New era begins as Shrews come to town

Northampton Town v Shrewsbury Town
League Two
Saturday, March 5th 2011

With the shock of Sammo’s departure behind us, the Cobblers take on League Two high flyers Shrewsbury Town with new boss Gary Johnson watching on. Will we see a dramatic change in fortunes as players look to impress the new man? Or will the Shrews prove too much for a group still feeling the reverberations from the events of this week?

The visitors will be well up for it as well after a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Bury on Tuesday night that saw them overtaken by the Shakers. So both sides perhaps with a point to prove as we hit the final straight of the season.

The Cobblers will welcome back Shaun Harrad from a three game ban but Liam Davis is missing with an Achilles problem. Ryan Gilligan has returned from a loan spell at Torquay but is not eligible to play until next weekend.

Shrewsbury boss Graeme Turner has admitted that he would happily swap February's manager of the month award for three points tomorrow afternoon. He has Ian Sharps available again after a one match suspension but Sean McAllister is missing. Defender Jermaine Grandison is doubtful after collecting a knock in midweek.

So a new era begins at Sixfields tomorrow and the players will be desperate to end this winless run against one of the sides that we should be very envious of in terms of league position at the moment!


Elsewhere in League Two this weekend...

Chesterfield, who went nine points clear at the top on Tuesday night, travel to Cheltenham hoping to get their promotion band wagon rolling on. Wycombe, defeated by the Spireites on Tuesday, are at home to Aldershot and will be desperate to get back to winning ways. Bury are now in the top three and go to Hereford full of confidence after that midweek victory.

Meanwhile, Rotherham host Barnet with high value points for both sides at stake. Only goal difference separates the Millers from the top three while Barnet are two points from safety. Port Vale take on Macclesfield Town whilst Bradford begin life after Peter Taylor with a tough trip to one of his former sides, Gillingham.

The Shrimps and the Shrimpers collide at The Globe Arena with Morecambe and Southend doing battle and bottom club Stockport will be aiming to put a dent into both Oxford’s playoff hopes and the four point gap between themselves and safety.

Burton are at Crewe looking to build on the Tuesday night win that got Sammo the sack and the two sides just above the Cobblers, Lincoln and Accrington meet at Sincil Bank. And it’s eleventh v tenth as Torquay and Stevenage both try to keep up their playoff hopes.