There were chants of “Bayo, Bayo, sign the deal” from the West Stand and Akinfenwa gave a nod to his adoring public. Should the adoration be enough to keep him at Sixfields for another two seasons, it will be like a new signing next season, whatever the division we find ourselves in. For now, though, having him back in itself could yet prove to be the deciding factor in whether or not we’ll be walking up Wembley Way come the end of May.
There’s a hell of a lot to do still but if we win next week at Bradford then we know that whatever happens elsewhere this dramatic season will go to the final day.
Not sure if my nerves can hold another fornight!
League Two
Saturday, April 24th 2010
The sun rays of early summer descended on Sixfields this afternoon and the Cobblers eventually claimed a big, big win to all but end Shrewsbury’s season and to keep alive our hopes that we could yet find our way into the top seven once again just in time for the season’s end.
The news that we were all waiting for was forthcoming at around ten past two with the announcement of Bayo on the team sheet and despite not scoring himself, the man who is quickly becoming an icon of Northampton Town, the striker was his usual presence and reminded us what we’d been missing in the previous three and a bit games. Andy Holt surprisingly kept his place in the back four even though Craig Hinton was available again but the man who is quickly becoming Mr reliable slotted in with a terrific display in the middle of defence.
Bayo was quickly in the middle of the action when his flicked header from a Holt throw in was just missed by Abdul Osman at the far post. It had been a decent opening from the Cobblers but the first half seemed more about neither team taking any major chances with so much at stake and both sides appeared to be waiting for the other to make their move.
Akinfenwa saw his header fly over the bar before an excellent double chance befell Liam Davis. Bayo worked the ball well on the right hand side of the goal before chipping it in towards Davis who appeared to only need to get a slight touch to give us the lead but couldn’t quite reach it. Seconds later, on his weaker right foot, Davis shot over the bar from a decent position and the game was still on a knife edge as the teams went in for the break.
With ten minutes of the second half played though we finally broke the deadlock in impressive style and of course Akinfenwa had to supply the assist. Bayo found Billy McKay who cleverly turned his man and shot low into the corner of the net for a simply massive goal.
You began to get the feeling that it would be 35 minutes of hell to come and for around twenty of those minutes we were starting to be pegged back with Shrewsbury threatening to end our season along with theirs. Andy Holt miscued and hit his own cross bar as panic set in whilst Jason Steele had a couple of dodgy kicks to edge our hearts closer to mouths.
But it was substitute Kevin Thornton who provided the icing on the cake, and in some style. Thornton, a replacement for Paul Rodgers, picked up the ball twenty five yards out and hit an absolute belter of a shot into the top corner of the net to give Sixfields a mass sigh of relief and a moment to savour.
That knocked the stuffing out of Shrewsbury and there was still time for McKay to hit the post and for Bayo, by then warming down on the sidelines after being replaced by Steve Guinan, to give us a wave and a dance.
There were chants of “Bayo, Bayo, sign the deal” from the West Stand and Akinfenwa gave a nod to his adoring public. Should the adoration be enough to keep him at Sixfields for another two seasons, it will be like a new signing next season, whatever the division we find ourselves in. For now, though, having him back in itself could yet prove to be the deciding factor in whether or not we’ll be walking up Wembley Way come the end of May.
There’s a hell of a lot to do still but if we win next week at Bradford then we know that whatever happens elsewhere this dramatic season will go to the final day.
Not sure if my nerves can hold another fornight!
Playoffs come early in do or die clash
It's almost as if we're waking up this morning preparing for a playoff game, such is the importance of today's game with Shrewsbury Town. The game has the same edge as a playoff encounter with whoever loses this game facing virtually the end of their season.
The Shrews sit a place and a point behind the Cobblers and after a disappointing run that saw them dislodged from their lofty heights in the top seven are recovering well and come into the game on good form. Seven points from their last three games including an impressive 3-0 win at Crewe have reignited the push for promotion and today's visitors will be just as up for this one as we are.
The news we're all waiting for of course is that of Adebayo Akinfenwa. The big man holds the key to our final three games and we all know if he does play today he won't be at 100%. But any sort of fit or half fit Bayo can do a job and he's as vital to the Cobblers as a Fernando Torres is to Liverpool or Wayne Rooney to Manchester United. That may seem a massive comparison but that's just how important our top scorer is to our game. So let's hope we see the name of Akinfenwa on today's team sheet...something that could lift the crowd even before kick off.
