Destiny Calling

With Northampton Town struggling at the wrong end of League Two, Nobes looks at the concept of fate and destiny in football - and whether it's about to catch up with the Cobblers.

Northampton boss Gary Johnson is aiming to keep his side in League Two

Albert Einstein once remarked that: "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control."

It's what we refer to as fate, a pre-determined destiny that, no matter what we do, we cannot prevent. It is inevitable, unstoppable, and is simply a question of 'when' and not 'if.'

Commentators often refer to the "Footballing Gods" which, depending on the luck a side gets, are either smiling on a team, or not. Not even the beautiful game, it seems, can escape the inescapable.

It is, perhaps, the fear that should be permeating through every Northampton Town fan right now. The Cobblers are currently on a run of 13 games without a win, and are struggling to gain any momentum under new boss Gary Johnson.

After Barnet's surprise win at fellow strugglers Burton at the weekend, Town sit just four points above the League Two drop zone, anxiously looking over their shoulder as they get sucked into a scrap for survival.

Tonight they travel to Burton themselves in a crunch game which, if lost, will have Northampton fans of a certain age casting their minds back ago to 1994 when their side finished bottom of the entire Football League.

However, they were granted a reprieve because the ground of Conference champions Kidderminster Harriers wasn't deemed good enough to gain entry to the 92 club.

Ever since, Cobblers have established themselves a yo-yo side between the third and fourth tiers, either battling the drop in League One or making a push for promotion from League Two.

However, this term, despite upsetting Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup, Town have endured a tough campaign. It saw playing legend Ian Sampson removed as manager last month, with the experienced Gary Johnson brought in to replace him.

The former Bristol City and Peterborough boss, who won the basement division with Yeovil in 2005, has struggled to turn around fortunes at Sixfields though. Relegation cannot be ruled out.

Enter fate to play its part in a surprisingly intriguing fight against relegation into the Non Leagues. History does not make pretty reading for the Northamptonshire outfit.

Northampton were one of five sides in the '90s who, because of other clubs going bust or Conference Champions denied promotion, despite finishing bottom of the Football League weren't relegated.

In 1991, the demise of Aldershot spared Wrexham the drop. Twelve months later and bottom placed Carlisle were thankful for Maidstone's financial woes causing them to have to exit the League instead.

Then Torquay and Exeter, like Cobblers, were saved from the drop because Stevenage and Macclesfield's respective grounds weren't considered up to Football League standards.

After a lucky escape in 1995, Exeter were relegated from League Two in 2003

Come the Noughties, and fate caught up with all four though. Exeter were the first when, in 2003, they became the first side to be relegated in 23rd after the introduction of two-up-two down between the Football and Non Leagues.

Carlisle, so often the experts at the great escape, finally fell through the trapdoor in 2004, having given themselves one too many a mountain to climb.

In 2007, it was Torquay who slumped to a miserable relegation and a year on Wrexham took the plunge in the Conference - where they remain to this day. Is fate now about to catch up with Northampton too?

It may sound slightly surreal, does fate really play a part in football? However, sport, like life, has a funny way of evening things out.

Having been denied promotion, Macclesfield, Kidderminster, and Stevenage all eventually made it to the Football League. They weren't to be denied the second time they won each won the Conference title.

Indeed, there are many superstitions surrounding the transition between the Football and Non Leagues in recent years.

Kidderminster's spell in the Football League lasted exactly five seasons, between 2000 and 2005. The side that succeeded them as Conference Champions, Rushden & Diamonds, also lasted just five years before relegation in 2006.

My own club, Boston United, also spent five years in the Football League, between 2002 and 2007. Chester City likewise with five years between 2004 and 2009.

Even forgetting the "five year curse" as it became known, there was a feeling when my club were on the brink of relegation that the Footballing Gods were exacting some karma into proceedings.

The irony wasn't lost on us that our place in the 92 was taken by the club we so controversially pipped to the Conference title, Dagenham & Redbridge. They had to take our place, it was written in the stars.

As it had been 12 months previously when Oxford United were relegated to the Conference. When they had joined the Football League in 1962 it had been because of the demise of debt-ridden Accrington Stanley.

