JPT hopes ended in second half blitz!

Hartlepool United 4-0 Northampton Town
Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round
Tuesday, August 31st 2010

Well it was all going fine until half-time and the Cobblers could possibly smell another small cup upset but despite Chris Dunn returning in goal, we shipped four goals in nine minutes to crash out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this evening and you have to feel for the very small band of Cobblers fans that must now make their way back down south after a bruising defeat.

Hartlepool were beaten 5-0 at Victoria Park by Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend but they weren't messing about tonight as goals from Evan Horwood, Peter Sweeney, Andy Monkhouse and Dennis Behan wrapped up the victory.

The only good points of note were the returns of Dunn and also of Liam Davis, a second half substitute for Courtney Herbert but that's clutching at straws now so we'll call this one off I think!

A big, big well done to any Town fans that went to the game this evening...you do the club proud!

No deadline day news...

So no new signings have arrived today despite a strange text to the bbc ticker service informing the world that we'd "signed ex-Trinidad and Tobago international Gavin Lewis on a one-year deal!". After a couple of minutes research it appeared that Gavin Lewis is, in fact, a Northampton Borough Council street football project officer.

Either we're really clutching at straws or someone was bored with all the messages claiming to have seen Robbie Keane in Nandos in Glasgow or Peter Crouch arriving at the Nou Camp.

Anyway, no need to panic with plenty of freebies still out there in the football abyss...time now for some Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round fun! Should be a lot more low key than last Tuesday...

Wednesday, September 23rd...

...is the big date that's been set for the fixture a lot of us have never seen and thought would never see. Liverpool v Northampton Town in the Carling Cup with all the usual benefits for season ticket holders including the fun addition of the chance to bring along a friend. That friend would have to be a paying customer at the Southend home game whilst further priority will go to 2010/11 Members.

The fact that Liverpool face minnows Manchester United on the Sunday before the big game is probably part of the reason for the Wednesday schedule with kick off set for 8pm at Anfield for the Cobblers' visit.

Still seems like a big joke this!

Anfield calling but Cobblers still drawing...

Northampton Town 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers
League Two
Saturday, August 28th 2010

Yesterday morning at around 12:45pm I got a phone call whilst preparing for a work football tournament from Jamie, who was keeping me up to date with the Carling Cup draw. He sounded solemn, and I was preparing for the news of Brentford away. Cue his sudden change of mood as he screamed that "we're going to Anfield!"...the emotions that this provides are unmatchable and I'm going to have to beg, steal and borrow to get to Liverpool in a month or so because we really won't get an opportunity like this in the near future!

I could imagine a celebrating Sixfields' Tavern / supporters bar at the ground as the Town fans tried to turn their minds to the afternoon's game with Wycombe.

Tadhg Purcell started the game but didn't last until half time, taken off worryingly on a stretcher and despite Sammo playing down the injury after the game it doesn't look like he'll be back too soon.

Wycombe took the advantage just after the half hour mark when Dean Beckwith handled the ball just outside the area and Andy Sandall drove home into the top corner, leaving Tuesday's hero Oscar Jansson helpless.

The sides appeared to match each other throughout and neither side would have wanted to lose the game after a run of draws. So it was almost inevitable when the Cobblers equalised late in the day. There were only four minutes left on the clock when Andy Holt went down in the area and the theme of penalties this week continued when Kevin Thornton just beat Nikki Bull in the Wanderers goal.

So still without a league win and facing a tough September, the Cobblers still need points in threes to start. Next week's trip to Aldershot is daunting and we could do with one or two new faces by then, with the transfer window slamming shut on Tuesday afternoon.

Maybe, just maybe, a trip to Anfield might be a good bargaining tool for Sammo as he looks for new recruits!

Oh, go on then, let's have a look...

...who we could possibly face in the draw. I know it's probably tempting fate of the Cobblers drawing Tranmere away but here's a run down of the teams coming into the hat for the Carling Cup Third Round...the Cobblers are the sole League Two survivors from the opening two rounds!

