Northampton Town v Rochdale Match Preview – Fellow relegated side, Rochdale are the Cobblers’ next opponents at Sixfields.
Match Preview
Who would have thought that the Cobblers would be going into this weekend’s fixture unbeaten? Not me, that’s for sure. I don’t think anyone would begrudge me believing that Coventry would probably knock us out of the EFL Cup at least.
As for the league, I really don’t think there is anyone to fear in League Two this season. Yes, I know that’s clichéd to buggery but there really isn’t. Forest Green have had a good start and so have Bradford but I can’t remember the last time a team started well and stayed at the top of the league for an entire season. Arsenal, maybe?
The one criticism that could maybe be thrown at the Cobblers so far is the lack of chances being created from open play. Jon Brady has said this week that his team have been more workmanlike than assertive in the first couple of league games so the shackles may soon come flying off. And what better opposition to do it against than struggling Dale.
This one is going to be fun.
The Opposition
Rochdale have had some problems and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do it justice here. Having been relegated last season, Dale have only picked up one point so far – a 0-0 draw against Scunthorpe last Saturday.
Off the pitch it isn’t looking too rosey either. The Spotland side are currently subject to a so-called ‘hostile-takeover’ that neither the fans, nor current board seem willing to see completed. It is a very difficult situation as far as I can see and the #UpTheDaleNotForSale campaign has been launched by the Dale Trust.
On the pitch, Rochdale made five signings this summer but have failed to stop the rot in terms of their poor results.
Last time out
So far, Dale have lost 3-2 away at Harrogate, drawn 0-0 at home to Scunthorpe and been beaten 2-1 by Forest Green Rovers at Spotland.
One to watch
Jake Beesley is a striker who has scored 6 times in 25 games for Dale. Not a great record but their fans seem to think League Two may see him shine.
Team News
Rochdale are really struggling for players as Covid has wiped out George Broadbent, Conor Grant, Jimmy McNulty and Aidy White who will likely miss out.
The Cobblers will definitely be without Fraser Horsfall, who is suspended. Jack Sowerby, Michael Harriman and Jordan Flores are all injury doubts.
Last meeting
Cobblers 0-0 Rochdale (February 23 2021)
Nothing to see here as neither the Cobblers nor Rochdale could do themselves any favours as the relegation battle began to heat up.
Line-up Prediction
Match Officials
Carl Brook is in his 2nd season as an EFL referee and has had an interesting start to his season, dishing out a red card in all 3 of the games he has taken charge of so far this season. Will he make it 4 in a row this weekend?
Score Predictions
Charles: 2-1 Cobblers
Danny: 1-0 Cobblers
Neil: 6-6 Cobblers
Jefé: 5-2 Cobblers
Charles is the founder and main presenter of the award-winning It’s All Cobblers To Me podcast.
He began the podcast after going self-employed in 2018 as a podcast producer and voiceover artist. The original thought being that It’s All Cobblers To Me would be a place to try out new things – like a test podcast of sorts.
As well as being Cobblers mad, Charles is also a ultramarathon runner and has a blog about that that he tries to keep up to date as often as he can.
4 thoughts on “Preview: Northampton Town v Rochdale”
I think that if the Cobblers finish above 2 out of 3 of Bradford City, Salford, or Tranmere then they will get auto promotion.They need though to start scoring goals more freely the achillees heal that has plagued them since Wilder left.
Spot on Roger.
3-0 Teyn for me. Will be too much for Rochdale, nothing like a bit of momentum and confidence when up against a Covid ravaged squad.
Back to the drawing board methinks, Hissing Sid cost us two of the three goals we conceded, guess if Horsfall had been on the pitch things could have been different. Interesting to see how the players will react to the defeat, could be a litmus test of whether this strong dressing room spiel that has featured in the media is all what it is hyped up to be.Still a bit worrying that forwards are not putting the ball in the net apart from the Coventry game.