Club record close as Town go to the Sea side!

Southend United v NorthamptoN Town
League Two
Saturday, February 26th 2011

It’s a rather dubious club record that the Cobblers could match tomorrow. Should the game at Southend end with a sixth consecutive draw we will level the number gained in the 1983/94 season. As I said earlier in the week, a point at Southend wouldn’t usually be considered a poor result particularly with them on such good form but something needs to click into place to get us those much wanted three.

Leon McKenzie is again a doubt after missing out on the Tuesday night draw at Hereford while Shaun Harrad sits out the second of a three game ban that also means he misses the game against former club Burton Albion on Tuesday night. Abdul Osman does return after his three game suspension and should go straight back into the side and Francis Laurent could face the side he left in the summer.

Southend skipper Craig Easton has said this week that his side’s season really starts with Saturday’s game against the Cobblers. The hosts moved up to ninth, just one point off the playoffs, on Tuesday night with a home win over Barnet and will be favourites to extend their recent good run.

Lee Sawyer returned to action for the Shrimpers on Tuesday night after a year out of action. Rebuilding his fitness playing part time for Woking, Sawyer is now back in Football League action and should keep his place for the Cobblers’ visit. Miguel Comminges was another to make his first appearance of the season in the same game but his place in the side could come under pressure from fit again youngster Kane Ferdinand.

So will one point turn into three…or zero?! You never can tell these days but we should just keep the faith and hopefully with the pressure more on Southend we can get something from a very tough game indeed.


Around League Two this weekend...

Bradford manager Peter Taylor will leave the club following his side’s home game against fellow strugglers Stockport County on Saturday. The former Leicester boss has seen his side slump to 21st in the league and it was revealed yesterday that his reign will end after tomorrow’s game. County can close the gap on the Bantams from six to three points with a win at Valley Parade.

Barnet are also looking to escape the bottom two having played plenty more games than their rivals and they host Lincoln City at Underhill. There are implications at both ends of the table as Burton welcome Rotherham and leaders Chesterfield host Morecambe. Wycombe, who went back up to second on Tuesday night, go to Macclesfield and third placed Shrewsbury are at home to seventh placed Gillingham. The Gills are four points behind their hosts and will see this as an ideal chance to close that gap.

Elsewhere, Bury face Crewe at Gigg Lane whilst Port Vale are at Aldershot and Oxford, with now just goal difference separating them from the playoffs, take on Hereford at the Kassam. Meanwhile, two sides just above the Cobblers, Stevenage and Cheltenham, go head to head at Broadhall Way and Accrington Stanley are at home to Torquay.

Should they stay or should they go?

There’s a chance that by the start of next season, Cobblers fans will be watching an entirely new side with no less than eleven players out on contract in the summer. Sammo has indicated that most will be playing for their futures at the club over the next few weeks so who should we offer new deals to and who are surplus to requirements? Unfortunately looking at the list shows that most are big players and with the likes of Josh Walker and Ben Tozer ending their loan spells come May it’ll be a nervy time to be a Town fan!

Here’s my views on the guys out of contract:

Chris Dunn...tough one fro Dunny. He’s not entirely consistent but can pull off some moments of quality on his day. Having come through the youth system behind Mark Bunn he’s not hit the same levels but has kept us in one or two games. Is that enough though? Personally I think it could be time to look into other options and for a keeper wanting first team football it could mean the end of the road and a fresh challenge. VERDICT: Let go

Abdul Osman...we’ve all seen how much we miss Osman in the last couple of games so he’s one we need to tie down. Sammo will be desperate to keep his spine in tact and Osman is a key part of that. VERDICT: Keep

Liam Davis...Davis has been attracting scouts from sides at a higher level but hasn’t seemed to get a really good run in the side for various reasons this term. Given a full pre-season and a good formation that we stick to though and he can still have a major role to play. Verdict: Keep

Craig Hinton...out on loan at the moment with his highlight for the Cobblers this season being his fantastic camera and interview skills on the Liverpool “Behind the Scenes” videos that appeared on the official website post match! Seems a good character for the dressing room but is that enough with wages needing to be freed up? Sorry Craig! Verdict: Get rid

Billy McKay...Another tough one. Billy gives everything to his game and doesn’t get the plaudits a lot of the time. I still feel he has a lot to give to us and not just as a substitute to Leon and Harrad for his menacing of defenders and decent goal scoring touch. Verdict: Keep

Leon McKenzie...The goal ratio speaks for itself and we have to just hope that Leon is settled and wants to stick around. A promising partnership with Shaun Harrad is already forming and when both fit and one their form could be one of the best partnerships in the league. Verdict: Keep

Kevin Thornton...Ah, the enigma that is! In and out of the side this season and a real luxury when he’s on his game. Thornton was tipped to be the star of the season but injuries have been cruel to the former Coventry man. Still, Sammo seems to have turned him around and there’s no doubt that we need to keep hold. Verdict: Keep

Marcus Hall...Brought in as a quick fire replacement for Peter Gilbert, Hall has been as consistent as his predecessor at left back. Should stay, and I don’t see any reason why he won’t. Verdict: Keep

Francis Laurent...I’ve not actually seen Laurent play yet but he’s another who appears to need his fitness back before he can get going. Hence the problem with mid-season deals like this one where the player isn’t 100% and always playing catch up. It would only be down to the players’ attitude to his return to form that would be needed to get Sammo on board for a longer deal. Verdict: A tentative Keep

Paul Rodgers...With John Johnson coming in it’s been tough for Rodgers to break into the first team squad but he’s certainly a player that can be useful in many positions so for that reason alone we should hold on to him. Verdict: Keep

Dean Beckwith...Not the quickest of defenders and one prone to the odd error but he’s formed a good partnership with Ben Tozer. Assuming Tozer doesn’t come back we will need Beckwith in tact for continuity. Verdict: Keep

So basically I’m keeping nine out of eleven based on where we are at the moment and assuming that there’s not going to be a miraculous playoff chasing end to the season. Let me know your thoughts either way! Continuity is needed as mentioned but attitudes, discipline and the like are also required so that we can show the undoubted quality that this side has.

