Automatic Promotion

[everbrite]

Stan Herbert. 100% agree with you, 100%, Orient to beat Carlisle United would be best for Northampton/us.

Top 3 is goal, top 3 is the main aim. (Champions icing on cake) top 3 main aim. Orient to beat Carlisle United would be best.

Don’t want to miss out, also we have Carlisle United later on. And know want to beat Carlisle United, want to beat them. But what happens if we lose, what happens.

Don’t want to miss out on goal difference, best result is for Orient to beat Carlisle United. Puts Northampton/us in best stead. Top 3, top 3.

Jon, We get your focus on promotion, we really get it, we really do. Just relax and let your players do their job. How are Sam Sherring and Ali McGowan progressing? Sleep tight and all will be well!

[BackOfTheNet]

I'd long since written off catching Orient and given their run in wanted them to do us a few favours. Now they've had a bit of a wobble and are only 5 points ahead of us though, the title is a very tantalising carrot dangling just before us....

But no, that's just greed. Orient to beat Carlisle, us to get a result of some sort against Stevenage and open up bit of a gap between us and 4th. That'll do me on Saturday.

[Madrid Cobbler]

I'd bite your hand off for automatic promotion. Let's not be greedy. Finishing 3rd given the injuries we have would be a magnificent achievement.

There's no doubt that the injury plague has galvanised the team and we seem to be playing with more freedom as a result. However, that doesn't change the fact that it's an amazing achievement to be where we are with so many injuries and the list seemingly growing bigger by the day.

There are still 8 games to go and a lot can happen in that time and one or two more injuries could be catastrophic. If we can beat Stevenage and give ourselves a bit of a cushion for the last 6 or 7 games, I'll feel much more confident. I think, however, that JB is right to take pressure off the players. We can't really ask for more from them given the situation we're in.

[west stand oap]

Looking at the remaining fixtures I would say that Stevenage have a better chance of a top 3 finish than Carlisle. They already have a 1 point advantage and a game in hand added to which 6 of Carlisle's remaining 8 games are against teams in the top 10 whereas Stevenage only have 3.

[guest3578]

6 weeks ago, I had written us off.  I thought we would struggle to stay in the play-off spots.

But, respect to the whole squad and team.  They have proven themselves to be dogged fighters.  And, I have eaten my hat.

We will win the League on goal-difference on the final Saturday.

And I will amongst the first to celebrate!

[Bingers]

Part one of the big weekend has gone well.

1 - 1 in the real Manchester Derby.

[Coolcat]

Part one of the big weekend has gone well.

1 - 1 in the real Manchester Derby.

Salford, even given the short distance, amazingly sold out their full allocation at Stockport tonight!

[GrangeParkCobbler]

A win for Orient means they need 10 more points to clinch promotion. They are now 7 clear of us, Stevenage sit 2 points behind us with a game in hand and Carlisle are 4th, 2 points behind Stevenage having played a game more.

Still to play for the contenders.....(matches in bold are against promotion/playoff hopefuls)

Orient: A v Salford, H v Harrogate, A v Sutton, A v Gillingham, H v Crewe, A v Mansfield, H v Stockport, A v Bradford
Northampton: A v Newport, H v Gillingham, A v Carlisle, A v Sutton, H v Harrogate, H v Bradford, A v Tranmere
Stevenage: H v Colchester, A v Hartlepool, H v Wimbledon, H v Doncaster, A v Mansfield, A v Swindon, H v Grimsby, A v Barrow
Carlisle: H v Tranmere, A v Walsall, H v Northampton, H v Stockport, A v Barrow, H v Salford, A v Sutton
Stockport:  A v Sutton, H v Newport, A v Gillingham, A v Carlisle, H v Rochdale, A v Orient, H v Hartlepool
Bradford:  A v Crawley, H v Sutton, A v Rochdale, A v Swindon, H v Gillingham, A v Northampton, A v Crewe, H v Orient
Salford: H v Orient, A v Wimbledon, H v Colchester, H v Hartlepool, A v Walsall, A v Carlisle, H v Gillingham
Mansfield: A v Swindon, H v Rochdale, A v Grimsby, A v Newport, H v Stevenage, H v Orient, H v Harrogate, A v Colchester
Barrow:  A v Crewe, H v Crawley, A v Swindon, A v Grimsby, H v Carlisle, A v Hartlepool, H v Stevenage
Sutton:  H v Stockport, A v Bradford, H v Orient, H v Northampton, A v Colchester, A v Rochdale, H v Carlisle

