COBBLERS: Sampson on revenge mission
Ian Sampson will prime his Cobblers squad for a revenge mission at Barnet today after admitting the Bees 'steamrollered' Northampton in their September clash at Sixfields.
Town won 1-0 on Boxing Day against Dagenham & Redbridge thanks to Billy McKay's second senior goal, a result that puts them in high spirits for the trip to Underhill (ko 3pm).
But despite Barnet's recent drop in form – they haven't won for nine games – Sampson is anticipating a difficult afternoon.
The Cobblers boss knows only too well how dangerous a side the Bees can be, having watched their 3-1 win in Northampton three months ago spell the end for his predecessor Stuart Gray.
Sampson didn't namecheck his old boss, but spelt out a clear message of intent for the game.
"We took the lead that night but they came here with a definite game plan," he said. "After we went ahead they steamrollered us in the latter stages of the first half and then continued that in the second half.
"We owe them one and we're confident we can beat them. We're working ever so hard in training and things are turning for us a little bit.
"The win over Dagenham is a start for us but it's only one game and we need to keep our unbeaten run going."
Sampson was pleased with the Boxing Day success but it was not without its problems – least of all a verbal flare-up between the manager and a supporter in the west stand.
The Town boss issued a post-match apology to the fan in question, and said he would have been happy to shake his hand at the final whistle.
"It was just a bit of banter with the supporters," he said. "I'm sure he'll be here again next week and I apologise to him if I did say anything out of turn. I'm sure he would apologise to me if he felt he said anything out of turn. I believe he didn't stay for our goal, which was a shame.
"He blamed me for the handball, I think. I just told him that I don't tell them to go out there and handball it in the box.
"I would have shook his hand at the end of the game but someone told me he'd left by then."
Weekend sports round-up in today's Chron
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Friday 10 February 2012
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