The beauty of mediocrity

Hereford 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Tuesday, February 23rd 2011

Ok so it’s five draws in a row now, five points from a possibly fifteen and another instance where we have thrown away a lead. Sammo called it a must win game, as did many of the Town supporters headed for Edgar Street last night. The cause wasn’t helped by Ben Tozer joining Leon McKenzie, Abdul Osman and Shaun Harrad on the “unavailable” list and a spine of a side that desperately needed three points was gone before we’d even kicked a ball. Add to that Josh Walker going off during the game and it was a decent enough showing on the face of it to earn our latest single point.


That’s the first of many positives that we have to look at to save ourselves from going clinically insane at the amount of times we help out those still doing the ppools. Andy Holt was again emplotyed in a more advanced role and he nodded us in front a couple of minutes after half time before the inevitable equaliser. The home side can justify a point after having a goal disallowed and after Chris Dunn had pulled off a fine double save earlier in the contest. Wade Fairhurst nodded them level and the Cobblers went home with a draw once again.

Extending this run to six wouldn’t be greatly received but any other time in the season a draw at Southend, our next fixture on Saturday, would be a decent result! It’s the fine line in football at times like this where one pass, mistimed tackle or moment of genius can turn one point into that sought after three and patience is very much needed. Earlier in the season when we lost five in a row we would have been chomping at the bit for five points so now we need to hope that another little run is started where the corner is turned.

It’s a frustratingly slow time for the club and the fans but sensibility is required. Unfortunately it’s not looking like anything will come from this season but when you look down at Stockport and Barnet you have to understand that these draws are keeping us away from danger of not only relegation but an absolute disaster. It’s a testing time, but cliché it might be, it could be a whole lot worse.


Elsewhere in League Two last night...

Deane Smalley was the match winner for leaders Chesterfield at Bradford and the Spireites extended their lead at the top to nine points. Wycombe moved back to second after thumping Burton Albion 4-1 but Port Vale were halted after a surprise home defeat to Stevenage, who are now back in the top half of the table.

Cheltenham came from two goals down to draw with Torquay at Whaddon Road after Wes Thomas scrambled home a late equaliser. Meanwhile, Southend go above Torquay after their victory over Barnet. Defeat for them leaves them bottom having bow played the same amount of games as Stockport. Burton are a point above the drop zone but still have six games in hand whilst Bradford are five points better off with one game in hand.

Macclesfield moved above Morecambe by beating them 2-0 with former Cobbler Chris McCrady netting an own goal but the game of the night came at Accrington where Stanley beat Crewe 3-2 thanks to a winner fifteen minutes from time Sean McConville.

Cobblers enter “Must Win” territory at Hereford

Northampton Town v Hereford United
League Two
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011



It’s getting to the stage where we need three points rather than one and victory at Edgar Street this evening is required not only to get away from a run of four straight draws but to boost a confidence that’s slowly dripping away from the Cobblers players.


After four leads were squandered in the past seven days we need to go into tonight with the aim of blowing away a team that came back from, not one, but three goals down to beat us at Sixfields earlier this season. That day will still be right in the back of the Cobblers’ players minds on the coach and that needs to be the motivation.


We’ll, of course, be missing Shaun Harrad through suspension whilst Abdul Osman sits out the final game of this three game ban. Leon McKenize is only rated at 50/50 so Sammo has hinted at a more advanced role for one of Andy Holt, Francis Laurent or Kevin Thornton to play behind Billy McKay.


Hereford have been on fire since Jamie Pitman took charge and that win at Sixfields was just the start as the Bulls pulled themselves away from the bottom two. They’ve lost just once in their ten league games in 2011 to ease relegation worries. A goalless draw at home to Burton at the weekend kept them above the Brewers and they’ll be full of confidence going into this one.


They are also hit with a suspension for an influential player with captain Jonas Kovacs seeing red at the weekend so he will miss out this evening. Harry Pell will face a late fitness test after a slight knock in the same game but other than that Pitman has a full squad to choose from.




Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

With two of the top three not in action it’s a big chance for Wycombe to get back on track in their game in hand. They host Burton Albion who are still lingering around the bottom of the table following their multiple postponements and cup run. Port Vale can strengthen their position with victory over Stevenage at Vale Park while Torquay, four points of the top seven, go to Cheltenham, still smarting from the last minute equaliser from Barnet on Saturday.


Chesterfield went eight points clear at the weekend and travel to Bradford hoping to gain extra momentum in their promotion bid. At the other end, Maccelsfield and Morecambe are both in dire need of the points when they meet at Moss Rose. Barnet can come off the bottom if they win at Southend and Accrington host Crewe after their fine win at Wycombe on Saturday.

Spireites stretch lead...Macc hammer County...Shock win for Stanley...

Chesterfield extended their lead at the top of League Two to eight points on Saturday with a first win in six games at in form Lincoln. Craig Davis netted the first before a late header from Dean Holden wrapped up the points. Their lead was opened up because of the postponement of the big game of the day at the Don Valley with Rotherham and Shrewsbury having to rearrange due to a waterlogged pitch. They remain in third and second respectively though because of Wycombe’s surprise defeat at home to Accrington Stanley. That was the Chairboys’ third loss in a row and the chasing pack had the chance to close in.

Gillingham and Bury are both amongst that pack but they could only get a point apiece in a 1-1 draw at The Priestfield. Ryan Lowe equalised for The Shakers after Curtis Weston had opened the scoring. Port Vale saw off Bradford on Friday night and moved up to sixth thanks to two goals from on loan Rotherham striker and life long Vale fan Tom Pope.

Oxford are on the brinks of the playoffs now after an impressive 3-0 win at Morecambe with Asa Hall scoring twice. The U’s are now only goal difference away from the top seven as they look for successive promotions. Two form sides, Torquay and Southend, drew at Plainmoor and are both four points from the playoffs themselves.

Crewe slip to eleventh following a home defeat to Stevenage Borough with a Scott Laird goal enough at Gresty Road.

