The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Sixfields
Sixfields

Northampton v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 13/11/2009

BLOODY hell thanks to that angry letter by poojah this might actually be picked up by some editor of a big paper. I'll even work at the Daily Mail! Best make sure it’s spell checked then. Oh yeah were playing Northampton on Saturday!

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Northampton (a)


We've had two cup games showing the Jekyll and Hyde of Town in the last week. One showed the foundations of a team we can build on but secondly and most importantly we also saw the utter crap filled turd based structure which we are usually forced to watch each week. If poojah’s letter of eclectic lexicon filled hate is anything to go by a large amount of derision is starting to ferment within the bowels of the terraces. The constant ineptitude on the players' part was clear for all to see on Saturday and, for all those watching, the Elland Road defeat on television and in West Yorkshire a lack of creativity and common sense was all too easy to access and despite the improvement on the base of effort and passion from Saturday’s debacle, its hard to draw comfort from a strike partnership which spends 70% of their game offside against a team which can hardly be described as George Graham's Arsenal of the early 90’s.

With rumours abounding concerning the vacant managerial position it will be interesting to see if the players are finally becoming aware their time may well be coming to an end, as a new regime which will hopefully be tougher and more ruthless draws ever closer. Whatever the case we need a win badly like we have done so many weekends before and the slight hatred I feel towards the second best team in Northampton would make it all the nicer if a win was gained at their flat pack stadium.

Overview

Their History

Formed in 1897 between a solicitor and a handful of teachers, Northampton played their first matches at the County Cricket ground under the proviso they didn't play any matches between May and September. The club floated around the southern leagues for a while having the great and ex Mariner Herbert Chapman manager them. Since their creation Northampton have graced the first division for a season in the 60’s played in a Charity Shield final losing 2-0 to Chelsea and a Play off Final at Wembley losing 1-0 to Grimsby Town if you didn't know.

Last Season Was

The Cobblers lost Mark Bunn and Gabor Gyepes in the summer and were never properly replaced after their big summer moves. Stuart Gray instead had to depend on several loan signings and were doing well being 12th at Christmas but with 2009 came the downturn. Just 5 wins in 2009 saw The Cobblers delve deep into the relegation dog fight and their relegation was confirmed on the final day with a 3-0 defeat against Leeds ending their 3 year stint in the third tier.

This Season Is

Like so many others before them Northampton are finding the drop to the fourth tier far from a walk in the park. Currently 16thit had started well for the midlanders with just 1 league defeat in 4 and a victory over current table toppers Bournemouth, fans would be forgiven for thinking an immediate return to League One was on the cards but after the Bournemouth game Northampton’s form took a rollercoaster of a dip. 5 straight defeats and just 1 win in 9 meant that they are now at the wrong end of the table looking up at the contenders. Though wins against Lincoln and Morecambe ended the dreadful run it hasn't ended the disquiet around Sixfields. Defeats against local rivals MK Dons, struggling Torquay and a narrow home win against non league Fleetwood Town says not all is perfect in the lift testing capital of the midlands.

Their Ground Is

Breeze block central or Sixfields is lightly ears away from the well built Franklin Gardens in the centre of the town but it does its job. Built in 1994 the ground is on the outskirts of Northampton and you may see some catching a free glimpse from the hill. Tickets are £19 and are NOT available on the gate as it states on the OS.

Key Player

Steve Guinan. The Brummy is well travelled and at 33 has a number of clubs on his CV. Starting at Forest in 1993 Guinan played just 7 games for Forest in his 6 years at the club going out on loan to as many clubs ranging from Scunthorpe to Halifax. From his unsuccessful time on the West Bridgford side of the Trent Guinan moved for a year to Cambridge and then onto Plymouth playing 30 matches but with just 3 goals was moved onto after a couple of years. From 2002 Guinan started a love affair with Hereford signing for them going on loan to them and finally resigning for them in 2007. It was a moment in the midst of this continued traipse across the south west which Town fans will know him. At Cardiff in the Play-off final it was this Mr. Guinan’s solitary goal that claimed Cheltenham a win against us to secure promotion in 2006. In the summer of 2009 the now Grade A coach signed for Northampton and has of late managed to pick up a good run of form scoring 3 in the last 5, 1 on Wednesday night against MK Dons.

Recent Form

TownNorthampton
LLeeds (JPT)(a)1-3
LBath (FAC)(h)0-2
DAccrington(h)2-2
LBournemouth(a)1-3
LRochdale(h)0-2
Currently 23rd in League Two.
LMK Dons (JPT((a)1-3
WFleetwood (FAC)(h)2-1
LTorquay(a)0-1
WMorecambe(a)4-2
WLincoln(h)1-0
Currently 16th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownNorthampton
Sweeney5
Conlon4
Guinan7
Gilligan5

Team News

TownNorthampton

  • Adam Proudlock, Nathan Jarman and Robbie Stockdale are all still injured.

  • Nobody is suspended for the first time in ages
  • Dean Beckwith (hamstring) misses out but fellow centre-half Patrick Kanyuka should be available as a replacement to make his league debut.

  • Abdul Osman (back) and Courtney Herbert (sciatica) are still missing.
  • Squads

    TownNorthampton
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jarman
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    20MFJammal Shahin
    23MFOliver Lancashire
    24DFDamien McCrory
    25DFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    28FWJosh Fuller
    29FWBradley Wood
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GKChris Dunn
    2 DFPaul Rodgers
    3 DFJohn Johnson (on loan from Middlesbrough)
    4 MFLuke Guttridge
    5 DFCraig Hinton (Captain)
    6 DFDean Beckwith
    8 MFAbdul Osman
    9 FWSteve Guinan
    10 FWAdebayo Akinfenwa
    11 DFAndy Holt
    12 MFRyan Gilligan
    13 GKPaul Walker
    14 MFLiam Davis
    15 MFAlex Dyer
    16 FWGary Mulligan
    17 FWBilly McKay
    19 DFJohn Curtis
    20 DFChris McCready
    21 MFMichael Jacobs
    22 FWCourtney Herbert
    22 FWPeter Gilbert
    24 FWSeb Harris
    26 GKSimon Brown
    40 DFPat Kanyuka

    Head to Head

    Town have not won for five games and the Cobblers lead overall.

    P33 W12D6 L15F29A52

    Head-to-Head (65th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0 Northampton 2 (Tue 21st Nov Dec 2006)

    Town lost a cup replay early in Alan Buckley's third spell at Blundell Park.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    The Mariners need a performance let’s hope the letter of anger is posted all over the bus and dressing room prior to the match it may well have an effect. Even if it’s to galvanise the entire squad against us in an “Up yours!” Fashion. Leeds offer the smallest slither of light but it wasn't fantastic.

    Northampton 2-0 Grimsby

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