Next Up: Northampton Town vs Exeter City
City paid the penalty on Tuesday night, going out of the EFL Cup on spot kicks having been pegged back by Walsall deep into injury time. Gary Caldwell’s side embarks on another trip on Saturday, their first away league match being at the same venue where City played their final away match last season. Ryan Woods is still suspended for the red card picked up in that previous visit. Elsewhere Pierce Sweeney was an injury casualty at Walsall and faces a battle to be fit, while Sonny Cox is training but probably a week or two from being ready for selection.
Having confounded the critics to finish comfortably in mid-table last season, Jon Brady’s Northampton have again been installed amongst the favourites for the drop. An opening day defeat at Bristol Rovers was followed by a 2-0 home reverse against Wycombe in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night. Brady looked to strengthen his resources up front with the signings of James Wilson and Tom Eaves, whose size means he will be a handful for City’s defence, although he has yet to feature this season.
Last season was a successful one for the visitors in this fixture – Northampton visited the Park in September and left with the points in a 2-0 win through Hoskins and Brough before City exacted revenge with a stunning 10-man 2-1 win. Leading through Luke Harris, City were reduced to 10 men in controversial circumstances when Woods, having been thrown to the ground by Jon Guthrie, got up and pushed his chest into Guthrie who threw himself to the ground clutching his face. Northampton equalised in the second half, of course through Guthrie, before Will Aimson scored the winner late on. Despite that win Northampton have a big lead in league head to heads with 51 wins to City’s 30, 31 matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Carl Brook
Assistant Referees: Kevin Howick and Andy Bennett
Fourth Official : Richard Eley
In the past year, Carl Brook has officiated in 35 games, including 15 League One matches, 12 League Two matches, 6 EFL Trophy games, 1 FA Cup game, and 1 EFL Cup game. In those games he issued 150 cautions and three red cards. He has served as the Fourth Official 64 times. He last refereed Exeter City in January of this year, when Exeter beat Carlisle 2-1 at St James Park. He also refereed the EFL Trophy match at home to Reading who demolished our young team 9-0.
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There will be Radio Devon commentary as normal in the county and on Grecian+. Overseas fans will have a live stream available on Grecian+.
Pre-match interview with Gary Caldwell
“We have to be competitive again like we were on Saturday and get back to that performance if we want to win.”
Pre-match interview with Joe Whitworth
“We’re looking to show a reaction to the fans (from the defeat at Walsall)”.