Ipswich vs. Northampton match preview

Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by Vitalfootball.co.uk

The Cobblers third round exploits on that famous rainy Tueday night at Anfield have been long forgotten back in Northampton, which has since seen them fall joint bottom of the League Two table.

That Tuesday's famous victory was followed by victory over Bradford but since the Cobbler's have suffered five successive League defeats, and after Saturday's latest defeat has seen them slip into the League Two relegation zone.

Northampton's poor form has taken an edge of excitement out of Tuesday's game but around 3000 Cobblers supporters are still expected to make the trip to Suffolk on Tuesday evening.

The match will be a welcomed distraction domestically but can Ian Sampson's side, for the fourth time, pull of yet another cup shock?

For the lowest side left in the competition, and the one side representing all from League Two, Sampson's ball playing side will look to take advantage of that extra space which is hard to come by at many lower league grounds.

- Match Odds (Coral) -
Ipswich Win - 1/2
Northampton Win - 11/2
Draw - 3/1

- Northampton Possible Starting 11 -
Dunn
Johnson Holt Hall Davis
Rodgers Gilligan Wedderburn Jacobs
McKay McKenzie

Vital Quotes:
Ipswich Town striker Jason Scotland says his side will have to put in a good performace against the Cobblers as they prepare to take on his side on Tuesday night.

'They will come here full of energy and enthusiasm, especially after beating Liverpool in the last round,' Scotland told Ipswich Town's official website.

'People might think that we should automatically go through because we are in the Championship and they are in League Two but football doesn't work like that.'

'Northampton went to a Premier League club and won so they will think they can do that again here. They will come here with nothing to lose.'

'We have to match their energy and their enthusiasm and put on a performace for the supporters as well as get the result we want.'

Northampton's head of media Gareth Willsher is hopeful the fans will again get behind the team after last round's giant killing.

'The league has been a bit of a struggle for us this year but the cups have brought the best out of us so far,' Willsher told Northampton's Chronicle and Echo.

'Obviously the support we took to Liverpool was terrific and the fans really helped the team that night, so if we can take approaching 3,000 to Ipswich then it will be a huge boost to the players and hopefully we can pull off another famous cup win.'

Ipswich Team News:
Ipwich boss Roy Keane again may favour Brian Murphy infront of Martin Fulop in goal for the visit of Northampton.

Spurs and Sunderland loan players Jake Livermore and Jack Colback are ineligible but Connor Wickham could return to partner the in-form Jason Scotland upfront.

Player to watch: Connor Wickham
It will be interesting to see what Wickham is capable after what he has already achieved at such a young age.

Wickham is expected to return to the starting 11 upfront and will be hoping to be amongst the goals against the League Two strugglers.

Northampton Team News:
Northampton await the decision of John Johnson's sending off at the weekend. If the appeal is successful, it will take some pressure off of Northampton's defence who are short in numbers.

Centre half Dean Beckwith sits out the second game of his three match ban so will not feature.

Osman, Herbert and Purcell remain sidelined.

Player to watch: Kevin Thornton
Our very own little 'Lionel Messi of League Two', Kevin Thornton, once of Coventry City, will again be the Cobblers' key man tomorrow night.

The main playmaker of the team, also likes to get in amongst the goals himself and has so far been the main performer in Northampton's Carling Cup run.