The Hotel End

Scunnthorpe are the visitors to Sixfields on Saturday.....yes I know i've spelt it wrong but this site doesn't permit me to use the C word!! From now on I shall refer to them as The Iron or United or whatever else I can think of!!
United currently sit 14th in the table, one win, one defeat and three draws in their five league games so far. The win came in their last outing, a 1-0 victory over Tranmere, their defeat came at home to Swindon with a 3-1 scoreline. Draws against Rochdale, Walsall and Sutton. They fell to a 1-0 defeat at Barrow in the EFL Cup, and lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City U21's in the Papa Johns Trophy.

As recently as 2011 The Iron played in the Championship, but a decline since then saw them finish 22nd in League 2 last year, their lowest position since 2004. They are managed by Neil Cox, he's seen them suffer defeat in 31 of his 58 games in charge.

Soccerbase is showing a high turnover of players in the season with at least 15 players leaving in the summer (including former Cobbler Kevin Van Veen) and 11 coming in, so they are a team in transition. Loan players in the shape of Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) and Harry Wood (Hull) joined on deadline day, and they join up with highly rated Jake Scrimshaw from Bournemouth. The team has just three goals between them this season.

Head to head between the sides sees us having met 67 times, The Iron lead the way with 26 wins to our 22. OF the 10 previous games at Sixfields they have walked off with all three points on 4 occasions and have shared the spoils on three others. Last time out though they were sent back to Humberside on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat. That game in January 2020 saw returning Van Veen receive a first half red card, and two Vadaine Oliver goals plus a Sam Hoskins penalty won us the day. Only three months earlier we'd been the ones tasting a 3-0 defeat with Van Veen scoring for The Iron and Oliver sent off for us!! In the prior meeting at Sixfields back in 2017 Charlie Goode appeared as a late sub for Scunny in their 3-0 win on our patch.

Tom Reeves is our first year EFL ref, three games this season have seen him book 12 players and send off one.

You could get around the c**t issue by referring to them as Van Veen Utd I guess!

Never the most attractive of fixtures and both sides lack of goals, I wouldn't be surprised to see a goalless draw. But maybe we can sneak a 1-0 win. . Another dip in attendance as well. Back to League Two mundaneness. I could be wrong and it end up a Sixfields sizzler!

Yes it appears that it will be a low scoring game as both teams have had difficulty scoring so far.
Scunny have 4 goals from 5 league games and 4 goals from all 7 games, they have never scored more than 1.
We have 3 goals from 4 league games and 6 from all 7 games, only scoring more than 1 against Coventry.
So in total the 2 teams have played 14 games and scored 10 goals, like a number of clubs their fans are worried about the lack of goals. They will be missing a few players as they have 3 out injured and 2 just returning from isolating who are not expected to make the starting 11, whereas we have everbody back from injury.
They have won 1, lost 1 and drawn 3 which is exactly the same as Port Vale and Colchester both of which we beat 1-0 so a similar score would not be surprising. They have however drawn both of their away games at Rochdale and Walsall.

2-0 Cobbs. Hoskins and Etete with the goals.

There have been some oddball results over the years..... we lost 5-0 there in 1993 and then only 7 months later we lost there 7-0 (both games I went to!) The return fixture the second time we won 4-0.

More recently (2008/9 season) we drew at their place 4-4 and then drew the return fixture at Sixfields 3-3

Cobblers Scunny games are not always boring it seems!!

Clearly, from the five posts prior to the game!

First game of the season I am able to make, and I cannot wait!  ;D

Getting there early to collect my season ticket and hope that my Driving License will be enough ID.

Be good to get a win and see the new recruits in flesh for the first time.

Up The Teyn!

When I collected mine they didn't check anything and this was my first year as a Senior - discounted.

Driving License definitely Ok (Passport or DL are the preferred ID check devices).

Roberts, McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Koiki, Lewis, Flores, Pinnock, Hoskins, Rose, Etete #ntfc

New left back signing not even on the bench...

I thought he was more of a centre back than left back. I could be wrong of course.

I'll be settling down in front of the TV in a bit to take in the delights of Sixfields thanks to ifollow and the international break. Come on Cobblers!

Nor is BAS.

Could struggle for goals this afternoon!

Yep, pretty similar!  ;D

Interesting that Rose is starting ahead of Kabamba again, not really sure what he’s done when he’s played to merit it.
Having said that I’m going for him to break his 31 game goalless streak and one for Etete in a 2-1 win.

Morning all,
No Baldy again...partimer

Bossing it at the moment.

Wow ...both sides look so poor.

