Match Thread: vs Northampton Town (a)

[oodledoodle]

16 hours ago, Ambitious said:

Northampton are pretty poor form: three losses in their last four. The only point was against a dire Cambridge side who are currently on the worst run of form in the league. 

A win will see us climb to seven points ahead of third, albeit artificially with a game in hand, but the points on the board can induce panic in others. Every win is going to be significant but this could be huge for the mindset of others. 

I'm not worried about the 4/7 points gap to third. I'm more interested in making up that 5 points gap to the top. Should only be one team we care about now.

#bemoreb4

[Charliegeorge1962]

Just want 3 pts on Saturday.

Get that 7 pt gap and the pressure is on Bolton big time.

COYR

 

[Malagaram]

19 hours ago, Rampant said:

Saturday 23rd March

Northampton vs Derby

Sixfields Stadium (KO 1500)

 

Parking: There is apparently parking available at the ground (NN5 5QA) for a fiver or at a place called Duston Mill (NN5 5FP).

Opponents Bio: Founded in 1897, Northampton Town are well known by their nickname, 'The Cobblers', a nod to the town's historic shoe-making industry. Previously based adjacent to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, their move in 1994 now sees them play home matches at the 7,798 capacity Sixfields Stadium.

The swinging 60's was quite the decade to be a member of the Shoe Army as Northampton started the 1960/61 season in the fourth tier of the English game before three promotions and three relegations saw them back in Division 4 (ask your parents kids) in time for the 1969/70 campaign. Their one season in the top division was their only appearance at that level in their history so far. Indeed, since their relegation in 1966/67 from what is now the Championship, the Cobblers have played each of the subsequent 56 seasons in either the third or fourth tier. That run could have been broken in 1993/94 when they finished bottom of League 2 but they had a reprieve as Kidderminster Harriers' ground wasn't deemed suitable for the Football League.

This season sees Town looking to consolidate a League 1 berth after their promotion from League 2 in 2022/23 and sitting in 14th place and well clear of the drop zone they have comfortably achieved their initial target. A decent run of results could see them finish in the top half as they are one of four sides on 50 points before this weekend.

Opponents Gaffer & Dangermen: They are managed by an Australian, Jon Brady, who I know nothing about. 

Top scorers for Northampton this season are Sam Hoskins (14 goals), Kieron Bowie (eight) and Mitch Pinnock (six, plus seven assists). They also have Huddersfield loanee Tyreece Simpson and another loanee is a certain Tony Springett who played a few times for ourselves last year.

Other Titbits & Links to DCFC: Notable names associated with Saturday's opponents include former managers Herbert Chapman (of Huddersfield and Arsenal fame), Tony Barton (European Cup winning manager at Villa), Chris Wilder (when he was good), Ian Atkins (coming good again at Tranmere maybe), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Aidy Boothroyd and Graham Carr (father of comedy twins Alan and Jimmy). Their most famous ex-player is probably former Liverpool and England full-back, Phil Neal.

Derby links include Kevin Wilson (managed them) and those who played for both clubs include John Gregory, Ian Taylor and Marco Gabbiadini.

Opponents Form: They've struggled over the past five games, picking up just two points from draws against Charlton at home and Cambridge away. They've lost two on the bounce, both without scoring, with a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool followed on Saturday by a 2-0 loss at Wycombe. 

Their league record at home is respectable overall, reading: W8-D5-L6.

Rams History vs Northampton: We tempted fate against Bolton by highlighting the fact that they had never won in the league at Pride Park in 10 attempts. Lets be bold again by stating that;

Derby have never lost a competitive fixture against Northampton.

It's true. Six FA Cup ties (four original and two replays) and seven League matches is the sum total of the two clubs' historical matches against each other but the Rams have managed eight wins and five draws thus far. 

In League matches only, we currently stand at W4-D3-L0 with an away record of W2-D1-L0 on their turf.

The match earlier this season at Pride Park saw Derby run out comfortable 4-0 victors in a game where we saw the best of Conor Washington and a brace by Max Bird.

Likely Rams XI: We can possibly expect a change or two. Or maybe three? Assuming we maintain the back three then Warne has to decide between a recall for Sonny Bradley after illness or sticking with Fozzy. I'd be amazed if he didn't stay with Craig Maldini tbh. 

There are obvious doubts over those withdrawn against Bolton. Gayle is surely out and Barkhuizen and Ward are possibly struggling too. The gaffer also needs to make a decision on Hourihane as we look better with either Smith or Thompson in the middle (or both ideally for me) alongside Ebou Adams who must surely be our transfer target #1 for the summer. 

A return to the 18 for Conor Washington (MotM in the reverse fixture) would be welcome.

Other Notable Fixtures: None. Certainly not as far as those chasing automatic promotion is concerned. We are the only one of the five involved in that battle for a top two finish to be playing so it's a perfect opportunity to apply pressure on those now playing catch up with us. Seven points with a game in hand has to seem psychologically further away for Bolton than the current four points and equal games played so hopefully we can turn that screw.

COYR

 

Tis a shame Rampant,after all your writing you couldnt even get the date and time right

[Steve How Hard?]

12 minutes ago, Malagaram said:

Tis a shame Rampant,after all your writing you couldnt even get the date and time right

[jimtastic56]

1 hour ago, Old Spalding Ram said:

View of the away end at Sixfields………..….view from a local hill. 👍😁😁

 

Last time I was there , a Cobblers fan told me that the top half of the stand to the left in the picture , was not completed due to financial problems . They do have plenty of room for expansion, one day .

