The Cobblers are back at home after two games away were they grabbed their first point of the 2019/20 campaign and unfortunately getting knocked out of the league cup at Swansea by 3 goals to 1, the Cobblers still put a great shift in and fell unlucky in some parts. This weekends game sees managerless Macclesfield Town come to Sixfields after Sol Campbell left the club in the week.
In this preview we will get you up to date with everything you need to know before today’s game including; Last 6 games, Last Game, Head to Head, Summer signings and much much more.
Head to Head
The Cobblers have played Macclesfield 18 times 9 of these games coming at home and the Cobblers have only lost 2 of them.
Last 6 HOME meetings
A look back at the last home meeting between the Cobblers and Macclesfield;
Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield saw their survival hopes dealt a blow with a 3-1 defeat to Northampton.
Dean Bowditch and Harry Smith exchanged first half goals but Daniel Powell and Junior Morias both netted after the break to hand the Cobblers their first win in over a month.
David Cornell kept out Ben Stephens and Nathan Cameron before Smith shot over as Macclesfield began on the front foot.
But the visitors fell behind after 25 minutes when Jordan Turnbull’s clipped cross was neatly volleyed into the bottom corner by Bowditch.
Smith’s header was then ruled out for offside but he was not to be denied seven minutes before half-time when he lobbed Cornell after being released by Stephens’ pass.
Kieran O’Hara denied George Cox early in the second half but there was nothing he could do when Powell latched onto a short back header and slotted home just shy of the hour-mark.
Macclesfield nearly hit back through Elliott Durrell’s terrific free-kick but their fate was sealed in stoppage-time when Powell teed up Morias for a tap-in.
Here are the highlights:
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Last time out
Swansea City avoided a first-round Carabao Cup upset as they fought back to beat League Two Northampton Town.
Despite being 60 league places below the Swans, the visitors took a deserved lead with Matt Warburton’s low finish.
That sparked Swansea into life as Andre Ayew headed them level in the 80th minute with his first goal for the club since May 2016.
George Byers’ strike from the edge of the area put them ahead three minutes later before Ayew nodded in his second.
Swansea’s reward is a home tie against another League Two side Cambridge United in the second round.
The late surge from Steve Cooper’s team brought relief to the Liberty Stadium crowd, who had been getting twitchy after watching their side – showing 11 changes from Saturday’s
Championship draw at Derby – struggle against a Northampton team with seven changes from their draw with Port Vale.
The final 10 minutes offered encouragement for Swans head coach Cooper, with a lively debut from substitute forward Jordon Garrick and a promising cameo from Ayew.
League Two Macclesfield dumped Blackpool out of the Carabao Cup 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes at Bloomfield Road.
Ollie Turton’s header gave the Tangerines the advantage, but the Cheshire side levelled through Rocky Bushiri’s own goal before half-time.
Virgil Gomis’ strike with 25 minutes remaining looked to have completed the Silkmen’s remarkable comeback, but Armand Gnanduillet’s spot-kick at the death took the tie to penalties.And Macclesfield triumphed 4-2 as goalkeeper Owen Evans hit the winning penalty, having kept out Sullay Kaikai and Jordan Thompson’s attempts.
The Seasiders took a deserved lead on the half-hour when Turton’s low header from Liam Feeney’s cross crept into the bottom corner.
The Silkmen were level five minutes from the break as Jacob Blyth’s cross was put into his own net by Bushiri.And Macclesfield skipper Fiacre Kelleher blocked Ryan Hardie’s 51st-minute shot on the line to keep the tie level.
Gomis then netted three minutes after coming off the bench, lashing home emphatically off the crossbar to hand Sol Campbell’s side the lead.
But Miles Welch-Hayes fouled Gnanduillet in the box and the striker picked himself up to convert a 90th-minute spot-kick and send the tie to penalties.
Macclesfield Summer Signings
Sol Campbell as he left Macclesfield “Macclesfield Town provided me with a great beginning in the managerial side of the game, as well as a fantastic learning curve which I am truly grateful for.
