The Cobblers travel to Sutton United on Saturday looking to regain a place in the top three after being overtaken by our opponents in midweek.
Match Preview
Just under a year ago the Cobblers were looking for a replacement for Keith Curle as we attempted to keep a place in League One. One of the leading candidates emerging was one Matt Gray, at that point leading Sutton United in the National League. Fast forward eleven months and Gray’s team are not only in the same division as Town but are now ahead of us in the league standings following victory over Colchester in midweek.
It’s testament to the job Gray has done and the connection he has to the Us that his side sit in one of the prime spots in League Two and this will be a massive test for Jon Brady’s side as we look to build on the point gleaned late on against league leaders Forest Green Rovers last weekend.
Brady will be hoping that a sold out away end can inspire his charges to what would be one of the most important victories of the season should we come away from it with three points. It will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination, though, as we look to stem the flow of a side who love a ding dong!
The Opposition
Sutton’s late, late win on Tuesday night over Colchester saw them move about the Cobblers in League Two, though we do now have one game in hand. That followed a 3-3 draw with Stevenage last weekend with these two games an example of how the season has gone for Gray’s men.
The Us are second top scorers in League Two behind Forest Green but have also conceded the most of any team in the divisions top eleven teams. They’ve spread the goals around the team with no one player scoring any more than six times and that points to a team who can score from anywhere on the pitch.
The Cobblers’ success in this one could, then, come down to how we can react at the other end. We’re not known for our free flowing numbers in the goals for column so that needs to change if we’re to get anything from Gander Green Lane.
Last time out
The Cobblers grabbed a late equaliser at home to Forest Green Rovers last weekend while Sutton were drawing 3-3 with Stevenage. The Us followed that up with a 3-2 home win over Colchester on Tuesday night.
One to watch
Isaac Olaofe is in his second loan from with Sutton from Millwall having netted fourteen times last season. He scored his fifth and sixth of the season in Tuesday night’s win over Colchester.
Team News
Sutton will check on their squad after that Tuesday night game but no solid team news is known at time of writing.
The Cobblers signed Blackburn defender Tyler Magloire on loan this week and he’ll be hoping to be involved. Benny Ashley-Seal is back training again and could regain a place in the squad.
Last meeting
Cobblers 0-2 Sutton United – 02/10/21
Goals from Joseph Kizzi and Donovan Wilson earned the Us all three points at Sixfields in a drab Cobblers performance back in October.
Line-up Prediction – Powered by FanHub
Match Officials
John Busby takes charge of this one just a few weeks after refereeing the Cobblers’ 2-1 win at Exeter City in December. Busby has shown 84 yellow cards and 3 reds so far this season. George Byrne and Lee Venamore are running the line and…Trevor Kettle is fourth official!
Score Predictions
Charles: Sutton United 4-5 Cobblers
Danny: Sutton United 2-2 Cobblers
Neil: Sutton United 13-2 Cobblers
Jefe: Sutton United 2-1 Cobblers
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.
