This afternoon sees the first of two back-to-back home games against teams that were promoted alongside us from League 2 last season, starting with play-off winners Northampton Town. This is the first game of the season that will see fans in the stadium (home or away for the Alex) with both squads having a name that is familiar to the opposition fans – Daniel Powell in the Alex squad while Alan Sheehan had a short loan spell with the Alex in 2009.
This season:
They sit in 16th place in the league after wins against Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion and Fleetwood Town, they have drawn with AFC Wimbledon, MK Dons and Rochdale while they have lost against Hull City, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, Accrington Stanley and Doncaster Rovers last Saturday.
In the cups, they lost out on penalties to Oxford City in the first round of the FA Cup while they lost to Bristol City in the 2nd Round of the Carabao Cup after knocking out Cardiff City in Round 1. They finished in 2nd place in their EFL Trophy group following a defeat against MK Dons and wins against Southampton’s Under-21s and Stevenage (the latter on pens) before knocking Exeter City out on Tuesday night to set up a rematch against MK Dons next month.
Transfers:
Northampton have made 13 signings over the summer, 10 permanently and 3 season-long loans, with goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell on loan from Derby with defenders Joe Mills, Fraser Horsfall, Cian Bolger, Sheehan and Luka Racic (on loan from Brentford). Midfielders Christopher Missilou, and Jack Sowerby are joined by forwards Ricky Korboa, Benny Ashley-Seal, Danny Rose, Ricky Holmes and Joe Nuttall (on loan) completing the signings.
They have let 15 players leave the club permanently, including former Alex players Vadaine Oliver and Billy Waters, while 3 players have left the club on loan deals this season.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 24
Town Wins: 29
Draws: 16
Biggest Alex Win: 3-0 at Gresty Road in March 1971
Biggest Town Win: 5-0 at Gresty Road in November 1986
Last Meeting:
Northampton Town 4-1 Crewe Alexandra, 16th November 2019
Scott Wharton scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to give the hosts a 2-goal lead with Sam Hoskins scoring a penalty on 24 minutes. Chris Porter got one back for the Alex 8 minutes before the break before Andy Williams restored the 3-goal lead on 56 minutes.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Hunt, Mbulu, Pickering; Lowery, Wintle, Green (Anene 75); Dale (Powell 61), Porter, Kirk (Ainley 65)
Town: Cornell; Goode, Wharton, Turnbull; Hoskins, Lines, McCormack (Pollock 84), Adams; Anderson (Warburton 89); Williams, Oliver (Smith 74)
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Marlon Beresford, Steve Collis, Dick Graham, Paul Rachubka
Defenders: David Artell, Anthony Charles, Wakeley Gage, Ryan Kirby, Chris McCready, Gregor Robertson, Alan Sheehan, Ashley Westwood, Adam Yates
Midfielders: Len Bathurst, Billy Bodin, John Hold, Ben Marshall, Abdul Osman, Billy Waters
Forwards: John Aitken, Lee Barnard, Steve Guinan, Peter Kane, Harry King, Burt Llewellyn, Harry Lovatt, Tommy McCulloch, Terry McPhillips, Alex Nicholls, Vadaine Oliver, Daniel Powell, Marc Richards, Allan Smart, Mart Watkins
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with John Busby the referee, Joe Clark and Ollie Williams are his assistants with Antony Coggins the fourth official. Here are the Crewe games that have been refereed by Busby in the last 5 years:
- Wycombe Wanderers 5-1 Crewe Alexandra (27th September 2016) – Cooper
- Portsmouth 0-1 Crewe Alexandra (4th March 2017) – Ray
- Eastleigh 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (FA Cup, 30th November 2019) – og
- Crewe Alexandra 4-1 Carlisle United (1st January 2020) – Ainley, Powell (2), Anene
Opposition View:
I asked The Shoe Army for their thoughts going into the game.
What do you think of your season so far?
I would have to give it a C+ We’re doing about as well as we could have hoped. It’s almost a completely new squad and there was an injury crisis over a few games with 13 players out injured at one point.
Some recent form has meant we’re not in the relegation zone but at the same time, not that far away. The team that did so well in the playoffs last season is gone now, its all about survival and we’re doing that so far!
Yes, there will be Shaun McWilliams out starting his 3 games suspension after his red last weekend. Sad as well as he had just found a starting spot and doing well. Some longer-term absentees also notably Joseph Mills who was arguably one of the more astute signings in the summer.
What is the position you need to strengthen most in January?
At one point we had no first-team strikers! I then feel like we focussed a little too hard there and have left the club shorthanded at CB. This becomes a problem when we play with 3 at the back and need to rotate around this congested fixture list.
What would be the team that you would pick for the game if you were in charge?
If injuries and suspensions were no problem, I’d have McWilliams and Mills in for a start! I prefer us with 4 at the back always so if it were purely down to me then I’d go something like this:
Mitchell
Harriman Bolger Sheehan Mills
Sowerby McWilliams
Marshall Holmes Hoskins
Rose
Who is the danger man for the Cobblers?
I think a lot of people will pay attention to Ricky Holmes. Having signed after training with the squad for a long time last month, he looks back up to full fitness after a hiatus from the game. He’s always capable of something magic Other than that, Hoskins is always a nuisance. He tops our goals contribution charts and is rarely not in the team under Curle.
What would be a successful season for Northampton this season?
Survival at any cost! Much to the dismay of fellow Cobblers fans but I have argued that a pragmatic approach to this season is needed. We overachieved to be promoted and have had to completely rebuild. A 20th place finish would make me very happy and I would take it right now if you offered it to me. Then use it as a platform to build and look up the table with fans back in grounds next season.