Man City
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Tottenham
Man United
Arsenal
Birmingham
Newcastle
Everton
Fulham
Blackburn
Wigan
WBA
Bolton
Stoke
Sunderland
West Ham
Wolves

Burnley
Ipswich
Preston
Leicester
Millwall
Portsmouth
Scunthorpe
Swansea

Notts County
Peterborough
MK Dons
Brentford
Tranmere

Northampton

Back to the league for Chairboys test

Northampton Town v Wycombe Wanderers
League Two
Saturday, August 28th 2010

All the cup jubilation can be put to the back burner (after the draw of course!) as League Two football returns once again. It gets no easier either with many people’s favourites for promotion, Wycombe, in town tomorrow afternoon.

The Chairboys haven’t conceded a league goal in their three games so far but have also failed to find the net in their last two outings against Stockport County and Oxford United so there should be a real emphasis on both teams to score with the Cobblers having only the one goal to their name in the league.

Wanderers come to Sixfields, with former Posh boss Gary Waddock in tow, have only one long term injury concern in Alan Bennett, who face a three week lay off with a hamstring injury sustained in last weekend’s game with Oxford. Scott Beavon could push for a start after scoring for the reserves this week.

John Johnson could boost Sammo’s ranks by returning from injury but Ryan Gilligan has an ankle problem that could keep him out. Courtney Herbert may come into the thinking after a good showing at Reading on the right hand side of midfield. Chris Dunn, Craig Hinton and Liam Davis will all miss out again.

Plenty of talk this week about the fans getting on the players’ backs with Steve Guinan the main topic of conversation so let’s get right behind the boys tomorrow, no matter who runs out in claret, and make it a perfect week!

Drama, penalties and a shaky man in pants!

Reading 3-3 Northampton Town (aet - Cobblers win 4-2 on penalties)
Carling Cup
Tuesday, August 24th 2010

Not many things in this world could make me leap around my studio flat in my pants and t-shirt at 11pm on a Tuesday night but the magic of last night’s cup upset had me doing just that. I questioned yesterday if we would prefer three points on Saturday or progression here and stated much preference over the former.

But nights like this don’t come along very often and I don’t remember being as jubilant as this since the Bolton win a couple of years back at the same stage of the same competition. To come from behind three times away at a Championship side and still have the nerve to win the penalty shoot out shows courage, determination and a hell of a lot of guts.

When Matt Mills fired Reading in front it looked like being a long night but almost just as suddenly, Andy Holt had swept home the equaliser after some dodgy goalkeeping. It was only as the second half wore on that I thought we were genuinely in with a chance of winning and my reward for sitting through an episode of Desperate Housewives with my understanding and wonderfully tolerant girlfriend was to be allowed to scurry through the radio stations on my iphone desperately looking for commentary.

She was out like a light before too long, leaving me in the dark (literally) along with a dodgy stream of commentary whistling delightfully into my ears. Tuning in just after Reading scored again, it looked like it wouldn’t be long before I was joining Martha in the land of nod but quite majestically, a Billy McKay shot was pushed into the path of Kevin Thornton who made no mistake.

There was still time for drama in 90 minutes. Steve Guinan thought he had given us the victory in stoppage time but his effort was ruled out and as extra time began it started to look like not being our night after all.

Particularly when Mills stooped again with a header that should well have sucked out all of the Cobblers’ energy. But with one final throw of the dice, a 124th minute free kick with everyone up including goalkeeper Oscar Jansson, the ball somehow found its way into the net via substitute Alex Konstantinou and a Reading defender – cue the first of my leaps of joy in the dark (we only have a studio flat at the moment so the noise had to be minimum in order to not wake Martha and the little bundle of joy that’s growing inside her.)

It literally was the final kick of the game and we went to penalties. After all that drama, we would again be forgiven for letting things slip mentally but it was the Royals who seemed more put off due to the ridiculously late goal in extra time. They surely can’t protest too much though after the disallowed goal for us late in normal time, a goal that later appeared to have been fine.