Forty-four years later, and the phoenix club from the Lancashire town were on hand to swap places with Oxford again. You can't write scripts like that.

The first ever year of two-down from League Two saw Exeter and Shrewsbury drop down. The two had faced one another on the opening day.

The following season it was Carlisle and York who were facing up to life in the Non Leagues. They had begun the campaign against one another too.

Cobblers can at least console themselves with the fact they lined up on the opening day against Torquay rather than face the seemingly doomed Stockport.

However, when they take to the field on the final day at Morecambe, they will hope in the resort of the notorious quicksands to not experience a sinking feeling of their own. Time to prove Einstein wrong.

Three Is A Magic Number?

As Bristol Rovers appoint Stuart Campbell as their third manager of the season, Nobes looks at how other sides who went through as many bosses during a campaign fared.

Dave Penney has been shown the exit by Bristol Rovers after two months

When Dave Penney reflects on his managerial career, it will include a tale of two Rovers. At the first, Doncaster, he established his reputation as a promising young coach.

He led Donny back into the Football League in 2003 before taking them to the League Two title a year later. He then consolidated the Yorkshire side in the third tier.

At Bristol Rovers, however, he hardly had time to get his feet under the desk. The 46-year-old took charge of just 13 matches at the Memorial Stadium as he struggled to turn around the League One outfit's fortunes.

Just two wins and nine defeats - conceding 28 goals along the way - later and the Gas had shown him the door, handing senior player Stuart Campbell the job until the end of the term.

He began his reign with a 1-0 win at Tranmere in midweek, taking the West Country outfit to within a couple of points of safety.

Not that having three different managers during the campaign is an ideal scenario. It paints a picture of instability and panic, pinning blame on one man rather than looking at collective responsibility.

Rovers are banking on their latest switch making the difference though, but what do the history books tell us about sides going through three different bosses in just one season?


Exeter City 2002/3

He now drives a milk tanker around Devon but, at the start of the 2002/3 season, John Cornforth [pictured] was in charge at Exeter.

As boss at St James Park though, he failed to deliver, and was removed from his position at the start of October.

The Grecians, just three points above the drop zone, turned to rookie Neil McNab.

However, the Scot managed just three wins from 20 games and with City rock bottom at the beginning of March he was axed.

Former Preston boss Gary Peters was drafted in for the last 13 games to try and save the Grecians.

Result: Despite collecting 20 points under Peters, City ended up 23rd, just a single point off safety, and were relegated to the Conference.



Northampton Town 2002/3

Cobblers had only narrowly avoided the drop the previous year - when they had turned to Kevan Broadhurst to replace Kevin Wilson.

However, the boot was on the other foot a season later, when Broadhurst was given the push and in came former England international Terry Fenwick [pictured].

His reign lasted just seven games though - five losses and two draws - dumping Town to a point off the bottom of League One.

Chief Scout Martin Wilkinson then assumed control for the last 13 matches of the season.

Result: Wilkinson hardly fared any better. Cobblers finished bottom of the division, a full 11 points from safety.



Macclesfield Town 2003/4

Macc began the season under the stewardship of David Moss, but after a third of the campaign found themselves only out of the drop zone on goal difference.

In came club legend and assistant boss John Askey into the top job.

However, he struggled to lift the Cheshire side out of relegation danger.

With seven games of the season remaining, and the Silkmen three points adrift of safety, he was moved back down to assist veteran manager Brian Horton [pictured].

Result: Collecting 13 points from 21, the experienced hand of Horton ensured Macc beat the drop comfortably in the end.



Millwall 2005/6

The Lions had already got through one manager before pre season had even ended.

Steve Claridge was swiftly removed after 36 days over concerns about his managerial style and the club's prospects for the season.

Ex-Wolves boss Colin Lee was drafted in, but Millwall struggled towards the bottom.

When he left just before Christmas the club were bottom of the Championship and five points from safety.

His assistant, and former Lions player, David Tuttle [pictured] then took over the reins with more than half the season to keep them up.

Result: That worrying pre-season proved correct, with Millwall finishing the season second bottom, and relegated with two games of the season still to play.



Torquay United 2006/7

Only a late great escape had saved the Gulls from relegation to the Conference in the previous campaign.

It had been engineered by Ian Atkins, who led the side into the new season.