At the bottom, Barnet grabbed a late, late goal to deny Cheltenham victory at Whaddon Road. Wes Thomas looked to have give the Town side a first win at home since December but Joe Devera earned a point in stoppage time. Stockport took the lead at home to neighbours Macclesfield but then collapsed to a 4-1 defeat with Hamza BenCherif rounding off a dismal day for County. Hereford and Burton, both still in trouble, played out a goalless draw with both sides reduced to ten men – Russell Penn and Jonas Kovacs given their marching orders.

Harrad off as Cobblers draw again

Northampton Town 1-1 Aldershot
League Two
Saturday, February 19th 2011

I’m getting a bit sick of Aldershot. Last season we were denied by two goals in the last few minutes at their place and then Kevin Thornton was sent off in a 3-0 defeat at Sixfields. Then, back in early September it was a stoppage time equaliser that denied us at the EBB Stadium. We needed some reprieve yesterday but again the Shots would deny us in the later stages of the game once more. To go along with that, Shaun Harrad faces a ban after being sent off for an off the ball incident. The bid to end four straight draws won’t get any easier without the star transfer window signing.

With the Cobblers throwing away a lead three times on Tuesday night against Morecambe it was nerves to blame according to Sammo as we once again contrived to turn three points into one.

Nathaniel Wedderburn came in for Liam Davis in the Cobblers’ only change from Tuesday with a sturdier midfield the order of the day. With a heavy pitch, it was tough going and it was no surprise that the opening goal was a good old goalmouth scramble that Ben Tozer managed to take a hold of and fire us into the lead on eighteen minutes.

Wade Small should have levelled for the Shots a few minutes later but Chris Dunn made a good save with Small one on one with the Cobblers stopper. A tame effort from range from Michael Jacobs and a header wide from Leon McKenzie were all we could conjure up before the break but there was indeed plenty of nerves after the fight backs from Morecambe in midweek.

We would again have our fears realised in the second half with Danny Hylton firing a warning shot in the early stages and Alex Rodman denied by Tozer. But there was an equaliser with around twelve minutes to play when Peter Vincenti found space at the back post and fired past Dunn.

Harrad’s incident came off the ball and off the camera but there doesn’t seem a lot of defence for the Cobblers striker. Despite the sending off, we could well have won it late on when good work from Billy McKay found substitute Andy Holt on the left and his delivery, flicked on by McKay, created a chance for Josh Walker but his shot was saved by Jamie Young.

Wedderburn had to clear off the line at the other end in a frantic finish but for two draw specialists of recent weeks it was no real surprise that it ended 1-1. It’s on to Hereford on Tuesday night now and what’s looking like a must win game if we’re to get back on target. The top seven is looking further and further away by the game!

3 points the target as Shots come to town

Northampton Town v Aldershot
League Two
Saturday, February 19th 2011

The Cobblers aim to forget about one late equaliser and avenge another tomorrow afternoon as Aldershot are in town. Morecambe’s leveller with a couple of minutes to spare needs to be put on the back burner now whilst we’re still hoping for revenge for that stoppage time goal that earned the Shots a point in our game down at the EBB Stadium back in September.

Town will once again be without Abdul Osman and Kevin Thornton has said that he’s willing to play anywhere along the midfield line if it means getting a game – enthusiasm that’s very much needed at the moment. Apart from the Osman suspension there’s nothing new to report injury wise but Sammo has indicated that he may well have one or two changes in mind.

Aldershot are another team who need to turn draws into victories so will be just as desperate to claim all three points. Jack Rendall has suffered his second broken leg of the season and is out long term whilst Anthony Straker and Damian Spencer are both out on loan. Promising youngster Jermaine McGlashan is the only minor doubt other than that but he should at least make it onto the bench.

Plenty to focus on as we head into a vital few days once again and with consistency the key for both sides it could be another entertaining/nervy ninety minutes!

Also in League Two this weekend...

This evening, Port Vale look to get an early advantage over their playoff chasing rivals when they host Bradford at Vale Park. The Bantams recorded a first win in seven on Tuesday night by beating Wycombe and will be praying that this is the beginning of the corner being turned.

Third play Second in a crunch game on Saturday with Rotherham welcoming Shrewsbury to the Don Valley. The Shrews are just a point above the hosts going into the game and that should be a belter of a game. Top club Chesterfield will be looking for a first win in six games but it won’t be easy at Lincoln who are absolutely flying if you discount the home defeat to Shrewsbury a couple of weeks back.

Meanwhile, Wycombe can guarantee themselves a place back in the top three with all three points against Accrington at Adams Park and sixth plays fifth with Bury’s trip to Gillingham – both sides scrambling for points in the top seven.

Just as vital games at the bottom and Stockport can overtake opponents Macclesfield with victory over them at Edgeley Park. Barnet have slipped to the bottom of the table in recent weeks and go to Cheltenham hoping for a change of fortune. Burton still have plenty of games in hand but will still want to come away with something from Hereford whilst Morecambe, on the brink of the relegation scrap play Oxford, on the brink of the playoffs.

Crewe are still around the upper echelons of the league and will need to see off Stevenage if they’re to get back in the playoff mix. And Torquay, on the back of three straight league wins, host Southend who had a stunning 3-2 win over Wycombe in the week.

Midfield enforcer role needs some back up

It was clear that the Cobblers were missing their midfield rock on Tuesday night and the old saying of “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” came into play as we went for an attacking midfield foursome of Thornton, Jacobs, Walker and Davis. It was good to see super Kev back in the fold but the middle of the park was open, with a high scoring draw the result.

All four of the players selected are of the mindset of creating something from nothing, winning the game and heading for the opposition goal rather than their own. The suspension of Osman showed up a lack of depth in the position known as the “enforcer” role.

During the League One relegation campaign a couple of seasons back I was the first to say that Osman was below par, not showing any signs of caring about the plight but to his immense credit the former Gretna man has stepped up to the plate to become one of the biggest assets at the club. Those assets are now becoming clearer now he’s out of the side and Sammo now face a decision on how to approach Aldershot on Saturday, a team still gagging to impress new boss Dean Holdsworth.

It could mean bringing Nathaniel Wedderburn back in whilst you could put forward a case for Andy Holt as well for a crunch game in which we can’t really afford to drop points. Battle, rather than guile, could well be the order of the day…it might mean a scrappy 1-0 win but at this point we’re in real need of points on the board if the loftiest of ambitions are to come to fruition.

