Score predictions - Northampton away

We travel to Sixfields for the first time in 9 years this weekend as 6th plays 19th. Its the first time we face Northampton there for 19 years, having played Coventry there during their seasons out of the Ricoj. Despite our away form, and the fact that they've lost 3 in a row in all competitions, we're odds against to beat the cobblers (6/5) albeit heavy favourites.

2 wins, a draw and 4 defeats have been the start to Northampton's return to the third tier after 2 seasons away. Despite that, they haven't lost a game by more than 1 goal, and all of their defeats have been to teams who have started the season reasonably strongly. They've also defeated Peterborough, and come from 2 down against Lincoln to rescue a point. Last season, they had the 4th best home record in league 2, and went on a 6 game unbeaten home run (5 wins) before losing to Bradford on the penultimate day of the season.

This is our first league meeting with Northampton at Sixfields for 21 years. That was our first visit for 22 years, so there isn't anything really to discuss in terms of recent history. In our 13 visits there (to play Northampton) we've won 1, drawn 2 and lost 10 in all competitions. Our only victory there was during the 78/79 season, by a 1-0 scoreline. I'm sure someone will know the goalscorer, because I can't find it. However, during our last visit there in 2014 vs Coventry, Devante Cole was an unused substitute in a 2-2 draw, where the reds came from behind twice in the first half through Hourihane and Lita.

Referee Ben Speedie has issued 17 yellows and 2 reds in 5 games this season. Both red cards were for Fleetwood players in their 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury a month ago. Interestingly, this is Mr Speedie's first league game since then. His last Barnsley appointment was coincidentally against Fleetwood last season, in a game where he issued yellow cards to 5 Barnsley players. I remember Mr Speedie's performance in this game, which is never a good sign. I believe there were a string of poor decisions just prior to Robbie Cundy's winning goal which got the Oakwell faithful's back up. It was during that spell where we were giving a penalty away every game. His last Northampton appointment was actually 3 days before that game, their boxing day draw with Mansfield, a game most notable from the outside for the 2 late goals.

This one for me is a potential banana skin. Northampton's start doesn't look too bad when you look at the sides they've faced, whereas I think we've probably had a poorer start than our league position would suggest. Our historic performance at Northampton leaves a lot to be desired too. However, there were a number of positives from the second half on Tuesday night, and if lessons have been learned, and certain players are given an opportunity, we could be a different proposition. I'm going for 0-1 with Cole being the difference onc e more.

 

Back to winning ways 1-3

 

Derek Bell (according to The Definitive Barnsley F.C.)

 

2-1. Cosgrove and Phillips with the goals.

 

2-2, more comical defending

 

Play like first half Tuesday = 4-0 Northampton (or worse)
Play like second half Tuesday and 1-3 (Cole, Kane, Cadden).

 

2-0 Cole and Cosgrove

 

1-4 Reds.

 

Feeling a backlash for the Cobblers (sounds painful) 2-0 us, Cole and Watters

 

1~3…..anybody go to there old ground I remember it was 3 sided with cricket pitch down one side

 

Yep went in late 70s or early 80s cant remember score though.

 

Tight game. 1-0 Cole.

 

2-0 to the reds, Cole, Phillips.

 

Phillips well overdue for a goal. 3-0 with Cole getting a brace and Phillips rifling one into the top corner late on

 

Away win with O'Keeffe getting a start along with Styles. Goals for Cole.

 

1-1.

 

I was there. Due to a fixture backlog it was played on a Thursday night. We played, Rochdale at Oakwell two days later. Rochdale were on a very lowly position in Division 4, we were in the top 4. We lost 3-0. It was our 4th game in 8 days from memory.

 

First correct O'Keeffe unprompted spelling.

Styles & him have to start for me if we play 3-5-2. Hope Styles is gonna play like he did in the second half vs Pompey. He will destroy any team in this league if he does & gets his move in January. The player I've seen before would not get an offer from Fleetwood. Down to him now. O'Keeffe looks pure class for me. Cotter is a player, but a straight up winger in a 4-4-2, or attacking in a front 3, not a wing back.

 

I went on 14th October 1974 when it finished 2-2 with Peter Martin scoring both our goals. The Reds team was: Arblaster; Murphy, Chambers; Pettit, Winstanley, Greenwood; Sharp, Millar, O'Connor, Lea and Martin. I recall Frank Sharp having a good game down the right wing (unusual for him, being mainly left-footed). Martin took his goals well, as I recall and thought that we might have found a gem from Middlesbrough, but he soon faded away. Northampton's team was: Starling; Bruck (ex-Coventry City - legs like tree trunks), Oman; Robertson (ex-Doncaster Rovers), Baxter (ex-Ipswich Town stalwart and captain), Clarke; Gould (Bobby's brother), Tucker, Large (much travelled Frank), Neal (yes, Phil who went on to Liverpool and England), Buchanan. Baxter scored and penalty and Gould got the Cobblers' goals. Can't recall much more, but it was at the old County Ground, which doubled as the Northants cricket ground. There were 3,013 there, which would have been 3,012 if I had stayed at home, which might have been the preferred option. Happy days.

 

I was at the Coventry City game at Sixfields. I think that it was the last time that Coventry played there. Devante Cole definitely came on for his debut as a substitute. I remember him coming on in the second half and hoping he would be as good as his dad and win us the game, but he didn't.