Thetownend.com

Cobblers. I have no idea how this will pan out.

A lot of Huff and Puff and missed chances is my guess.

We don't normally do well on boxing day so let's change this tradition today and kick off our festive fixtures with a win.

Any win will do. COYR

1-1
I'd have thought both our home & away shirts clashed with their colours

Granted Northampton don't have the white sleeves now but it wasn't an issue on the final day of 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoBCx93TCcY

Loss  2-0

A draw would be good and provide the pleasing W8 D8 L8 after 24 games, further cementing our mid table spot.

1-1

It must be all the booze and Turkey but I feel we will win this one. However we'll need goals from our Midfield because there fuckall upfront. Every win now moves us closer to safety, which a few weeks back was looking unlikely. Sooner we're near the 50 points mark the better for me, anything else would be a bonus.

They currently sit right below us in the table in 14th place with 3 points less than us and a goal difference of -2, 3 better off than us.

They have scored 28 goals and conceded 30 times winning 6 times (Swindon have won 8) but drawing 10 times so suffering 1 less defeat than Town. Their current league form is WWDDLWDD and their season form at home has been DDLDDWLWWDD.

In away games at Northampton or record since 1977 has been DWLLWDLDWWL.

Their top scorer is Van Veen on 8 goals with Williams and Crooks both on 5 goals apeice.

Northampton are very difficult to beat at home and seem to be the draw specialist amassing 10 so far with 6 of those being at home.

Loads of ex players for both sides, Taylor, Richards, McCourt and Anderson (obviously Richards and Anderson won't play due to injury) and for them Williams, Turnbull and Kasim, Turnbull and Williams have both played a fair few games but Kasim hasn't played a minute this season and has yet to get a squad number.

With Swindons current form its impossible to tell how it will pan out, we could be fantastic but we could just as easily crumble!

I will be happy with a draw TBH but I fear we can't score unless its a Taylor free kick.

2-1 defeat with Taylor scoring with a free kick and getting booked for celebrating in front of a crowd of 5,455 with 623 Town fans there.

Heading up shortly, going for a 2-1 win today.

If nothing else it's a day away from in the in-laws so I've already won as far as I'm concerned!  :pint:

We were in a relegation battle a few weeks ago?

How do you think we will do today Reg?

I've no idea, but would be happy with a point.

Festive greetings to all.
Pre match mid table mediocrity in Frankie & Benny's.  :(
Good to get out of the house.
There is only so much MagicTV that can be endured.

Leisure park football on Boxing Day.
A pox on the fixture computer.
Not enough roundabouts on the A43.

Would like to see some intensity today, which was completely lacking on Saturday.
Hopefully Wellens has sorted this out.

In fairness, he made a bold prediction ahead of the game on Saturday - ‘we will concede’.

I’ll go for a 1-1 today.

Look at this "field of dreams" stadium, I am so fucking glad we don't have a soulless lifeless stadium like this.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvV8sYNXcAArsmK.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvWPfBnWwAcMXNb.jpg)

Iandolo dropped with Conroy coming in.

yay!

Twine and Adebayo also benched so a whole new front line, with Anderson fit to start. Not sure I see goals in that formation, unless Woolery can be played through as a lone front man.

Could mean that we play 3 at the back with Knoyle and Taylor at wingback or we may try Woolf or Knoyle at LB.

Quite flexible, interesting to see McGlashan and Anderson back too.

Thats definately not a side with a target man so looks like we will keep the ball on the deck today, McGlashan, Anderson and Woolery thats a lot of pace up top.

Quite weak in the middle of the park though.

Interesting comment from the Cobblers froum....


Could be 2 weak midfields up against each other today then.

God, that's a hideous stadium.

 I'll go 1 - 0 to the Town.

It's my birfdee. 3pts please you bunch of  ;)

Conroy in DMC position...interesting.

Knoyle passed his man but cross too deep from the byeline.

