4,000 tickets for Ipswich tie!

After taking a hoard of fans up to Anfield, the club has acted fast to secure 4,000 tickets for Cobblers fans for the Carling Cup Fourth Round tie at Ipswich. The game won't be on TV but there shouldn't be too much of a struggle to get a ticket for this momentus occasion!

The game has been confirmed for Tuesday, October 26th at 7:45pm so over a month of hard league graft to go before then. The Tractor Boys will probably take it very seriously with Roy Keane hoping to avoid a repeat of his near embarrassment when manager of Sunderland as the Cobblers came to within a penalty shoot out of winning at the Stadium of Light.

So plenty of time to build up to this one and we should pack out Portman Road as we did Anfield!

Second half come back stuns Town

Northampton Town 1-2 Chesterfield
League Two
Tuesday, September 28th 2010

The week of celebration, jubilation and excitement is officially over! It all pointed towards a perfect end to the week when Kevin Thornton scored in the final seconds of the first half tonight but two goals in four second half minutes condemned Sammo's men to a first home defeat of the season.

The visitors went home happy despite the goals that appeared against the run of play and jump into the top three of League Two this evening. The Cobblers can now draw a line under the hype of the past seven days and try to kick on after a performance that wasn't exactly disastrous but was damaging to the resurgence that could have been continued even with a draw here.

Thorton, who had been the stand out talent once more in the first half, rounded it off in style by getting on the end of a parry from Spireites keeper Tommy Lee to nod home and give the Cobblers the lead.

But it all came crashing down in dramatic style as Chesterfield hit back with twenty minutes to go. First, Dean Morgan fired home following a corner and then Craig Davies completely stunned Sixfields and sent the small band of visiting fans home delighted with their night's work.

It's been a mad, mad week and there's so much more to come...we're only at the end of September, still in the Carling Cup and despite a poorish league position there's plenty of good signs so far.

We've got a long road ahead yet!

What a difference a week makes!

Northampton Town 2-0 Bradford City
League Two
Saturday, September 25th 2010

We could have been forgiven for using excuses in this one. But after Wednesday and the strains on the players’ bodies and minds from Anfield it was surprising to see a completely unchanged side take to the field at Sixfields. The heroes of Liverpool were given a terrific welcome and against a fresh Bradford side there was every chance of a tough afternoon.

But another fine performance, arguably the best in the league so far this season, resulted in a victory that continued the feel good atmosphere around the club ahead of another home game, this time against Chesterfield, on Tuesday night.

Billy McKay was involved in the first Cobblers attack yesterday and as he pulled the ball back to Michael Jacobs, the youngster was brought down. Kevin Thornton stepped up for the free kick and hit the top of the bar to set the tone for the afternoon. Bradford offered little and playing with a defender as an emergency striker was always going to stifle an attacking game.

So it was well deserved when the Cobblers did take the lead in the second half with Ben Tozer sending a high ball forward, Andy Holt flicking on and Billy McKay finishing with a low shot under the keeper. Tozer would go on to score on his home debut to wrap up the points after having the favour returned by McKay to stab home the second goal.

Bradford were another side to come for a point but as with Southend a couple of weeks ago we had enough to record a vital three points. Home form is massive in League Two and if we can get another result against high flying Chesterfield on Tuesday night it would make it would round off the perfect seven days.

This time last week we were drowning our sorrows after losing out at Shrewsbury and going to Anfield with trepidation. Amazing what can happen in football!

Ipswich reward for Cup exploits

Roy Keane will be loving this one...the Cobblers have been paired with Keane's Ipswich Town in Round Four of the Carling Cup. The Irishman was in charge of Sunderland when the Cobblers came so close to recording an upset in the same competition at the Stadium of Light a couple of seasons back and we will reacquaint ourselves at the end of October.

It was bound to be a smaller game then Anfield and Ipswich might well see it as a chance to get to the Quarter Finals but we have to believe that we have every chance with what we've done so far.