As many of you know, we have a poor record in shoot outs but this was to be a different story. The following is how my mind worked during the penalties…

Simon Church (Reading) …. SAVED … “Yeeeeeeeeah Oscar you beauty! Now we need a good start…”

Steve Guinan (Northampton) “Uh oh” …. SCORES …”Wooo…never in doubt that!”

Shane Long (Reading) …. SCORES …. “Ok, no probs but we need a good one now”

Kevin Thornton (Northampton) “That’ll do!” …. SCORES … “YES, we might ACTUALLY win this”

Kanu (Reading – NOT the former Arsenal forward!) … SCORES … “2-2, am I shaking?!”

Michael Jacobs (Northampton) “I bet he is” …. SCORES … “And I definitely am now!”

Jake Taylor (Reading) … “Pleeeeease miss” …. MISSES! ….”YEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!”

Or something to that effect.

Cue a round of texting mates, phoning Dad and generally trying to calm down enough to go to bed. Martha wakes up…

“What happened?”

“We won on penalties”

“Oh, cool”

It certainly is cool! The Cobblers have pulled it off and now await Saturday’s draw for Round Three with all the big, big guns coming in.

It still baffles me how a football game can bring me to such levels of delirium, making me physically shake in anticipation of something incredible happening. I know we haven’t knocked out a Premier League side but the pride in hearing that our men have given blood and guts at a Championship side to come away with a win after 120 draining minutes having come back three times is immense.

Now let’s hope for the same levels against Wycombe and yesterday’s question of which we would prefer to win becomes wonderfully irrelevant!

Carling Cup respite for Town

Right, hands up who would prefer three points on Saturday against Wycombe than progression in the Carling Cup tomorrow night? Come on now, you're lying and dreaming of a big money game with Arsenal aren't you?! I knew it...that's better, I can now see most of your hands up. I'll let a couple of you off because you're glory hunters but well done the rest of you. You get three points for your efforts (plus a +1 goal difference!).

Anyway, the point is that although tomorrow night's game would be spiffing to win, most of the sane Cobblers fans would swap it for a win over our friends from Buckinghamshire on Saturday. You might not admit it until we've lost tomorrow night but you would.

It's conceivable for us to go to Reading and win, of course, having not won one of three league games so far and it would be typical for us to do it. Who knows what sort of side the home side will put out but it's likely to be a half decent one. In Round One, a 1-0 extra time win at Torquay (yes someone HAS breached that Gulls defence this season), former Cobblers Alex Pearce and Nicholas Bignall were included so we should be in for a meeting of old acquaintances at least.

It seems a decent chance to give Thornton and Purcell a run out again with them both strangely reduced to the bench so far this season but we can't afford to put out a second string.

Sammo will be looking to win this one AND Saturday's game of course and we would all love that to happen as well of course so let's just cross our fingers rather than raise our hands and hope that we don't have to make a choice of preference in the coming days!

All square at Bury

Bury 1-1 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, August 21st 2010

A point at Bury on the face of it is a decent result and the Cobblers will today be glad that a lead handed to them by a Steve Guinan (no, you’re not hearing things!) penalty was only cancelled out and not entirely obliterated in a second successive draw for Sammo’s team.

John Johnson was the major absentee from the Cobblers line up as a bad back kept him out of the first eleven at Gigg Lane. Paul Rodgers took his place but apart from that it was the same side that drew with Accrington last week. That meant that Michael Jacobs kept his place with Kevin Thornton only making it to the bench once more.

The first half chance of the game fell to Andy Bishop for the home side with the Shakers man picking up the ball in midfield but shooting over the bar. Efe Sodji then caused problems moments later from an in swinging free kick and had mild claims for a penalty against Marcus Hall but there was nothing doing from the ref.

The home side had settled far better than the Cobblers and the first ten minutes had belonged solely to them. Peter Sweeney sent in a free kick that was caught by Jansson and the Cobblers woke up after an early spell of dominance.