Bad foul by Bowditch on Anderson, could have been a yellow if later on.

0-1 mistake by Conroy in the middle giving the ball away.

Great cross and finish by Williams from 3 yards out.

brilliant.
Turnbull robbed Conroy far too easily allowing Turnbull to play out wide, great cross in, Williams (obviously) hits in from close range.

1-0 northampton

That's it then, all over. Time to find something else to do.

1st attack totally against run of play first 5.

Conroy won a tackle just inside our half then misses a pass and give it to their player who hits it straight down the touchline, great cross from the right and good finish by Williams, couldn't miss.

Come you reddds

Great shot from Northampton pushed out by Vigs to their striker who hits well wide from 12 yards.

Have to pressure their keeper, hes quite poor and his kicking is awful.

Great run and cross by Woolery down the right, crosses to the near post to mcGlashan who couldn't connect in the 6 yard box.

Lovely cross by Knoyle couldn't quite find a Town head.

where the hell is conroy supposed to be playing?

Nice defending by Taylor who blocks the run well up against him.

DMC allegedly....he doesn't know though from what I can see...mcCourt would have been the bette roption IMO.

great cross by McGlashan but its inches from Woolery, ends with a shot from Doughty from 20 yards well wide, good pressure by Town.

poor ball given away by Nelson but Town get away with it.

Conroy gives away a free kick not too far outside out box, needlessly.

Saved by Vigs, poor marking by Town in the box.

sorry, got in late and missed team news other than iandolo out, Conroy in.

I assume Wellens has tried to put some beef into midfield as it looks like that's where Conroy looks to be?

also assume alzate is out through back issue

Another decent save by Vigs as we are hit on the break.

I guess so, he would love the way this game is panning out with our midfield over running them going forwards.

Northampton look threatening

Turnbull 25 yards out well wide, luckily.

Dunne and Conroy are poor today not breaking down the play.

they're being outdone by Turnbull ffs

Conroy gives it away again when going forward.

Exactly!

why the holy hell is conroy in midfield anyway. where's McCourt.

Anderson easily tackled off the ball.

Going forward we look ok, defendsively and in midfield we are currently being over run.

McCourt is the natural selection choice for me, unless hes injured.

Is iFollow video working elsewhere in the world?

Defensively awful. Weak in midfield, passing shite. Could be 3-0.

yes. I've heard it's hard to find a working VPN from blighty these days

Sounds like Dion is having a bit of a 'mare

Dunne and Conroy looking well off the pace, Dunne keeps getting in Doughty's way when attacking and not fast enough to break down their passing. Hes not been right since he came back after his childs illness TBF.

Nelson clears the ball off the line with Vigs beaten from Williams who looked miles offside from 8 yards.

Jesus wept, about an inch from 2-0. Vigs got a glove on it but was trickling in. super Sid to the rescue off the line

Northampton striker Van Driver booked for foot up on Vigs.

McGlashan falling to the ground under the wekest of challenges constantly, but winning some free kicks.

Awful free kick by Taylor.

Great move by Town and Dunne scuffs a pass in a super poisition. very poor.

mcGlashen struggling.

no he's ok

But he's better than we've got

Dunne effectively breaking up another attack. Ours.

Doughty felled on the wing for a free kick 10 yards from the touchline.

Excellent free kick cross from Taylor but Town head it over from a few yards out.

Dunne is like having a black hole in centre mid

They are targeting Taylor relentlessly

They are much better organised without the ball than us, mostly because of the blokes mentioned above, but also pressing us on goal kicks so can’t play out then hoof to lads who have no chance of winning a header

he's certainly better than Dunne and Conroy today

Conroy overhits a good long pass only just out the reach of mcGlashan.

Pierre going in hard on McGlashan at every chance!

Dunne not paying attention see the ball go behind him just outside the box or that would have been a good attack position.

Northampton know that we don't like it rough, but they are pretty dirty side TBH.

