Game Twenty Two - Northampton Home

25th October 2008

After the disappointment of Tuesday night's poor result, we were all eager to get back to action and claim the scalp of Northampton in what is probably going to be classed as our derby match for the season. Gone are the days where Sky TV would come calling to capture the atmosphere and emotion on display as we take on Derby at Pride Park in the premiership and now all we have to satisfy our passion for "bragging rights" was taking on a team thats hardly local to us. Still at this level, each game is similar to the next and this did not have the feeling of a derby day in any shape or form no matter how much the media tried to talk it up... although it has to be said that the 3000 Northampton fans who made the trip seemed eager to make the most of it and credit to them for doing so!

On the way to the ground, we found ourselves behind a car with scarfs hanging from the windows (the picture doesn't do it justice) but I've never seen that for a home game in all my time supporting city. Does this show that the atmosphere around the city is full of optimism like that we haven't seem since the trips to Wembley? Probably not! More likely that they have travelled from Northampton and wanted to make their alliegances known like any many people do on their way to away games.


After very little advertising by the club, it was discovered that this was to be the annual rememberance day fixture that the club puts on to remember those that lost their lives for their country not only in the World Wars but also in any combat. Its a great cause and raises a good deal of money whilst also allowing us to pay our respect and show thanks. What we couldn't understand though was why do it all now? We have a match next week, and one actually on November 11th..... the only thought was that this would have an anticipated higher attendance and so raise more funds...?

One of the main perks of this rememberance day match is that the match ball is delivered to the stadium by helicopter. You could just imagine the groundsman jaw drop when the idea was first introduced and he realised a helicopter would be landing on his beautiful pitch. The pitch was cleared and down it came over the family stand...
The referee came out to meet them and claim the ball before off it set.... ....circling around the stadium before disappearing off into the distance. Credit to the pilot for flying so well in the windy conditions and was a nice gesture even if some people didn't appreciate it. In fact it was the Matty Fryatt of matchball deliveries, loved by many, hated by Lil' Dave.
It was noted just before kick off that the last time we had a dispaly like this before kick off, we went on to lose 1-0... against a team that played in claret, similar to the colour of Northampton's kit. Lightning couldn't strike twice could it?

The first half was very poor. I don't recall a single shot on target from us and a shot from Andy King which was closer to the corner flag than the net is the only thing that springs to mind! Northampton looked very ordinary but we never looked like breaking through their defence and finding the key to unlock the three points and so it was some relief when the half time whistle came to the sound of boos from sections of the home crowd. I'm not going to go into this debate on booing as it has done a hundred times before. Some say it's acceptable as they've forked out vast sums of money to be entertained and aren't getting what they expected, others say how is booing going to help encourage the team and inspire them on to the three points. Personally I didn't boo as whenever we've played badly, I'm usually to frustrated to do anything other than grunt in the direction of the pitch like a deranged lunatic.

The half time helped put things in perspective though as we had the parade around the pitch of the war veterans. It was noted with some sadness though how the amount of people in the parade has declined since it first started last time we were in the premiership four or five years ago. It was a time for reflection of people no longer with us and show our appreciation to those still around. They always get a brilliant reception from home and away fans and I hope they enjoy their day out and I just hope that the club looks after them better than they do the fans at times. It does show though, that sometimes football isn't the be all and end all. It does dominate our lives but whilst we may feel like crap after a bad result, life goes on and nothing really changes. Relegation to league one seemed like the end of the world but then you think of those people who went off to war and you realise that yes, failure on the pitch hurts, but it doesn't even register on the scale of what some people have had to go through. Everyone in the parade, and everyone who has gone to fight for their country has my respect, and lets hope our appreciation never falters.

After that moment of reflection, we were back to the action and it's safe to say that for the first ten minutes we got absolutely battered. Shots reigned in on our goal and three times the ball flashed across the goal with only a touch needed to knock it in. At one point a goal mouth scramble had me waiting for the inevitable roar from the away fans .... but it never came as Kisnorbo threw himself in the way to block.

After this, we settled down more and came back into the game. Dyer missed a great chance when one on one with the keeper..... King bundled the ball in only for it to be ruled out for offside...... Howard had a shot blocked...... Corners found defenders heads instead of those of our strikers..... Kisnorbo found himself with the ball but facing the wrong way..... it was all very frustrating!

And then their was Mr Fryatt. What can you say about his performance that hasn't been said already by all those in the stadium? He tried to take on the Northampton defence single handedly without success, would shoot from impossible angles and worst of all had the single worst attempt at a one on one with the keeper I have ever seen. He had practically the entire Northampton half to himself and kind of stumbled his way forward with the ball looking less convincing than if it was Filbert Fox baring down on goal with his comedy sized foam feet. These are the type of chances that strikers thrive on, no defender around, plenty of time to pick your spot and place it past the keeper. Easy. Or not as the case may be. The only way I can describe his effort was like a Gareth Southgate penalty but with less power. The keeper didn't have to so much dive as he did bend down and pick up the shot. The kop almost stood as one to berate the awfulness of it. Simply terrible and I was forced to text LD3 with the two words that signalled the end of our Howard v Fryatt debate.... "you win".

After that miss, there wasn't much else happening. We continued to press and occasionally were nearly caught on the counter attack but it soon petered out into a nil nil draw and the boo's commenced at the final whistle louder than at half time.

There's not much that you can really say after that week. Two home games against teams we should beat if we're serious about promotion and we've come away with only two points. 8 games unbeaten but it is a slight concern that we've now taken three points from three games and not scored from open play since Dyer's scuffed effort against Huddersfield all that time ago. Are the wheels starting to come off the promotion bus or is it simply the inevitable puncture that you'll get on a marathon road trip like this? It makes the next few games vitally important to make sure we keep pace with those teams around us.....

The next two entries to this blog will be very different.... one will be a break from the league one tour as me and Helen head up north to see the brazilian flair invading Manchester as we check out the City of Manchester stadium and see what Man City v Stoke has to offer. The next game will be at the ground that is well known to be the worst in the country as we have Brighton away on a cold and miserable night game in October. Cheers then to whoever put that one into the fixture list!! The Brighton update will have to wait until the weekend though, as I'm taking a well earned break while down there to spend some time with my other half (although after dragging her to the Withdean Stadium as part of our holiday, I may be single again before too long!)

Until tomorrow.....