As for Shrewsbury, they will be without the injured Graham Coughlan, Craig Disley and Jake Robinson with Nathan Elder also out for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury on his return from a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. Top scorer Dave Hibbert will provide the fire power though with teenager Tom Bradshaw also one to watch. The seventeen year old came off the bench at Crewe to score twice in dramatic style and the former Aberystwyth Town man will be looking to make even more headlines at Sixfields.
So winner take all it is today and with a draw no good to either side we could well be sitting on the edge of our claret seats for ninety minutes this afternoon!
The Shrews sit a place and a point behind the Cobblers and after a disappointing run that saw them dislodged from their lofty heights in the top seven are recovering well and come into the game on good form. Seven points from their last three games including an impressive 3-0 win at Crewe have reignited the push for promotion and today's visitors will be just as up for this one as we are.
The news we're all waiting for of course is that of Adebayo Akinfenwa. The big man holds the key to our final three games and we all know if he does play today he won't be at 100%. But any sort of fit or half fit Bayo can do a job and he's as vital to the Cobblers as a Fernando Torres is to Liverpool or Wayne Rooney to Manchester United. That may seem a massive comparison but that's just how important our top scorer is to our game. So let's hope we see the name of Akinfenwa on today's team sheet...something that could lift the crowd even before kick off.
As for Shrewsbury, they will be without the injured Graham Coughlan, Craig Disley and Jake Robinson with Nathan Elder also out for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury on his return from a loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. Top scorer Dave Hibbert will provide the fire power though with teenager Tom Bradshaw also one to watch. The seventeen year old came off the bench at Crewe to score twice in dramatic style and the former Aberystwyth Town man will be looking to make even more headlines at Sixfields.
So winner take all it is today and with a draw no good to either side we could well be sitting on the edge of our claret seats for ninety minutes this afternoon!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Dale's party kicks off as Town are beaten
Rochdale 1-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, April 17th 2010
Three 1-0 defeats in a row for the Cobblers was just the backing story to today's game as Rochdale secured their first promotion in over forty years. So firstly, congratulations to the Dale for this achievement and unfortunately the Cobblers' own promotion bid has been severely hit this afternoon.
The absence of Bayo Akinfenwa for the last four games, all four in which we have failed to find the net, is no coincidence and we badly need the big man back for the final three games - all of which we now must win to stand a chance of the playoffs.
Today saw Rochdale come out all guns blazing as they looked for that illusive promotion and the illusive goal took just twenty three minutes to come. Chris O'Grady's prolific season went on as he scored following a corner, a nice turn and shot that found the roof of Jason Steele's net.
That set Dale up for an assault on the Cobblers goal for the rest of the half and we were lucky to go in at half time just a goal down. Chris Dagnall shot wide before a goal mouth scramble was just about cleared by the Town defence, including Andy Holt who deputised for the suspended Craig Hinton. Kevin Thornton, replacing the other suspended Cobblers player Luke Guttridge, tested our former loan keeper Frank Fielding.
The Cobblers were marginally better in the second half as the home fans nervously watched the clock tick down towards their promotion.
Steve Guinan headed over the bar before Billy McKay tried to round Fielding but the keeper got his hands to the ball. Courtney Herbert and Seb Harris were thrown on to try and grab us an equaliser but the game ticked away and we couldn't create anything of note, signalling a wild pitch invasion at Spotland as the home fans finally celebrated their promotion.
As for the Cobblers, we're down to eleventh and sit three points behind the top seven. Two things need to happen if we're to make it into the playoffs now. Firstly, we need Bayo back. If we get him back, we may just find it in ourselves to make the second thing work and that's to win all three of our remaining games.
It's unlikely, but still, just about possible.
League Two
Saturday, April 17th 2010
Three 1-0 defeats in a row for the Cobblers was just the backing story to today's game as Rochdale secured their first promotion in over forty years. So firstly, congratulations to the Dale for this achievement and unfortunately the Cobblers' own promotion bid has been severely hit this afternoon.
The absence of Bayo Akinfenwa for the last four games, all four in which we have failed to find the net, is no coincidence and we badly need the big man back for the final three games - all of which we now must win to stand a chance of the playoffs.
Today saw Rochdale come out all guns blazing as they looked for that illusive promotion and the illusive goal took just twenty three minutes to come. Chris O'Grady's prolific season went on as he scored following a corner, a nice turn and shot that found the roof of Jason Steele's net.