Doughty getting angry at having noone supporting him.

Great long pass from Vigs finds mcGlashan who sprints with speed and gets a cross to Woolery just behind him who takes an extra touch and he hits the poist.

great kick from Vigs, mcGlashen fucks the cross but Woolery still get a shot at from Woolery whose shot of deflected onto post. corner Corner comes to nothing

Conroy now coming into the game a bit more and seems to be finding his position but Dunne seems to be getting worse, not good for Town.

Shit the bed we got away with that, Taylor could be booked for that.

And is booked.

thank God 2 Northampton attackers slipped over there while near clean through.

I say slipped, Taylor got booked for pulling back

McGlashan drawing a foul at every chance.

3 mins added, booking for Conroy.

Van Driver tried an acrobatic volley from 30 yards that goes almost as high over the bar.

McGlashan needs to stay on his feet.

HT 0-1 not a great game and not a great performance.

looked a bit better towards the halfs end.

looked reasonable going forwards, yet only 1 good shot on goal.

god knows what that midfield is supposed to be.

McGlashan’s probably been our best player, hard to play against, but we’re far too ponderous around the box. Anderson is AWOL.

Some signs tat we can get back into this, but we need to get better overall. Too much dallying all over the pitch.

I think Dunne needs to come off, Conroy has come into it since the goal and is looking more settled.

We miss Bayo as a target when we have the ball.

We have nothing down the left wing at all with all our attacks coming from McGlashan or Knoyle.

Anderson not in it at all.

Still well in it but we need to claim midfield with Dunne being off the ball and Doughty running around but little end product.

5,759 with 801 Town fans there.

flip, completely forgot we had Smith. what happened to him (yes on bench but...)

Dunne started as he finished, giving the ball away in the middle, frustrating.

Not played since the Carlisle debacle.

'bayo in for mcGlashen. bizarre

Bayo on for McGlashan WTF?

WTF?

Good cross from Taylor claimed by the keeper.

He might score PV?

Anderson pushed off the ball easily.

No doubt we need Bayo but McGlashan was our best player first half, Anderson though has been awful yet is still on.

Bayo should have done a lot better with that dribble.

Fair point

Our passing has been poor all over the pitch today.

McCourt coming on.

Woolery angry at Vigs slow distribution to him.

Terrible long pass from Dunne puts us in trouble.

Close by Northampton just wide.

No chance we get back in to this.

McCourt on for Dunne. finally.

McCourt on for Dunne.

I think we could sneak a goal but we are under a lot of pressure.

When we get the ball forwards we do still look a threat.

Vigs getting a lot of stick from the Northampton mongs for going down under a bad challenge from Williams.

And there we go! Game on. 1-1 :pint:

1-1 Anderson....see ;)

1-1. Anderson.

well worked and nice finish!

didn't see that coming

No chance we get a winner.

Nice passing and run by Taylor then Bayo to Doughty to Anderson who slotted in from the angle...nice finish.

That Anderson is useless  ;) haha! Come on Town!

Get right in!

I think we could sneak a goal winner but we are under a lot of pressure. ;)

Been one of his poorest games so far TBH great finish though!

Indeed. More of that and we'll be happy :)

If Anderson could do that regularly then he would be a 25+ goal striker.

:-)

Bayo gets in a tangle in the box from a nice position.

Bayo good header sets up Anderson for a chance but he pushed the defender.

Bayo poor fisnish close to goal but defelcted wide for a corner.

We play well when we play well.

Nice move by Town ends with a lovely right footed cross after a backheel from Doughty but no one near the cross.

Taylor’s done well this half.

Lovely run by Anderson who was clipped while dribbling but wins a corner.

Anyone’s game but we are a real threat

Doughty class

Different game for Adebayo without defenders who are good in the air

Keshi and Woolery good on the ball

No coincidence we’ve started looking good since Dunne has gone off

Anderson has woken up too

Every Town player has played better this half.