The game will take place in the week beginning October 25th so plenty of time to bask in the glory of Anfield still!

Back to the league with Bradford's visit...

Northampton Town v Bradford City
League Two
Saturday, September 25th 2010

So how on earth do we approach this one then? I’m trying to put myself in the players’ shoes ahead of the Bradford game and I reckon I’d be excited to take to the field again but also feeling nervous with the anticipation of trying to replicate the form on Wednesday. I’m pretty sure that we can’t come close to that performance again but what we can do is pass the ball as well and show just as much passion and fight. If we do that we’ll be fine! The problem’s going to be getting the minds back on the job and you often see teams that cause upsets beaten in the following league game.

With another home game, against Chesterfield, coming up on Tuesday and more than a few knocks hanging around from Anfield there could be a bit of reshuffling in the pack. Ben Tozer will surely get his league debut though with Dean Beckwith still missing but there could be late decisions on the likes of John Johnson who was withdrawn before the end of ninety minutes.

Bradford have had a similar start to the season to the Cobblers with seven points from seven games seeing them once again start slowly after being touted as favourites for promotion. The Bantams did pick up all three points last weekend though with a 1-0 success over Gillingham at Valley Parade. Steve Williams headed home the deciding goal in stoppage time with former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie pulling the strings after coming off the bench.

Hendrie will be pushing for a start tomorrow and if he starts, former Cobblers left back Robbie Threlfall will battle Luke O’Brien for a place at full back with O’Brien playing in midfield in recent weeks. Meanwhile, City will be without captain Simon Ramsden who needs to see a specialist about his calf injury. The game comes too soon for Michael Flynn who misses out with a groin strain.

The Cobblers will play a special radio tribute to the Liverpool game before kick off tomorrow and if we are half as inspired as we were at Anfield then we really don’t have much to worry about! After the Lord Major’s Show? Let’s hope not…

Lap it up!

So how many newspapers have you bought? In my possession already are copies of the Chron, Sun, Guardian and Express. All tell the same tale of a Liverpool side in disarray but thankfully the majority of the reports pay homage to the Cobblers as well. One thing is for sure, however many times you read about last night, whatever the angle, the score remains the same and I could read it every day for the rest of my life and not get bored!

The full extent of what we’ve achieved is just hitting home and the coverage we’re getting is well deserved. I still don’t believe what happened and it’s only with highlights and photos that it’s fully sinking in.

On that note, if you get the chance to, don’t pass up the opportunity to see some behind the scenes action on Cobblers Player...the videos, recorded on a hand held camera last night by Craig Hinton, are brilliant and a real insight into the players’ banter pre and post match. It’s well worth the £4 a month just to see this and the full highlights that should appear soon!

Keep on revelling in this one...we can drain this out a big longer I reckon. Hope you’re all enjoying it as much as I am!

The Greatest Night

Liverpool 2-2 Northampton Town (Cobblers win 4-2 on penalties)
Carling Cup Third Round
Tuesday, September 22nd 2010


The Carling Cup. “Meaningless”. “For the reserves”. A “Mickey mouse” cup. Just some of the descriptions of this competition over the years as fans of Premier League sides consoled themselves by saying that it isn’t that important anyway. But I can tell you now – after witnessing last night’s game first hand – that the Carling Cup deserves a hell of a lot more credit than just being seen as the playground for the second strings of our Premier League neighbours.

I usually have feelings ahead of the game when I know that something special is about to happen. I had it pre Rotherham, pre Mansfield and pre Bristol Rovers so when those feelings didn’t return ahead of this game, despite the sun beaming down on Sixfields, I thought that was that and it would just be a case of enjoying the trip to Anfield. Of course, there were other reasons for a bout of pessimism about the result in that Liverpool are one of the most world renowned clubs in the world, let along England, boast a clutch of internationals even in their reserves and have home advantage to boot. No-one could predict what was about to happen. Those that did, did so with a smile and a tongue very much in cheek. What unfolded in the following few hours will become folklore in the history of Northampton Town Football Club.

