Northampton Tonw: Hargreaves ‘Sixfields form is key to survival’
Cobblers latest news
SIXFIELDS favourite Chris Hargreaves believes turning around their home form will be the key to survival for the Cobblers this season.
Town have only won once on their own ground during the current campaign, a drought that has seen them slump to the foot of npower League Two.
A meagre return of just four wins on their travels has only compounded the situation.
The most recent loss came at Torquay at the weekend in a game between two of Hargreaves’ former clubs.
In total, four of the midfielder’s old employers could find themselves entangled in the relegation mess, with Plymouth Argyle also struggling and Hereford not too far away.
“I think they can stay up because I’m the eternal optimist,” said Hargreaves, whose swashbuckling qualities wouldn’t go amiss in the current Town midfield.
“But it’s going to be tough and it’s one of those where do you go for it against the top teams or do you try to defend for 90 minutes?
“It was too much for them to defend for that long against Torquay, although saying that they will be disappointed to have lost to a set-piece.
“To have had all that play and then to concede like that will have been very annoying for the manager.”
Hargreaves was at Plainmoor on Saturday to witness the team’s latest loss, but he noted plenty of positive signs in a game that was settled by a single lapse of concentration at a set-piece, highlighting the arrival of Luke Guttridge as a cause for celebration.
“Home form is going to be crucial, as is the crowd,” he said.
“And they need someone in midfield who’s going to go past the line, as well as someone up front who – if Bayo isn’t going to play – can get hold of the ball and link up play.
“Unless you do that, unless you’ve got a spine you’re struggling. Guttridge is that type of player that can break from midfield and get goals.
“He can provide that moment of magic to create a chance so you just need to get him fit, tell him he’s a good player, and get him out there.”
In a style very much of the modern age, goalkeeper Neal Kitson confirmed he has signed for the Cobblers last week on social networking web site Twitter.
The stopper, who holds dual British and American nationality, said: “Have just signed with Northampton Town FC, pending international clearance, til the end of the season. #hardworkpaysoff.”
It should be noted at this stage that clearance has not yet arrived and the signing will not be formally announced by the club until that happens.
But with Twitter becoming bigger and bigger – especially among professional sportsmen – this could be the first of a number of moves that is confirmed (or at least, made known of) outside the traditional channels.
CRAWLEY’S win at Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup means the Cobblers’ scheduled game at the Broadfield Stadium next month will now have to be rescheduled.
Town were due to play at the home of Steve Evans’ men on February 18 but that game will now take place on a Tuesday night as the Red Devils will take on Stoke City in the fifth round instead.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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