Conroy gives away a corner when he could have done a lot better.

Great break by Town superb long pass by McCourt but Anderson is felled in a good position.

Penalty to them

WTF???

Woolery kicked in the face and he gives THEM a penalty.

wtf. high foot, not a penalty

Bizarre

May be not a penalty? nobody knows.

free kick town. phew. rightly so

That was fucking weird.

Northampton are a bunch of dirty bastards.

Corner to Town won by Bayo.

Great run in the box by McCourt but his cross cant find a Town shirt.

When was the last time Swindon scored from a corner? seems to have been ages.

Will Wellens charge onto the pitch if we score a late winner?

Van Driver is a fucking dirty bastard.

Too Italian ;)

All Swindon last 15 mins.

off the line from Woolery shot

Woolery shot cleared off the line.

now they've hit the bar!

Northampton hit the bar!

Good game tbf

Woolery just beaten to the ball outside the box by the keeper, so close.

2nd half is, 1st half was dire.

Iandolo on for Anderson.

4  minutes of injury time

4 mins added.

Doughty nearly gets to the ball in the box, frantic 10 mins.

Bayo and McCourt have made the difference today.

Doughty nearly sets up Woolery, close.

ft

1-1 fair result, Northampton were better first half we were much the better side 2nd half.

Decent point. I'll take that.

yup. looked unlikely until they switch around with Adebayo coming on (or Dunne going off)

after the goal we looked far more the likely to win

Nelson's last game currently 1 Jan :(

alzate out with his back problem

Wellens doesn't sound overly impressed with mcGlashen 'cutting back', but suggested he had sore knee...

Good result, pleased with that.

I imagine that the drive back to Swindon will be more pleasant than the drive back from Norwich to Nottingham.

Not really as Forest are 2 divisions higher then us and as it currently stands they have a better chance of getting into the premiership let alone the playoffs then us.

1st half was awful.

2nd half once Bayo and Mccourt came on we looked good. Played some nice stuff and could have won it. Decent point in the end.

Nothing has changed for four months. To be a quality side we need a:

- Left Back
- Striker who can win headers/link play
- Diagouraga fit or a midfielder who isn’t Dunne

Game of two halves then.... it's an old cliche, but Cobblers failure to put us out of our misery early doors, left the door open.

Deon Conroy as a sort of holding midfielder was interesting.... least I think that's what he was playing.

First half dire....could and should of been 4 zip adrift at the break.

Rode our luck and improved.

Deserved a point for second half and if Doughty had taken a shot we might of enjoyed an underserved win.

 :nod:
26 fouls apparently.

Decent game in the second half.
Good point and probably a fair result.

Vigs kept us in it in the first half.

Bayo.  :hmmm:
Can't do with him and can't do without him.  :headhurts:

The first half was indeed dire, but fortunately Vigs was excellent, again. I can’t imagine many will be asking for a recall for McCormick this week.

Adebayo was a plus. I’m sure he was shit on Saturday (I wasn’t there) but, please, let’s drop the sarcastic cheers now - we aren’t awash with options up there. Today, he set up a goal, won a few corners and looked a constant threat. Keshi really perked up after he came on and, for about 20 minutes, excelled and showed what he’s capable of.

Negatives... I’m not at all keen on Conroy. The goal was his fault. He can ping a decent crossfield ball, but his short passing is poor. He always looks overweight as well. Having a cast of thousands in midfield, and electing to play a shit defender in there instead, is a throwback to Luke Williams. And we didn’t deal well enough with their crosses.

We are capable of far better football over 90 minutes. But the result was fair.

you know I think we should play Vigs. but he gave me kittens a few times from backpasses and other situations while under pressure with the ball at his feet!

he was otherwise excellent mind. set up a few chances and

It's always on the edge with Vigs.  Thats the point really.  Takes players out with a pass.  Its a risk but sometimes worth it.  He put Mcglashan through when he set up Woolery.  If that comes off its worth it.