However, a bright start soon evaporated and he was given the boot by new owner Chris Roberts with United just outside the bottom two.

Roberts hired former Czech Republic international Lubos Kubik to take over, but his disastrous reign saw the Devonians collect just a single win from 12 matches.

By the time Keith Curle [pictured] took over in February, Torquay were rock bottom and five shy of safety.

Result: Curle guided the side to two wins from 15 as they crashed to a dismal relegation to the Conference.



Leicester City 2007/8

Milan Mandaric hailed the summer appointment of Martin Allen [pictured] at the Foxes - then parted company with him after just three games.

Next up was Gary Megson, but it was roles reversed when Megson walked out on the club after just 40 days to join Bolton.

Mandaric then turned to Plymouth's Ian Holloway to bring some much needed stability.

With more than 30 games of the campaign remaining he was charged with guiding the club up the league table.

Result: Only he didn't. The goal-shy Foxes were permanently staving off the drop until, on the final day, slipping into the bottom three and being relegated.



Bournemouth 2008/9

A ten point deduction had resulted in Kevin Bond's men being relegated to League Two in 2008.

They then had the daunting prospect of beginning the season on minus 18 points.

Failure to win in their first four games saw him axed and ex-Cherries striker Jimmy Quinn being brought in to win their fight against the drop.

By the end of 2008, although back in positive numbers, they still sat seven points adrift of third bottom with half of the season remaining.

Popular former player and Quinn's assistant Eddie Howe [pictured] was thrown into a baptism of fire to keep the Dorset side up.

Result: The rest is history. The 29-year-old rookie garnered 39 points in the second half of the campaign as Bournemouth comfortably stayed up in the end.



Queens Park Rangers 2009/10

The revolving door was in full spin at Loftus Road as Rangers kept up their extraordinary managerial turnover last term.

Jim Magilton [pictured] began the campaign, with the Rs picking up after a slow start to be in contention for the play offs.

An alleged dressing room bust up saw Magilton leave and Paul Hart in as his replacement.

Hart's reign lasted just four matches though before he resigned.

Caretaker Mick Harford presided over Rangers slumping into the bottom five and were just three points above the drop zone when Neil Warnock was appointed.

Result: The outspoken Yorkshireman quickly turned things around in West London, and QPR ended up in 13th - well clear of any relegation danger.



Peterborough United 2009/10

Posh had just won back-to-back promotions into the Championship under Darren Ferguson's management.

A poor start that saw them bottom after 16 games led to the Scot being fired.

He was followed by Kettering boss Mark Cooper, [pictured] plucked from the Non Leagues.

His nightmare tenure only produced one win from 12, and he was given the push in January.

Jim Gannon was the next in the hot seat but, despite a relatively productive spell, he turned down the chance to stay on at London Road.

Result: Gannon's final game saw Peterborough condemned to relegation and Gary Johnson took over for the last four matches of the season.



Notts County 2009/10

Big-spending County were everyone's tips for the League Two title last term.

An inconsistent start saw the club's ambitious owners axe Ian McParland with the club only in the play offs.

They brought in Swede Hans Backe, [pictured] a close friend of Director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson.

However, after a similarly erratic tenure, he was gone by the time the club's ownership fell through and a new regime turned to Steve Cotterill.

Result: Cotterill picked up the pieces, got the best squad in the division to play to their maximum, and an incredible late run took them to the predicted title.


Sheffield United 2010/11

Like Rovers, United are onto their third manager of the campaign.

The early sacking of Kevin Blackwell [pictured] was then followed by a four-month spell at the helm by Gary Speed.

When he quit for Wales though, they turned to Port Vale boss and proud Sheffielder Micky Adams.

He has struggled to turn around the club's fortunes though, and they currently look likely to be relegated to League One.

The Gas will hope to not suffer a similar fate.

Hero Takes A Fall

With Northampton Town parting ways with playing legend Ian Sampson as their manager, Nobes looks at how it worked out for others who made a similar transition at their club.

Club legend Ian Sampson had been in charge at Sixfields for just 16 months

"It's not about Sammo the legend," remarked Northampton chairman David Cardoza when explaining the difficulty of the decision to remove boss Ian Sampson from his position last week.

