Reading V Northampton Town Match Preview

Last updated : 31 March 2002 By Rob Cooper

Scott Hayman, editor of www.northamptontown-mad.co.uk gave Reading MAD the lowdown on the Cobblers season so far.

Northampton Town's season started as bad as it could get with the team only
taking 7 points in 12 games. The victories the Cobblers managed were from
the most unlikely of games too, beating QPR in the League Cup, Brighton and
Port Vale in the league. The poor start cost Kevin Wilson his job as manager
and his former assistant Kevan Broadhurst returned in charge. Another shock
victory came in October when Tranmere fell victim to a 4-1 defeat at the
hands of Town.

The season was already looking bad as December approached. Bottom of the
league, out of the minor cups and all that was left, a trip to Canvey
Island. The game unfortunately for the Cobblers summed up the whole season
so far with missed oppotunities in the first half and a moment of madness in
defence allowed Canvey to take the lead. The Cobblers never picked up again
and ended up a victim to the now famous giant killers.

2001 was a very poor year and it was looking as though Northampton would be
playing 3rd Division football for sure next season. The weather gave the
team a 2 week break and the next game was on 13th January against Stoke. The Cobblers played well in a 1-1 draw and with 3 straight wins afterwards, a
little optimism followed. The highlight of the season was beating arch
rivals Peterborough United 2-1 at Sixfields, the first time ever.

By taking a few wins here and there this year the Cobblers now lie just
above the relegation zone with every game up until the end of the season
going to be a must win situation to ensure the rivals at the bottom don't
take the upper hand. Although Reading are right up there on top, Cobblers
have taken points from most of the top sides in the second division this
season and no-one could predict the outcome of this particular fixture.