Jamie accompanied me on this trip to Anfield along with my Dad and we’d started the day in fine fashion by taking part in a tour of Wembley Stadium – the venue for the final of course. A ninety minute gander at the home of English football is highly recommended if you get the chance and provided a perfect start to the perfect day.

Onwards to the coach north then from Sixfields and after a small delay we were off and with the weather darkening as the journey went on we knew that it would be a good backdrop for a potential upset with rain teaming down. But still our threats to sneak a win against Liverpool seemed empty and overly optimistic when we really should have been concentrating on winning a corner first!

Arriving at Anfield in good time, we found our seats, very handily placed in Row 7 of the Anfield Road end, and looking around it appeared that the Claret faithful had taken up the full length of the stand behind the goal. The atmosphere kicked in, the army began to gather their voices, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” greeted the players on to the pitch and the Cobblers would be attacking the Kop in the first half. Never in my life did I expect to be writing that!

Liverpool had named a decent side with £12 million Dutch striker Ryan Babbel partnering Daid Ngog up front and former Rangers defender Danny Wilson handed a debut. The Cobblers lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Leon McKenzie missing and Billy McKay handed the thankless task of leading the line on his own.

It didn’t take long for the script to begin to unfold as expected. Despite a good start from the Town, Milan Jovanovic got on the end of a through ball from Daniel Agger to finish very well past Chris Dunn. In League Two, that would have been a half chance – on this occasion it was a straight forward opportunity that the man signed on a free transfer in the summer was only too happy to accept.

This was the point when Liverpool got a bit cocky. They should have continued to pick us apart. We expected a drubbing following that start but slowly realised that we actually did have a chance here. Kevin Thornton tested Brad Jones and a soaring header from Michael Jacobs flew over the bar as we began to give the home side something to think about.

Jacobs was so very close to an equaliser on the half hour mark with a curling shot that only just went wide. We were turning the tide – Liverpool didn’t want this half as much as we did. The Cobblers were showing real grit and doing every single simple thing right combined with a terrific work ethic and spirit. It was only 1-0 at half-time and we were damn sure still in this one. The next goal would be vital and my goodness did we take the roof off when it came our way.

A few minutes before the hour mark, Liam Davis clipped in a cross, Kevin Thornton got a nod down and Billy McKay rifled the ball into the net. To say that the massed claret faithful went barmy is a huge understatement. We had scored a goal at Anfield, we had levelled the game at Anfield. I don’t think I was the only one with a tear forming in my eyes and I’m not afraid to say it. It wouldn’t be the last of the night!

Unbelievably the Cobblers turned the tide and were now on top and frantically looking for the winner. Thornton had a twice taken free kick blocked in what could have been a replica of John Frain’s moment of glory in ’97 and we were BATTERING them. Holty threw long throw after long throw into the ‘Pool area and crosses flashed in that just needed a touch but the ball stayed out of the net for now.

Sammo sensed extra time and made all three of his substitutions in quick succession. McKay was out on his feet and was replaced by Stevie G (Mr Guinan earning the nickname for the night in the absence of the Liverpool captain!), John Johnson was injured towards the end of ninety minutes and Nathanial Wedderburn took his place while Courtney Herbert took over on the right wing for Paul Rodgers.

We saw the time out, ninety minutes was up and unbelievably the Cobblers had taken Liverpool to extra time on their own patch. Not only that but we were fully deserving of it...no luck, no freak goal and no complaints from the home support who were just as stunned as we were.

The first half of extra time was spent on the edge of our seats. Nails were already bitten off. The shaking in our bones was not because of the cold but of nervous excitement. We were hanging on. Until...