The Cobblers have experienced a disappointing campaign in League Two. Although expected to challenge for the top seven, new boss Gary Johnson finds his side lying well off the pace in 16th, a full 12 points off the play offs.

Sampson spent a decade serving Town as a player, making the second most appearances in a claret shirt. He then joined the club's coaching staff before replacing Stuart Gray in the top job in September 2010.

He oversaw an encouraging second half of the campaign, eventually steering Northampton to 11th, but has been unable to build on that momentum this term.

Despite a memorable League Cup victory on penalties over Liverpool, it's the bread and butter which has let Town down. Events at Anfield couldn't disguise underachievement at Sixfields.

Not that Sampson is the first, and he won't be the last, to have a go managing the club he represented with distinction as a player. Here's my look at how it turned out for a few others:


Roberto Martinez (Swansea City)

The Spaniard only spent four seasons as a player in South Wales, but became a fans' favourite for his cultured displays in midfield as captain of the Swans.

He helped guide them away from relegation to the Conference in 2003 before playing an important role in their promotion to League One in 2005.

He was controversially released by boss Kenny Jackett at the end of the next season - a move which upset many City fans.

Less than a year later he had returned to the Liberty to replace Jackett as manager and took them to the League One title in his first full season playing a brand of attractive passing football.

Consolidated them in the Championship before leaving for Wigan - arguably laying the foundations for Swansea's current push for the Premier League.


Bryan Gunn (Norwich City)

A Scot by birth, Gunn is an adopted son of Norfolk after spending more than a decade between the sticks as Norwich keeper.

He was twice voted player of the season during his time at Carrow Road, and was part of the side which, in 1993, finish 3rd in the Premier League - the club's highest ever finish.

A member of the Norwich team who upset Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup during the '90s as well as the Canaries' Hall of Fame. There's even a club at the ground named after him.

Initially was a goalkeeping coach at City before stepping up to replace Glenn Roeder as boss in January 2009. However, he was unable to stop Norwich sliding into League One at the end of the season.

He retained his post only to be removed after the first game of the new season, a 7-1 thrashing at home to Colchester.


Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)

Howe joined his local club as a youngster and spent the majority of his playing career with Bournemouth before leaving for Portsmouth in 2002.

However, he suffered an injury-hit time at Fratton Park and eventually re-joined the Cherries, initially on loan, before fans helped raise money to re-sign him permanently.

He progressed to the role of reserve team boss before taking over as caretaker manager from Jimmy Quinn with the club staring relegation to the Conference in the face.

The Football League's youngest boss engineered a great escape, despite an 18-point deduction. Then, last term, not even a transfer embargo could prevent him leading the Cherries to promotion to the third tier.

Before leaving to take over at Championship Burnley in January, Howe had taken Bournemouth into contention for back-to-back promotions.


John Askey (Macclesfield Town)

When Askey first joined the Silkmen, they were plying their trade in to the Northern Premier League. However, he helped them win the title in 1987 and gain promotion to the Conference.

During his time at the Moss Rose as a player, Macc twice won the Conference title and also secured the FA Trophy before finally reaching the Football League in 1997.

Twelve months later, Askey had again played a major role in Sammy McIlroy's side's elevation to League One as they secured successive promotions.

By the time of his final game for the club in 2003 he was assistant to boss David Moss, and stepped up to replace Moss a few months later - overseeing an improvement in results for the struggling Silkmen.

As they began to struggle again though he stepped down to assist the experienced Brian Horton as Macclesfield avoided the drop and then qualified for the play offs in 2005. Now in charge of the Town Youth Team.


Steve Tilson (Southend United)

As a player with Southend in the '90s, Tilson was part of the Shrimpers side who secured back-to-back promotions into the Championship.

After retiring as a player he joined the club's Centre of Excellence before being named caretaker manager of the first team in 2003 after the departure of Steve Wignall.

Tilson helped keep United in League Two and guided them to consecutive Football League Trophy finals, although they ended up on the losing side on both occasions.

However, in his first full season he took Southend to promotion via the play offs and a year later they had repeated his feat as a player - winning back-to-back promotions as League One winners.