Billy McKay created a chance for Steve Guinan in our first real chance and a few minutes later Guinan had another, but this time much clearer, opportunity to open the scoring. Ryan Gilligan played him in and you got the feeling that it was going to be another frustrating day for Guinan when Bury keeper Cameron Belford came out on top in the face off by pulling off a fine save.

But on the half hour mark, Guinan did get his goal, and the Cobblers’ first in the league this season when he was brought down in the area by Joe Skarz and got to his feet to convert the penalty that would hand the Cobblers a half time lead.

That lead was preserved only because of the reflexes of Oscar Jansson as he produced a fine save just five minutes after the goal to deny Ryan Lowe.

The second half began in a cagey fashion but we would soon begin to get the feeling that it was going to be a long, long half as Bury began to step things up once more. Andy Bishop had an excellent chance to pull his side level but his header sailed wide before Andy Holt volleyed over in a rare Cobblers chance.

By then Tadhg Purcell had been introduced for Michael Jacobs in a restructure by Sammo but The Shakers remained on the front foot. The inevitable equaliser came when Lowe managed to round Jansson and strike the ball against the post with the rebound falling to David Worrall who coolly finished off the move to make it 1-1.

It was then a case of holding on and despite the odd signal of intent from both sides the game petered out to earn both clubs a point and after a tricky encounter at Gigg Lane we should be reasonably happy with that.

I know we haven’t got that illusive first win yet but to come to Bury and secure a point at any time of the season represents a good work out. I expect them to be in and around the playoffs once again this season and if we’re to be with them we need more away performances like this.

It gets no easier with the likes of Wycombe, Aldershot, Southend and Shrewsbury to come in the next few weeks and Tuesday night’s trip to Reading in the Carling Cup will be a welcome distraction from this tricky opening to the season.

In need of the points at Bury

Bury rounded off last season battling with the Cobblers for the most outside of late playoff charges on the final day of the season and the two teams meet again tomorrow afternoon looking to kick start another effort to get into the top seven.

The Shakers are up and running this time around after last weekend’s 2-1 win at Oxford United and will be hoping to secure a first home win of the season against Sammo’s men. Bury snapped up French midfielder Damien Mozika this week, a former Chester City man who has been playing in Iran until last season, and he will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s game.

Meanwhile, an ankle injury could keep out Ben Futcher who has yet to play a game this season after picking up the knock in pre-season.

The Cobblers are still, of course, looking for that first win of the season and Sammo will face the choice once again of playing Steve Gunan or Tadhg Purcell alongside Billy McKay up front. We’re without a league goal so far this season so it may well be time to turn to Purcell.

Liam Davis is still missing with his own ankle injury and Craig Hinton remains sidelined, though both should be available within the next couple of weeks.

Come on Town, it's time to start winning!

Sammo still looking for signings

Sammo has this week came out and stated that he is still in the market for one or two more players before the transfer window closes. Another striker is a priority with the Cobblers boss needing to get rid of a couple of players of his own before he makes a realistic approach for a replacement.

The odd goings on up front at the moment have seen transfer listed Steve Guinan preferred to new boy Tadhg Purcell, possibly a move by Sammo to hope that Guinan bangs some goals in early on to stick himself in the window! Those goals haven't materialised though and Purcell must surely get his chance soon.

There's apparently been a meeting involving Sammo asking for more funds from David Cardoza but the more likely story is that Guinan and/or fellow transfer listed player Craig Hinton may have to go first.

The clock is ticking on the transfer window...

Jacobs to be kept on leash

The instant development of Michael Jacobs is the shining light of the season so far but the Cobblers will have to keep the youngster in check as the campaign fully kicks in. Sammo has been quick to dampen the excitement over Jacobs' form and admitted that he will sometimes be inconsistent, perhaps as Saturday's game with Accrington showed.

Jacobs shone at Torquay, was the star of the first half against Brighton and average on Saturday so we must keep very calm about his talents if we are to get the best out of him. The news that scouts are already gathering won't help but as long as the lad can kick on off the pitch and grow more on it then we could have a very secret weapon this season!