Another chance goes begging as goals fly again

Northampton Town 3-3 Morcambe
League Two
Tuesday, February 15th 2011

Sixfields is quickly becoming the place to be on Tuesday nights with another six goals flying in on the hallowed turf last night. Unfortunately this time the goals were equally shared and the performance was off form enough for Morecambe to grab a deserved point from a game that they could have nicked right at the death after coming from behind three times.

For them it was a fine point, an excellent night of entertainment and you can hardly begrudge the 39 loyal souls that populated the East stand in support of the visitors. The South Stand was closed in anticipation of a small away following but the ones who did turn up were treated to a fine performance from their side and will be wholly more appreciative of the point than the Cobblers fans who trudged home at the end of a poor evening for them.

The fact that Morecambe recovered three times was frustrating enough but the dropping of points, so nearly all three after scorer of the third for them, Paul Mullin, missed a good chance at the end, is the overlying annoyance from the evening. If we’d have held on to a 3-2 lead handed to us by a Leon McKenzie penalty with twenty minutes to go and we would have been in the top half this morning. But Mullin’s equaliser following a game that swung both ways meant that the negatives were highlighted more than the fact that we found the net three times.

Before that late drama, there was seemingly a goal with each attack. An early headed finish from the returning John Johnson got the ball rolling before Kevan Hurst equalised via a couple of harsh deflections. Kevin Thornton, another back in the starting line-up, tapped in the third goal of the game after excellent work from McKenzie but Jimmy Spencer pegged us back once again for 2-2 to set up that finale.

Sammo called it “the worst we’ve played in months” and fans’ tweets, Facebook and forum messages seem to all agree this morning! It was clear that Abdul Osman was sorely missed with the presence of the midfielder leaving a real hole in midfield. It’s something we need to solve before Saturday’s visit of Aldershot – a team that certainly won’t give us any breathing space in there, particularly now they’re led by former Crazy Gang survivor Dean Holdsworth.

There follows another Tuesday night game, away this time at Hereford, and we need to look for at least 4 points from those two now. It feels like defeat writing like this but to many it’s as bad as. Shame to say it but we’ve once again let a chance go begging.

Elsewhere in League Two last night...

Southend and Wycombe played out an absolute belter at Roots Hall with the home side in a game that saw two penalties and five goals, two in the last couple of minutes. Craig Easton thought he had cost his side all three points when he conceded an 89th minute spot kick that Wycombe’s Scott Rendell converted, this after Blair Sturrock had missed one for the home side, but he then popped up to score the winner in stoppage time!

That meant Wycombe made no ground on Chesterfield who drew at fifth placed Bury with had Ryan Lowe to thank again for earning them a share of the spoils. Chesterfield’s Deane Smalley was later sent off in that one. Meanwhile, Rotherham beat Accrington Stanley 2-0 to move back into the top three at the expense of Wycombe.

Lincoln came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Aldershot while Stevenage and Oxford drew 0-0 at Broadhall Way. Torquay moved back up to tenth in the table following a single goal victory over Burton Albion with the Gulls recording a third league win in a row thanks to Chris Robertson.

Osman ban stands for tonight

he red card shown to Abdul Osman on Saturday WILL stand and the midfielder will serve a three game ban starting with tonight’s game at home to Morecambe. Sammo had hoped that an appeal would be successful but this time the decision stands and we will be without Osman for the game tonight along with the visit of Aldershot on Saturday and the trip to Hereford next Tuesday night.

So a reshuffle needed tonight then and it’s likely to mean a place for Kevin Thornton in the first eleven with Michael Jacobs possibly slotting in the middle of the park. The presence of Osman will be sorely missed in the next few games though and we’ll certainly need to adapt the style a tad in midfield to accommodate his replacements. Jacobs and Thornton are more craft than muscle and it’ll be interesting to see if that means a slight adjustment to tactics for the coming fixtures.

Top half once again in sight as Morecambe visit...

Northampton Town v Morecambe
League Two
Tuesday, February 15th 2011

Another midweek feast tonight as Morecambe travel to Sixfields and the Cobblers aim to move further into the upper mid-table bracket. The Shrimps are without a win in six games heading into tonight and were beaten 2-0 at Lincoln at the weekend to leave them hovering just above the pack at the wrong end of the table.

A victory tonight would, in fact, take the Cobblers into the top half should Lincoln fail to pick up all three points in their game due to Cheltenham not being in action. The Robins have played two games more than Town so it’s a huge incentive for collecting three points.

Sammo is waiting on news from Abdul Osman’s appeal and that will affect the Cobblers boss’ thinking ahead of the game. Nathanial Wedderburn is doubtful after picking up a knock on Saturday but Kevin Thornton is back in contention along with Liam Davis so there’s plenty of options to go with should those two not make it. John Johnson is definitely out but he’s back in training so could return soon.

Morecambe re-signed striker Danny Carlton this week but the former Bury man won’t be available this evening. Chris Shuker will also be missing with a hamstring injury but Andy Holdsworth returns from an illness and should play some part. Laurence Wilson will also be back in the fold after missing Saturday’s game due to the birth of his baby.

So can we take that leap into the top half of League Two? I’ve asked that question endless times in the last few weeks and it’s a big chance again to do it this time. Psychologically we need to be up there if we’re to eye the playoffs because time is running out!

Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

The big game of the evening comes at Gigg Lane with Bury hosting leaders Chesterfield. The Spireites were beaten at Burton on Friday night but only Shrewsbury of the chasing pack took advantage so it was a slight reprieve. Even so, they will be desperate to recover from what is now a four game winless streak at one of their promotion rivals. Bury suffered a surprise defeat at Stockport so will also be wanting to return to the form that’s seen them hold down a place in the top seven in the last few weeks.

Wycombe lost at Bradford to slip to third and face another tricky away game tonight at Southend. Victory will lift the Chairboys back up there but Southend are fresh following the postponement of their weekend game at Accrington. Stanley are away to Rotherham this evening with the Millers another side of the promotion chasing pack to suffer defeat at the weekend at Oxford.