He couldn't keep them in the Championship though, and eventually left the club after financial problems condemned them to relegation to League Two last season. Now at Lincoln.


Stuart McCall (Bradford City)

The Yorkshireman began his career at Bradford and during his first spell at the club was part of their third tier title winning side in 1985.

He returned to the Bantams in 1998 and captained them as they secured a place in the top flight of English football for the first time in 77 years.

They stayed there for a couple of years and, after retiring and spending time assisting Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, McCall returned to Valley Parade for a third time in 2007.

On this occasion it was as manager, with the club newly relegated to the basement division. Despite lofty expectations, he failed to guide them to the play offs in his first two seasons.

Persuaded to stay on by supporters, he eventually resigned midway through his third campaign - again with the Bantams struggling to make the top seven. Now managing at Motherwell.


Jim Gannon (Stockport County)

As player with Stockport, Gannon spent a decade helping the Hatters to two Football League Trophy finals as well as a couple of promotions.

Hugely popular with the Edgeley Park faithful, after retirement and a move into management in Ireland, the club turned to him to aid their battle against relegation to the Conference in 2005.

He helped them escape the drop on the final day of the season and then transformed them into a young side playing good football which, two years later, won promotion via the play offs.

However, County's financial turmoil saw him unable to take the club much further, and they only narrowly avoided the drop back to the basement division.

He was made redundant by cost-cutting County at the conclusion of the 2008/9 season. Now at Port Vale, but is constantly linked with a return to the Stockport job.


Mick Harford (Luton Town)

Often voted the best ever player for the Bedfordshire club, Harford spent six years with Luton during the 1980s.

During his time with the Hatters, he helped Ray Harford's men win the 1988 League Cup and preserve their top flight status. He also appeared for the England senior side.

He spent a short spell at Derby before returning to Kenilworth Road again, almost scoring the goals to keep Town amongst the country's elite. However, he left after relegation.

Harford was assistant to Joe Kinnear in 2001, helping Luton win promotion from League Two before leaving a couple of years later. He returned as manager himself in 2008, with the cash-strapped Hatters facing relegation back to the basement division.

Docked 30 points, he was at the helm as Luton crashed into the Conference in 2009, but did secure them the Football League Trophy. He left the club early on last term after a poor start to the campaign.


Ronnie Moore (Rotherham United)

Now in his second spell as manager of the Millers, Moore has a long and successful connection with the South Yorkshire club.

He first went to the club as a player in the '80s. His goalscoring exploits over three years made him a terrace favourite and saw him recently voted United's greatest ever player.

In 1997, he returned to Millmoor as manager and guided the club to successive promotions to the Championship where, despite a comparatively small budget, he kept them for four seasons.

Eventually, with relegation looking likely, he departed in 2005. However, he returned to Rotherham last season to replace Mark Robins.

Moore took the Millers to the play off final where they were beaten by Dagenham. They are once again in contention for promotion from League Two this term.


Brian Tinnion (Bristol City)

Despite being a man of the North East, 450 appearances over 12 years as a player at Ashton Gate means Bristol is the city most associated with Tinnion.

He was part of the Robins side who fluctuated between the second and third tiers during the '90s - winning promotion in 1998 but suffering relegation in 1995 and 1999.

Working with the club's youth system, Tinnion was already being groomed for the top job before becoming a player coach under Danny Wilson as City once again fought for promotion from League One.

He replaced Wilson as manager after successive play off failures, but in his first year at the helm Tinnion was unable to even guide the Robins into the top six.

A poor start to the next season saw him resign from his post following a 7-1 thrashing at Swansea left City in the relegation zone.

Big Match Analysis - Northampton 2 Gillingham 1

We look back at how the defences performed in our Big Match last weekend as Turls returns to analyse the goals.

Northampton Town 2-1 Gillingham

Saturday October 30, Sixfields, (Att: 4,573)

Here we are, back looking at defending in the Football League. Sorry that you've had to put up with reports from my deputies for the past two weeks.

I know I should have left you in more capable hands but Gil Grissom wasn't available and all I was left with was a poor man's Frank Drebin.

Anyway, onto business. There was a bit of a situation down at Sixfields, Northampton at the weekend, so I packed my bag of goodies - rubber gloves, cotton buds etc. - and headed down the motorway.

