Northampton Town return to the league after a shock First Round FA Cup exit

Credit: Northampton Town FC

Northampton Town host Accrington Stanley in League One at the PTS Academy Stadium after a disappointing First Round exit in the FA Cup to Oxford City away on Monday evening.

Northampton Town this season have struggled in their return to League One. The Cobblers have won only three games out of the eleven games played so far in the league drawing two games and losing six.

Northampton have conceded 20 goals this season and the only team in the league that has conceded more than the Cobblers are Burton Albion as they have conceded one more goal than the Cobblers in League One. The Cobblers kept their first clean sheet of the campaign last Tuesday against MK Dons with a goalless draw.

As for the visitors, they’ve won three out of their last four games. Their only loss came against the second placed Ipswich. Only one point separates both of these clubs in the league table.

Stanley were also knocked out of the FA Cup First Round as they were beaten 2-1 by League Two Tranmere Rovers. Corey Blackett-Taylor opened the scoring for Tranmere in the 13th minute as Colby Bishop equalised for the League One side. With six minutes left, Peter Clarke scored to send Tranmere to the Second Round of the cup.

They bounced back during midweek with a win against Barrow in the Papa John’s Trophy. Lewis Mansell’s fourth-minute strike separated the two sides in the end.

Team news

Northampton have no new fresh injury concerns ahead of the game according to manager Keith Curle. Long term absentees Scott Pollock and Joseph Mills are still out following operations. Midfielder Chris Lines is a doubt for the game after missing the FA Cup game on Monday.

Accrington Stanley have been hit with 17 players and two staff members testing positive for COVID-19 after their win over Fleetwood Town in October. Manager John Coleman says that four or five players have been struggling to train this week.

Head-to-head

The two sides have met each other 14 times previously, going back to August 2009 when Northampton won 3-1 in League Two. Since then, Northampton have beaten Accrington eight times with three draws and three Accrington wins. The last meeting was in December 2015 and Northampton won 1-0.

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