It’s Not Always Pretty: Northampton Town 0-1 Imps

August 20, 2025 Gary League One, Lincoln City, Matches, Northampton, Reports 0

Game state played a part in the second half, but there were other factors, such as us not being entirely at it, and Northampton beginning to look like a decent side. I’ve said it about Reading and Plymouth, but I didn’t expect the cohesion from the Cobblers, certainly not in the middle of the park. They found space with ease, and took complete control of possession.

I won’t shy away from the truth: City were forced to defend for long spells and showed a more rugged side to their game. I felt in front of the back four we began to lack composure – McGrandles has had a great start to the season, but for the first time, I felt we could feel the absence of Ethan Erhahon. We just couldn’t get hold of the ball and when we did, there was rarely an outlet. I haven’t got the stats in front of me, but if Hackett, Collins or Street had three meaningful touches in the opposition half, I’d be surprised.

We did switch formation as well – Ryley Towler picked up another booking, rather unfairly in this instance.It left him vulnerable, so we switched to a back three, with Hackett and Tendayi playing as wing backs. It did feel like it stifled our attacking intent, but made us a bit less susceptible to the big switch, which Northampton kept pulling off.

We still fought well, Draper even made a vital defensive contribution, taking a full-blooded shot to the face when the ball dropped inside the area. What I didn’t like, and I know it is football, was the immediate calls for a penalty from the home side. It’s clearly smashed him in the face, and they’re yelling at Ollie Yates for a spot kick. In fairness, the ref had a decent game, with no really big calls to make.

Michael Skubala made changes just after the hour, introducing Ben House and Ethan Hamilton for Draper and Tom Bayliss. House was typically terrier-like, energetic and full of running. As a sub, he has had an impact in both the games he’s appeared in this week, even with his mask, and is a massive squad player for us.

Of course, Collins was later replaced as well, and we do have to protect his legs. Both him and Draper now have two in four, which is great, but we expect to see Collins leading the line week in, week out. He won’t do every Saturday / Tuesday, and with Rob Street capable of playing down the middle, we don’t need him to, but it is important to protect him as much as possible. He was replaced by new loan signing Frankie Okoronkwo, who made his debut just a day after joining from Everton.

It was a Cobblers sub that had their best chance of the half. For once, a straight ball down the middle caught out Towler and Bradley, and Elliot List nodded wide. Watching back, all he had to do was get it on target and he’d beat Wickens. It would have taken something decent to get past the former Fulham man, as he was in good form. I felt he commanded his area well, stopped shots when needed and his distribution was good for 90% of the game. If he keeps that up, he’s going to be very hard to dislodge from the first team.

As the clock ticked into added time, Fornah whipped in a dangerous cross for substitute Tom Eaves, but Wickens was quick off his line to punch clear. Six nervy minutes of stoppage time followed, but City’s back line stood firm, ensuring the three points returned to Lincolnshire.

There is truth in those saying we were under the cosh, and Kevin Nolan is correct in saying we’ve got away with one. Two matches on the bounce now we could have drawn – Saturday we were better for 70 minutes and deserved the win, yesterday we were better for maybe 30 minutes, and certainly deserved a draw at best. In both games, we took three points.

I keep saying it, but we’ve got the basis of a decent side. When we soak up pressure, we find it hard to shift the focus at times – by that I mean we’re not usually involved in end-to-end games. We’re the better side, and then we’re not. Rarely after losing our grip on a game do we shift back into top gear, and I’m not sure if that’s as bad as it sounds. Yesterday, we were able to repel a side that, despite looking half decent, will be around the bottom six all season. We weren’t able to go and kill the game off, but we didn’t need to. The plan was likely to try to hit them on the break, especially with the change at the back, but at the same time, mission one was to protect what we had.

Now, onto the rose-tinted bit. Last season, against sides in and around the bottom four, we were poor. Northampton started last night in the bottom four, just as teams such as Cambridge, Shrewsbury and Crawley did in matches against us. Those teams took points, the Cobblers did not. For me, that shows progress, especially if it is a pattern we can repeat.

Now, of course, all eyes turn to recruitment. This coming weekend will likely be the first of the season where we don’t name a youngster unlikely to get game time (Okewoye) on the bench. Jacko’s return will see to that, but will there also be one more? I imagine international clearance can be a real pain, but it remains to be seen if red tape can be cut through to add further depth to this promising, depleted squad.

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