Nine minutes in to extra time we had a rare attack. Herbert appeared to run with, and lose, the ball on the right before battling back, coming away with it and somehow getting a cross in at the Kop End. Thornton forced Jones into a save but there was nothing that could be done when 17-year-old Michael Jacobs slammed the ball home to make it 2-1! A moment so early in this young lad’s career to savour and one that will live with us all as we took the lead at Anfield. The scenes were barmy...grown men hugged random strangers, claret clad supporters leaped for joy whatever their age and when it had all settled down heads were shaking in disbelief.

We held out for half time in extra time. We dared to dream. That was when the cramps kicked in. Cobblers players left, right and centre were on their knees in the second half. Thornton was pushed up front because he was out on his feet, most of them were playing out of position and it was only a matter of time before the equaliser. Lucas and Jay Spearing tested our nerves before the inevitable when Ngog actually did something of note and nodded in at the back post to break Town hearts.

Now we had to somehow get through to penalties, right? Well yes, but why not have a go! God only knows how we managed to attack, let alone have the ball cleared off the line twice in an extraordinary finish. Liverpool came back at us and Liam Davis came up with a goal saving header that had hearts in mouths. But we made it. All the way through to penalties against one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Incredible and whatever happened next wouldn’t matter too much. We had given every ounce of energy and deserved this.

The spot kicks would be taken in front of The Kop and Guinan skied the first one to delight the home fans but it was level pegging again soon when Ngog put his wide. Thornton and Liverpool sub Jonjo Shelvey both scored, as did Davis and Agger. Jacobs stepped up to make it 3-2, a monumental effort from the youngster to show such nerve. And then it happened. Nathan Eccleston hit the bar! It was up for grabs now, as someone once said! All Abdul Osman had to do was score with one kick of the football to make history for the Cobblers. We held our breathe. It took an age for it to happen. But happen it did. Osman SCORED and Northampton Town Football Club collectively went absolutely barmy!

Board members, staff, management, players and supporters were united in a moment for the ages. A moment unmatchable and unbelievable in this day and age. The riches of the Premier League had been upset by a club with heart, players with a sheer will to win and a support that had been waiting for a moment like this through all the trips to Carlisle, Yeovil, Rochdale and Morecambe, through years of “Cobblers” jokes and through nights of despair when we questioned why we do it.

This is why we stay so loyal. Because once in a blue moon, something incredible happens.

I’ve never been more proud of a group of players. Young players with nothing to lose, experienced pros, in particular the phenomenal Andy Holt, and players rebuilding their careers. Of a manager that has a reward for years of loyalty to a League Two club. And of a town where I was born. Not a glamorous town, not a magnificent town. But my town. My Club.

Now, think again...is the Carling Cup really that worthless?

Tozer signs ahead of Anfield date

Phew...we have a defender! After Dean Beckwith was ruled out and Seb Harris had a mare it didn't look like we'd have a recognised centre back in place for Liverpool but fear ye not...arriving today was Ben Tozer from Newcastle to steady the ship and join the Cobblers on loan for a month.

Tozer began his career at Plymouth and joined Newcastle, via Swindon, in January 2008. Making his debut in a Carling Cup match against Peterborough last season, he went on to make his league debut later in the campaign.

Sammo tried to lure him in last season but has now finally got his man...for a month at least. Funny how a trip to Anfield changes things!

Deserved defeat ahead of Anfield trip

Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, September 18th 2010


The general consensus from the hardy souls that travelled to Shrewsbury from Northampton on Saturday was that if we play anything like that at Anfield on Wednesday then our big night out will only be remembered for a heavy defeat and a little embarrassment.

It appears that in a year, since a 3-0 drubbing on the same ground in Sammo’s early days as manager, we’ve not learned a whole lot and despite a fine free kick from Kevin Thornton that briefly threatened to turn the game we’re not much better off than we were back then.

Thornton had equalised Matt Harrold’s opener in which Seb Harris, in defence in place of the injured Dean Beckwith, couldn’t do enough and the American was withdrawn before the interval with Paul Rodgers coming off the bench. It may be a long time before we see Harris in the back four again after he lasted just 35 minutes.