That set Dale up for an assault on the Cobblers goal for the rest of the half and we were lucky to go in at half time just a goal down. Chris Dagnall shot wide before a goal mouth scramble was just about cleared by the Town defence, including Andy Holt who deputised for the suspended Craig Hinton. Kevin Thornton, replacing the other suspended Cobblers player Luke Guttridge, tested our former loan keeper Frank Fielding.
The Cobblers were marginally better in the second half as the home fans nervously watched the clock tick down towards their promotion.
Steve Guinan headed over the bar before Billy McKay tried to round Fielding but the keeper got his hands to the ball. Courtney Herbert and Seb Harris were thrown on to try and grab us an equaliser but the game ticked away and we couldn't create anything of note, signalling a wild pitch invasion at Spotland as the home fans finally celebrated their promotion.
As for the Cobblers, we're down to eleventh and sit three points behind the top seven. Two things need to happen if we're to make it into the playoffs now. Firstly, we need Bayo back. If we get him back, we may just find it in ourselves to make the second thing work and that's to win all three of our remaining games.
It's unlikely, but still, just about possible.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Cobblers set to shuffle the pack at Spotland
It's all in the balance now and we can probably afford no more set backs if we're to reach the promised land of the playoffs. The Cobblers sit two points away from the top seven and desperately need a win at second placed Rochdale to get back in the mix before the final three games of the season.
Dale are on a bad run of form having lost their top spot on Tuesday night with a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Darlington. But Dale could still secure a historic first promotion since 1969 with a win over the Cobblers tomorrow afternoon and will be desperate to get over that finish line and refocus their attention on the league title.
A big task at hand then for Sammo who must shuffle the pack with suspensions for Luke Guttridge and Craig Hinton after their red cards in the Tuesday night defeat to Rotherham United. Hinton's place could be filled by John Johnson with Paul Rodgers moving back to right back. This would likely mean Kevin Thornton getting a start despite not being 100% - a gamble that Sammo is willing to take with so much at stake.
Andy Holt could come back into the equation after playing 45 minutes in the reserves in midweek. Then there's the big question of Bayo. To play or not to play is going to be in the player's own hands and if he's even at 50% you wouldn't bet against the big man opting to get out there and put this playoff charge back on track.
So a huge, huge weekend in prospect and everyone who makes that starting eleven needs to match the last two performances with a result that would be the best of the season so far if we did manage to delay Rochdale's party for that little bit longer.
Dale are on a bad run of form having lost their top spot on Tuesday night with a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Darlington. But Dale could still secure a historic first promotion since 1969 with a win over the Cobblers tomorrow afternoon and will be desperate to get over that finish line and refocus their attention on the league title.
A big task at hand then for Sammo who must shuffle the pack with suspensions for Luke Guttridge and Craig Hinton after their red cards in the Tuesday night defeat to Rotherham United. Hinton's place could be filled by John Johnson with Paul Rodgers moving back to right back. This would likely mean Kevin Thornton getting a start despite not being 100% - a gamble that Sammo is willing to take with so much at stake.
Andy Holt could come back into the equation after playing 45 minutes in the reserves in midweek. Then there's the big question of Bayo. To play or not to play is going to be in the player's own hands and if he's even at 50% you wouldn't bet against the big man opting to get out there and put this playoff charge back on track.
So a huge, huge weekend in prospect and everyone who makes that starting eleven needs to match the last two performances with a result that would be the best of the season so far if we did manage to delay Rochdale's party for that little bit longer.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Millers' Tale...
Rotherham United 1-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, April 13th 2010
On April 13th 2010, twenty two players entered a football pitch in Yorkshire. Only nineteen of them would walk off the pitch at the end of a tempestuous game. Ryan Gilligan, of Northampton Town Football Club, missed a penalty in the first half. Craig Hinton, also of Northampton Town Football Club, gave away a penalty and saw sent off in the second. Adam Le Fondre, of Rotherham United Football Club, scored the winning goal from the resulting spot kick before both Luke Guttridge of Northampton Town and Danny Harrison of Rotherham United were also sent off.
On April 13th 2010 the record books show that Northampton Town were beaten by Rotherham United in a massive dent to the club’s playoff hopes.
But all that didn’t seem to matter as much as usual. Because on April 13th 2010 I saw my baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
That’s right readers, I can finally tell you all...myself and my wonderful girlfriend are having a baby, due on November 17th 2010. I don’t apologise at all for a rare mushy blog but I’ve been holding this in for weeks! We had a first scan yesterday and everything’s fine with the little one so I’m over the moon. I’m moving back to Southampton to be with my little ones with life taking a momentus turn.
