Opposition Lowdown: Kevin Nolan’s Northampton Town

Reading’s first festive fixture sees them take on Northampton Town at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Boxing Day. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.

Form

Northampton Town finished 14th in League One last season in their first season back in the third tier, following their promotion in 2023, when they finished third in League Two. They ended last season 16 points away from both the playoffs and the relegation zone.

The Cobblers currently sit 20th in the table after five wins, six draws and 10 losses, sitting two points above the relegation zone. Their recent form has been poor, having seen four losses and one win in their last five games. They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 0-5 hammering at home to Charlton Athletic last weekend.

Northampton claimed a 3-1 home win over the Royals back in October last year, before Reading returned the favour, winning 1-0 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium back in March after a goal from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

The boss

Kevin Nolan: Nolan was appointed Northampton manager on Monday, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Cobblers. He replaced Jon Brady, who resigned from his post after three and a half years in charge.

The former midfielder had a 19-year career as a player, representing Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United. He joined Leyton Orient in January 2016, signing as a player/manager, but was sacked less than three months later.

He went on to join Notts County as manager in January 2017 and guided the side to safety in League Two in his first season. Nolan guided County to a fifth-placed finish in his first full season but was sacked in August 2018.

In 2020 he went on to join David Moyes’ coaching team at West Ham, where he stayed until his departure in May this year. The 42-year-old had a spell as assistant head coach of the England under-20 team before taking over the reigns at Northampton.

Nolan wants his Northampton side to become harder to beat while creating more chances than they have in previous games.

Squad

10 players signed permanent deals with the Cobblers this summer, including former Royals Nesta Guinness-Walker and Tariqe Fosu. Goalkeeper Nick Tzanev, midfielder Cameron McGeehan and forwards Tom Eaves and James Wilson all joined on free transfers, while centre-back Jack Baldwin joined from Ross County and left-back Liam McCarron joined from Stoke City.

Five players also signed on loan, including centre back Luke Mbete (Manchester City), midfielders Matt Dibley-Dias (Fulham) and Samy Chouchane (Brighton & Hove Albion) and forwards Callum Morton (Salford) and Tyler Roberts (Birmingham City).

Predicted lineup

Tzanev, McGowan, Guthrie, Eyoma, Odimayo, Guiness-Walker, Hondermarck, McGeehan, Pinnock, Eaves, Roberts

Key player

Jon Guthrie: Defender Guthrie joined Northampton in June 2021, signing on a free transfer following the end of his contract at Livingston.

He started his career at non-league Pewsey Vale, making his debut for the club in 2008. He joined Crewe Alexandra in 2011 and made his Football League debut in 2012. Guthrie spent just over six years in Crewe, making 137 appearances for the club, before going on to join Walsall. Guthrie spent two years at the Saddlers before a two-year spell north of the border with Livingston, where he spent another two years.

Since joining Northampton Guthrie has made 153 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals, and is also their club captain. The 32-year-old is a ball-playing centre-back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

One to watch

Tariqe Fosu: Winger Fosu joined Northampton in August this year, signing on a free transfer, having been without a club for a year.

He started his career in the youth setup at Reading and progressed through the youth systems, but he only made one appearance for the club: an impressive cameo in the final game of the 2014/15 season away to Derby County.

While with Reading he had loan spells at Fleetwood Town, Accrington Stanley and Colchester United. He went on to join Charlton Athletic on a permanent deal in 2017, signing for an undisclosed fee.

Fosu scored 11 goals for the Addicks over the course of two seasons before moving to Oxford United. After a year and a half at Oxford, he went on to sign for Brentford, making 63 appearances for the Bees over the course of three and a half years, while also spending time on loan at Stoke City and Rotherham United.

The 29-year-old left Brentford upon the expiry of his contract last summer and spent a year without a club, before signing a one-year contract with the Cobblers this summer.

Fosu has four caps and one goal for Ghana, having made his debut in 2020. He is a winger by trade and usually plays on the left, showing strong dribbling skills and close control.