Burton stunned the footballing world by playing a game on Friday night and won it so they will hope to play again tonight at Torquay. The Brewers escaped the bottom two with that victory and left Barnet and Stockport both looking at desperate situations having played a few games more than their competitors in the race to beat the drop. One of those was Lincoln a few weeks ago but the Imps have powered their way up the league with Steve Tilson leading the charge. They attempt to keep up their fine run with a trip to Aldershot this evening. And there’s a battle of two playoff chasing clubs with Stevenage welcoming Oxford to Broadhall Way.

Osman red contested

The Cobblers will, for the second time this season, appeal against Abdul Osman's red card against Port Vale. The challenge on Doug Loft on Saturday led to Osman getting a second straight red against Vale but Town will appeal, as they did successfully back in November.

The club appear to have a decent point with the ball changing direction during the challenge indicating that Osman won the ball and we will learn of the results of the appeal on Tuesday afternoon before the evening's meeting with Morecambe at Sixfields.

Valiant effort from ten man Cobblers

Port Vale 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, February 12th 2011

There was a familiar feel to Saturday’s draw at Port Vale with the Cobblers grinding out an impressive point after Abdul Osman saw red contentiously. This result was just as impressive, then, as the one that almost mirrored it back in November. The only difference in the score line was that both sides found the net this time around and this one shades the November ’10 version for the fight back from a goal down and for a general performance that could easily have seen us collect all three points.

That was particularly after a first half in which the Cobblers dominated and with Leon McKenzie back in the starting line-up, the front line looked dangerous. Nothing against the unlucky and gutsy Billy McKay but when McKenzie and Harrad are together it looks like one of the most impressive front lines in the division.

It was Harrad making the early running and Vale keeper Chris Martin, keeping his place in front of Stuart Tomlinson, had to beat away his decent attempt in the first quarter. That was after Josh Walker had seen his long range effort tipped over in a good start for Sammo’s men.

The Cobblers had to battle hard though and at the other end a combination of Dean Beckwith and Chris Dunn denied Jay O’Shea just before half time.

The second half brought the drama though, with the home side recovering well from a subdued first 45 by their standards to take the lead. Paul Rodgers was a little unlucky to see his challenge on Tom Pope result in a spot kick and Justin Richards sent Dunn the wrong way to give Vale hope of closing in on the top three once again.

But McKenzie was on a mission and just a few minutes later we were level when Andy Holt and Marcus Hall combined with the latter providing an inviting cross for the Town striker to nod home and set up what should have been a competitive last half an hour.

Indeed it was the Cobblers who came closest soon after the equaliser with Harrad so unlucky not to notch his second goal for the club when he rattled the bar. But the tide was turned when Osman’s challenge on Doug Loft was deemed a sending off offence and Vale would once more have the chance to take us on with an extra man.

Josh Walker had to head the ball off the line before the end and we had to endure a fair bit of pressure but once again held out for a decent result in one of those games where you begin talks in the pub with “I would have taken a point before the game…”

So we still can’t break into the top half but it’s four games unbeaten and going into a couple of home games we’re in decent shape…now for the next step up!

Cobblers hit the road for toughie at Vale

Port Vale v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, February 12th 2011

With plenty of home games littering the early part of 2011, the Cobblers hit the road tomorrow in a tough outing at Port Vale. Last season saw us put in one of the performances of the season at Vale Park as Sammo’s men won 3-1 and this time out we’ll need to match that if we’re to get anything from a team whose fortunes have started to turn again in the last couple of games.

Struggling initially under new boss Jim Gannon, following Mickey Adams’ departure to Sheffield United, Vale have beaten Rotherham and drawn with Wycombe in the last two games and confidence is starting to pour back into the side ahead of the Cobblers’ visit.

Vale’s Chris Martin looks set to keep his place in goal despite the return of number one keeper Stuart Tomlinson from a hip injury. Martin, the first choice last season, has impressed in the last couple of games and should remain in his place tomorrow. Skipper Gareth Owen will definitely miss the game though and although his ankle injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as first suspected he will still be missing for at least a month.

John Johnson’s medial ligament injury could well keep him out of the game while Andy Holt is another major doubt. Leon McKenzie wasn’t fit enough to start against Barnet but could come back into the starting line-up whilst there was better news this week with both Liam Davis and Kevin Thornton returning to training. Both could play some part at Vale Park.

With the Cobblers hoping to chase down the playoff places, there’s no better team to beat than the one in seventh place going into the weekend…Vale, and the gap between us, are the targets on the claret radar…

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

League Leaders Chesterfield kick things off tonight as they visit a Burton Albion side who just want to play a game of football! Victory for the Brewers will take them out of the bottom two but their higher flying neighbours want to end a run of three draws in a row and extend their lead at the top before the rest of us get going on Saturday.

Any slip ups by the Spireites will give Wycombe the chance to close the gap when they visit Bradford and Shrewsbury, back in the top three after that thumping of Lincoln in midweek, will also be hoping to keep the pressure on as they host Stevenage. Shrews boss Graham Turner has insisted this week that his side can still go on to win the title.

Bury, who have hit seven goals in the last two games, visit rock bottom Stockport aiming for a fourth straight win. Fourth placed Rotherham face a trip to Oxford after slipping out of the top three in the week with defeat at Gillingham. The Gills go to Crewe on Saturday in a big game in terms of the playoff places.

Barnet need points quickly and host Torquay in an attempt to put more distance between themselves and the drop zone. The Gulls had a first win in five games on Tuesday night when they beat Stevenage and have turned their attention back to a playoff place after returning to the top half of the table. Lincoln will hope to be rid of any hangovers from the 5-1 defeat to Shrewsbury when they welcome Morecambe to Sincil Bank and Macclesfield visit Aldershot with the threat of relegation still well and truly hanging over the Silkmen’s heads.

Hereford are also looking to pull clear of the bottom two and travel to Cheltenham with the Robins coming in off the back of a decent draw at Morecambe. Meanwhile, Southend, whose winning run was ended last weekend, attempt to get back on track with an away game at Accrington.

Gilligan joins Gulls on month loan

With the loan window back open again, Ryan Gilligan has flown the Sixfields net this afternoon and joined League Two rivals Torquay United on a one month loan deal. Gilligan's place in the team is under threat with the arrival of Josh Walker and the return to fitness of Kevin Thornton and he's decided to make a loan move to get first team football.