You’re kidding right? It’s dull dull dull

A wondergoal is just around the corner

Scunny down to 10men

I'm here, don't worry.

Phew GPC was worried sick..

Indeed I was….

Both sides look average.

Positives so far....Koiki and we look solid at the back

Rose unlucky to get to flattened when was through on goal

Not sure why The Pollmiester is on the bench hes quality.

+1

He's a worrier, make no mistake.

He's sitting there on the bench worried sick!

I truly believe theres a goal in us

I don’t…..

Do you think they actually practise creating and scoring goals in training?

Would really like to see Brady changing the midfield rather than just shuffling the deck up front. Brady needs to bring on Connolly and Pollock IMO and have a proper go at them.

Just saw Harry Smith scored again for Orient.
We need someone like him or the Revmiester.

Rose been our main threat 100%

Lewis has offered us nothing in middle of the park.

He's a squad player at best.

So do I.

He was the greatest!!!

Disappointing half after a good start before the red card.

Rose has been excellent but we seem to want to play round the back and pump it long rather than trying to create.

Midfield has contributed very little, would love to see Pollock come on.

Still a half to go though, we’ve had two or three chances so let’s hope we take some of the next ones.

100%

Rose best player on the pitch. Hoskins should have scored 2 but didn’t!

Curles in deep do do
Getting pumped at home by the mighty Barrow

He's got to go!!!

Rose deserves that

Get in there!!!

Brady in

Phew, good ball by Hoskins, pleased for Rose

He's got to stay!!!

I truly believe theres a 2nd goal in us

I don't

18 shots to their 4, down to 10 men…it’s got 1 all written all over it  :P

As it stands we're 6th. 3 points off top spot.

I would like to see Pollock and McWilliams in midfield with hoskins or Pinnock as a number 10 moving forward

We're the greatest

2-0

Who else but the Hoskmiester

Cometh the man…Super Sammy  ;D

Yesss!!!

Easy win, never in doubt. Good performance from Rose too.

We could have let them get at least one goal. I would have won over £80!!!

Up to 5th now with a game in hand. 4 clean sheets in 5 games.
Has to go down as a decent start to the season.

We've broken our duck in terms of goals from open play and hopefully
the floodgates will open now.

For me the major positive today was Rose's performance: he's finally starting to look like the player we thought we signed. Hoskins also played well: can't argue with a goal and an assist. Connolly went on some dangerous runs late on and I think his pace will make him a good option off the bench - he just needs to work on his end product.

 

Connollys decision making, first touch and footballing brain are non-existent.

Lewis offers nothing in middle of the pitch and Pollock should be playing instead.

Back four look good and Koiki is miles better than Mills.

Rose deserved his goal, should be starting every week.

Good 3 points.

Find it very easy to disagree on Lewis and also Connelly ! Have to assume you were not there!

Assume wrong.

Interesting you based the fact I was not there on the two points you disagree with. Kind of arrogant no?

The rest of it I presume you do?

Keeper did what he needed to, commanded his box but caught the Scunny distribution bug in the second half with a number of kicks sailing into touch.
Defence looked solid, centre backs not troubled with full backs pretty involved going forwards. This meant that the midfield pairing of Lewis and Flores were hardly noticed by me, we played more with width than going through the middle.
Etete a handful but well done Danny Rose on todays performance, put himself about, got the red card with a somewhat theatrical dive (not saying it wasn't a foul but he made the most of it), Hoskins involved in bits and pieces but Pinnock less so.

Connoly looked quick when he came on and ran at people, stumbling through on more than one occasion but little end product. Kabamba barely got a touch and McWilliams shored up the middle in his short stint.

Overall, not really troubled, large parts of the game non-descript, we looked good when we injected a bit of pace into proceedings such as the last minute chance in the first half and the opening goal. Otherwise a bit too cautious and probing for my liking. Scunny no great shakes although number 7 (Green) stood out as a level above the rest of them.

Very little atmosphere, not helped by smaller away followings and them being put in the East Stand now too...... three points on the board though, I guess that's what its all about!

Our defence looked really solid again today and this might take us a long way this season. Was worried at half time that we wouldn't be able to break them down even with ten men. Although we should have scored more goals it was pleasing to see we really did take the game to Scunny in the 2nd half and it was good to see plenty of crosses going in and chances being created. Disappointed that we sat back after the goal and gave them a sniff. That was completely unnecessary as they didn't look like they knew how to cope when we attacked, and created nothing at all until we sat back.

Still, overall a good performance, and hopefully the chances created and goals scored will give the midfield and forward line a bit more confidence. Great performance from Rose today, but it's the first in a long time so I won't be getting carried away yet. I think Koiki looks a very decent player too and offers more than Mills at left back.

