Northampton Town v Swindon Town Preview – It’s third v eighth in League Two’s early running and a big crowd is expected at Sixfields…
Match Preview
After Tuesday night’s victorious and gutsy showing at Newport County, it’s back to Sixfields for the Cobblers who are suddenly sat in third place in League Two ahead of a clash with Swindon Town.
Jon Brady’s early influence on the team he built in the summer shows a defensive solidity that was sorely lacking last season and this will be another very different kind of test with the expectations of the home fans potentially elevated due to the heady heights of our league position.
Swindon have sold out their allocation so this could be the first real “big game feel” atmosphere since the opening day against Port Vale.
The Opposition
The Robins have been a club in transition over the summer with the new chairman and owner Clem Morfuni endearing himself to the local community by touring the town on a bus in an attempt to drum up season ticket sales, poured pints for fans before games and even joined in a local cricket game!
On the pitch, Town have started with three wins, two draws and two defeats in their opening seven games and there’s a sense that, after a sustained period of being on a downward trajectory, things are looking up for the team from the County Ground.
Ben Garner jumped on board as manager in the July as he looks to rebuild a reputation hurt by a difficult period at Bristol Rovers. Garner oversaw a clear out and overhaul much like Jon Brady’s own at the Cobblers over the summer with the eye catching capture of Welshman Jonny Williams a highlight.
Last time out
The Cobblers won a feisty encounter 1-0 at Newport on Tuesday night while Swindon were beaten 2-1 at home by Port Vale last weekend.
One to watch
Tyreece Simpson was the best player on the pitch in the defeat to Port Vale and he looks set to really cause the Cobblers defence some problems with his power and work rate. The on loan Ipswich striker has scored twice since joining in the summer.
Team News
The Cobblers are definitely without Sid Nelson who has an ACL tear and a meniscus tear so he’ll be out long term. Jon Guthrie should be able to shake of a knock to his knee picked up during the Tuesday night win but Paul Lewis remains a doubt after missing out at Newport.
Swindon will be without Harry McKirdy for the trip to Sixfields while Ricky Aguair will also be out with an ankle sprain. Anthony Grant will also be missing as he sits out the final days of a ten day quarantine since arriving back from international duty with Jamaica.
Last meeting
Swindon 2-1 Northampton Town (27 February 2021)
Swindon took home all three points back in League One in February as they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at the County Ground. Brett Pitman scored the winner with twenty minutes to play.
Line-up Prediction
Match Officials
Brett Huxtable is in charge of this one on Saturday. His last Cobblers game was a 2-0 defeat to some team from down the road in October last year.
Score Predictions
Charles: Cobblers 1-1 Swindon
Danny: Cobblers 1-0 Swindon
Neil: Cobblers 4-4 Swindon
Jefe: Cobblers 5-0 Swindon
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.