[Comrade 86]

37 minutes ago, Malagaram said:

Tis a shame Rampant,after all your writing you couldnt even get the date and time right

Bit snarky mate! Especially so, since he's actually correct 🫢

Cracking write up IMHO.

Edited March 19 by Comrade 86

[Patrick Rams]

18 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

Can't be complacent here. Put our metaphorical boot on their throat.

But main thing is not to pick up any more fluffing injuries.....

The main thing in my opinion is to bring home 3 points. I'd rather win 2-0 and pick up an injury than lose 2-0 with no injuries. 

[gfs1ram]

51 minutes ago, Malagaram said:

Tis a shame Rampant,after all your writing you couldnt even get the date and time right

Errr have I missed something or is an apology due ???

[Tamworthram]

2 hours ago, oodledoodle said:

I'm not worried about the 4/7 points gap to third. I'm more interested in making up that 5 points gap to the top. Should only be one team we care about now.

#bemoreb4

I’m the other way around. It would be icing on the cake to finish top but the overwhelming priority has to be to finish top two. It would be complacent/naive/carless of us to think top two is in the bag now. Of course, I wouldn’t expect PW to looking over his shoulder at the teams below when talking to the team. He, and the team, should literally be focusing on one game at a time (with an aim of winning each one) and not worrying about whether that means we catch Pompey or not.

[ram59]

1 hour ago, Malagaram said:

Tis a shame Rampant,after all your writing you couldnt even get the date and time right

Are you working off european time, Malagaram?

[Elwood P Dowd]

8 minutes ago, Tamworthram said:

I’m the other way around. It would be icing on the cake to finish top but the overwhelming priority has to be to finish top two. It would be complacent/naive/carless of us to think top two is in the bag now. Of course, I wouldn’t expect PW to looking over his shoulder at the teams below when talking to the team. He, and the team, should literally be focusing on one game at a time (with an aim of winning each one) and not worrying about whether that means we catch Pompey or not.

I would imagine that PW will do just as you say, concentrate on winning the next game and the individual games after that, he has some control of as to the outcome of these games. 

If we can win the majority of our remaining games we should be promoted automatically, it’s in our hands.

What results other teams achieve or don’t achieve is in their own hands.

[Malagaram]

please accept my apologies Rampant,I really thought the match was on tonight,and to anyone who wrote to correct me,thankyou,UTR

[oodledoodle]

2 hours ago, Tamworthram said:

I’m the other way around. It would be icing on the cake to finish top but the overwhelming priority has to be to finish top two. It would be complacent/naive/carless of us to think top two is in the bag now. Of course, I wouldn’t expect PW to looking over his shoulder at the teams below when talking to the team. He, and the team, should literally be focusing on one game at a time (with an aim of winning each one) and not worrying about whether that means we catch Pompey or not.

Yeah totally agree, winning or 2nd mean exactly the same thing. I just want to see us win a league, however tinpot.

[DCFC1388]

Not sure on the extent of Ward & Barkhuizens injuries would imagine they wont feature with Warne not liking to take risks...

Wildsmith - Nelson Forsyth Cashin - Wilson Smith Adams Elder - NML Waghorn CBT

Loach Bradley Thompson Fornah Hourihane Sibley Washington

I would think its 2 of Fornah, Ward, Barkhuizen & Washington depending on their fitness that makes the bench.

[Sidd10]

4 hours ago, Tamworthram said:

I’m the other way around. It would be icing on the cake to finish top but the overwhelming priority has to be to finish top two. It would be complacent/naive/carless of us to think top two is in the bag now. Of course, I wouldn’t expect PW to looking over his shoulder at the teams below when talking to the team. He, and the team, should literally be focusing on one game at a time (with an aim of winning each one) and not worrying about whether that means we catch Pompey or not.

100% - also if Pompey win it, it most likely means they’ve taken points off Bolton and Barnsley (hopefully not us though) and that would go a long way to meaning 2nd place for us.  
 

Obviously draws would be good and we beat them but 2nd is promotion and that what we need! 
 

[MadAmster]

11 hours ago, DCFC1388 said:

Not sure on the extent of Ward & Barkhuizen's injuries

Post match PW said Barks has a calf injury and will be out for a couple of weeks. Ward felt his calf and was brought off as a precautionary measure. Gayle out for several weeks.

Wash in the squad to replace Gayle with Waggy starting.

In a pre match interview in the Toyota lounge Collo said he was back training. Not ready for Northampton but should be the week after.

[sage]

6 minutes ago, MadAmster said:

Post match PW said Barks has a calf injury and will be out for a couple of weeks. Ward felt his calf and was brought off as a precautionary measure. Gayle out for several weeks.

Wash in the squad to replace Gayle with Waggy starting.

In a pre match interview in the Toyota lounge Collo said he was back training. Not ready for Northampton but should be the week after.

This is why this is such a key game.

After this our squad will get stronger as players return from injury. We just need to manage what we have to engineer 3 points. Win this and I'll be very confident of automatic promotion.

[angieram]

"In the know" - Washington is available for Saturday. As of last night, Gayle's results not through.

[Old Spalding Ram]

For those out and about on Saturday.

Talksport 2 from 2.30pm

EFL GameDay Live: Northampton Town v Derby County

Exclusive live Commentary of the League One match between Northampton Town and Derby County

[Carnero]

Listening to the Rams Talk preview, the Northampton fan said their major weakness is at left back, where they have a gangly cumbersome player called Manny Monthe who is "a L2 centre back" filling in for their regular starter Patrick Brough who isn't up to much either... sounds like just the perfect game for Kane Wilson to play RWB and Mendez to drift out right from a forward position.

He also said they are quite fragile at defending set pieces....  😁

Edited March 20 by Carnero