Chesterfield v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, January 12th 2013
After three home games either side of postponements of scheduled away fixtures it’s back on the road for a Cobblers side that were perhaps inadvertently glad of a two game break over the festive period that would have seen us travel to AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham in quick succession. As it is, this becomes the big tester of Aidy Boothroyd’s men who won all three home games over the last couple of weeks.
Chesterfield come into the game finely poised three points behind the Cobblers so it’s an important one for both sides as 2013 gets rolling.
Double departure at start of window…
The Spireites have parted ways with two strikers this week as the transfer window activity kicks off with former Arsenal man Luis Boa Morte’s short term contract not being renewed and Craig Westcarr reaching a mutual agreement with the club to cut short his current deal. Coming in the other way since the New Year began was defender Liam Cooper who sealed a permanent move to the club from Hull City having been on loan since November. The club also confirmed today the arrival of midfielder Jay O’Shea on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell from MK Dons.
Tough start to 2013…
Chesterfield have endured a sticky start to 2013 with back to back away defeats pulling them away from the playoff places for the time being. After going down 1-0 at Accrington Stanley on New Year’s Day, they were beaten 2-1 by Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. Before that, though, they had gone six games unbeaten at home in all competitions and had started to build up a real head of steam at the B2Net Stadium, meaning that this will be a big task for the Cobblers to come through.
Demontagnac…played for both
Club Links…
Cobblers winger Ishmel Demontagnac spent some time on loan with Chesterfield in 2010, playing ten times and scoring three goals in his short time there.
Chesterfield midfielder Sam Togwell is another to have played for both sides. He played nine games for the Cobblers in 2005 during a loan spell from Crystal Palace.
Spireites striker Marc Richards was with the Cobblers for two seasons between 2003 and 2005, scoring ten times in over fifty appearances for Town.
Team News…
Chesterfield will be without Drew Talbot for the Cobblers clash with the striker broke his toe during last weekend’s defeat at Wycombe. Manager Paul Cook has also revealed that Terrell Forbes won’t play in the game tomorrow.
The Cobblers have no new injury concerns ahead of the trip with David Artell returning to training this week. The defender won’t be risked just yet but is on the road to recovery. John Johnson and Nana are the only other long term absentees but apart from that we have a clean bill of health going into the game.
Previous Six Meetings…
22/09/12: Cobblers 0-0 Chesterfield (League Two)
Tame goalless draw earlier this season as neither side could break through at Sixfields. Jack Lester rattled the cross bar with the visitor’s best effort while Kelvin Langmead’s close range header the best chance for the Cobblers.
08/03/11: Chesterfield 2-1 Cobblers (League Two)
En route to winning promotion from League Two in 2011, Chesterfield saw off the Cobblers in a tight game at the B2Net Stadium thanks to goals from Craig Davies and Jack Lester. Andy Holt grabbed the late consolation for Town.
28/09/10: Cobblers 1-2 Chesterfield (League Two)
Chesterfield also won by the same score line at Sixfields just over two years ago. After Kevin Thornton had given the Cobblers the lead on the stroke of half-time, the Spireites turned the game on its head in the second half as Dean Morgan and Craig Davies won the game for their side.
23/01/10: Cobblers 0-0 Chesterfield (League Two)
Stalemate at Sixfields in January 2010 as both sides failed to break down the other on a frustrating afternoon for both.
15/08/09: Chesterfield 1-0 Cobblers (League Two)
Donal McDermott’s goal was enough to earn his side all three points in the Cobblers’ opening away fixture of the 2009/10 season.
21/04/07: Cobblers 1-0 Chesterfield (League One)
Cobblers loanee Simon Cox scored the only goal of the game late in the 2006/07 season, Town’s first campaign back in League One for three years.
The man in the middle…
Stuart Attwell takes charge tomorrow afternoon having last refereed a Town game in the 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town towards the end of last season. During this campaign, he has shown 76 yellow cards and two reds in 26 games.
Prediction…
This is another big one for the Cobblers with Chesterfield likely to give us a stern examination as they look for their first win of 2013. They should be fired up so I’d be OK with a point that I think we can get. 2-2.
A Load Of Cobblers 