I’m sure I will keep you updated as the months go on. But yes, we did lose yesterday and there’s still hope. I’ll be back to full reporting duties for the Rochdale game!
League Two
Tuesday, April 13th 2010
On April 13th 2010, twenty two players entered a football pitch in Yorkshire. Only nineteen of them would walk off the pitch at the end of a tempestuous game. Ryan Gilligan, of Northampton Town Football Club, missed a penalty in the first half. Craig Hinton, also of Northampton Town Football Club, gave away a penalty and saw sent off in the second. Adam Le Fondre, of Rotherham United Football Club, scored the winning goal from the resulting spot kick before both Luke Guttridge of Northampton Town and Danny Harrison of Rotherham United were also sent off.
On April 13th 2010 the record books show that Northampton Town were beaten by Rotherham United in a massive dent to the club’s playoff hopes.
But all that didn’t seem to matter as much as usual. Because on April 13th 2010 I saw my baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
That’s right readers, I can finally tell you all...myself and my wonderful girlfriend are having a baby, due on November 17th 2010. I don’t apologise at all for a rare mushy blog but I’ve been holding this in for weeks! We had a first scan yesterday and everything’s fine with the little one so I’m over the moon. I’m moving back to Southampton to be with my little ones with life taking a momentus turn.
I’m sure I will keep you updated as the months go on. But yes, we did lose yesterday and there’s still hope. I’ll be back to full reporting duties for the Rochdale game!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lots to take up north after gutsy showing
The Cobblers can be happy with the outing on Saturday and thankfully others results only bumped us down one more place in the table. Had we been further adrift then the terrific effort against Notts County would have been but a footnote as the season hung in the balance but as we are we know that should we win the crunch game at the Don Valley Stadium we'll leap frog the Millers and could possibly jumpe back into the playoffs.
It needed a full gung ho attitude and we certainly got that. County were so so fortunate to be leading just after the break after Guinan's horrible miss and a goal line clearance. You would also be hard pressed to find anyone who would have bet against us going on to win the game had a second last ditch clearance in the second half found the net. The record books show nothing but zero points though and we must live with that as well as taking this performance to Rotherham...or should I say, Sheffield.
There's a bit of unrest at their end with incredible calls for Ronnie Moore to resign after the 2-0 defeat at Morecambe on Saturday. Four straight defeats have blown United away from the top three and all is not well up there. That gives us a glimmer of hope and if we manage to nick the first goal tomorrow night we will light the fire of the home fans and hopefully go on to claim what would be the most important three points for many a month.
Rochdale looms large on Saturday and we need to somehow be in the mix by the time we go up there against the title chasers. Hopefully we won't be talking once again about missed opportunities on Tuesday night. If we give even half of what we did on Saturday then we're in with a very good chance.
It needed a full gung ho attitude and we certainly got that. County were so so fortunate to be leading just after the break after Guinan's horrible miss and a goal line clearance. You would also be hard pressed to find anyone who would have bet against us going on to win the game had a second last ditch clearance in the second half found the net. The record books show nothing but zero points though and we must live with that as well as taking this performance to Rotherham...or should I say, Sheffield.
There's a bit of unrest at their end with incredible calls for Ronnie Moore to resign after the 2-0 defeat at Morecambe on Saturday. Four straight defeats have blown United away from the top three and all is not well up there. That gives us a glimmer of hope and if we manage to nick the first goal tomorrow night we will light the fire of the home fans and hopefully go on to claim what would be the most important three points for many a month.
Rochdale looms large on Saturday and we need to somehow be in the mix by the time we go up there against the title chasers. Hopefully we won't be talking once again about missed opportunities on Tuesday night. If we give even half of what we did on Saturday then we're in with a very good chance.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Unlucky Cobblers beaten by County
Northampton Town 0-1 Notts County
League Two
Saturday, April 10th 2010
If there was ever an indicator of how far this Cobblers team have come since Ian Sampson took charge than this was it. Beaten 5-2 at Meadow Lane in a no contest in Sammo's first game in charge back in September, we have regrouped and become a team that are hard to beat. In any case, County still managed to scrape a win out of Saturday's game despite a whole hearted performance from Sammo's men.
