The Cobblers kick off the 2019/20 campaign at home to Walsall. The new-look Cobblers with 12 new additions, the Cobblers Pre-season ended with a 2-1 win over MK Dons. Walsall is a side that has brought 14 new players in, one of them is ex-cobbler Shay Facey.
In this preview, we will get you up to date with everything you need to know before today’s game including; Last 6 games, Biggest Win, Head to Head, Summer singings and much much more.
Head to head
The Cobblers have played Walsall 82 times 40 of these games coming at home and the Cobblers have only lost 12 of them.
Last 6 HOME meetings
A look back at the last home meeting between the Cobblers and the Saddlers.
Walsall moved ahead after only 90 seconds when Northampton goalkeeper David Cornell lost possession to Amadou Bakayoko, who squared for Erhun Oztumer to stroke into the bottom corner.
But they were immediately pegged back in an explosive start as Long nodded in an equaliser just three minutes later after Mark Gillespie had brilliantly kept out John-Joe O’Toole.
Goalmouth action dried up thereafter but Northampton completed the turnaround late in the first half when Long, found by David Buchanan, shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
The Saddlers spent much of the second period chasing an equaliser but could not find it and they had Bakayoko sent off for a poor challenge in stoppage-time, with Northampton’s Matt Crooks also seeing red.
Biggest Home Win
The Cobblers biggest home win came on the 5th November 1927 in division three. With the Cobblers winning 10-0.
Pre-Season
Here is a look at both clubs pre-season games.
Keith Curle
“I’ve not had a pre-season like this one,” he admitted. “But you live and die by decisions as a manager and without being disrespectful, I knew there needed to be changes within the group. We’ve brought in a lot of players and a lot of good players and there are also a lot of good players that have remained at the club. That’s because we want to be a progressive football club that gets better and better and better.”
“It’s a tough league,” said Clarke. “You have got to earn every point you get. There are different games, different strengths for different teams. There are some technical teams, some teams that are very physical, very strong. Some are a mixture of both.We are under no illusions; we have to earn the right to win games and pick up points.”
“I don’t want anyone telling me Walsall used to be a Championship club, or a League One club, because it’s gone.The quicker we get our heads around that the better. That goes for everyone, everyone in the football club, the supporters and the media. We are a League Two football club. And the only way you get out of League Two is by making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction.It’s been a pretty positive summer, with the changes that have been made at the football club.”
“We want to continue that and have a good season.”
Walsall new additions
Clarke will have all 14 of his summer signings available to choose from, with youngster Luke Little the only absentee. The new season represents a new chapter for the Saddlers, with the clash against Town the first competitive match since Leigh Pomlett took over as chairman.
Referee
Todays referee is Nicholas Kinseley, the last time Nicholas was the man in the middle for the cobblers was on the 16/02/19 at Sixfields vs Crawley town in league 2 and the cobblers drew 0-0.
Lines Men: Christopher Husband and Joseph Stokes
Fourth Official: George Byrne
Facts
Northampton Town’s heaviest Football League defeat came against Walsall back in April 1947, when the Saddlers beat the Cobblers 8-0 in a Division Three South clash.
Northampton Town and Walsall last met on the opening day of a Football League campaign back at the beginning of the 1989-90 season, with the Saddlers winning 1-0 before both sides went on to be relegated.
Northampton have won just one of their last 17 league games played during the month of August (D8 L8), however that victory did come in their last such game, beating Colchester 2-1 last season.
Walsall have lost 14 league games so far in 2019 – of sides still in the top four tiers of English Football, only Bolton Wanderers (16) have lost more.
Walsall will start their league campaign in the fourth tier of English Football for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
The Cobbler
Make sure you pick up a copy of the Official Matchday Magazine ‘The Cobbler’
This season Sixfields turns 25 years old and i look back at the most rememberable matches that Sixfields has seen.
Make sure you pick up a copy from around the ground at £3.