[WadeyCobbler]

Although ‘only’ a draw on Saturday it puts us a further point clear of 4th place Carlisle and it’s another game chalked off. Form table over the last six games sees us top and we gained 6 points more that both Carlisle and Stevenage. Maintain that form over the next 6 games and we will be there. Carlisle have not won or even scored in their last 4 games. If that carries on too then even better. There will still be plenty of twists and turns I’m sure. It’s never straightforward but given our ongoing injury crisis we have done remarkably well to be in this position. If we can get 1 or 2 key players back in each week (and not lose any others) that will give us a greater chance of achieving the automatic promotion slot we crave.

[itsme]

Carlisle run in is awful wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even finish 4th

[1971cobbler]

I personally feel our threat will come more from Bradford and Stockport.

[TPFKA Marvo]

Have the Cobblers ever had a 20+ scorer and not been promoted?

[sloane square cobbler]

About 18 times on a rough check, Marvo. Cliff Holton, John Fairbrother, Ted Bowen, George Whitworth, George Reilly,Archie Garrett,Jack English,Freddie Ramscar and several others scored over 20 league goals when we didn’t get promotion.

[west stand oap]

Given the current league standings I think we are still in an excellent position. If any of the chasing pack managed to average 2 points a game from their remaining games this is how they would finish:- Mansfield 77 points, Salford 77 points, Bradford 80 points, Stockport 78 points, Carlisle 80 points, Stevenage 84 points.

Orient look nailed on for a top 3 finish and I think Stevenage will also go up automatically looking at their remaining fixtures. We can discount Mansfield and Salford as 77 points will not be enough to get into the top 3 and it is unlikely they will average over 2 points per game. I also don't see Stockport getting there as they have away games at Sutton, Carlisle and Orient. Carlisle have not scored a single goal in their last 4 games and they still have 5 of the top 10 teams to play. Bradford are capable of averaging 2 points a game but have been quite inconsistent.

81 points could therefor be enough which means we would need another 11 points from our 7 games (3wins, 2draws and 2 defeats) which is definitely doable considering we have only lost 1 of our last 13 games.

It appears that we are going to have to continue with our makeshift defence as JB says he does not expect any of our injured to be ready for the Easter games, but so far they have done well and we now have Odimayo back which gives us the opportunity to play a back 3 again if we wish.

[west stand oap]

We need to make the most of our Easter fixtures, away to the team with 23rd best home record and at home to the team with the 23rd best away record.

[Shoemender]

We need to make the most of our Easter fixtures, away to the team with 23rd best home record and at home to the team with the 23rd best away record.

What can possibly go wrong.

[Coolcat]

So, Stevenage on the final day just need to win up in Barrow to clinch promotion...I can see where this is going! 

[Coolcat]

Have the Cobblers ever had a 20+ scorer and not been promoted?

Yes - 1940/41. Blitzed the first half of the season but eventually bombed, failing in some outpost near Lancaster.

[Arminder Shwami]

I personally feel our threat will come more from Bradford and Stockport.

This is my fear too. I think we will get 79 or 80 points with a lot of draws but, if one of these two gets some momentum and confidence, they could put six wins together. It's what happened to us under Kevin Wilson and (almost) last season.

[guest3571]

Carlisle and Sutton away are the 2 that concern me. Momentum us going to be vital so need to take at least 4 points from those games which is a tough ask.
That's after Gillingham who I never feel confident against.

Really need to start getting some players back, at least to be able to freshen things up / make a positive change in the 2nd half.