The Cobblers travel back to the site of our desperate last day of the season last season as we head to Barrow at the weekend. After back to back defeats, Town will be hoping to end a disappointing month on a high and get the promotion challenge back on track.
The Opposition
Barrow’s 3-1 defeat at Sixfields earlier this season was only their second in the league but it’s been a mixed story since with Pete Wild’s men going on a couple of winning and losing streaks. Their excellent start to the season has, though, kept them well in the playoff mix and two games in four days against the Cobblers and Carlisle United will be a real test of their credentials.
Wild took charge in the summer having had real success with Halifax in the National League as he emerged as one of the most sought after bosses below the Football League. Barrow swooped and so far it’s been a master stroke with Wild taking the club from relegation battles to within a real chance of challenging for a spot in the top seven.
One of the major success points has been the fortress that’s been built at Holker Street. Despite a couple of narrow defeats recently, Barrow are fifth in the home league table in League Two with the distance most teams travel to get there, the tightness of the away end and the underdog feel to it all major reasons why a lot of teams struggle.
On the playing side, Josh Gordan is the main man with eleven goals so far, including one at Sixfields, and we’ll also be coming up against former Cobbler Billy Waters who followed Wild from Halifax and has netted eight times so far whilst also picking up November’s League Two Player of the Month award.
Last Time Out
The Cobblers were beaten 2-0 at Stockport County in our last game two weeks ago while Barrow drew 0-0 at league leaders Leyton Orient on the same afternoon.
One To Watch
With eleven goals to his name already this season, Josh Gordon is top scorer for Barrow. A lively operator who caused us problems at Sixfields, the former Walsall man has been slightly quieter lately but did score in Barrow’s 3-2 win at Mansfield recently.
Team News
Barrow will be without January signing Rory Feely, who has a groin injury that’s hampering his involvement at the moment. The postponement of the Salford game last weekend, however, has meant that the rest of Pete Wild’s squad have had the chance to recover and Barrow look in good shape ahead of the weekend.
The Cobblers could welcome back Jon Guthrie from illness but Lee Burge, Aaron McGowan, Sam Sherring, Tyler Magloire and Shaun McWilliams are all doubts again with Burge the least likely to make a return. Will Hondermarck could make his debut from the bench after signing from Barnsley this week.
Line-Up Prediction
Match Officials
Darren Drysdale is in the middle for this one. The experienced referee last took charge of the Cobblers in our FA Cup replay at Cambridge United last season. Drysdale has shown 52 yellow cards and 2 reds so far this season. Darren Williams and Graeme Fyvie are running the lines and Darren Handley is fourth official
Prediction
This should be a really tight affair with both sides needing a win. I don’t see either team getting it, though, with both having to settle for a point. 1-1.
A Cobblers fan all his life, Danny is the most down to earth football supporter from Northampton.
While at university in Southampton, Danny kept up to date with all things NTFC from afar, sharing his thoughts on his ‘A Load Of Cobblers’ online blog.