The atmosphere was nervy at Sixfields with the Cobblers coming off the back of a tame goalless draw with Torquay on Monday but the players gave us a start to really get behind. On fifteen minutes we thought we were in front. Steve Guinan, replacing the injured Adebayo Akinfenwa in the starting line up, was put through one on one with Kasper Schmeichal but could only shoot into his legs in a massive chance for the Town.
The Cobblers were having the best of the early possession and belittling the fact that County were gunning for the league title. John Johnson had a header saved before the same player had a shot cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble in which Billy McKay also had a shot blocked.
Right at the end of the half, Dean Beckwith's header flashed wide but it was the Cobblers who were on top as the half time whistle went.
You had the feeling that County still had something in their locker that they weren't unleashing just yet and unfortunately this would prove correct just minutes into the second half. Craig Hinton, otherwise superb in the Cobblers defence, failed to clear his lines and Ben Davies swooped to slot home what turned out the be the only goal of the game.
There was plenty more drama to come though as Luke Guttridge capitalised on a flap by Schemeichal to shoot towards goal but once again the ball was cleared off the goal line.
Jason Steele earned a man of the match award from a double save just after the hour from Lee Hughes who must have thought he had doubled the lead.
Sammo then made a triple substitution with Alex Dyer, Kevin Thornton and Seb Harris replacing Billy McKay, Ryan Gilligan and Paul Rodgers. Thornton so nearly scored with his first touch when he got on the end of a left wing cross but Schmeichal pushed his effort away.
The Cobblers fought hard to get the equaliser but it was County who took home the points despite a massive battle. Sammo can be proud this evening of a sense of real fight within his ranks and we were so, so unlucky to lose this one.
There's now five games to go and we're down to ninth and a point off the playoffs ahead of Tuesday night's crunch game at Rotherham United. With time running out there is no room for slip ups and by this time next week we will have a very good idea about where our season is going.
League Two
Saturday, April 10th 2010
If there was ever an indicator of how far this Cobblers team have come since Ian Sampson took charge than this was it. Beaten 5-2 at Meadow Lane in a no contest in Sammo's first game in charge back in September, we have regrouped and become a team that are hard to beat. In any case, County still managed to scrape a win out of Saturday's game despite a whole hearted performance from Sammo's men.
The atmosphere was nervy at Sixfields with the Cobblers coming off the back of a tame goalless draw with Torquay on Monday but the players gave us a start to really get behind. On fifteen minutes we thought we were in front. Steve Guinan, replacing the injured Adebayo Akinfenwa in the starting line up, was put through one on one with Kasper Schmeichal but could only shoot into his legs in a massive chance for the Town.
The Cobblers were having the best of the early possession and belittling the fact that County were gunning for the league title. John Johnson had a header saved before the same player had a shot cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble in which Billy McKay also had a shot blocked.
Right at the end of the half, Dean Beckwith's header flashed wide but it was the Cobblers who were on top as the half time whistle went.
You had the feeling that County still had something in their locker that they weren't unleashing just yet and unfortunately this would prove correct just minutes into the second half. Craig Hinton, otherwise superb in the Cobblers defence, failed to clear his lines and Ben Davies swooped to slot home what turned out the be the only goal of the game.
There was plenty more drama to come though as Luke Guttridge capitalised on a flap by Schemeichal to shoot towards goal but once again the ball was cleared off the goal line.
Jason Steele earned a man of the match award from a double save just after the hour from Lee Hughes who must have thought he had doubled the lead.
Sammo then made a triple substitution with Alex Dyer, Kevin Thornton and Seb Harris replacing Billy McKay, Ryan Gilligan and Paul Rodgers. Thornton so nearly scored with his first touch when he got on the end of a left wing cross but Schmeichal pushed his effort away.
The Cobblers fought hard to get the equaliser but it was County who took home the points despite a massive battle. Sammo can be proud this evening of a sense of real fight within his ranks and we were so, so unlucky to lose this one.
There's now five games to go and we're down to ninth and a point off the playoffs ahead of Tuesday night's crunch game at Rotherham United. With time running out there is no room for slip ups and by this time next week we will have a very good idea about where our season is going.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Bayo ruled out of big three games
Bayo Akinfenwa's injury has cast a shadow over the build up of today's game wih Notts County after it was revealed that the big man could be out for three or more games, possibly even until the end of the season. The Cobblers' top scorer suffered ligament damage in the 0-0 draw with Torquay on Monday and is now a major doubt to play in at least any of the next three games against fellow promotion candidates County, Rotherham and Rochdale.