Agree with all of this, especially re. Conroy. It seems he is still trading off some good performances in our relegation season with quite a few fans but he hasn’t been the same player since and the midfield experiment didn't work today.

Reg’s old mate Flitters up next....they are 15 unbeaten in the league.

Flitcroft’s recent comments about there being no loyalty left in society, said with his usual smarmy arrogance, made my piss boil. How the fuck can he say that with a straight face? What a Grade A wanker.

It’ll be a hard game, without doubt. But they’ve still drawn more games than they’ve won. And, although they’ve hit form, they’ve hardly been breezing through games.

We wouldn’t get away up there with the first half performance that we put in today, because their forwards are bound to be a bit more ruthless than Andy Pandy and his mates. But, if we manage the sort of start that we did in the earlier Wellens games, I see no reason why we shouldn’t get a result. I’m sure we’d all settle for a point, but football logic suggests that they’ll lose one out of nowhere pretty soon.

I thought it an interesting experiment.... I've never been convinced by him as a centre half, but probably worth sticking with a bit longer to see if it has any mileage, or at least until to see if Toumani can get back to anything like the necessary fitness.

Given Vigs some stick recently but have to give him credit today he was fantastic today. No idea why Conroy got the DM role over Smith.. he didnt look comfortable at all. Mcglashan yet again was a waste of space and spent more time on the floor.

Adebayo did very well when he came on and Woolery/ Anderson (who had a decent game) came to life. McCourt also looked good when he came on and we had a much stronger 2nd half.

Have to mention the penalty that wasn't though. How the fuck that was even briefly considered a penalty I'll never know! Glad the ref saw sense and fair play for changing his mind but it would have been a disgrace if it was given!

Just watched the highlights. Anyone else notice Taylor lying on the floor and trying to rugby tackle one of the Northampton players in the second half? Should have been sent off since he brought the player down.

They were breaking, Taylor wasn’t officially last man, ref waved play on and then correctly booked him when the ball went out of play for a corner.

I think the criticism of Conroy is a bit harsh. After a bit of a shaky start, in a position that he's not used to playing in, I thought he got better and better as the game went on. Yes, he made the mistake for their goal, but made up for it later with his involvement in our goal.

He's comfortable on the ball and hits some excellent long balls. He could, potentially, be a very good defensive midfielder.

I'd agree that Conroy might be worth a go in that position.
Smith or McCourt are not much cop there, but hopefully TD can manage a run of games before the end of the season.

Interesting that Turnbull looked to be playing the same role for Northampton.

I would agree with a lot of what's been said.

Ended up being a pretty decent game with both sides having good chances to win it. It was one of those games where you just have to say that a draw was a fair result. The first half was very poor though and Cobblers could/should have been three up at the break. Not seen any highlights yet but how their bloke missed from 6 yards out is a mystery and would have been game over effectively.

Even though Adabeyo is to say the very least limited, yesterday shows that you have to play him until such time as we manage to find someone better. He made a huge difference when he came on in the second half.

Vigs - didn't put a foot (or hand wrong)
Conroy - give him a chance in that position and he could become a modern day Ross McLaren
Keshi - can be very frustrating at times but a nicely taken goal
Woolery - if Wellens can find a way of getting the best out of him we will have a player on our hands. Is there anyone quicker in L2??

We always take good support to Northampton and yesterday was no exception (although I think our away support has always been good generally) and it was nice to see Wellens acknowledge it.

I certainly feel a lot better about the Club's prospects now than after the Col U game which, hopefully was my nadir in terms of supporting STFC.

Exeter seem to think they are bringing 2000 on NYD. Can’t see it myself, but should be a good crowd/atmosphere.

Just stick it up Flitcroft’s arse on Saturday.

