(for NMH.
) I've not read back (yet) so will give my thoughts.
Firstly I am going to be 'that guy' and start off with a bit of a moan, which does seem churlish given we won 5-2 against the team that started the day in second place. Our defence, particularly from set pieces continues to give me kittens. Northampton are a fairly direct team that play to their strengths, mainly corners, long throws, free kicks into the box. Their delivery from Pinnock was generally on point and we struggled time after time to defend it. I thought Guthrie was offside for their second goal but ignoring that Horsfall headed wide when easier to score, out jumping Jojo from a corner and from a free kick they managed to mess one up when 4 players had the chance to score, luckily they didn't. That high defensive line from free kicks really really needs work, we seem to get caught out badly every time from it. Aside from that Northampton's equalising goal was so disappointing. I couldn't believe that Iandolo was firstly caught too far out of position, and then seemed to be jogging back allowing their striker a free strike on goal - that he hit very well to be fair. I personally think that we caught Northampton on a good day, they were running on empty long before the end and their defence couldn't cope with our superior pace and fitness. I think their manager said they only trained the day before the game, and after 60 minutes, you could tell.
All that being said. We were much more on it. I thought we played well first half and after a good move, started by the excellent Tyrese Simpson, Payne's ball into the box pinballed off 2 Cobblers and McKirdy put away nicely. Hugely lucky, but one of those days McKirdy just seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Northampton's equaliser was a poor one to concede from our point of view and we ended the half on the ropes, lucky not to go in behind. It might just be me, but at times after we concede we do tend to go to pieces and lose all our composure sometimes. (I think this happened against Port Vale?) Second half was barn storming. Guthrie scored what looked like an offside goal, from a free kick but the key goal was our equaliser straight away, more pinball in the box and McKirdy swivelled for 2-2. Moments later class from Williams, bit of a lucky deflection off Simpson which again fell for McKirdy for 3-2. The goal of the game was next, Simpson taking a ball into his patch expertly, driving forward and smashing the ball home with his wrong foot. Clearly the defenders showed him onto that weaker foot, but he showed it's not just for swinging with. (don't get too excited Jimmy!!
) Finally a good save from a Reed free kick which again fell favourably for McKirdy who finished very well from a tricky(ish) angle. Had to laugh at the fella in the motorised wheelchair that moved towards the advertising hoardings, I believe that might have gone viral now, seemingly he was famously involved in a pitch invasion at Northampton before!!
So overall a much needed win and performance at home, in the end we should have won 8-2 but on another day we could have lost that had Northampton not totally run out of gas. McKirdy's 4 goals by definition makes him man of the match, but I thought Simpson and Williams were also excellent. I know it's part of his game to win free kicks but I wish Williams wouldn't spend so much time on the floor, personally i'd like him to get on with it, keep the momentum going. Still not perfect, but definitely so much better than previous home games. Long may it last!!