Stalemate at Sixfields as Stanley frustrate Town

Northampton Town 0-0 Accrington Stanley
League Two
Saturday, August 14th 2010

Well the tradition of the slow Cobblers start to the season goes on and despite finding two goals on Tuesday night against a League One outfit, Town had no way to get past Accrington Stanley this afternoon. Both sides had beaten higher league opponents in the League Cup but it was the visitors who went away from this one happy with their second 0-0 in a row in League Two.

Steve Guinan continued his run in the side as the frustrated Tadhg Purcell still waits for his first league start while Michael Jacobs started on the left hand side with Liam Davis sitting out with an ankle injury. So an unchanged team to the one that disposed of Brighton.

But there was to be no thunderous start as there was on Tuesday night with a much more even contest. Michael Jacobs, the star of the show in midweek came close early on again with a left footed volley that sailed wide and at the other end Ray Putterill tested Oscar Jansson.

Billy McKay had a good chance to give the Cobblers the lead after he did well to cut inside but sent a shot wide and at the other end John Johnson made a last ditch challenge to deny Putterill after the Stanley striker had rounded Jansson and looked odds on to open the scoring.

Ryan Gilligan’s chip almost caught out visiting keeper Ian Dunbavin with a chipped effort and Andy Holt headed wide from the corner as the Cobblers stepped things up a gear on the half hour mark but the sides would go in goalless at the break with another decent strike from Jacobs the final noteworthy moment of the first half.
Kevin Thornton replaced the youngster on the hour mark and was an instant threat with a dangerous corner causing a goal mouth scramble in which Ryan Gilligan’s shot was blocked before the former Coventry man set up McKay for another good chance from close range but he was denied by Dunbavin to the frustration of Sixfields.

Steve Guinan was replaced by Tadhg Purcell with fifteen minutes to play but it was the final substitute, Courtney Herbert, that would have the final chance to nick the three point when he was sent through on the left hand side but was blocked by a defender.

So a point at piece in the first home league game and we’re still not out of our stride in League Two. That tradition of the Cobblers not starting well is beginning to get old and we need to put it right otherwise it’s going to be another long road back.

A tricky game at Bury is certainly not what the doctor ordered but it’s what is up next for Sammo’s men...

Longest trip possible in JPT!

Well it just had to happen didn't it?! The draw we were all hoping to avoid in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy has happened as the Cobblers face a trip to the oh so local side Hartlepool United!

The game will take place on the week commencing August 30th. Cheers for that one Soccer AM!

Giant killers head to head!

Northampton Town v Accrington Stanley
League Two
Saturday, August 14th 2010

The Cobblers and Accrington Stanley meet tomorrow afternoon with both sides having earned fine wins in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. Stanley saw off Doncaster Rovers after extra time whilst the Cobblers defeated Brighton and Hove Albion so both sides go into this one with their tails up.

Accrington kicked off the season with a creditable goalless draw with Aldershot last weekend as they look to step up after last season’s failed attempt at finishing in the top seven. New faces include Charlie Barnett from Tranmere, Michael Hall from Blackburn Rovers and Macclesfield Town duo Craig Linfield and Sean Hessey.

Plenty of new faces should feature then for the visitors to Sixfields and we should be in for a tricky test at Sixfields.

Liam Davis is struggling for fitness and may well miss the game with an ankle injury. Kevin Thornton could earn a start after featuring on Tuesday night but the game is still too early for Chris Dunn so Oscar Jansson will deputise again.

Having seen off higher level opposition on Tuesday, it’s back to the nitty gritty of League Two action then and let’s hope we’re at least off the bottom of the Football League come 5 o’clock tomorrow!

JPT Draw set for Saturday

We'll learn our Johnstone's Paint Trophy fate this Saturday morning as the draw for this seasons' first round takes place live on Socccer AM. The Cobblers weren't one of the lucky teams to get a bye and will de drawn against one of the following sides:

Chesterfield
Lincoln City
Hartlepool United
Notts County
Rotherham United
Sheffield Wednesday
Walsall

With a lengthy trip possible, fingers crossed for a home draw!