The second half saw a controversial goal turn the tide back towards the home side. John Johnson appeared to be fouled but there was neither a flag nor a whistle and Jake Robinson strode through to make it 2-1. Robinson made it three a few minutes later and our best effort was a Leon McKenzie disallowed effort.

Worrying times then ahead of a long, hard winter and you can’t use any excuses about Anfield being on the players’ minds because you have to earn your place and if Sammo had the resources he could well have been justified in giving others a go on Wednesday night. But as it is we don’t have a big enough squad to do that and if we’re to forget this first defeat in the league since the opening day we’re going to have to give blood and guts at the home of one of the most historic clubs in the world.

The squad’s looking thin, the winter’s setting in and there’s a long road ahead – we need more spirit than this on Wednesday otherwise we’re in for a hiding!

Play for you places!

Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, September 18th 2010

Time to play for your Anfield places will surely be the message from Sammo tomorrow afternoon as we travel to joint league leaders Shrewsbury Town. With the first win of the season under our belt we can finally look forward and with the trip to Anfield looming the players should be well up for the trip to the New Meadow.

Last season Sammo, in one of his first games in charge, saw his side go down 3-0 at the Meadow and this one will see how far we’ve come in the twelve months since.

The Shrews will be without Benjamin Van Den Broek with an ankle injury sustained in a reserve game against Preston North End keeping him out for up to eight weeks.

Marcus Hall is still likely to be missing for the Cobblers but Ryan Gilligan should play through the pain once more. I expect to see Kevin Thornton get a nod in midfield as well with the enigmatic former Coventry man putting in an excellent shift against Southend.

With six wins from nine games this season, Shrewsbury are going to be a massively tough opponent but with confidence growing in camp Cobblers we have every chance of springing a surprise!

Gilligan playing through the pain to help the cause

Ryan Gilligan has never been one to shun his duties and has made a u-turn on his decision to have surgery on his injured ankle and has instead decided to play through the pain. He played 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Southend on Saturday and will continue to put himself up for selection with Sammo all too happy to include him.

Refreshing to see a player want to continue to play in these circumstances, with the 'easy' option being to opt for surgery and collect a pay packet. So hats off to Gilly for a sign of wanting to play for our football club!

Liverpool tickets on General Sale

The remaining 2,500 tickets for Liverpool went on General Sale this morning so we should be looking at around 5,000 Town fans making the trip in just over a week. The opening hours for the ticket office are below with queues expected to be steady between now and close of play on Friday:

Ticket Office Opening Hours

Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-8pm
Friday: 10am-5pm

Cobblers recover to claim first league win

Northampton Town 2-1 Southend United
League Two
Saturday, September 11th 2010


The first win of the season - a mini mile stone in any teams’ season. Whether it be on the opening day or four months into the campaign, the same amount of relief can be exhaled on gaining that vital first three points. Indeed we have already seen off higher league opposition this season but to get the first win of the league campaign is a vital landmark and to do it having been behind makes it that much sweeter.

Southend United are happy just to have a club, let alone a win under their belts, but under Paul Sturrock there’s a sense that they can still deliver a promotion chasing campaign this time out. Add to that a dismal recent record against the Shrimpers and you get a tough afternoon at Sixfields – something that this definitely was.

Particularly after Anthony Grant had given the visitors a second half lead with a well taken volley did this look like another winless week for the Cobblers and it was only when Kevin Thornton replaced Paul Rodgers in midfield that we really got going.

Leon McKenzie was another to put in a fine shift on his debut and it was the former Posh man that did enough to set up Abdul Osman for the equaliser – a fifth draw in a row now getting ever nearer with Osman’s decent finish beyond Glenn Morris in the Southend goal. Game on!

The Cobblers grew in confidence and with a strong 5,700 crowd urging those three points home, Andy Holt stooped with fifteen minutes to go to nod home a Michael Jacobs corner. It was a header that Sammo himself would have been proud of and with the game there to cling on to we appeared to settle more and more. Osman hit the post from a Johnson cross but Southend had faded and threatened little in another four minutes of added time.

