Alan Sheehan crucial in Northampton Town’s survival hopes

Recently promoted to League One Northampton Town have found themselves lurking around relegation zone so far this season.

Keith Curle’s men came through the playoffs last year after a 3-2 comeback against Cheltenham and an emphatic then 4-0 over Exeter City in the final at Wembley.

Defender Charlie Goode was key in the Cobblers success last season leading to a summer move to Championship playoff finalists Brentford. They also lost both Jordan Turnbull and Scott Wharton leaving no central defenders at the club.

Curle did business in the summer bringing in experienced Cian Bolger who was previously of Lincoln City and also Macclesfield defender Fraser Horsfall. The club also secured the loan signing of Luka Racic from Brentford on a season-long loan. Curle’s known style of 3-5-2 was effective in League Two but was put to the test in League One.

The opening eight games left Northampton one point above the bottom four with the worst goal difference in the league. The Cobblers had conceded 14 goals in the opening eight and also failed to score in three out of the eight games. With Brentford loanee Luka Racic out injured, the cobblers were relying on players playing out of the position to fill the role in the back three. 

On the 27th of October, Northampton announced the signing of Alan Sheehan on a short team deal. The experienced 34 year old, who captained Luton Town to back to back promotions to the Championship, has made nearly 450 career appearances, scoring 29 goals.

As his time as a professional, he has represented Leeds United, Swindon Town, Notts County, Bradford City and Luton Town, where he made 135 appearances and scored nine times in a successful four-year stay that saw the Hatters move up from League Two to the Championship. Sheehan has the experience of League One and is a crucial asset to Northampton.

His debut was one to forget with Northampton losing 4-0 away to Portsmouth, however since then, the cobblers have relied on Sheehan and results are better with him involved. Form started picking up with wins against Burton and playoff candidates Fleetwood. 

Sheehan was then found sidelined with an injury and the cobblers form began to fade. They lost four league games on the bounce including back to back 4-0 defeats. Sheehan, who recently passed his coaching A licence, had been helping Curle and his team on the sideline as he watched his team take defeat after defeat.

Sheehan has since returned featuring in both games with Northampton taking four points from six including a 0-0 draw to promotion hopeful Sunderland. Sheehan has played reduced minutes in both games but with a break now for the Cobblers, they will be keen for the Defender to rest.

The next game for Northampton Town sees them play MK Dons in the Papa John’s Trophy on the 12th of January. Sheehan also recently signed a new deal until the end of the season as a player/coach so he will look to learn under the expertise of Keith Curle and his team. There is no doubt Curle will look to new players in January but if Northampton manage to keep Sheehan fit, the fight to stay in League One will become a lot easier.

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