Reductions for Reading

Reading have severley crashed their admission prices for the Cobblers' visit in the Carling Cup. The game, which has now been confirmed for Tuesday August 24th, will see Town fans get the chance to watch their team at the Madejski Stadium on the cheap, hopefully encouraging as much Town faithful as possible.

Season tick holders can pick up a ticket in advance for just £7 whilst non season tick holders will pay just £10 should they wish to buy before the night. Tickets will be available on the night as well, priced at £12.

So bargain days in the cup as the Cobblers look for another upset!

Cobblers travel to Reading in Round Two

It's an away draw in the Carling Cup Second Round with a date at Reading's Madejski Stadium scheduled for the week commencing August 23rd. The Cobblers were one of the unseeded clubs and were picked to play the Championship side in tonight's draw.

So a tough challenge awaits but a decent trip with a good challenge for the lads! Bring it on!

That's more like it!

Northampton Town 2-0 Brighton And Hove Albion
Carling Cup First Round
Tuesday, August 10th 2010

After the hammering at Torquay, this was just the tonic for the Cobblers. What better than a win over a higher league side to regenerate the squad and get an ounce of faith back?! The Cobblers secured progression to Round Two in style with Michael Jacobs making a real claim for regular first team football.

It was the 18-year-old that would steal the early show at Sixfields, hammering a shot past former Town loanee Michael Poke's arms to give us a surprise lead. If that didn't stun the visitors enough, Billy Mckay's header on eighteen minutes to make it two most certainly did! A cross from the right hand side from Ryan Gilligan was met well by Mckay who made no mistake in putting the Cobblers 2-0 up.

Mckay almost had a second a few minutes later before the incident that killed off Brighton hopes happened ten minutes before the break. Matt Sparrow, so impressive in the Seagulls' win at Swindon on the opening day of the season, saw red for a professional foul and the job was suddenly made a whole lot easier!

Tadhg Purcell made his home debut in the second half, replacing transfer listed Steve Guinan, and nearly scored with one of his first touches as the Cobblers pressed for a third. Fellow substitute Courtney Herbert could also have added to the scoreline but was denied by Poke late in the game. By the though it was all over and the Cobblers had made it into the hat fir Round Two, in which we'll be unseeded meaning that we could well end up facing a Premier League side.

That draw is tomorrow night but the main thing is that the vital first win of the season has been earned, with focus now on the visit of Accrington on Saturday. After the false start at Plainmoor, let's hope that this is the one that gets us going again!

Changes expected in Carling Cup

Northampton Town v Brighton and Hove Albion
Carling Cup
Tuesday, August 10th 2010

Well it can't get much worse can it?! The 3-0 defeat on the opening day to Torquay was the worst possible start to the season but there's a quick chance to turn things around as the Cobblers take on League One Brighton in tonight's Carling Cup First Round. Sammo has admitted that he maybe picked the wrong side on Saturday and will no doubt make changes this evening.

Michael Jacobs is one of those likely to come in after a bright second half appearance at Plainmoor whilst Tadhg Purcell should make his full debut.

Brighton got off to a much better start to their season, winning 2-1 at last season's playoff finalists Swindon Town with Matt Sparrow scoring both of the Albion goals. Manager Gus Poyet could also ring the changes though after a tough battle at the County Ground left one or two players with minor knocks that the Albion manager would rather not risk getting worse. Meanwhile, Gordon Greer sits out the final game of a suspension after being sent off in last seasons' playoff semi final for Swindon whilst Glenn Murray will also serve one last game on the sidelines.

So it's anyone's guess on the line-ups for this evening but with a nice little incentive of a bigger club in Round Two there's plenty to play for. Fingers crossed that the Cobblers can get the season going sooner rather than later...and what better than a mini upset to kick start the campaign?!

Devon and Hell!

