Play-off Preview – Northampton Town v Southend United – The 1st Leg

Shrimpers fans were left absolutely devastated after last Saturdays 1-1 draw against Grimsby Town, as news came through to Blundell Park that Swansea City had won 1-0 against Bury and that they had secured the last automatic promotion place. This meant that Southend would have to attempt to get promotion the hard way - through the play-offs. Meanwhile in a more pleasant part of the country, Northampton made sure that they would be in the Coca-Cola League Two play-offs having crushed already relegated Kidderminster Harriers 3-0, courtesy of Andy Kirk’s 68^th minute strike and two late goals from left-winger Josh Low.

The question for tomorrow’s game will be ‘who has the mental edge?’ As Southend just missed out on automatic promotion will team morale be low? Will Northampton be confident after convincingly pushing their way into the play-off’s? Or will the Shrimpers be sure to feel favourites having already beaten the Cobblers three times from three games this season as well as finishing three places above Colin Calderwood’s men.

Barrett was the hero of the moment last time around as he bagged a brace in a dramatic win

As I said, the Shrimpers have been victorious against Northampton in all three of this seasons games between the two teams. In the first encounter at Roots Hall, goals from Mark Gower and Wayne Gray gave the Blues a 2-1 win in front of a 5,696 crowd to send Southend up to 7^th in the league. The second meeting of the season took place at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium where Southend once again scored twice – Lawrie Dudfield and Carl Pettefer the goalscorers, as the Seasiders edged their way into the LDV Area Semi-Final. The final game this season was debatably one of the most dramatic victories that Southend have managed this season. Martin Smith gave the Cobblers a deserved early lead and from then on Northampton were by far the better side. However, Southend grabbed an equaliser with just less than twenty minutes to go as Kevin Maher’s header was converted by Adam Barrett at the far post. Southend completely changed their play and went for the win, and got it when Barrett scored a carbon-copy of his first goal.

In all of the matches played between the two sides it has been very close. From the total of 100 matches played, Northampton have won 41, the Blues have won 37 and the other games have been draws. At Northampton, the Cobblers have won more – 27 times compared to Southend’s eleven times – although the Shrimpers are actually unbeaten away to Northampton for three games, Having won the two games this season plus a 2-2 draw last season. At Roots Hall Southend are far superior having won 26 and drawing nine, and that includes this seasons 2-1 victory.

As far as recent form goes, Southend still have the best away form in the league, having won three, drawn two and lost just once in six games. Northampton’s home form, like the Blues away form, has been excellent, as Colin Calderwood’s side have recorded four wins from six at Sixfields. However, despite those two good records from the two sides, overall form in their last six games shows different form. Southend have the second worst league form from their last six, with only relegated Kidderminster worse on current form. Northampton are not much better having won three and lost three, although they have won their last three games.

Colin Calderwood’s side are a good outfit that are usually very good in attack and also not too bad at the back, although they have started to concede a couple more goals since captain Ashley Westwood picked up an injury.

That being said it seems that the new central defensive partnership of Fred Murray and Chris Wilmott is beginning to click – the pair have kept two consecutive clean sheets albeit to lowly Chester and relegated Kidderminster. In midfield Martin Smith and Josh Low pull the strings with the help of David Rowson, although Smith, who has scored twice in three games against the Shrimpers is currently out injured. Smith will be a big miss tomorrow as is the club’s second top scorer with 10 goals, then left winger Low is in third place with seven goals from 35 starts, not to mention numerous assists from crosses. In attack, Colin Calderwood prefers Eric ‘I like a dive’ Sabin, a pacey French attacker who, as his middle name suggests, does go down quite easily. Sabin has managed nine goals from 32 starts and fifteen substitute appearances this season. Sabin is partnered up front with one-time Southend transfer target Scott McGleish, who has scored a respectable 19 times from half a century of starts this season. Northampton’s most recent addition to the squad is striker Andy Kirk. Kirk played for Northern Ireland against England and will definitely give the Blues problems.

Neither side has many injury worries for tomorrow’s game, and Southend can even recall one long-term absentee in right-back Lewis Hunt, who has now fully recovered from a knee ligament injury. Alan McCormack has now finished his loan spell with the club and returned to Preston North End earlier this week, so Mark Gower is expected to start in McCormack’s place. As one loanee leaves the club, another one returns as Tes Bramble returned from his successful loan spell with Cambridge United and will be available for selection.

Northampton do have one or two injury concerns for tomorrow, skipper Ashley Westwood has a long-term injury as I said earlier in this preview, whilst left-back Tommy Jaszcun is out for the rest of the season. Another player that will not feature tomorrow is Martin Smith; the 10-goal midfielder is carrying a leg injury.

Possible Teams:

Northampton Town: Harper, Chambers, Willmott, Murray, Togwell, Williamson, Rowson, Hearn, Low, McGleish, Kirk. Subs: Bunn, Galbraith, Hunt, Richards, Sabin.

Southend United: Flahavan, Jupp, Barrett, Prior, Wilson, Pettefer, Maher, Bentley, Gower, Eastwood, Gray. Substitutes: Dudfield, Griemink, Nicolau, Guttridge, Edwards

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)