The first win of the season – nice isn’t it!

Leon to be handed debut against Shrimpers

Northampton Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, September 11th 2010

It’s the game that everyone wanted tickets for to be able to get a place at Anfield so it sounds like a near capacity crowd is expected tomorrow afternoon for the visit of Southend. Sammo could hand Leon McKenzie a debut but depending on the new signings’ match fitness he could be more likely to be handed a place on the bench.

Still searching for the first league win of the season, the Cobblers need to recover from the dramatic late equaliser by Aldershot last week but come up against a Southend side that are improving in times of uncertainty. The Shrimpers’ fans will be grateful just to have a team this season and under new manager Paul Sturrock are slowly turning the corner.

The visitors, who could recall Barry Corr for the game and also have Peter Gilbert in their ranks after his move from the Cobblers in the summer, have won back to back league games and handed Torquay their first defeat of the season last weekend in a 2-1 win at Roots Hall.

So with a big crowd and a big atmosphere there’s plenty to get the juices flowing tomorrow and hopefully those illusive three points will be in the bag by 4:50pm!

McKenzie signs!

What’s this? A former Posh man coming through the door of Sixfields? Why, yes, it’s Leon McKenzie, signed this morning to hopefully fill a void up front. The former Boro and Norwich man, 32, has put pen to paper on a contract until the end of the season having been released by Charlton Athletic at the end of last season.

He’s been training with the club this week and Sammo has seen enough to convince himself that he is a short term answer to the current hole in the attack.

McKenzie will be forgiven for his former misdemeanours down the road should he fire the Cobblers up the League Two table and it’s a decent shout by the Town boss in terms of goal scoring ability at this level, with a tally of 49 goals in 103 games for the Posh.

It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in at Sixfields and gets an early chance to impress the home fans this Saturday against Southend.

Anfield tickets on sale tomorrow!

Let the scramble commence! Tomorrow morning sees the first batch of Liverpool tickets going on sale to Season ticket holders and Members and Sixfields box office is gearing up for a large amount of queues as Town fans rush to pick up one of the 3,000 initial batch of tickets.

Should the above wish to buy a Southend ticket at the same time, this will entitle them to one extra Liverpool ticket and this should ensure a bumper crowd for Saturday’s game with the Shrimpers – one that we really need to be winning to kick start a season that’s seen us draw four and lose one of the opening five games.

For a full list of FAQ’s regarding the game and ticket policy, see www.ntfc.co.uk

Rumour Mill: Moonwalker on his way...?

No, it's not a Michael Jackson miracle uprising, but the latest goings on in the rumour mill link former Tranmere and Brighton strike Bas Savage with a move to Sixfields. Apparently on trial at Sixfields, Savage has always been a thorn in our side and strutted his stuff in front of the south stand on a couple of occasions with his Moonwalk celebration.

With Sammo hoping to bring in a striker or two in the not to distant future with free agents or loans, Savage could well be one of the targets.

First win so close but Shots steal a point

Aldershot Town 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, September 4th 2010


We came so very close. Close to claiming the first three points of the season and close to kick starting the league campaign. It felt good to be back on the terraces for my first game of the season but it was a tough prospect and a game that I would have taken a point from before the game. But by the end of 95 minutes it still didn’t cushion the blow of the one second that hammered any hopes away from Aldershot’s Ben Harding.

It had been a backs to the walls second half, no doubt about it as Billy McKay’s splendidly taken opener constantly under threat of being cancelled out by the home team who woke up after half time. It was a throw back to the Atkins era where the Cobblers made it to the playoff final on the back of plenty of performances like this one.

As disappointing as what happened at the end was, it’s still worth noting that we got that far in the first place. McKay and the hard working but still not quite anything to write home about Steve Guinan had led the line well and I was very impressed by Nathanial Wedderburn in the middle of the pitch. At the back, Andy Holt and Dean Beckwith were outstanding for the most part and they will be the most crushed by the late, late equaliser.

