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That Old Magic!

Preview: Northampton v Grimsby

By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 09/11/2006

AFTER an incredible week, Grimsby Town put their perilous league position aside as they make the difficult trip to Northampton for the first round of the FA Cup.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Northampton (a)


The Opposition

Overview
After relegation to the now League 2 in 2003, Northampton made a poor start to the following season and appointed Colin Calderwood as manager in the October. Calderwood transformed the club, guiding them to the play-offs in each of his first two seasons. Last season they eventually got it right and a run of 22 out of 24 points in March and April clinched automatic promoted with one game to spare. Despite promotion, Calderwood found the lure of the Nottm Forest job too high and resigned from The Cobblers in May. Northampton were quick to appoint John Gorman (left), who had parted company with Wycombe, and have made a reasonable start to life in League 1.

Thoughts of the FA Cup would usually bring excitement, but Town’s recent record leaves a lot to be desired, having won only once this century (1-0 v QPR in 03/04). Due to this poor run Town haven’t actually played a team in a division above them since they met Leeds in 97/98, and will have the unusual distinction of starting as definite underdogs. In contrast Northampton have a good recent record in the FA Cup getting to the 4th round in 2004 and the 3rd round in the last two season; they have also not exited in the first round since 99/00.

The Team
Northampton currently lie in 14th place in League 1, although this masks both a horrific home record and a superb away record. The Cobblers picked up only one point in their first six home games of the season, but have slightly turned things around with a win and two draws recently. Meanwhile, their away form is one of only two still unbeaten in League 1, with four wins and four draws. Northampton’s main problem seems to lie in scoring goals; they have averaged less than a goal a game and only two players have found the net more than once this season.

Jason Crowe left Blundell Park in the summer of 2005 after only two seasons and has become a regular at full back. Sam Aiston and James Quinn, who both turned down a move to the Mariners in the same period, joined this summer whilst the experienced Ian Taylor (ex-Aston Villa) and Eoin Jess (ex-Aberdeen) line up in midfield. Top scorer is Scott McGleish (left) with six goals, and he is normally partnered by Andy Kirk who has five.

Key Player
After eight years at Nottm Forest, Chris Doig (left) joined Northampton in 2005 becoming an integral part of their defence and playing in 38 games of last season’s success. He has started every game so far this season and helped their mean defence to concede only two goals in the last 6 games and keep 6 clean sheets in the last 9.

Recent Form

TownNorthampton
LMK Dons(h)1-3
LMansfield(a)0-3 (JPT)
DPeterborough(a)2-2
LNotts Co(h)0-2
WLincoln(a)0-0 (5-3p) (JPT)
Currently 22nd in League Two.
DBlackpool(h)1-1
WSwansea(h)1-0
DBrighton(a)1-1
DBrentford(h)0-0
DBradford(h)0-0
Currently 16th in League One.

Top Scorers

TownNorthampton
Peter Bore5
Gary Jones3
Ciaron Toner3
McGleish8
Kirk5

Team News

TownNorthampton

  • Gary Jones serves the 2nd game of his 3-match ban.

  • Andy Butler’s loan spell is due to end after the weekend, although he is a doubt with flu.

  • Tony Thorpe has completed his one-month loan spell and returned to Stevenage.
  • Winger Mitchell Cole has completed his two-month loan spell and returned to Southend.

  • Joe Burnell has been out with a virus, but should be fit for the weekend.
  • Probable Teams

    TownNorthampton
    1Phil Barnes
    20Gary Croft
    5Nick Fenton
    6Justin Whittle
    3Tom Newey
    16Danny Boshell
    8Paul Bolland
    12Ricky Ravenhill
    10Ciaran Toner
    18Peter Bore
    7Isaiah Rankin
    13Mark Bunn
    20Pedj Bojic
    4Luke Chambers
    6Chris Doig
    2Jason Crowe
    11Eoin Jess
    7Ian Taylor
    12David Hunt
    14Joe Burnell
    9Scott McGleish
    8Andy Kirk

    Subs

    TownNorthampton
    13Robert Murray
    2John McDermott
    23Nick Hegarty
    4Gary Harkins
    22Danny North
    21Chris Dunn
    23Jerome Watt
    16Sean Dyche
    28Ryan Gilligan
    22James Quinn

    Head to Head

    The Mariners have a generally even record against The Cobblers and games between the two are generally tight affairs; neither side has won by more than a single goal in the last 16 meetings.

    P 30 W 12 D 5 L 13 F 38 A 48

    Northampton Head-to-Head (53rd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    The last time Town visited Sixfields was little over a year ago when Town continued their unbeaten away start to the season by holding the home side to a goalless draw.

    Northampton0 - 0Grimsby
       

    Northampton Team: Harper, Bojic, Dyche (Bradley Johnson, 27 (Kirk, 74)), Doig, Crowe, Low (Rowson, 89), Taylor, Jess, Smith, McGleish, Mendes
    Subs (not used): Cross, Poke

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Whittle, R Jones, Newey, Cohen (Barwick, 71), Kalala, Bolland, Toner, Andrew (Reddy, 58), Gritton (G Jones, 72)
    Subs: (not used) Ramsden, Hegarty

    Attendance: 6,067  Report

    Prediction

    Town 1-1 Northampton

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

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