Now is the time for Steve Guinan to step up to the plate. He's never going to be Bayo but there is a player in there and Guinan has the experience to lead the line. Billy McKay needs a renaissance of form next to him if we're to even come close to County this afternoon with the Magpies' team of superstars, by League Two's standards, gunning for the title.
There's a big game atmosphere expected at Sixfields and the underdog spirit needs to be out in force this afternoon. Come on Town!
Now is the time for Steve Guinan to step up to the plate. He's never going to be Bayo but there is a player in there and Guinan has the experience to lead the line. Billy McKay needs a renaissance of form next to him if we're to even come close to County this afternoon with the Magpies' team of superstars, by League Two's standards, gunning for the title.
There's a big game atmosphere expected at Sixfields and the underdog spirit needs to be out in force this afternoon. Come on Town!
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Goal difference the key in tough run in
Goal difference is becoming more and more important for the Cobblers after we slipped out of the playoff places on Monday afternoon. Town's positive +12, higher than three of the four teams currently in the playoffs and only one short of Aldershot, means that even a draw in Saturday's daunting home game with Notts County could well be worthwhile.
That would mean that a defeat for any one of the four teams above us combined with even a draw for the Cobblers would lift us into the top seven again. Of course, a win would be much nicer so we have to pray for an absolute top notch performance from us and a real off day for County!
Stranger things have happened of course...
That would mean that a defeat for any one of the four teams above us combined with even a draw for the Cobblers would lift us into the top seven again. Of course, a win would be much nicer so we have to pray for an absolute top notch performance from us and a real off day for County!
Stranger things have happened of course...
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Cobblers frustrated as odds begin to pile up
Northampton Town 0-0 Torquay United
League Two
Monday, April 5th 2010
Frustrating is putting it mildly. Not only the fact that one goal in this stale mate would have put us into fourth place but that our top scorer hobbled off and we failed to find a way past a stubborn Torquay side all added up to a very annoying afternoon at Sixfields on Bank Holiday Monday. Once again with the highest attendance of the season so far, we failed to produce a performance that merited three points and ultimately paid the price by falling back outside the playoffs.
Adebayo Akinfenwa was the main talking point in the first half of a windy encounter here...the big man looked like he could continue after a challenge by a visiting defender but ten minutes before the break and he was trudging off. It takes a lot to keep Bayo down so this one must be pretty serious and a worrying sign ahead of the final run in.
Torquay had said wind with them in the opening 45 and were more settled than the Cobblers going into the break with Jason Steele the busier of the two goalkeepers but we at least came to life a little in the second half.
Liam Davis struck the cross bar from distance before Steve Guinan, Bayo’s replacement, had an effort saved by Scott Bevan in the Torquay goal. Bevan was called into action again from Davis with twenty minutes to play as he palmed away the set piece from the Cobblers midfielder.
Luke Guttridge curled over in the last attempt of the game but it was two points dropped in the end with the Cobblers failing to find a way through. With other results going against us, we can forget about third place and focus solely on the playoffs from now on.
It’s a tough, tough run with with Notts County, Rotherham and Rochdale in the next three games and despite the hard work to get incredibly involved in this playoff hunt, it will be even more impressive should we climb into the top seven after these three games. Bayo’s injury doesn’t help things and the likes of Steve Guinan and Stephen O’Flynn need to stand up and be counted if the big man is ruled out.
There is still a carrot to bite for though and if the Cobblers do anything, we do it when the odds are stacked against us as right now they very much are.
League Two
Monday, April 5th 2010
Frustrating is putting it mildly. Not only the fact that one goal in this stale mate would have put us into fourth place but that our top scorer hobbled off and we failed to find a way past a stubborn Torquay side all added up to a very annoying afternoon at Sixfields on Bank Holiday Monday. Once again with the highest attendance of the season so far, we failed to produce a performance that merited three points and ultimately paid the price by falling back outside the playoffs.
Adebayo Akinfenwa was the main talking point in the first half of a windy encounter here...the big man looked like he could continue after a challenge by a visiting defender but ten minutes before the break and he was trudging off. It takes a lot to keep Bayo down so this one must be pretty serious and a worrying sign ahead of the final run in.
Torquay had said wind with them in the opening 45 and were more settled than the Cobblers going into the break with Jason Steele the busier of the two goalkeepers but we at least came to life a little in the second half.