A more than welcome win. Evens till the sending off , which looked fully justified with Rose bustling through. Went strangely flat after that for the rest of the first half - but the pace was upped in the second half with the width of the pitch used and it became a succession of attacks and chances. Lewis should have buried Etete's cross after a clever run and cross - but it was all put right with a burst of speed from Sam and Rose stretching to score. Connolly had a few good gallops late on and should have been rewarded with a goal - but it fell to Sam to actually net it. Koiki looked steady enough defending and a handful in attack - his passing not always great though.
Midfield doesn't look right to me - maybe Brady is spoiled for choice - but hope it gets sorted and somebody starts showing a bit of authority. Could do with a Roy Hunter type of player to lead the charge - or perhaps that's a thing of the past.

Took a bit of breaking down, but none the less a decent result. It’s a pleasure to see the team trying to make connecting runs and short give and go passes. I thought Hoskins looks so at his level now. Rose was spot on today. Great result. Well done to Brady, Colin and the lads.

Come on then, let’s hear it. How did we play, who impressed, who didn’t?

Also interested to hear how Koiki got on replacing the heartbeat of the team.

An interesting fact, David Bower was in attendance today, maybe fancied a day out from Dubai or read into that what you will.

Don't ask him, I don't think he was half there.

Half of him is almost everywhere now due to the lack of diet

Maybe there’s a deal to be done……..

If you know something please say it clearly. I don’t do cryptic especially on a Saturday after a few sherbets.

Sorry mate, nothing concrete, enjoy the beers.

I thought McGowan had a good game today, fair play to him.

Hokey Koiki is a massive upgrade on Mills

Let's hope we can somehow find room for both when Mills returns.
Also agree that McGowan had a good game. He's got big boots to fill in the right back role.

Koiki and McGowan both did ok today but on the flip side Scun Thorpe offered nothing much going forward so not the sternest of tests but you can only play what’s in front of you.
Happy with the points return so far. UTC

Just surprised that you dismissed the two players concerned in your summary. The one thing Connolly did was to inject a bit of pace which in fact led to the second goal which we needed... don't you think! Easy to dismiss him as 'with no end product' but ignore the pluses. As for Lewis he did ok does the easy things efficiently, backed up by two terrific tackles second half in front of the West Stand opposite row approx N140/N180. The point is for me the two players put in reasonable shifts as they say on here. Connolly will trouble L2 defences as he is so damn quick. Talking a about speed, our right back astonished some of us in the West Stand with the speed he raced into attack/covered back! Roberts basically untroubled, with Kioki putting in his trademark surges upfield. As mentioned by someone else, does not always end with a promising pass. Thought he was a bit lose in his marking role too. Lewis workman like, covers a lot of ground and works hard. Flores did some good passing and certainly noticed him more today. Hoskins did well and was relieved to see him latch on to scramble the ball home. Thought Connolly shot had crossed the line? Ete caused them issues whilst he was on, might have scored once but felt he was falling over or slipping a little too often at times. Rose quite rightly man of the match and thought he was in the penalty area too when the guy was sent off. Kabamba offered little, funked some direct challanges and can't head the ball for toffee. Summary well we won more comfortably than the score suggests and above all Rose scored from open play and no wonder his teammates mobbed him after his first goal in 30. Like seeing records broken!
One last thought, at times we played like a team expecting to win with too much sideways and back movements. The injection of pace put an end to that dilly dallying.

Maybe he's becoming a fan! :)

I'd be interested, in your opinion, on what you read into it.

Listening to the cricket yesterday, Michael Holding explained the only place in the world he could get a perfect pair of boots made was in Northampton.

Maybe he was buying some shoes?

The biggest positive is how solid we are looking at the back and how disciplined we are when defending across the pitch . There is always one player within 6 yards of another ready to support .
It is a good foundation to build on .
The full backs are now also slowly getting forward .
It is progress .
Clearly we lack flair and creativity in the final third but i think we have sacrificed that for solidity at the moment . Flores and Etete will get better and Pollock is to come .
I think we will get there .

A bit harsh to dismiss a player after coming on cold with 15 minutes to go don’t you think?

Well done lads. Scunny we’re appalling and we had an extra man for 70 mins but, as they say, you can only beat what is put in front of you.
The difference today were our 2 flank backs staying out wide and getting forward so readily. With Scunny only playing 1 up front and very little going on creatively in midfield, our very adequate defensive spine could easily handle things in our half.
So pleased to say the 2 individuals who I have previously thought a liability shone today. I thought, like others, Lewis and Rose had good games - long may it continue (against better teams with 12 players!).
Koiki definitely MOM for me. The only one that was slightly off the pace for me was Flores. But hey, JB should definitely consider starting that same 11 at FGR next week.