Northampton Town 0 Gillingham 1

The away team struck first with a well worked free kick. A shimmy and a shake set up space for the man, who proceeded to drill it into the bottom corner. There wasn't really a lot Northampton could do about it.

A well worked routine straight from the training ground. Praise must go to the inventiveness of the free kick, because I must admit that I get a little fed-up when I see another batch of free kicks get smashed into the wall or whacked over the bar.

Northampton Town 1 Gillingham 1

Nobes seems to think that this goal came as a result of sloppy marking. I disagree. However, I can't help but feel the goal came as a result of poor defending.

The corner was floated to the back stick where two attackers and two defenders were waiting with baited breath. Both defenders were out jumped - allowing one of the attackers to power the ball into the back of the net.

Also, I can't help but feel the man on the post could have made a better effort at stopping the ball from going in. Nevertheless, questions must be asked as to why both attackers managed to get higher than their markers.

I suppose it is part and parcel of football, but it looked like the defenders weren't even fussed about jumping - like it was beneath them or something.

Perhaps I am being a little harsh, but I like my defenders in the air at corners.

Northampton Town 2 Gillingham 1

Penalty. I'm not 100 per cent convinced if this was a penalty. I can understand why it was given but, at the same time, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid had it not.

A free kick was sent towards the back post where the defender and attacker got in a tangle with each other. Neither play was looking at the ball and the Gills defender kind of fell on the attacker.

I suppose the defender could be perceived as hauling the striker down and the reaction of the rest of the Gillingham team said a lot.

None of them seemed particularly outraged by the decision. Just a little clumsy in my eyes. Maybe he hasn't got used to his height yet.

Northampton defending:

Midfielder chips the ball up to the front man who does brilliantly well to control it, fashion a little bit of space, and play it through to his strike partner.

The keeper comes out to smother the ball. Good attacking and very good goalkeeping. Brave and alert - exactly what you want from your man between the sticks.

It was good forward play over poor defending, so I'm not going to criticise the defence.

Gillingham defending:

I might just start copy and pasting this into every article, because it is a daily occurrence. Northampton's keeper hoofs the ball down the pitch where a Gills defender leaped for it.

Unfortunately for him, he completely misjudged the flight of the ball and ended up flicking it towards a striker in the acres of space.

A goal wasn't scored, but the defence can count themselves a little lucky. Time and again we see defenders misjudging the flight of the ball and it invariably leads to a goal scoring opportunity.

I'm not asking for defences to have a PhD in Physics, but they must understand how a ball moves in the air by now?

Conclusion:

Overall, it wasn't too bad a display from either defence, but I am getting annoyed at having to write about the same mistakes every week.

It is completely unreasonable to expect them to be world beaters because there is a legitimate reason for them playing in League Two and not Serie A.

However, in the instance of the aforementioned Gillingham defence - which didn't result in a goal - it is a sloppy piece of defending that, if see on a Sunday league pitch, would result in a tongue-lashing from the defender's gaffer.

Of course, if any club is reading this and questioning whether I could do any better - as a coach, I won't even pretend to be good enough to play in League Two - then I will accept a challenge of joining the club on a one week basis to improve the defensive structure.

Anyone willing to give me a punt? Thought not.

Big Match Review - Northampton 2 Gillingham 1

Northampton Town 2-1 Gillingham

Saturday October 30, Sixfields, (Att: 4,573)

Struggling Northampton moved out of the bottom two as they came from behind to extend Gillingham's miserable run without victory away from home.

The visitors had got off to the perfect start as they sought a first success on the road since April 2009.

A smart free kick routine involving John Nutter and Charlie Palmer allowed the latter to smash a low drive from the edge of the box past Chris Dunn and into the net.

However, Andy Hessenthaler's side were punished for some slack marking from a corner when the Cobblers levelled on 21 minutes.

Ryan Gilligan's corner found Dean Beckwith at the back post and the defender powered home a header to restore parity.

And before the interval, the hosts had turned things around completely from the penalty spot.

Again it was Beckwith causing trouble from a free kick and, when he was hauled down in the box, Leon McKenzie stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.

Chances were at a premium in the second period, although former Town man Bayo Akinfenwa went close to equalising late on only to see Dunn thwart his near post effort.