We were literally out on our feet by the end as the defence collapsed with the rippling net in front of the away support, signalling the end of our hopes of taking home the win. As I said though, Aldershot deserved this point at the least for hammering us in the second half and the “EBB Stadium” won’t be a happy hunting ground for many of our League Two rivals this season.

All in all it was a response that Sammo needed after the midweek JPT disaster at Hartlepool and we need to build on this next weekend in the home game with Southend United at Sixfields. The Cobblers boss has hinted at a couple of new faces by then but understandably wants to keep these targets as quiet as possible.

On this performance, we’re nearly there. There appears to be a fine work ethic and spirit in the camp and there’s signs that we can certainly challenge if consistency becomes a friend to one or two like Michael Jacobs and Paul Rodgers. Rodgers played wide right yesterday and was one of the driving forces in the first half whilst Jacobs did well to set up the goal but faded in the second half when the Cobblers were focusing on keeping that lead.

Unfortunately it wasn’t possible but there’s hope there yet. We’re neither here nor there at the moment but it’s not a disaster – something that we can be very grateful for!

So good to be back...a good couple of pints pre-game in the friendly local that Town fans took over, an old fashioned terrace, good atmosphere and the Cobblers taking the lead only to let it slip with the last kick...nothing really changes does it?!

Stand up and be counted, boys!

Aldershot Town v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, September 4th 2010


In a week in which we learned of dreadful injury news involving Tadhg Purcell, Ryan Gilligan and Marcus Hall, we now face a trip to Aldershot with the daunting task of coming home with our first win of the season. Sammo is really being tested and it’s a massive challenge to get the fit players tuned up and to get some new faces in that will take us back to the levels needed to challenge.

It’s perhaps a blessing in disguise that some expectations will drop a little lower for tomorrow afternoon and you could even call Aldershot the favourites as they look to cement a place in the top seven. We need mettle, determination and a great deal of spirit…and that’s just as fans!

The Shots unbeaten in Legaue Two so far and have the opposite problem to the Cobblers in that they have players pushing for a starting place after a strong showing in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Oxford in the week. One of those is serial Cobblers annoyance Damian Spencer who always seems to score against us. With two in the last two games, Spencer is battling for a chance to start. Meanwhile, Wade Small and Danny Hylton are also putting pressure on the starting eleven.

With Hall, Gilligan and Purcell ruled out, the good news comes in goal as Chris Dunn returned to fitness in mid-week and he’ll be looking to oust loan keeper Oscar Jansson from his final game with the club before returning to Spurs. Paul Rodgers should slot in at left back with Steve Guinan and Billy McKay keeping their places up front.

It’s my first game of the season tomorrow so fingers crossed the Town have been waiting for me to return…Keep the faith with whoever turns out in claret and let’s bring home the points from North Hampshire!

TRIPLE injury blow...Purcell out for the season!!

Oh dear...things have gone a bit wrong injury wise.

STRIKE ONE! The news coming through this morning is that Tadhg Purcell, after making only a clutch of substitute appearances since joining in pre-season, is now going to be out for the entire season!

STRIKE TWO! Ryan Gilligan needs an operation on his ankle and will be missing until Christmas time.

STRIKE THREE! Marcus Hall has a hamstring injury and is out for a month.

Sammo is now frantically on the chase for new blood, particularly up front where we needed someone new even before the Purcell blow, so it looks like we’re in the Market for two new forwards. Gilligan’s energy will be sorely missed but we at least have decent cover with the likes of Thornton, Wedderburn, Osman etc who can fill in. Paul Rodgers will be coming in at left back with Charlie Death his back up.

Worrying times then as we head for Aldershot on Saturday, one of the toughest away games in the league, without three key players.

The Cobblers boss has said that funds for wages are available because of the cup run so fingers crossed there are still some loans and freebies to be had. Start the hunt Sammo!