;D

A good game yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We played some good football at times, maybe lacking a little spark in the final third. Credit to Scunny though as they defended well with 10 men, but we broke them down in the end.

Lol...
Cobblers fans when we get hammered by Sc***horpe... Which often happens.
"Were so s***, no movement, no scorers, sack em"

Cobblers  fans when we beat Sc***horpe.
"Sc***horpe are s***, we're s***, no movement, no scorers, sack em"

A comfortable win in the end although at half-time we were asking ourselves if we were going to break down the 10 men after they had cleared the Lewis effort off the line and their 'keeper made a good save to keep out Sam, up to that point they had defended well.
Fortunately we upped the tempo in the second half which caused them loads of problems. Nobody had a poor game and the central defenders were largely untroubled by a impotent scunny attack, although we had a couple of hairy moments in the first half. Most successful teams are built on a solid defense and our is looking pretty good, we certainly are not missing Lloyd Jones and for that matter Watson also.
I think we got a little bit lucky with the sending off as it came from a hurried clearance from McGowan which fortunately fell into Rose's path to chase. No doubt about the decision as it was a clear red but most where I sat expected a penalty but seeing the incident again the ref got it right.
The only downside was that we should have scored 4 with the other chances we had. It would have been easier to score from the 6 yard line than put the ball over the stand, Kabamba had a one on one with the 'keeper among other chances.
Good to see Rose on the scoresheet which he deserved given his alround display. For the second the ball broke kindly for Connolly and we thought the ball had already crossed the line before Sam applied the finishing touch.
So up to 5th in the table which does not tell us much as we have not played anybody above 10th place yet. With 3 of our next 4 away I think we will have a better idea come the end of the month. From what I have seen from the teams that have come here and from tv highlights and results there does not seem to be a stand out team in the division so every reason to be optomistic.

We went far more route one than I expected in the game, but it seemed to be a targeted ploy to get in behind their defence - and it did, even if was inadvertent, lead to their man getting sent off.

I'd been uninspired by Paul Lewis so far but thought he had a good game yesterday and was effective at nicking back possession and being given the freedom to get forward a bit more. He should have had one at least and could have bagged a couple.

I was very impressed with the centre-backs once again, they look like a really solid partnership and Horsfall is now consistently one of our best players which is a real credit to him and his development from the start of last season. Was also impressed with both full-backs, and may be in the minority of people who preferred Koiki to Mills anyway in terms of what he offers going forward.

Probably the best game I've seen Danny Rose have for us, and just in time really as I was beginning to question if he offers anything more than hard work after an incredibly long spell for a striker without scoring. Hopefully this leads to a bit of a run for him now, as I think him and Etete could be a very awkward duo for defenders in this league.

Obviously the plus point to the start of this season is 4 cleans sheets in 5 games. It bodes well as any organised team is pretty much always in the running for promotion.

They love a good moan mate. And they love a bit of muck racking even more. 😀😀

Not sure who you are referring to. If it was Kabamba I thought he was ineffective when compared with Connolly. Your comments don't make footballing sense as in the next game he might do a lot better. He was ok against Sileby but has not really made a great impression since....imo of course!  If he can't win headers as a striker then he will have a disappointing season here....? Equally it is very harsh to criticise Mills with ungentlemanly and repetitive sarcastic comments. The guy suffered serious injury on behalf of his team. Enjoy your hot chocolate and get to bed early and give school a chance.

They?

Scunny were woeful. Not sure I’ve seen a more gutless opposition, I’d be amazed if there is one team worse than them at the end of the season.

That said, we played well. Things are starting to come together for sure with a players getting up to speed. Rose scoring was massive. You could see the relief in his celebration and it was great to see every outfield player run over to him. Really hope he goes on a nice little run of goals now, fair play Danny. I was also very impressed with Connolly, Koiki and McGowan. The CBS don’t need a mention, everyone knows how good they are.

Four clean sheets from five games is insane. A defence that solid = serious promotion candidate.

Bringing on Connolly who is quick against a team who had played a long period with 10 men is a logical substitution.
 I still want to see our centre midfield break forward with the ball to open up games and give the likes of Etete more freedom towards goal.
Defensively I agree we look pretty solid it’s just the goals scored that bothers me.
All told the team is starting to gel.

Yeah… You know…. Them

Wot, that lot with Van Morrison?

Nothing wrong with the IvanMorrison’s, excellent filter for Sainsbury’s  8)