Gilligan has made over 200 appearances for the club and joins the Devon club with a view to a longer deal until the end of the season.

Let Toon be a lesson!

Watching Match of the Day this past weekend I was astounded by the few Geordie folk that got up and left St James’ Park after just half an hour. Their team were 4-0 down to Arsenal but still I was totally surprised to see that some home fans felt enough was enough and headed for the pub to drown their sorrows in “Newcy Brown” or to sit in a darkened room watching re-runs from the 1996-97 season. Surely, if any team was going to come back it was Newcastle. Yet for a couple of “fans” the faith had long gone, along with the pony tailed wonder that is Andy Carroll, south.

It took me back many a year to when the Cobblers were 5-1 down at Bournemouth on a cold evening (I think it was a Friday night game) and having gone down to ten men we had totally collapsed on the south coast. Duncan Spedding had been give his marching orders, presumably for trying to tackle with his right foot rather than his overly favoured left, and the Cobblers fell to a shocking result.

The point is that I never once thought about following some of the Town fans, and there were more than a couple, back to the buses in protest. I honestly don’t see the reasoning of leaving a game before the end and even though nine times out of ten you will end up on the losing side, there’s a once in a blue moon chance that something like the extraordinary scenes at St James’ will happen.

It takes me also to a bizarre moment at Sixfields when the Cobblers were 3-0 down to high flying Carlisle with Michael Bridges running the show. They were top of the league and we were fighting for a playoff place so it was a big night but the sheer quality of the visitors was too much and streams of Town fans had had enough. That was, to me, even less acceptable to the guys at Bournemouth – here was a game that we were likely to be given a real going over in and 15 minutes from time we had a half full stadium. “Loyal Supporters” chanted the remaining couple of thousand, and that’s exactly what we were, and still are.

There was a great story on the radio, after the game at St James’, of a young lad whose Dad said, with the score of Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal, that he was so confident that Newcastle, would lose that his insistent son who was begging him to stay at the game would get £500 of his own money if they fought back. That’s his season ticket paid for next season and it’s well earned!

I do hope that the rumours were true of Toon stewards being told not to let anyone back in at the weekend – those that did get up and go will be deservedly sick for a long time that they missed a truly incredible and seminal 45 minutes in the history of the English Premier League. There’s plenty more of you around as well who have stood up in disgust at a performance and got up to go at two or three goals down…maybe this will be a learning curve to you all…stay loyal, stay in the ground and for the love of the game get behind your team!

Shrews stun Imps to go into top three...

It was a night of more top quality entertainment in League Two last night with Shrewsbury the big winners, not only for their 5-1 demolition of Lincoln’s recent winning streak but for the fact that it took them into the top three once again. Lionel Ainsworth notched a thirteen minute hat-trick in the first half as the visitors ran riot, scoring all of their goals before the break.

Meanwhile, Cody McDonald was in the mood once again for Gillingham who recorded a hugely important 3-1 win over Rotherham at the Priestfield. That lifts the Gills up to sixth and means that Port Vale are now in the final playoff position ahead of the Cobblers’ visit this weekend – a huge incentive to close the gap at Vale Park for Sammo’s men.

Bury consolidated their position in the playoffs with a comfortable home win over Stevenage, leading scorer Ryan Lowe rounding off the scoring in a 3-0 success. At the wrong end of the table, Hereford conceded a last minute equaliser against fellow strugglers Macclesfield as the two relegation threatened clubs fought out a 2-2 draw. A point apiece for Morecambe and Aldershot at Christie Park won’t do either side too much good but the Shots, coming from behind, will be the happier to come away with a result.

Lots more action to come over the weekend and more and more midweek fixtures are set as the next few months take shape…exciting times in the basement!

Vital midweek action in League Two...

There’s a clutch of League Two action this evening with one or two big games in hand taking place that could change the course of certain teams’ seasons. Burton Albion, strangely, aren’t involved and could well be playing until November at this rate after their weekend game at Bury was postponed leaving them well behind.

The big game of the night comes at the Priestfield where Gillingham will be looking to go just two points behind Rotherham in the battle for a top three place. Bury can also take advantage of any clip ups when they host Stevenage. There’s just as big a game down at the bottom as Hereford face another six pointer. Following defeat against Lincoln on Saturday, it’s vital that they get a result at home to Macclesfield.

Lincoln themselves will be gunning for a sixth straight league win when they play fourth placed Shrewsbury. The Shrews can go into the top three with a win combined with victory for Gillingham against Rotherham. Elsewhere, Morecambe host Aldershot as both sides bid to escape the clutches of the bottom few sides.

So an important night, the first of many catch-up midweek fixture lists for League Two following a winter of quiet thanks to the snow and ice.

Stale mate after the show

Morthampton Town 0-0 Barnet
League Two
Saturday, February 5th 2010

It was all too inevitable...after the mauling of Crewe on Tuesday night there was an expectant crowd baying for the blood of Barnet at Sixfields at the weekend. But unfortunately football has a way of biting you in the backside and bringing you right back down to earth. Let’s face it, if anyone was going to do it, it was our friends from Underhill, a constant pain in the backside for many a year ever since Barry Fry was seen dancing down the touchline like the original Jose Mourinho that he was/arguably still is.

It was also typical for the Cobblers, on a day of high drama and goals in the top four divisions of English football, to produce one of only two 0-0 draws in those leagues over the entire weekend! High winds were apparently to blame for a lack of entertainment but there’s more to it than that and we have to learn to keep momentum going. Having said that, four points from two games is still progress and though the tide isn’t turning as quick as we urgently need it to if we’re to make the playoffs, it’s still a lot better results wise.

Barnet will put a higher value on the result than we will but even though the point means that they have escaped the bottom two thanks to Burton having yet another game postponed the Bees face an uphill task to stay up. Most sides above them and around them have three or four games in hand and the draws need to turn into wins if the club are to remain a football league club for another season.

