Chron Comment: No giant killing, but Northampton Town did themselves proud against Man United

A cauldron of noise greeted the Red Devils on a record attendance night for Northampton Town.
Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds

It may not have been the giant-killing cup victory many had hoped for.

But who cares.

If we roll back to September 2015, a dark cloud hung over the claret Cobblers.

Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds
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The news had just broken the League Two club had not been repaying a £10.25 million loan it got to develop the East Stand.

The rest is distant, distant history for a club that has well and truly moved on.

On Wednesday night they might have been playing United Counties opposition let alone Man United opposition.

The fact The Reds put out a strong squad couldn't have paid a bigger compliment to the Cobblers.

Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds
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And what a way to rejoice the club's very survival by seeing England captain Wayne Rooney start a match at Sixfields.

By seeing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, yes World Footballer of the year nominated Zlatan Ibrahimovic warming up with Juan Mata. At Sixfields.

If the Premier League megastars had turned up a year earlier they would have played in front of three packed stands and a building site.

But in 2016 it was packed to the rafters.

Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds

To be precise 7,798 voices rang around the ground, while hundreds of fans congregated on the hill overlooking the pitch.

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There they watched for free, unruffled by security. And why not? On a night like tonight everyone deserved the chance to see it.

An hour before kick-off 1966 World Cup winner, Sir Bobby Charlton, stepped out of a private vehicle and strode into the main entrance.

For many this was dreamland.

Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds

"A year ago we thought we wouldn't have a club to support," said 15-year-old Austin Getter after the match.

"And here was us playing playing Man U, on Sky."

Many echoed the sentiment, though few can deny the tinge of disappointment.

At 1-1, a cup upset looked on.

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"You're getting sacked in the morning" sang Cobblers fans to the embattled Jose Mourinho.

But alas it wasn't to be, with Man United finishing 3-1 victors.

Picture: Kirsty EdmondsPicture: Kirsty Edmonds
Picture: Kirsty Edmonds

"Man United weren't even that good," said Charles Getter, 20. "We gifted them the game."

One of the lasting memories for many will be the moment Champions League winning manager Jose Mourinho, turned to the second famous Swedish sports star of all time and told him to get his kit on. Even the Special One was worried the Cobblers might actually do it.

It just wasn't to be. But then again a year ago, neither were Northampton Town.