Cobblers set their sights on play-offs

NORTHAMPTON Town will be aiming to keep alive their faint Coca-Cola League One promotion play-off hopes when they visit Boundary Park tomorrow.

Although the Cobblers are 16 points adrift of a top-six spot, their former Athletic player Andy Holt believes they can still make a challenge.

Holt, who is in his third season at the Sixfields Stadium, said: “If we can put together a five or six-game winning run it would make a massive difference to our league position.

“That is something which happened last season when we had a really good spell after Christmas to go from a similar position to challenge for a play-off place.”

The Cobblers eventually finished ninth, which was still a fine achievement for one of the minnows in League One.

Added Holt: “We did well to finish in the top 10 because if the placings were based on our wage bill we would we bottom of the table.”

Since Stuart Gray became Northampton manager in January, 2007, the Cobblers have improved each season.

They finished 14th in 2007 and ninth the following year and another top-10 finish is a realistic prospect this time round.

“What we have achieved has been tremendous bearing in mind we have to sell our best players to survive and bring through young talent,” said Holt.

“In the last couple of years the likes of Luke Chambers, Scott McGleish, Mark Bunn and Bradley Johnson have all been sold.”

Holt describes striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, the 10-goal leading scorer, as a key player for the team.

Akinfenwa, will be back after missing the Cobblers’ last game at Leicester a fortnight ago with a hamstring strain.

“Adebayo is a massive player in every sense for us,” said Holt. “He is a big lad who holds up the ball well and brings others into play.

“When you look at the time he has had out through injury, he has a fantastic goal ratio per game and I am convinced he would score 20 goals if he played the whole season.”

Holt said the versatile Danny Jackman, who is at home in defence or midfield, is also having a terrific campaign.

“Danny only scored once last season, but has seven goals this time to be our second-leading scorer. The majority have been from free-kicks with his superb delivery.”

Holt, who was with Athletic between the ages of 14 and 22, relishes his returns to Boundary Park and although he has not been a regular in the Northampton side this season, he ought to play tomorrow at left-back or left-wing back as Liam Davis is recovering from a hernia operation.

Said Holt: “I haven’t scored this season and, had I done so, I am sure I would have played more games.

“It is no use whinging about it. I have to get on with things and it would be great if I could break my scoring duck against my old club.”

The form of the Cobblers has been erratic which is why they are two thirds of the way down the League One table, only six shy of the relegation places.

They have lost their last three matches on the road at Southend, Hartlepool and Colchester.

Their two away league wins have been at bottom-four clubs Crewe and Hereford but they have drawn at Stockport, Leicester and Scunthorpe, three of the division’s leading teams.

Indeed, the 4-4 draw at Scunthorpe, where they fought back from a 4-1 deficit, has been described as one of the best games in the division this season.

Athletic manager John Sheridan anticipates a tough game against a big, strong and well-organised team.

He also expects the Cobblers to be be a threat at set-pieces and believes the key to success for Athletic will be patience.




FIXTURES

TOMORROW - Brighton v Carlisle, Cheltenham v Hereford, Huddersfield v Leeds, Leicester v Swindon, Leyton Orient v Crewe, MK Dons v Hartlepool, Athletic v Northampton, Peterborough v Yeovil, Scunthorpe v Bristol Rovers, Southend v Tranmere, Stockport v Millwall, Walsall v Colchester.