There were three changes for Sammo to work around for the game with Leon McKenzie and Andy Holt only making it to the bench while John Johnson missed out completely. Paul Rodgers returned at right back, Billy McKay came in up front after his goal in midweek and Francis Laurent started for the second time since joining in the transfer window. The alterations to a successful line-up from Tuesday can’t have been the best start for Sammo and he would ideally, I’m sure, have wanted to stick to the same eleven that began against Crewe.

It took until the mid-way point of the first half for the Cobblers to get the grips with the game with Josh Walker curling wide from a free kick. But it was the visitors who were pressing hardest and Marcus Hall twice had to clear the ball off the line before Mark Marshall tested Chris Dunn and forced him into a decent save.

Shaun Harrad went close to a second goal for the club but couldn’t round keeper Jake Cole and was also denied a penalty shout late in the half. The frustration continued after the break with Billy McKay heading against the cross bar from a Rodgers cross and then seeing another effort saved well by Cole.

McKenzie did see some action for the last fifteen minutes but he couldn’t turn the tide and we had to settle for a point. It’s still seven points from three games as we go into Port Vale and a big step up in terms of a challenge. It’ll be a huge test at Vale Park with their form beginning to turn with four points taken from two games against fellow promotion chasers in the last week.

Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

Port Vale pulled off a fine result in a 1-1 draw at Wycombe and that means the hosts couldn’t make the most of Chesterfield’s third successive draw. The league leaders had to come from behind to score a late leveller once again and again it was Deane Smalley rescuing a point against Aldershot. Rotherham did take advantage though and saw off Crewe 3-1 at the Don Valley with Adam Le Fondre and Ryan Taylor doing the damage with late goals there.

Gillingham shared the only other 0-0 draw in England’s top four divisions as they were held by Oxford at the Priestfield but Shrewsbury ended Southend’s winning run with a 2-0 success at Roots Hall. Jon Taylor opened the scoring before Matt Harrold sealed the victory in Essex to lift the Shrews into fourth place.

Burton, as mentioned, are in the bottom two, after another postponement but Stockport fell victim to Torquay’s first win in five games to remain rock bottom. Macclesfield’s game at home to Bradford was postponed while Lincoln won a huge game at Hereford 1-0 with Delroy Facey netting the only goal of the game and a fifth league win in a row for the Imps who are up to fifteenth.

In a dramatic finish at Stevenage, Accrington scored twice in the final two minutes to earn a 2-2 draw with Terry Gornell and Andrew Proctor completing an unlikely fight back. Cheltenham remain just inside the top half following a 1-1 draw at Morecambe.

Barnet next for confident Cobblers

It’s perhaps the worst fixture to have after thumping a team in fourth place 62. Barnet at home, following that result, will be seen by many as another hammering waiting to happen which is exactly why we should tread with caution in a game that we’re now more than expected to win. With the carrot, once again, dangling of the top half we need to put Tuesday to bed but take on the confidence gained to battle Barnet as if they’re as big a hurdle as Crewe were. So I guess what I’m saying is we should be confident but not overly so. Simple, right?!

I think I’d rather be playing Chesterfield than Barnet this weekend as odd as that sounds and the added ingredient that Barnet have become a bogey side for us of late adds to the potential for a tighter game than some will hope for. I very much hope I’m proven wrong but give me a 1-0 scrappy win to get us into the top half any day of the week!

Barnet come into the game half fresh (“fre-?”) after their game with Aldershot on Tuesday night was abandoned at half-time due to fog. The Cobblers won’t have wanted their own game to end on the same night that saw six different goal scorers and plenty of stepping up to the plate occurring. Josh Walker was running the show by all accounts and the rest of the Town squad lifted their games as competition for places increases.

Walker should certainly keep his place for this one but there’s doubt over John Johnson, Andy Holt and Leon McKenzie with all three suffering the effects of the midweek clash. If McKenzie doesn’t make it, Billy McKay will come in whilst Paul Rodgers should fill in at right back should Johnson not play.

Barnet, who this week released midfielder Glenn Poole after just eleven appearances for the club, are still without long term absentees Daniel Leach and Darren Dennehy but have no fresh injury worries. Steve Kabba could return, at least to the bench, after sitting out for a month with a knee injuryStand in manager Paul Fairclough gave his players a day off following the Aldershot half-game on Tuesday night and says that his team are “refreshed” after their rest.

In League Two this weekend...

The big game of the day comes at Adams Park as second placed, and in form, Wycombe meet fellow promotion chasers Port Vale. Vale picked up their first win under new boss Jim Gannon on Tuesday night against another side gunning for the top three in Rotherham so they’re back in form just in time for a tasty encounter in Buckinghamshire. Chesterfield may start to look over their shoulder soon and despite being five points clear have let their lead slip in the last week with draws at Bradford and Stockport. They’ll be hoping for a maximum haul this time out at home to Aldershot.

Crewe will hope to bounce back from their Tuesday night hammering as they visit third placed Rotherham in another big game at the top. Bury have been creeping ever nearer the top three in the last couple of weeks and host Burton knowing that three points could lift them into the automatic places.

At the bottom, there’s an important meeting of two sides that are moving away from the drop zone in Hereford and Lincoln as they collide at Edgar Street while Torquay welcome rock bottom Stockport who should be buoyed by the midweek draw with Chesterfield.

Gillingham and Oxford do battle at the Priestfield with both sides clinging on to the tails of the playoffs in recent weeks and Southend, on a run of four wins in five games, play Shrewsbury. Under pressure Bradford boss Peter Taylor takes his side to Macclesfield knowing that only a win will do to appease an expectant City following.

Meanwhile, Stevenage are back in league action this week and they host Accrington Stanley. Finally, Morecambe play Cheltenham with home debuts expected for new signings Andy Holdsworth and Kevan Hurst.

League Two Midweek Round Up

Well Crewe showed “discipline” despite their 6-2 mauling at Sixfields according to Dario Gradi! Not sure about that but the result meant that The Alex slipped from fourth to sixth in League Two last night. The Cobblers’ win took them up to thirteenth ahead of the Barnet game this weekend – the strugglers having their game at Aldershot abandoned at half time last night due to fog.

