County v Northampton
Can the Hatters end the day just nine points off the automatic promotion places?
Saturday 14 January 2023
Just three years ago today, this happened…
Hang on, bear with me. I’m sure many of you will be reading this in bed, and my intention isn’t to put you in a foul mood before you’ve even got up. But with a mixture of nerves and excitement building ahead of a game that, if we win, could see us have a serious crack at getting into League One next season, I’m feeling rather reflective on how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.
The 2019-20 season certainly wasn’t the nadir of our 11-year stay in non-league. Gannon was manager. We’d enjoyed the euphoria of that final day at Nuneaton. And on the night of that Dorking game, we were only just outside the National League play-offs. But reliving the goals from that 4-0 defeat - in front of an Edgeley Park crowd of 1,121 - did make me shudder.
I didn’t realise, but Mark Stott’s takeover was announced just two days later. He must have been looking for a get-out clause in the contract after that horror show; or if the deal had already been done, his boxers must have contained a few skidmarks. Things haven’t worked out too badly though, eh? Stott’s first couple of full seasons have heralded a play-off spot and a league title, and as we all eagerly anticipate today’s game at Edgeley Park, you wouldn’t bet against the end of this season bringing more spoils. I think we need to win today to have any chance of automatic promotion, but even if we don’t, I’m still confident of a top seven finish.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope you enjoy your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore, which is brought to you in association with Riks Garden Fencing & Landscaping.
Des Junior
PS) If you’re getting your hair cut this weekend (or any other day in January for that matter) why not try STUDIO26 Haircare in Hazel Grove? Take your County season ticket and you’ll receive a 20% discount.
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content providers to call upon. Here’s their thoughts ahead of today’s proverbial six-pointer with the third-placed Cobblers.
Nick Lee, The Scarf Bergara Wore
I don’t think we’re catching Orient or Stevenage are we. But can we catch Northampton in 3rd?
For me, 3rd is completely doable. Our last two promotions have seen us at our best when creeping up on the sides at the top and I can see a similar thing happening this season. I think we could do with a win on Saturday to keep that hope alive though. A defeat will see us 15 points behind 3rd with two games in hand, which, while not insurmountable, is a bloody big ask. You never know though, particularly with Orient running away with the title and taking points off the teams around us. Get the new signings bedded in quick and add quality where we need it and we won't be far off.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
Two defeats from two so far in 2023. Can we put that down to illness/injuries or are we not quite where we need to be in terms of the squad?
Illness and injuries happen to every club so if we’re suffering a tad at this point in time, it follows that at other times we’ve gained via the same process, as our opponents have been reduced in potency by either or both.
In the end we had 11 against 11 for both matches so far in January and in both games we came up just short. At Grimsby we lacked ideas and the energy to have carried them out had we had some, whilst against Walsall, after struggling for much of the game, we then set up a grandstand finish via a superb late goal by Madden only to then get all 11 behind the ball and thus surrender the game in the remaining six minutes of added time. Was that deliberate tactics or just collective malaise?
I have thought that we had sufficient quality and numbers to see us clear this season, but we have to make best use of the quality players on our books, and I wonder if we have? We’ve just seen Blackburn pull Brown back, probably due to us underusing him, and other good players have gone elsewhere recently having been similarly treated at EP.
So, is it all doom and gloom? Nah, I think we’ll win today, but that’s based on Madden and Croasdale starting. Any other outcome and we lose!
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
We’re coming into the biggest game of the season so far, and one it seems we have to win if we’re going to have any chance of catching Northampton. What do we need to do after back-to-back defeats?
First of all I hope the entire squad have been tucked up comfortably with plenty of Lemsip all week, because our most dangerous opponent these last couple of weeks seems to have been that virus, and it needs shaking right out of Carrington! And then once they're up and about and out of their pyjamas and into their strips, I think the players just need to get back to our pressing and passing game, and trust themselves and each other to make it work, because we've sure as hell got the quality to beat anyone in this division, Cobblers included. I'd also love to see Olaofe get a run out again - I think his pace can terrorise defences, once he gets up and running and tuned in to how we play.
Have your fences blown over? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered
It’s bloody windy this month isn’t it? I nearly took off coming out of Tesco the other day. OK, slight exaggeration, but the weather has been pretty grim in 2023 so far. If you’re looking for a fencing company this month, Riks Garden Fencing & Landscaping take pride in delivering an exceptional standard of work, and you’ll be supporting one of our sponsors at the same time.
Address: 26 Edenhurst Road, Stockport, SK2 6BT
Email: riksgarden@ymail.com
Facebook: Riks Fencing & Landscaping
Phone: 07745 720463
Website: riksfencingandlandscaping.co.uk
Monday: 8am - 5pm Tuesday: 8am - 5pm Wednesday: 8am - 5pm Thursday: 8am - 5pm Friday: 8am - 5pm Saturday: 8am - 5pm Sunday: 8am - 5pm
Today in SK
🎸 Local band The Beavers (with County fan Jack Street on bass and vocals) play Woodford Memorial Hall tonight, which they do every year. And a bloody good night it is too! Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets £10.