I'd rather not, thanks, but each to their own

The question of prospects though is a relative term.... in our lowest ever finish season in Div 4 of 83/84, we had 2 fewer points at the same stage, but were through to the 3rd round of the cup and made it it the 4th.

Although Wellens is to be commended for his work so far, we still are at a historic low ebb, from which something will need to change, if we are to find a way back to our, what many would regard as rightful Div 3 status.

83/84, despite the lift from the cup run, defined nadir, with sub 2000 CG crowds at end of the season.  That situation came from a 3rd season in Div 4 with seemingly little prospect of improvement.  This time round our loyal hardcore is holding up pretty well, but we've now a horrible little 3 game run to test our resolve.... Mansfield and Exeter, who are flying, Grecians after a sticky patch and then Macc..... improving under Campbell, and a place we've a 100% losing record.

They don't get that many more at home for some games, never gonna happen, they have never brought more than 900-1000 ever in my 45 years of following the Town.

Hopefully they bring a few as it's money for the club.... Exeter will have missed out the last couple of seasons, with our visit, because of the low away capacity.

Indeed they have but they have their new end open now (!) possibly still the worst end in the football league excepting Poxford (and Aldershot when they were in L2).

Not forgetting Gillingham!

Just checking back on the Cheltenham and Northampton matches. Forgive me as they are only the 10mins of extended highlights but from what I saw again;

v Cheltenham but for Stupid Sexy Flinders and the Woolf miscuing his shot near the end I thought we had good value to beat them. Considering our "record" against them it was a decent point and probably should've nicked it. Didn't seem as dire as some had pointed out.

v Northampton they should've put it to bed in the 1st half, Woolery hit the post but could and possibly should've been about 4-1. As has been mentioned it really was a game of two halves. They hit the bar but The Town should've won about 3-1. Strange how there were two similar goalkeeper fluffs which led to goal line clearances. On balance a draw was about right but if we're honest Cobblers should have put it away 1st half.

Vigs made some great stops, some bizarre goalkeeping positioning and I don't understand how he has this inherent need to parry it towards the opposition on many occasions. Has no one coached him the basics of parrying to the sides rather than forward? I don't  want to batter him because he can be very good but he needs stronger wrists because so many times we've seen the ball break through him, when it should be a save. He also almost needs a second claim every time he makes a save. This shows up because he likes to tip a ball rather than claim/smother. Conroy probably isn't ready to be a DCM yet so probably wise to put that on the back burner and get someone in to do a job, Turnbull would be an interesting one but we would have to move on one of the many midfielders, Dave (fitness) or Smith (if he isn't going to be used) come to mind.

Going forward to tomorrow with the trip to Mansfield, and watched several of their highlights, they do look dangerous albeit a bit boring. Play like the 1st half v Northampton and we could be 2 or 3 down. Play like the 2nd half and we'll likely have our noses in front. We will concede, not sure whether it will be 1st or 2nd but there will be goals. Gut says we'll lose 2-1, heart says we'll win 1-2/1-3, head says 1-1.

Sorry, that prediction was all a bit Reg (lite)  :hmmm:

Gills do have a horrible away end but its slighty more than 3 steps high!

Layer Road, used to have about 5 steps, and a bog which consisted of 1 Twyford's Adamant.  First visit Whaddon Road can't have been more than 6 or 7, with a corrugated roof, whcih you could touch if you had a bit of height.  TBF they did replace it with something slightly better pdq

Layer Road had about 5 or 6 steps for 3/4 of the ground IIRC, horrible ground to visit.

Yet still far better than their current ground

I haven't been to the new ground but did not enjoy the old ground, really claustrophobic.

AFC Wimbledon is pretty poor.
Shallow terrace, part of which is below pitch level.
Little people have no chance there.

Hopefully their new place will be a thing of beauty.

I remember visiting Roots Hall back in the 90s, it felt like you were stood outside the ground  :)

Most people were !,  mainly in the flats overlooking the ground !. Tightfisted gits.