Stockport almost pulled off the league shock of the season by taking the lead at home to leaders Chesterfield but couldn’t hold on to a lead handed to them by Paul Turnbull as Dean Smalley netted an equaliser for the Spireites. That meant that Wycombe closed the gap to five points with a home win over Cheltenham thanks to Ben Strevens and veteran Gareth Ainsworth. Port Vale got back to winning ways with a crucial single goal victory over third placed Rotherham, a first win in charge for new boss Jim Gannon.

Bury had the best of a six goal encounter at Moss Rose, winning 4-2 to climb above Crewe into fourth. The Shakers were 3-0 up at one point and survived a fight back from Macclesfield to add a forth through Ryan Lowe. Shrewsbury cemented their place in the top seven with a comfortable home win against Burton. Meanwhile, Stevenage scored a late equaliser to deny Gillingham the win at Broadhall Way and Southend picked up am important three points to move above their opponents Oxford.

Bradford are now six games without a win after falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Lincoln at Valley Parade but it was Hereford who came up with the performance of the night, winning 3-1 at Torquay to send the Gulls into the bottom half of the table and help themselves to go three points clear of the bottom two. Finally, in a mid-table clash to end all mid-table clashes, Accrington and Morecambe shared a 1-1 draw!

Crewe hit for six!

Northampton Town 6-2 Crewe Alexandra
League Two
Tuesday, February 1st 2011

There aren’t many nights like this at Sixfields these days. A game that promised goals still managed to stun the Sixfields crowd in that most of the eight were ours on an incredible evening of football that saw Shaun Harrad net a debut goal and the Cobblers score five goals for the first time in two years.

In fact, the last time we scored five goals in a game was in a 5-1 win over Crewe on January 24th 2009 and there was a debut goal fest on that occasion as well with loan man Billy Clarke netting a hat-trick in that particular hammering. Harrad didn’t quite make that much of a quick start but the one he did get along with the general performance was encouraging enough on a breathless night.

The final result here meant that the Cobblers and Crewe have now shared 29 goals in their last six meetings so it was no surprise when there was early action. It will seem an age ago to the visitors but they did take the lead in the first few minutes of the game. Ajay Leitch-Smith grabbed his opportunity in the absence of top scorer Clayton Donaldson and slotted the ball past Dunn to put his side into the lead.

But Harrad wouldn’t take long to put his marker on the game and after being set up by Leon McKenzie and that was the start of a rout that just doesn’t happen to us! It did tonight...and it was Michael Jacobs that completely turned the game around just a few minutes later with a well taken free kick into the corner of the net.

Then came the turning point, just before half-time. Dean Beckwith was adjudged by the linesman to have fouled Shaun Miller in the area but Ashley Westwood saw his spot kick saved by Chris Dunn. The Cobblers would go up the other end and make it 3-1 before the half was up. Josh Walker, also making his (second) debut, swung in a corner that Dean Beckwith met with a fine header to send us into half-time with a bit of comfort.

If that was comfort though, then within a few minutes of the restart we were in jogging bottoms on the sofa in front of a warm fire. Andy Holt made it four and quickly afterwards Abdul Osman put the game well and truly beyond any doubt with a fifth.

Everyone needed the breather that followed but there was simply no letting up and substitute Billy McKay made it 6-1 (free Wham bar for anyone who can remember when we scored six goals in a game last?!). by capitalising on a defensive error. There was time for another one for Crewe but starting and ending the scoring in this game won’t give the Railwaymen any pleasure at all. Antoni Sarcevic was the scorer, a cracker from distance, with his first goal in the football league but the Cobblers took all the glory this evening.

I can’t remember a game like it and what a debut game for Harrad and Walker. If they need any reassurance in signing their deals then they don’t any more!

Whilst one game does not make a season, I’m just going to enjoy this for a few days and go and take a breath.

Big night at Sixfields as Harrad makes bow

Northampton Town v Crewe Alexandra
League Two
Tuesday, February 1st 2011

It’s one of those nights that you just want to be at. For the first time in quite a while there’s a real air of anticipation for a game at Sixfields with the arrival of both a Crewe side in fine form and scoring plenty of goals and of Shaun Harrad who will make what now seems a long awaited debut since joining a couple of weeks ago from Burton Albion.

The sense is that it should be a belter of a game with the free flowing nature of the visitors and the intriguing new strike force that looks odds on to see Leon McKenzie partner Harrad up front. A week and a half of extra training should see Francis Laurent get a better shot at things as well as he tries to better his tired looking 45 minutes of football against Oxford United. Josh Walker is another who could get a second debut for Town tonight and it’ll be interesting to see how Sammo lines up with the new faces.

Crewe’s game against Accrington was called off at the weekend so they’ll also come in pretty fresh. Clayton Donaldson is a big miss for them as her begins a suspension for his sending off last Tuesday night. The ten men held on in that one though and recorded a 2-1 win against Bradford to momentarily move into the top three. Rotherham’s weekend victory, though, means that they slipped back to fourth with that postponement.

Byron Moore is a doubt for tonight with Dario Gradi citing “personal problems” as a reason for his possible exclusion. Rhys Taylor should return in goal after suspension but the game comes too soon for David Artell

So a big night in store at Sixfields and a pivotal moment in the season in terms of which way we turn. With our positioning in almost exactly mid-table points wise it’s vital to continue this run of home games with a positive show against a confident Crewe outfit.

Elsewhere in League Two this evening...

There’s implications at both ends of the table at Edgeley Park as bottom club Stockport host top of the league Chesterfield. Barnet are in deep trouble again having also played four games more than their relegation rivals and they need to claw back ground at Aldershot. Hereford and Burton are just above the drop zone and face tough trips to Torquay and Shrewsbury respectively.

At the top, Wycombe welcome Cheltenham to Adams Park while Rotherham, who moved back into the top three at the weekend, go to out of form Port Vale who have slipped down to sixth in recent weeks. Bury play their third evening game in a row as they go to Macclesfield having earned four points from two Friday night games in the last two weeks.

Stevenage will be trying to close the gap on Gillingham in their bid for a playoff berth as they play the Gills at Broadhall Way and fellow hopefuls Southend and Oxford meet at Roots Hall. Meanwhile Bradford look to build on their draw with Chesterfield at the weekend in a meeting with Lincoln.