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Preview: Northampton v Grimsby
By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 09/11/2006
AFTER an incredible week, Grimsby Town put their perilous league position aside as they make the difficult trip to Northampton for the first round of the FA Cup.
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Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Northampton (a) |
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The Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After relegation to the now League 2 in 2003, Northampton made a poor start to the following season and appointed Colin Calderwood as manager in the October. Calderwood transformed the club, guiding them to the play-offs in each of his first two seasons. Last season they eventually got it right and a run of 22 out of 24 points in March and April clinched automatic promoted with one game to spare. Despite promotion, Calderwood found the lure of the Nottm Forest job too high and resigned from The Cobblers in May. Northampton were quick to appoint John Gorman (left), who had parted company with Wycombe, and have made a reasonable start to life in League 1.
Thoughts of the FA Cup would usually bring excitement, but Town’s recent record leaves a lot to be desired, having won only once this century (1-0 v QPR in 03/04). Due to this poor run Town haven’t actually played a team in a division above them since they met Leeds in 97/98, and will have the unusual distinction of starting as definite underdogs. In contrast Northampton have a good recent record in the FA Cup getting to the 4th round in 2004 and the 3rd round in the last two season; they have also not exited in the first round since 99/00.
Northampton currently lie in 14th place in League 1, although this masks both a horrific home record and a superb away record. The Cobblers picked up only one point in their first six home games of the season, but have slightly turned things around with a win and two draws recently. Meanwhile, their away form is one of only two still unbeaten in League 1, with four wins and four draws. Northampton’s main problem seems to lie in scoring goals; they have averaged less than a goal a game and only two players have found the net more than once this season.
Jason Crowe left Blundell Park in the summer of 2005 after only two seasons and has become a regular at full back. Sam Aiston and James Quinn, who both turned down a move to the Mariners in the same period, joined this summer whilst the experienced Ian Taylor (ex-Aston Villa) and Eoin Jess (ex-Aberdeen) line up in midfield. Top scorer is Scott McGleish (left) with six goals, and he is normally partnered by Andy Kirk who has five.
After eight years at Nottm Forest, Chris Doig (left) joined Northampton in 2005 becoming an integral part of their defence and playing in 38 games of last season’s success. He has started every game so far this season and helped their mean defence to concede only two goals in the last 6 games and keep 6 clean sheets in the last 9.
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Head to Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mariners have a generally even record against The Cobblers and games between the two are generally tight affairs; neither side has won by more than a single goal in the last 16 meetings. P 30 W 12 D 5 L 13 F 38 A 48 Northampton Head-to-Head (53rd on The Opposition Ladder)
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Last Meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The last time Town visited Sixfields was little over a year ago when Town continued their unbeaten away start to the season by holding the home side to a goalless draw.
Northampton Team: Harper, Bojic, Dyche (Bradley Johnson, 27 (Kirk, 74)), Doig, Crowe, Low (Rowson, 89), Taylor, Jess, Smith, McGleish, Mendes
Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Whittle, R Jones, Newey, Cohen (Barwick, 71), Kalala, Bolland, Toner, Andrew (Reddy, 58), Gritton (G Jones, 72) Attendance: 6,067Â Â Report
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Directions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click on the link for directions to Sixfields (left).
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Pubs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Click on the link for pubs around Sixfields.
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This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!
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After relegation to the now League 2 in 2003, Northampton made a poor start to the following season and appointed Colin Calderwood as manager in the October. Calderwood transformed the club, guiding them to the play-offs in each of his first two seasons. Last season they eventually got it right and a run of 22 out of 24 points in March and April clinched automatic promoted with one game to spare. Despite promotion, Calderwood found the lure of the Nottm Forest job too high and resigned from The Cobblers in May. Northampton were quick to appoint John Gorman (left), who had parted company with Wycombe, and have made a reasonable start to life in League 1.
Northampton currently lie in 14th place in League 1, although this masks both a horrific home record and a superb away record. The Cobblers picked up only one point in their first six home games of the season, but have slightly turned things around with a win and two draws recently. Meanwhile, their away form is one of only two still unbeaten in League 1, with four wins and four draws. Northampton’s main problem seems to lie in scoring goals; they have averaged less than a goal a game and only two players have found the net more than once this season.
After eight years at Nottm Forest, Chris Doig (left) joined Northampton in 2005 becoming an integral part of their defence and playing in 38 games of last season’s success. He has started every game so far this season and helped their mean defence to concede only two goals in the last 6 games and keep 6 clean sheets in the last 9.
Click on the link for directions to