Liam Davis struck the cross bar from distance before Steve Guinan, Bayo’s replacement, had an effort saved by Scott Bevan in the Torquay goal. Bevan was called into action again from Davis with twenty minutes to play as he palmed away the set piece from the Cobblers midfielder.
Luke Guttridge curled over in the last attempt of the game but it was two points dropped in the end with the Cobblers failing to find a way through. With other results going against us, we can forget about third place and focus solely on the playoffs from now on.
It’s a tough, tough run with with Notts County, Rotherham and Rochdale in the next three games and despite the hard work to get incredibly involved in this playoff hunt, it will be even more impressive should we climb into the top seven after these three games. Bayo’s injury doesn’t help things and the likes of Steve Guinan and Stephen O’Flynn need to stand up and be counted if the big man is ruled out.
There is still a carrot to bite for though and if the Cobblers do anything, we do it when the odds are stacked against us as right now they very much are.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Cobblers in sixth after Saturday games
The Cobblers only went down one place into sixth after a busy day in League Two today. Third place is looking a bridge too far now after Bournemouth went back to eight points clear of Town with a 1-0 home win over Bradford City at Dean Court. Meanwhile, Chesterfield impressively saw off league leaders Rochdale 2-0 at Saltergate and leap back into fifth place. Rotherham, though, are just three points clear of us now though following their 2-1 home defeat to Port Vale.
Below us there was better news with Bury dropping out of the playoffs after a 5-0 defeat at Notts County and Aldershot could only manage a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield Town, a result that was enough to put them back into the playoffs above Bury but not enough to overtake the Cobblers.
There's a quick turn around now with a full set of League Two fixtures on Monday afternoon. The Cobblers take on Torquay at Sixfields and will be hoping that Aldershot and Rotherham cancel each other out when they play each other. Chesterfield go to Barnet while Bury will be hoping to end their poor form at home to Burton Albion.
All very much still to play for but hopefully we can extend our lead on the chasing pack in a big Easter Monday offering at Sixfields.
Below us there was better news with Bury dropping out of the playoffs after a 5-0 defeat at Notts County and Aldershot could only manage a 1-1 draw at Macclesfield Town, a result that was enough to put them back into the playoffs above Bury but not enough to overtake the Cobblers.
There's a quick turn around now with a full set of League Two fixtures on Monday afternoon. The Cobblers take on Torquay at Sixfields and will be hoping that Aldershot and Rotherham cancel each other out when they play each other. Chesterfield go to Barnet while Bury will be hoping to end their poor form at home to Burton Albion.
All very much still to play for but hopefully we can extend our lead on the chasing pack in a big Easter Monday offering at Sixfields.
Heart attack time as Cobblers survive late onslaught
Grimsby Town 1-2 Northampton Town
League Two
Friday, April 2nd 2010
It's never straight forward following the Cobblers, particularly at this time of year and last night was no different as I sat perched on the edge of my seat suffering the torture that is radio commentary of a Northampton Town football game. The Cobblers somehow survived a flurry of late corners and free kicks to record what could be the most telling of all victories in the run in.
The fact that we've gone to a tough place in Blundell Park with the hosts battling and scrapping for every point on a windy Friday night with a passionate home support shows some serious mettle despite the home side being reduced to ten men for over half an hour. Grimsby will feel very hard done by and you have to feel a bit for the team who we pipped to promotion in 2006 and who are now desperately four points from safety with Cheltenham, their nearest rivals, holding two games in hand.
The Mariners had come into the game off the back of a 4-1 drubbing at leaders Rochdale but boasted home wins over promotion hopefuls Bournemouth and Shrewsbury in recent weeks. This was never going to be as straight forward as league positions would suggest.
It was, however, the Cobblers who took the lead on eighteen minutes when Liam Davis staked his claim for a new contract once again by finishing well from the left hand side. Davis is one of those looking to prove himself to Sammo and after a poor performance at Lincoln this puts him right back on track to still be with us next season.
Davis would come close again before Grimsby levelled the game and built up momentum for the second half when Michael Coulson beat Jason Steele from just inside the area to give the hosts parity for half time.
The Cobblers went close to restoring a lead when Davis once again came to within whiskers of making it 2-1 when he picked up Billy McKay's pass to slam a shot off the post.
Our cause was greatly helped a few minutes later though when Grimsby's Oliver Lancashire was given his marching orders for an elbow on Billy McKay. The game was still in the balance though with both sides looking like they could snatch the winner.