Torquay United 3-0 Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, August 7th 2010

If you come up with a worst case scenario for a first game of the season then the outcome of today’s opener at Plainmoor would come very close indeed. Bereft of Kevin Thornton (official line that he fell ill on Friday night) and with Steve Guinan’s pre-season form earning him a start, there was a very familiar look to the line-up with Oscar Jansson and Marcus Hall the only new faces to start along with the familiar figure of John Johnson. Tadhg Purcell had to make do with a place on the bench along with Nathanial Wedderburn.

But the hosts, still perhaps buoyed by a fine finish to last season, would come out on top despite a bright opening from the Cobblers in which Dean Beckwith had an effort ruled out for offside and Abdul Osman test home keeper Scott Bevan with a fierce drive.

The goal on the stroke of half-time would be the one to set the tone as Kevin Nicholson broke on the left and raced through to score and it would all fall apart from there.

Michael Jacobs replaced Paul Rodgers in midfield at the start of the second half but his cameo would provide only a consolation as the Gulls raced into the three goal lead that would see them comfortably home and dry before the hour mark.

Straight after half-time, Chris Zebroski had a shot saved by Jansson but followed up to make it 2-0 and five minutes later Elliot Benyon sealed things by getting on the end of a through ball and finishing with ease.

There was the odd flash from Jacobs with the youngster hitting the cross bar with a free kick whilst John Johnson’s cross shot had to be clawed away by Bevan but that was about it in a poor second half in which the Cobblers will have to recover from very quickly indeed.

So all the pre-season is forgotten now and we have to buckle down and get on with it. As far as the ridiculous early league table goes, we’re bottom of the football league this evening and can only take hope in the fact that Norwich lost 7-0 on the opening day last season only to go on to win the League One title! If such a story is to happen to the Cobblers this time around we need to get back to basics and realise that we’re not playing for nothing any more.

Football is back, but not quite how we’d like it just yet, thank you very much.

Gulls v Cobblers Preview

Torquay United v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, August 7th 2010

So it all begins again tomorrow afternoon with the Cobblers facing a long trip to Devon for the opening game of the 2010/11 season. Torquay finished last season on fine form so this is likely to be a tough, tough game to kick things off. The Gulls went through their final eight games of the last campaign unbeaten including a 5-0 drubbing of promoted Rochdale and a goalless draw with champions Notts County.

The hosts are also looking to prolong a club record amount of minutes without conceding a goal and will be boosted by the fact that they were well on the way to that record with a 0-0 draw at Sixfields during that run of eight games unbeaten.

During the summer, manager Paul Buckle has brought in a real goal threat in Billy Kee, who joined from Leicester City. Kee scored nine times whilst on loan at Accrington Stanley last season and will be happy to be playing first team football again with a permanent contract on the south coast. Meanwhile, Guy Branston has been brought in full time after spending time on loan (and injuring Bayo!) last season whilst Martin Gritton is on loan from Chesterfield.

Pre-season has included vitories over Yeovil Town and Bristol City so United will be going into this game just as high on confidence as we are.

For the Cobblers, new loan keeper Oscar Jansson will take the gloves in place of the injured Chris Dunn and it's likely that John Johnson, Marcus Hall and Tadhg Purcell will start the game. With the squad near enough complete, it's time for the talking to end and the action to start.

Hold on tight, here it comes again!

Keeper signs on!

The Cobblers have solved their short term keeper crisis by bringing in Swedish stopper oscar Jansson on a month long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur. Jansson began his career at his local outfit, Karlslund HFK before moving to Spurs in 2007. Staying around the first team at White Hart Lane since then, the keeper has also spent some time on loan at Exeter City.

Jansson has been training with the club this week and Sammo has moved to sign him on before the deadline for Saturday's game at Torquay United and the big League Two kick off!

Here we go again!

So here we go again...another set of pre-season friendlies have come and gone and I sit here on my lunch break in Southampton pondering whether to be over excited about the excellent pre-season or not. Friendlies always end up getting you either too nervous because you only put one goal past a non league outfit or too excited and over the top because of a draw or win against a Premier League side.