“I would like to thank all the players and staff for their support during my time at the Moss Rose and also all the loyal fans, whose belief at the end of last season ultimately played a tangible role in our success.”
Officials
Today’s referee is JAMES OLDHAM.
the last time james was the man in the middle for the cobblers was on 3rd November 2018 at Sixfields vs Crewe Alexandra in LEAGUE 2 and the Cobblers won 2-0.
JAMES OLDHAM
Assistants: Andrew Aylott and Paul Lister
Fourth Official: Andrew Williams
Played For Both: Macclesfield Town
Paul Harsley
Paul started his career with Scunthorpe United at the age of 18 – his hometown club. After a successful four years he joined Northampton via Halifax Town. A full season followed in 2002-2003, although he suffered his third relegation in four years as The Cobblers dropped out the Second Division.
Starting the following season with Northampton, Paul made the move to Macc in February 2004. Helping the club avoid relegation that year, he became an integral part of the team and helped secure a play-off place in 2004-2005 – scoring in the semi-final against Lincoln and winning our Player of the Year Award in the process.
Paul left Macc in 2006 and after six more years playing in the lower leagues, made the move into coaching.
He is currently Elite Development Squad Manager at Manchester City.
Shwan Jalal
Kurdish goalkeeper Shwan grew up in Hastings and made his senior debut for his hometown team whilst still being a teenager.
Gaining the attention of a number of big clubs, he played for Bournemouth for six years before making his way to Northampton in 2015.
Appearing just four times for The Cobblers, Shwan moved to Macclesfield in August 2015 and went straight into the side. He quickly became first choice keeper and kept fourteen clean sheets -although a training ground injury ended his season early in April 2016.
Shwan left Macc that summer to join Wrexham, but returned in 2017 season and became a key part of our championship winning side last year. With eighteen clean sheets and some spectacular saves, he earned himself a deserved place in the National League Team of the Season.
Yaser Kasim
Yaser came to England as a youngster and spent his youth career with both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.
Moving to Brighton in 2010, he came to Macclesfield on loan three years later.
Making only five appearances in the centre of midfield, he returned to Brighton shortly after before signing for Swindon Town.
Four years with Swindon followed before Yaser opted to make the move to Northampton in the summer of 2017 – signing a two year deal.
Graham Potter
Beginning his career as a trainee at Birmingham City, full-back Graham spent a short time on loan with The Cobblers in 1997-98 from West Bromwich Albion. He then moved to York City for three years before heading to Boston, Shrewsbury and then finally Macclesfield in 2004.
A talented player with skills in both defense and attack, Graham saw out his playing career with the Silkmen before retiring in the summer of 2005.
Since his playing days came to an end, Graham has made a successful transition into management. Gaining numerous qualifications, he has coached both in the UK and abroad – taking Ostersunds FK to the top flight of Swedish club football.
Graham returned to the UK in June 2018, signing a three year deal with Championship club Swansea City and is now in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Emile Sinclair
Starting out with Nottingham Forest, Emile joined Macclesfield on loan in 2009. Making eleven appearances as a loanee, the move was made permanent the following May.
Often popping up with important goals during his two year stay, Emile attracted attention from other clubs – with Peterborough United finally poaching the forward for an undisclosed fee in August 2011.
Emile joined Northampton in 2014 on loan from his then parent club Crawley Town, before signing a two year contract at Sixfields. He struggled to gain any consistency however, with injuries playing a large part. He was released by Northampton in January 2015, just six months into the deal.
Dropping down into non-league, he is currently with Goole AFC in the Northern Counties East League.
Danny Swailes
Solid and reliable, Danny had been with Bury for almost ten years before joining The Silkmen in 2005 for a record fee of £40,000. Slotting straight into defence alongside Dave Morley, Danny was a tall, powerful player who stood in as captain on a few occasions.
He left Macc in 2007 to join former Macc boss Paul Ince at MK Dons and experienced more success – winning promotion, the Football League Trophy and a spot in the League Two Team of the Year.
Danny’s time with Northampton came as a loan player in 2009 – playing in only three matches. He went on to join Stockport County for two years before retiring from the professional game in 2011.