It was Sammo's men who, crucially, got the final goal of the game though when Luke Guttridge, recalled to the starting eleven, put in a good cross that Bayo Akinfenwa rose to meet and head us back in front with a quarter of the game to go.
The final ten or fifteen minutes saw Grimsby piling on the pressure and you just wanted to turn off the radio but couldn't. Corner after corner seemed to reign down on us before an injury time free kick just outside the area was dealt with. You started to think of Ryan Gilligan's late, late goal in 2006 and whether the Mariners would gain revenge but mercifully it was over following four minutes of time added on and we had a precious three points before everyone else plays this afternoon.
That's an impressive seven wins from nine away games in 2010 and promotion form indeed. It's also a welcome relief that our season wasn't seriously damaged at Easter after the last couple of years that included a damaging double defeat last season to put us closer to relegation and a defining 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at Sixfields the season before.
The Easter period has started in dramatic style and we must not keep all fingers crossed that the likes of Bury (at Notts County), Chesterfield (home to Rochdale), Aldershot (away at Macclesfield), Rotherham (home to Port Vale) and Bournemouth (home to Bradford) drop points this afternoon.
If even two of them don't win, the winnable home game with Torquay United on Monday gives us a huge chance to take another step towards the most unlikely of playoff finishes.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Mariners facing keeper crisis ahead of Cobblers visit
Grimsby Town is the next stop on the squeaky bum time tour with massive implications on both ends of the table on Friday night. The Cobblers can go temporarily fifth, for 24 hours at least, with a win at Blundell Park whilst a point would be enough to take us back into the top seven until the others catch up on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the game with first choice Nick Colgan down with a groin injury that he picked up in training on Thursday. Second choice Leigh Overton is also on the sidelines already and so Grimsby are battling hard to get in an emergency loan keeper in before the game. Hull City stopper Mark Oxley is believed to be the target for any such deal that should go through this evening.
The Cobblers have no fresh concerns but are still without our own first choice keeper with Chris Dunn still out . Kevin Thornton and Andy Holt are both missing through knee injuries but there’s plenty of food for thought for Sammo with three substitutes that impressed in the closing stages at Lincoln last weekend pushing for a starting place. Sammo has admitted that it would be harsh to despatch Billy McKay after one quiet game at Sincil Bank but Steve Guinan is chomping on the bit to get back into first team action.
There’s a fiery recent history with Grimsby of course with our last meeting in Cleethorpes ending with Ryan Gilligan’s dramatic injury time equaliser snatching promotion away from the Mariners right at the death. It’s bound to be just as nervy this time around with precious points to play for and after these two Easter games we’ll know a lot more about where we’re going to be come the end of the season.
The hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the game with first choice Nick Colgan down with a groin injury that he picked up in training on Thursday. Second choice Leigh Overton is also on the sidelines already and so Grimsby are battling hard to get in an emergency loan keeper in before the game. Hull City stopper Mark Oxley is believed to be the target for any such deal that should go through this evening.
The Cobblers have no fresh concerns but are still without our own first choice keeper with Chris Dunn still out . Kevin Thornton and Andy Holt are both missing through knee injuries but there’s plenty of food for thought for Sammo with three substitutes that impressed in the closing stages at Lincoln last weekend pushing for a starting place. Sammo has admitted that it would be harsh to despatch Billy McKay after one quiet game at Sincil Bank but Steve Guinan is chomping on the bit to get back into first team action.
There’s a fiery recent history with Grimsby of course with our last meeting in Cleethorpes ending with Ryan Gilligan’s dramatic injury time equaliser snatching promotion away from the Mariners right at the death. It’s bound to be just as nervy this time around with precious points to play for and after these two Easter games we’ll know a lot more about where we’re going to be come the end of the season.
Sammo nominated once more...
Sammo has made it three Manager of the Month nominations in a row after three wins and a draw in March for the Cobblers. The Town boss won the award in January and was one of the four nominations for February as well. He now comes into the running once again and we will find out if he's been successful on Saturday.
League Two Manager of the Month, March Nominations:
Chris Sutton - Lincoln City
Steve Cotterill - Notts County
Ian Sampson - Northampton Town
Keith Hill - Rochdale
League Two Manager of the Month, March Nominations:
Chris Sutton - Lincoln City
Steve Cotterill - Notts County
Ian Sampson - Northampton Town
Keith Hill - Rochdale
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