Northampton Town v Chesterfield
League Two
Saturday, January 25th 2014
This week has probably been the longest of all of the long weeks since the sacking of Aidy Boothroyd with practically every day containing something new to bring us down to new depths of despair. We’ve gone from being certain that Colin Calderwood was coming in to being back to the drawing board and then starting to approach existing League Two managers – there’s nothing more to say other than it’s been a complete mess and it’s somewhat of a relief that we actually have a football match to play on Saturday afternoon.
When you’re rock bottom, in the state that we’re in and with absolutely no confidence likely to be coming from the Sixfields terraces you start to wonder if you’re not about to get a good hiding to knock us further into the brown stuff. Chesterfield are certainly not the best opponents for this type of situation.
The Spireites have been in the running for automatic promotion all season and were on the brink of regaining a place in the top three on Tuesday night when they went into stoppage time against fellow promotion hopefuls Rochdale 2-0 up. But a stunning comeback saw Marc Richards sent off for a handball before Ian Henderson slotted in what should have just been a consolation. A dramatic equaliser from Peter Vincenti, though, sent the visitors home with a point and Chesterfield remained just outside the automatic promotion places.
That means that Paul Cook’s men will be going all out to make amends at Sixfields and will be sensing blood as they enter Sixfields. The only way that we can possibly get back to seeing our football club in a positive light again is with three points…we need now more than ever to have smiles on our faces as all around us proceeds to fall apart.
O’ Donovan…back in contention
Team News…
The Cobblers hope to have Joe Widdowson back from a shoulder injury to face Chesterfield while fellow defender Mathias Doumbe is also close to a return. Paul Reid is struggling with a hamstring problem that would have kept him out of last weeks’ game at Torquay had it gone ahead and Chris Hackett is still missing. Elsewhere, Roy O’Donovan is available again and could be pushing for a start with a week extra training under his belt and Ian Morris is another who could be back. Right back Kevin Amankwaah was released from his contract earlier this week.
Chesterfield will be without former Cobblers striker Marc Richards who was sent off in that 2-2 draw with Rochdale on Tuesday night. Also out of this one are Drew Talbot and Nathan Smith who have both picked up niggles recently.
Previous Six Meetings…
26/11/13: Chesterfield 0-0 Cobblers (League Two)
A rare good result on the road earlier this season as the Cobblers hold on for a decent point at the high flying Spireites.
12/01/13: Chesterfield 3-0 Cobblers (League Two)
A poor showing at Saltergate last season saw goals from Jay O’Shea and two from former Cobbler Marc Richards earn a comfortable win for the home side.
22/09/12: Cobblers 0-0 Chesterfield (League Two)
Tame goalless draw earlier that 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.
The man in the middle…
Graham Horwood is the referee on Saturday having already taken charge of a Cobblers game this season in our 2-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Horwood sent off Ishmel Demontagnac during that game and that’s the only red card he’s shown this season.
Prediction…
Chesterfield come to town looking to climb back into the top three after being denied in that incredible finish on Tuesday night. We escaped from the Proact Stadium with a draw earlier this season but in our current state we’ll do very well to even get another draw. 0-2
A Load Of Cobblers 