In the end it was a precious three points for Ian Sampson's men - a first win in six which left Gillingham still searching for that elusive away success.

Big Match Preview

Northampton Town vs. Gillingham

Saturday October 30, 15:00, Sixfields

It's a meeting between two sides who are failing to match expectations at Sixfields this weekend as League Cup giant killers Northampton Town entertain Gillingham.

While the Cobblers go into the game currently in the division's bottom two, the Gills go in search of ending a winless away run now stretching to a club-record 33 games.

Indeed, not since victory at Chesterfield in April 2009 have Kent's sole Football League outfit returned to the Priestfield with maximum spoils to show for their efforts.

It was that dire away record which cost them their place in League One last term - leading to the sacking of boss Mark Stimson and return of legend Andy Hessenthaler to the manager's chair.

However, it's been a struggle for Hessenthaler on his return, with the Gills - tipped for promotion in pre-season - only sitting in 15th going into Saturday's game.

Their defensive frailties on the road have been a large part of their struggles - with 14 goals leaked on their six trips, including five at Bury and seven at Accrington in recent weeks.

Goalless draws at Hereford and Port Vale and another point picked up at Morecambe are all the Gills have to show for their travels this term.

Key to ending their barren away run will be striker Bayo Akinfenwa - who returns to the club he left in the summer - their joint top scorer, alongside Cody McDonald, with four to his name.

Despite their League Cup run, Ian Sampson fears for his job

For the home side, the arrival of Gillingham signals a return to their bread and butter after the end of their League Cup odyssey.

Tuesday night's at Ipswich brought to an end a run which had included the infamous defeat of Liverpool on penalties at Anfield in one of Town's most famous games.

Those exploits may well have proved somewhat of a distraction to Sampson's men though. Since then, they've collected just three points and head into the weekend off the back of five successive league defeats.

Their home form has been somewhat of a mixed bag too with wins against Southend and Bradford, draws with Accrington and Wycombe, and recent losses to Chesterfield and Hereford.

All of which means 41-year-old Sampson, a club legend as a player, is under big pressure to get from the Gillingham game.

Central players for Town this term have been midfielder Kevin Thornton and striker Billy McKay - both have notched four goals to date this season.

With Cobblers in such poor form and the Gills woeful on the road, this is a game both sides would love to win but probably can't afford to lose.

That may well dictate that a tight game ends all square which, although not ideal for either, will at least see them avoid another defeat respectively.

Nobes' Prediction: Northampton Town 1 Gillingham 1

Big Match Review - Grimsby 1 Northampton 2

League Two

Grimsby Town 1-2 Northampton Town

Friday April 2, Blundell Park, (Att: 6,482)

Grimsby suffered a blow in their bid for Football League survival as Adebayo Akinfenwa's winner moved in-form Northampton temporarily up to 5th in League Two.

Akinfenwa set-up the opener for the Cobblers after just 18 minutes. His ball finding Liam Davis in space to drill a powerful shot low across Mark Oxley in the Grimsby goal.

The Mariners responded though and got themselves back on level terms just before the break.

Michael Coulson receiving the ball on the edge of the box and doing well to hold off his man before smashing the ball home.

However, Neil Woods's strugglers suffered a blow at the start of the second period when young defender Oliver Lancashire saw red.

The Southampton-loanee was adjudged to have elbowed Billy McKay in the face during a challenge and ref Andy Taylor had no hesitation in sending him off.

The visitors made their numerical advantage count and midway through the second-45 took the lead once more. Akinfenwa connecting with a deep cross to send a back post header past Oxley.

Grimsby struggled to find a leveller and a first home defeat in six pushes the Lincolnshire club closer to relegation.

Big Match Preview

League Two

Grimsby Town vs. Northampton Town

Friday April 2, 19:45, Blundell Park

Grimsby Town continue their fight against relegation from League Two on Friday evening as they host a Northampton side chasing a place in the play-offs.

With eight games remaining, the Mariners are four points adrift of safety and see their 99-year stay in the Football League firmly in the balance.

It's the result of a disastrous season that has seen them in the bottom two since September. That poor start cost Mike Newell his job, and Town replaced him with youth team coach Neil Woods.

