v 
SHRIMPERS
Big Barry Corr is fit again after suffering a back spasm but may find himself on the bench, tough as it is to change a side that has beaten the unbeaten league leaders, then again Shrimpers boss Paul Sturrock is just the guy to do it, so i bet he does!
Centre-back Mark Phillips is the only injury absentee with a hamstring injury that has kept the former Brentford man out for the last three weeks.
And, of course, left back Peter Gilbert plays against his former club for the first time since he left in the close season for failing to sign a new deal with Northampton.
Still think this is going to be a tough one, and I'll be happy with a draw to continue the transformation that Luggy has brought to the team.
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Gilbert, Barker, Mohsni, Simpson, Grant, Easton, Hall, Corr, Sturrock.
Subs: Evans, Coughlan, Bouzid, Soares, Zaaboub, Paterson, Spencer.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Cobblers boss Ian Sampson could hand a debut to new striker Leon McKenzie though he is lacking match fitness having not played a full game since May.
Fellow forward Tadhg Purcell had an operation on his cruciate knee injury and is out for the season while left-back Marcus Hall joins him in the stands with a hamstring problem, but only for a further fortnight, as does defender Craig Hinton, another knee injury.
Midfielder Ryan Gilligan will not after all have a planned ankle operation and after training this week should start.
| 15 | Crewe Alexandra | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | +5 | ||||
| 16 | Stockport County | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | -4 | ||||
| 17 | Barnet | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 5 | -6 | ||||
| 18 | Lincoln City | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | -3 | ||||
| 19 | Northampton Town | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | -3 | ||||
| 20 | Hereford United | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | -7 | ||||
| 21 | Gillingham | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | -2 | ||||
| 22 | Bradford City | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 3 | -7 |
Match reports from this season's games available here:
www.ntfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10425,00.html
PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
The Club moved from their old County Ground to the new stadium in October 1994. This neat all seater stadium is located on the outskirts of Northampton. Sixfields has three small covered single tier stands, and another larger single tier covered West Stand (capacity 4,000), at one side of the pitch.
Away supporters are housed at the South Stand end. The club has received awards for the facilities provided for disabled supporters. A large hill overlooks the ground, where small numbers congregate to watch the game free, even though they can only see half the pitch!
Away supporters are housed at the South Stand end. The club has received awards for the facilities provided for disabled supporters. A large hill overlooks the ground, where small numbers congregate to watch the game free, even though they can only see half the pitch!
Shrimpers will be located in the attractively named 'Paul Cox Panel & Paint South Stand' at one end of the pitch, where 800 supporters can be accommodated.
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
WEATHER
20c's but light rain.
REF
The man in the middle is Mark Haywood from Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
FIXTURES
Saturday, September 4th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Cheltenham v Stevenage, Crewe v Bury, Gillingham v Shrewsbury, Hereford v Oxford Utd, Lincoln City v Barnet, Morecambe v Chesterfield, Northampton v Southend, Port Vale v Aldershot, Rotherham v Burton Albion, Stockport v Bradford, Torquay v Accrington Stanley, Wycombe v Macclesfield.
BET
Northampton Town (to win) - 13/10, Draw - 5/2, Southend (to win) - 12/5.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
By Train go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/northampton_town_533047/index.shtml
By Car go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/northampton_town_549723/index.shtml
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/northampton_town_533087/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground, though it's best nearer the station, go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/
pick_up_the_shovel_pub_crawl_in_northampton_555654/index.shtml
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/northampton_town_533047/index.shtml
By Car go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/northampton_town_549723/index.shtml
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/northampton_town_533087/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground, though it's best nearer the station, go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/
pick_up_the_shovel_pub_crawl_in_northampton_555654/index.shtml
HISTORY
Northampton Town was founded in 1897 after meetings between the town's schoolteachers and local solicitor A.J. Darnell.
The community then focused on football and, in particular, schoolboy football was strong in the county due in part to the enthusiasm of the local teachers. They were, however, dissatisfied with the current arrangement of arranged friendlies between schools, preferring to teach the boys through practical examples and they felt this could be done by forming a town team.
At the same time A.J. Darnell travelled to Leicester with the local Rugby team, where he witnessed an exhibition football match between Leicester Fosse and Notts County. This gave him the desire to start his own club in Northampton.
Mr Darnell and the local schoolteachers came together through their shared aims and, on 6 March 1897, at the Princess Royal Inn on the Wellingborough Road, Northampton Football Club was formed. Following objections from the town's rugby club the team adopted the name of Northampton Town to avoid trouble.
The club gained permission to play home matches at the County Ground, home of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, provided that no games were scheduled between May and September; this was to remain their home for the next 97 years until they moved to Sixfields.
For a far more comprehensive history of the club, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton_Town)