Friday 25th March 2011
KO: 7:45pm
Sitting pretty in 4th place as we travel north to Northampton Town, sitting down in 20th place(!). The Cobblers were hopeful of a very successful season, but the 3-0 opening day demolition that was handed out at Plainmoor suggested it may not be that easy. They have never really got going to be honest, the highlight of a very poor season being that excellent penalty shootout victory over Premiership outfit Liverpool, at Anfield, in the Carling Cup. They were then knocked out by Ipswich, but it was a very good cup run which will live long in fans' memories. Their league form has been poor, and the club sit 7 points ahead of the relegation zone. You would expect them to be safe, as Barnet and Stockport don't seem to want to get out of the bottom two.
I would add a link to their forum, but I'm sure you all know what it's called anyway. :~D
GULLS NEWS.
Errm, it seems Ben Pringle has returned to Derby, Ronan Murray is on International Duty, and there were some whispers that Tomlin wanted to return to London, but there is nothing official from that yet. I don't think there are any injury concerns, at the moment.
CONSEQUENCES.
Well, there's a big incentive for us going into this game. We could break into the top 3 for a night, which would be excellent. I feel we also need to win this, to allow us a 'relaxing' weekend! A victory for our hosts would see them move up two places to 18th, to further the gap between them and the dropzone.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Northampton wins - 49 (6 in Cups)
Torquay wins - 43 (3 in Cups)
Draws - 24
There is usually a winner in this game, as you can see. Northampton have the upper hand, especially at Sixfields, where we have only won once in our last 8 visits, on the sweltering opening day where Jason Fowler got the opening goal of the game. I'll take a similar result tomorrow please!
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
DLLLLD
Not the best form, at all. Hopefully it'll continue on Friday. A draw at Southend was followed up by consecutive home defeats, to Burton and Shrewsbury (both 2-3). Then a narrow defeat at Chesterfield was followed by another home defeat, to Macclesfield. A draw at Bradford was their most recent result, with Shaun Harrad equalising with a penalty.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side that drew 1-1 at Valley Parade:
Dunn
Hall
Webster
Johnson
Ofori-Twusami
Osman
Davis
Jacobs
Walker
Harrad
Bauza
Subs: Beckwith, Collis (G), Rodgers, Reckford, Gilligan, Holt, Wedderburn.
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
The front two are well known at this level. Harrad has shown his ability at Burton, whereas Bauza has performed well at Hereford. Both can be dangerous on their day. Abdul Osman and Liam Davis look like they'll be on the wings, while Michael Jacobs is a player who looks like he could go far. There are some good players in that squad, but it just seems like they're underperforming..
PREDICTION
I'm not going to make one. I'm just hopeful of about 400 Torquay fans to make a fair bit of noise!
COYY!!
), Robinson 2) 
