Tomorrow afternoon sees Crewe Alexandra host Northampton Town at the Alexandra Stadium in the second of this week’s home games and are captained by former Alex defender Jon Guthrie. The Cobblers have started the season with wins against Colchester United, Hartlepool United and Crawley Town and lost to Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Last Season:
Last season saw United finish in 4th place in the league with 23 wins, 11 draws and 12 defeats, missing out on automatic promotion on goals scored, before losing to Mansfield Town in the semi-finals of the playoffs.
They would lose to Cambridge in the FA Cup 1st Round and to AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup 2nd Round. They would finish bottom in their EFL Trophy group that contained Forest Green Rovers, Walsall and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Transfers:
This summer has seen the club make 10 signings, 8 permanent as well as 2 season-long loan deals. Goalkeeper Lee Burge, defenders Ryan Haynes, Akin Odimayo, Sam Sherring, Harvey Lintott and Tyler Magloire all arrived permanently. Midfielders Ben Fox and Marc Leonard (loan) and forwards Danny Hylton and loanee Kieron Bowie complete the signings.
They have allowed 12 players to leave the club permanently and 2 players to join non-league clubs on loan until January.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 26
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 0-1 Crewe Alexandra, 20th March 2021
Owen Dale would score the only goal of the game in the 74th minute.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Daniels, Beckles, Lancashire, Pickering; Ainley (Wintle 71), Murphy, Lowery; Dale, Porter (Mandron 86), Kirk (Adebisi 90)
Northampton: Mitchell; Kioso, Jones, Horsfall, Mills; Morris, McWilliams (Jones 78), Watson; Marshall (Rose 55), Hoskins, Miller (Edmondson 72)
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, Jon Guthrie, Ryan Kirby, Chris McCready, Rod McDonald, Jimmy McKechnie, Gregor Robertson, Alan Sheehan, Ashley Westwood, Adam Yates
Midfielders: Paul Bancroft, 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, Chris Long, Harry Lovatt, Tommy McCulloch, Terry McPhillips, Alex Nicholls, Vadaine Oliver, Daniel Powell, Billy Poyntz, Marc Richards, Arthur Seabrook, Allan Smart, Billy Waters, Mart Watkins
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with David Webb the referee, James Wilson and Matthew Smith are his assistants with Lee Freeman the fourth official. The following Crewe games have been refereed by Webb in the last 5 years:
- Blackburn Rovers 3-3 Crewe Alexandra (3rd December 2017, FA Cup) – Porter (2), Nolan
- Accrington Stanley 1-0 Crewe Alexandra (13th February 2018)
- Crewe Alexandra 3-1 AFC Wimbledon (15th Apr 2022) – Mandron, Long, Sambou
Opposition View:
I asked The Shoe Army for their thoughts going into the game.
How would you describe last season and the first few games of this one?
Last season was a classic one of ‘so close, yet so far’. To lose out on automatic promotion in the manner we did to Bristol Rovers still hurts and I don’t think the team ever really recovered from the events on the last day as they went into the playoffs and ultimately lost.
The first few games of this season have been really positive, however. We managed to keep the lion’s share of our starting XI at the club and the business done so far to replace those that left looks good so far. It’s been a very different start however with a similar points total but much more goals scored but also conceded.
I think it’s well documented we just need some depth signings.
Our starting XI looks very strong on paper but we’re already suffering a mini injury crisis across the backline and potentially lack options to change the attack from the bench.
What do you think the team will be for the game?
Your guess is as good as mine in the backline! The injuries to McGowan, Odimayo, Sherring and then Magloire on Tuesday meant we finished the game earlier this week with 2 full-backs in a back 3 and our top goalscorer at RWB (Editor note – thanks for giving me flashbacks to how we played a lot of last season!). I would hope Leonard and Bowie start after their positive cameos recently, both loanees who’ve been eased in but look great additions already.
Who is the danger man for the Cobblers?
Super Sammy Hoskins! He’s in the form of his life, carrying on where he left off in the regular season last year. 5 goals and 2 assists already including some really great finishes which most Cobblers fans would tell you is the only area his game had been lacking up till now.
What do you think is a realistic aim for the Cobblers this season?
I think the minimum expectation has to be playoffs. Just with the squad still there from last year, the back room staff and then the start already made. But I would hope really that the aim is automatic promotion this time round.
