FL2: Northampton Town vs Torquay United - 29th March

In fairness, even the Northampton fan I follow on Twitter was saying Sheldrake was poor. So it sounds like he just had a mare all round, though we seemed to get the worst of it (though I always take these things with a pinch of salt). Hopefully Knill can use the perceived injustices as motivation to prevent heads going down after this

From reading comments describing what was going on, it sounded like going forward we looked pretty good but defensively we were very shaky, particularly Angus who was made to look poor by Clive Platt, and that we were fortunate to hold out for as long as we did. Perhaps it's time to get Downes back in as we head into a couple more difficult games

Since December 12:

Bradford (A) 1 - 0 (Connell 84) 1 Point Lost
Northampton (H) 1 -1 (Langmead 90) 2 Points Lost
Plymouth (A) 1 - 1 (Harvey 90) 2 Points Lost
AFC (H) 2 - 3 (Long 90 Pen) 1 Point lost
Exeter (H) 1 - 1 (Gow 85 Pen) 2 Points Lost
Aldershot (A) 1 - 0 (Brown 83) 1 Point Lost <Morris on as sub after 4 months or so injured!>
Wycombe (H) 1 - 2 (McClure 81) 1 Point Lost
Northampton (A) 1 - 0 (O'Donovan 85) 1 Point Lost

11 points pissed up the wind

If we'd picked half that (call it - 5 points) - we'd be laughing now.

My first visit to Northampton and I must say I was surprised to find a nice attractive town with plenty of three storey villas from the turn of the 19th/20th centuries and a market square surrounded by some beautiful buildings with just the occasional 1960s carbunkle spoiling the effect.

This is the County Ground. All trace of the Cobblers now erased:



Nearer town there is this fine stadium which would make a smashing home for Northampton Town FC but is actually the home of the Rugby Union club. What a waste. Note the Northampton Lighthouse/Cobbler's Needle there. You'd get a great view from the top unless you are scared of heights, in which case it would be absolutely terrifying:





And if homo-eroticism is your bag, then this statue at Franklin Gardens is for you:



Wherever you go, there's always something there to remind you of Devon:



Off down to Sixfields now. There's still snow around the perimeter of the pitch and it's freezing cold but PB is still there in his shorts as ever:



Out come the teams:



And on with the match, which was Bradford City revisited as the Gulls absorbed some tremendous pressure and looked like taking away a hard-won point only to fall to a goal around the 83rd minute. The ref had a nightmare and annoyed the Cobblers fans by failing to give at least one penalty in the first half, before evening things up by denying the Gulls likewise in the second. The poor sap also booked 6 players despite the game not being particularly dirty.

If you have a long thower in your side it would be daft not to use him, and from the very first minute Ben Tozer's huge missiles into the box caused problems for the United defence, who also had to deal with numerous crosses from the wings. In my opinion the Cobbler's right winger Chris Hackett was the best player on the field and it was inevitable that when the goal finally came it was from yet another of his centres. There had been a warning earlier when the Gulls gave the ball away carelessly and a cross was nodded in at the far post only for the lino's flag to save us.

The goal was a kick in the teeth and forced the Yellows onto the attack for the last few minutes. 4 minutes injury time were called and during that spell there was a turned down shout for a penalty when Jarvis was bundled off the ball, a Benyon shot blocked by the goalkeeper and finally a flick by Rene Howe which hit the back of the net. YYEEESSSSS!! No. Offside. Bollocks!

Final impressions: the side were beaten but there's no disgrace in that since this was Northampton's 10th home win on the trot. United looked much more like the battling side from the first half of the season and well done also to the travelling Yellow Army who turned up in surprisingly large numbers. Other results were by and large disappointing for us (those Lancashire rascals Accrington just will not give up, dammit) so there's plenty of itching and scratching still to come yet.

Today: come on City and the Gasheads!

Any one of the bottom "nine or ten" teams could still take that second relegation place. I honestly cannot remember a season where it was so close at the bottom.
After last week I to thought we looked pretty safe but with Argyle winning and York holding BR at this moment in time its crucial we get some points on the board again this week against two very difficult opponents.

With 15 points or more still to play for just who is safe from Dagenham down?
Its going to be an uncomfortable ride that's for sure I just hope we cam a void the dreaded "last day" scenario.

That's how it finished up - all FIVE clubs below gaining at least a point.

we are far from safe,i actually thought we showed nothampton too much respect for 70 odd minutes,we got caught out after a good spell from us,but it was coming,we tin hatted it for the first 45.We were resolute in defence but eventually your luck runs out and of course it did.But we just kept on singing,had a clear penalty turned down and a goal disallowed.The ref booked our players at every opportunity,yet lectured theirs for similiar offences.The match has gone now,onto to bradford monday,we need to go straight for their jugular no messing,or we could be straight back in the steaming smelly stuff again come monday night.