Unfortunately for Woods, it took him 26 games to record a victory in a run that, despite securing plenty of draws, broke a club record for consecutive winless games.

However, recent form has re-ignited survival hopes that appeared forlorn a few weeks ago. The Lincolnshire club are unbeaten on home soil in their last four games - including winning the last two.

They were secured over high-flying Bournemouth and top seven hopefuls Shrewsbury, so Grimsby will be confident of adding to their good recent record at Blundell Park in their remaining home games.

They'll be pinning their hopes on the experienced front duo of Lee Peacock and Barry Conlon to find the goals which can find them the wins they desperately need.

Northampton have risen up League Two in 2010 under Ian Sampson

A game against in-form Northampton is likely to present a difficult challenge to the Mariners though.

With five wins and a draw in their last six games, Cobblers, along with table topping Rochdale, are the form side in League Two.

Indeed, under former playing legend Ian Sampson, it's been a fantastic run of form from the Sixfields outfit. Before last weekend's draw at Lincoln, they had won five games on the bounce.

It's what's propelled them from the 18th position they occupied at the start of 2010, to their current standing of 8th - just a point off the play-offs.

The stand-out man up front for Cobblers is the much-travelled Bayo Akinfenwa, whose 15 goals have been an important factor behind their rise up the division.

The impressive Ryan Gilligan has also chipped in with 11 goals, and that pair will need to be kept quiet if Northampton are to be stopped from continuing their fine run of form.

Both sides will be desperate for all three points therefore, and a draw isn't much good for either. For that reason, it could be quite an open affair with goals at either end. It may well be yet another draw for Grimsby though.

Nobes' Prediction: Grimsby Town 2 Northampton Town 2

Cobblers give Gray the boot

And that makes four. Stuart Gray's dismissal as Northampton manager today saw him join the trio of Football League bosses already out of work this season. Just a month into the new campaign and managers are tumbling like a house of cards.

Under pressure from chairman David Cardoza to return the club to League One at the first time of asking, Gray always required a good start to this season. Indeed, some fans considered him fortunate to have kept his job after relegation last season.

However, back-to-back defeats against Burton and then Barnet in Friday evening's home match, finally sealed the 49-year-old's fate.

In truth, after the promise of the previous year, 2009 has been a disastrous year at Sixfields. A strong finish to the 2007/8 campaign saw the Cobblers finish 9th, their highest position in over 40 years.

And a 5-1 win over Crewe in January this year saw them comfortably in mid-table with over half the season played. However, just four more wins between then and the end of the campaign saw Town slide into the relegation zone on the final Saturday.

It was a disastrous run, and a relegation that seemed unthinkable had become reality. And for the owners who, on joining the club, had claimed they would take the club to the Championship, they were right back where they started.

Then, under Martin Wilkinson, and then Colin Calderwood, the club spent big on transfer fees and wages to help climb out of the bottom tier. After successive play-off failures, a 2nd place finish in 2005/6 secured a return to League One.

Gray had been in charge at Northampton since 2007

However, the club who have traditionally been a yo-yo side between the bottom two tiers of the English game, saw their Championship dreams suffer. First, manager Calderwood departed to Nottingham Forest.

Then, problems with the re-development of their Sixfields stadium, seen crucial to the club's growth, led to the owners holding back any further investment. In days of clubs pushing themselves too far too soon, it appeared a wise decision.

Whether it constituted taking their League One status for granted and helped contribute to dropping down is up for debate. However, it appears to have been a relegation as costly as it was wholly preventable.

They aren't the first side, nor will they be the last, to slide from a comfortable position the previous season to relegation the next. Indeed, they have form themselves. During the 90s, Cobblers defeat in the play-off final under Ian Atkins was followed by demotion the following campaign.

It was third consecutive year, after Notts County and Brentford, that the previous term's play-off final losers had been relegated the next season. On that occasion, Northampton made an instant return to the third tier.

Achieving the same will now be expected of Gray's successor. And, with 40 games of the season still left, and the bulk of their League One team in place, Town should find themselves at least in play-off contention come May.

Quite simply, promotion back to League One this season is essential, hence today's decision. For Gray it really was that black and white.

Nobes.