After a catastrophic blowing off of the cobwebs last weekend, the Cobblers are back at home as John Yems brings his Crawley Town side to Sixfields…
Match Preview
We all rejoiced at the Cobblers being back in action last weekend, delighted that our team were playing again. After 50 minutes at Swindon we were even more excited as Jon Guthrie’s goal has us 2-1 up but the ensuing 15 minutes was a disaster as everything the Robins – and Harry Mckirdy in particular – touching turning to goals.
Coming back from bouts of Covid can’t have helped things but after a week back on the training ground ahead of a potentially tricky game with unpredictable Crawley we’re in real need of getting back on track. Thankfully the points already collected in the first half of the season has kept us in second place throughout a blank December and even after that collapse at Swindon but the league won’t be that obliging for long should we follow up the Swindon defeat with another reverse here.
Let’s get back to Sixfields, make some noise and officially begin the new year!
The Opposition
Crawley have been a strange old beast this season, continuing their mid-table form that’s been affecting them ever since they were relegated back to League Two in 2015. One month they can be losing four games in a row, as in October this season, and the next they can be pulling rabbits out of the hat like a 2-1 win at Leyton Orient in December.
It all means it’s hard to know what to expect from the visitors this weekend but with games in hand on those above them, the Red Devils will be quietly hoping that they can close the gap on the playoff places in the coming weeks.
Head of the table is, of course, podcast favourite John Yems. Approaching 100 games in charge of the club, Yems isn’t one to give a post match interviewer an easy ride, berating “stupid questions” and generally being a grump after defeats. All we can hope for is some more Yems gold after this one!
Last time out
The Cobblers were hammered 5-2 at Swindon Town last weekend in our first game back in three weeks while Crawley were securing a good 3-1 home win over Colchester United.
One to watch
Brought into the club as cover this summer, it wasn’t until October that Kwesi Appiah even got a decent chance at Crawley but five goals in that month had him nominated for the Player of the Month award. With eight goals now registered, Appiah is top scorer for the club this season.
Team News
Kion Etete returned to Tottenham this week but new loan signing Chanka Zimba is in line to make his debut after signing on Thursday. Joseph Mills and Michael Harriman returned to the bench last weekend and will be back in contention.
Crawley prepared for the game with a behing closed door game with Tottenham during the week to get more minutes into their players after a Covid break. Goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu has been recalled by Stoke City but a replacement stopper will be in place for the trip to Sixfields.
Last meeting
Crawley 0-0 Cobblers – 28/08/21
A hard fought draw between the two sides at The People’s Pension Stadium earlier this season.
Line-up Prediction – Powered by FanHub
Match Officials
Declan Bourne is the identity of the man in the middle for this one. Bourne last officiated a Cobblers game in December 2020…the forgettable 4-0 defeat at Oxford United. Anthony Da Costa and Daniel Flynn will take the flags and Steven Plane is fourth official, ready to fly in at any time to take up the mantle should the ref go down injured.
Score Predictions
Charles: Cobblers 2-1 Crawley
Danny: Cobblers 1-0 Crawley
Neil: Cobblers 9-1 Crawley
Jefe: Cobblers 2-0 Crawley
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.