The main concern should, of course, be the performance of the players and from all reports it’s been a solid schedule. It’s been weird in the year 1 AB (After Bayo) but there’s a few sparks already to give us optimisn ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.

Michael Jacobs has stepped up to the plate as the young player to watch and the two goals against Watford along with the creation of the equaliser against Birmingham won’t do his cause any harm at all. Tadhg Purcell has settled in well, Billy McKay continues to score and even Steve Guinan has returned with new vigour having been placed on the transfer list.

But the key signing came a couple of weeks back, at around 5:30 on a Friday afternoon when the news popped up on the official site stating “Johnson signs Cobblers deal”. Before I saw the photo I had visions of a terrible jump back to sign Gavin Johnson to fill the left back berth but, incredibly, it was John Johnson returning to Sixfields, not even on loan but on a two year deal!

The fact that Jonno dropped down two divisions, more than likely took a pay cut and moved half the length of the country says a lot for Sammo, Malc and the impression gained from the other players last season. Who says we can’t attract the better calibre of players?!

So after that piece of news we’re looking quietly confident. Gone are the claims that we can take this league by storm, that we’re going up before a ball is kicked and that we should be in the top three minimum. This can only be a good thing in Sammo’s first full season. Although expectation will no doubt rise if we have that illusive good start, we’re appearing to have a terrific work ethic and the club is back in good hands.

Now all that’s left to do is kick that ball, hopefully between those white sticks and start on the road to better things. Who knows, maybe we’ll even win at Sincil Bank this season!

Up the Cobblers!

Danny

Draw ends pre-season on a high note

Northampton Town 2-2 Birmingham City
Pre-season friendly
Sunday, August 1st 2010

Much in the same manner that you shouldn’t get too downbeat about a pre-season friendly defeat, it’s the same argument for games like this one. Birmingham City came to town with a squad littered with internationals and only went away with a 2-2 draw – the second time in a row that we’ve punched above our weight in the friendly season.

The Cobblers were in front early on with Billy McKay racing onto a flick on from Tadgh Purcell to poke the ball past Maik Taylor in the City goal. James McFaddon hit the post with the visitors’ best effort of the first half – a rasping free kick – and continued to be their best player.

But it took until five minutes after the break for the Blues to get back on terms with Cameron Jerome blasting home an unstoppable shot that gave young keeper Paul Walker no chance. The Premier League outfit turned things up a gear and were in front with twenty minutes to play when McFaddon did find the net following a neat flick on from Kevin Phillips.

It looked like a narrow defeat that in itself would have been deemed respectable enough but Liam Davis came off the bench to get on the end of a Michael Jacobs cross and equalise. The midfielder could even have won it for the Cobblers but shot over when well placed a few minutes later.

So a fine result to round off pre-season and it’s been a very good period of preparation for the Cobblers.

But all this will mean nothing should we fail to pick anything up at Torquay on Saturday afternoon and this steady and impressive pre-season will be sent into the forgotten history of the friendly vaults.

It’s time to play for real!

Hall agrees Cobblers contract

Marcus Hall has finalised his move to Sixfields by signing a one year contract with the club. Hall was drafted in after Peter Gilbert left the club a few weeks back and looks like a perfect fit for the left back position.

At 34, Hall has bags of experience and boasts an impressive C.V. of a career in the top two divisions of English football. Making his Coventry début in 1994, he went on to become one of the Sky Blues most consistent performers and stayed until 2002 when Nottingham Forest took him to the City Ground on a free transfer. After playing just once for Forest though, Hall signed for Southampton although never got even one game for the Saints. Stoke City handed him a way back and Hall would go on to make over eighty appearances for them before rejoining Coventry for five more years in 2005.

It's another big signing for Sammo ahead of this afternoon's friendly with Birmingham City at Sixfields and expect to see as close a line-up to Sammo's first choice take to the field with it being the final friendly before the season kicks off next weekend.