Northampton Town are one of those clubs we ought to feel some affinity with.

Northampton is a town of a similar size to Walsall, with a population of just over 200,000, with not a lot to recommend it and not a lot to say against it, either. Both towns, of course, have a connection with the leather industry, Walsall with saddles, Northampton with shoes, and their football clubs have nicknames that have a derivation from those industries, the Saddlers and the Cobblers. We have hung about the lower divisions as rivals for a very long time, and have a similar achievement record (although they did spend one season in the top flight once upon a time). Even Walsall’s most famous author, Jerome K Jerome actually died in Northampton and the two clubs have shared numerous players and/or managers, including John Barnwell, Kevin Wilson and Kevan Broadhurst. More pertinent to my interests, they also founded the very first Supporter’s Trust, following a financial crisis.

Still, enough of the history lesson.

It seems like an age since the Saddlers had a home game, even though I know it isn’t, and, if we are to maintain the push for the play offs, then three points are needed.

The Saddlers should be reporting a clean bill of health. Alessane N’Dour missed his debut last week because of a slight strain, but should be fit, as should Mark Bradley, who just failed to make that game and Edrissa Sonko, who picked up a knee problem at Luton and was subbed early on.

Stefan Moore should be making his home debut, which leaves Money pondering on a choice of 16 from:

Ince, Weston, Roper, Gerrard, Boertien, Betsy, Wrack, Bradley, Holmes, Mooney, Moore (the probable starting eleven), Bossu, Taundry, Smith, Dobson, N’Dour, Sonko, Nicholls, Deeney, Demontagnac.

Money has even said in the Press that he hasn’t ruled out bringing in some defensive cover today, but the list shows what an embarrassment of riches we seem to have all of a sudden.

Daniel Jones is available after resigning for on loan from Wolves (joining Dingle team mate Mark Little) for the rest of the season and goes straight into the squad. Striker Hubertz is hoping to shake off a virus in time for the game. If he doesn’t make it, then Ian Henderson, who scored twice for the reserves in midweek, and Colin Larkin are both fit to stake a claim to replace him. Chris Doig and Brett Johnson are still missing long term.

Predictions?

Northampton have been on a decent run of late, which has got them within striking distance of the play offs, although it is still a bit of a long shot. They go into the game in 13th place, five points out of the play off zone and eight behind the Saddlers. The away table shows them one place lower than that, having won 4, drawn 5 and lost 8. That all seems to be standard mid table fayre, but they do have the incentive of still having the possibility of making the top six, so they will be dangerous. I’ll still go for the home win, however.