Match Preview: Northampton Town v Salford City

Danny previews the Cobblers' home game with Salford City.

After missing out on the chance to go top of the table on Tuesday night, the Cobblers are back at home to face another stern test, this time in the shape of Salford City. Tuesday’s game seemed to be one too far for the injury hit Town squad and we need to get some of those key players back quickly to sustain what’s been a fantastic start to the season.

Attempting to stop us are a Salford side who hope to make it fourth time lucky in at least making the playoffs this time out. With high ambitions and another new manager in the dugout, their sights are well and truly set on making that next big step into the promotion reckoning.

The Opposition

After 11th, 8th and 10th place finishes since joining the Football League, Salford refreshed things in the dugout over the summer, replacing Gary Bowyer with Manchester United Under 23s boss Neil Wood. Wood has made the Ammies more possession based and has led them to a decent start to the campaign.

Despite some fans calling for more end product and less passing the ball around, the tactic has been effective for the most part as Wood gets used to the change from Under 23s football to the more industrial atmosphere in League Two. Winning six of their first eleven games, City find themselves in fifth place and five points behind the Cobblers going into the weekend.

Last Time Out

The Cobblers were beaten 1-0 in a drab affair at Walsall on Tuesday night. Salford had a rest in midweek, with their last game being Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Grimsby Town.

One To Watch

Ryan Watson will need no introduction to Cobblers fans with the midfielder key to Salford’s midfield. Playing central and breaking into the box is still Watto’s style and he’ll need to be watched like a hawk on Saturday.

Team News

The Cobblers are still blighted by illness and injury going into the weekend. Josh Eppiah and Max Dyche returned from illness on Tuesday night but it’s unknown whether Sam Hoskins is ready to make a come back for the weekend. Shaun McWilliams is still out while Akin Odimayo is a fitness doubt and Tyler Magloire is out long term.

Salford are likely to still be without Conor McAleny through injury but Elliot Watt returns from a one match ban for picking up five yellow cards.

Line-Up Prediction

Match Officials

Lee Swabey takes charge of this one on Saturday. Swabey last officiated a Cobblers game back in February for our 1-0 home defeat to Barrow. He’s shown forty two yellow cards and two reds in eleven games so far this season. Nicholas Cooper and Daniel Bonneywell are running the lines and Leigh Crowhurst is fourth official.

Prediction

This should be a tight one and the Cobblers’ fortunes will depend on how we approach Salford’s possession based game. I’m going for a 1-1 draw for this one.

Share:

More Posts

Northampton Town team photo for the 2022/23 season

2022 Year In Review

No year is ever plain sailing following the Cobblers and 2022 was no exception. From the highs of that Leyton Orient win in April to

Cobblers Team of 2022

With 2022 coming to a close, it’s time to announce the Cobblers team of the year. It’s been a good calendar year for The Cobblers.

For The Love Of Kits

With the release of the 2022/23 away kit, The Cobblers line up of shirts for the new season is complete. Charles takes a look at some of his favourites.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *