Northampton kicked off their six-game pre-season programme with a 3-0 defeat to Russell Martin’s Leicester City on Saturday. Playing two different XIs for each half, all five summer signings featured, as did two trialists and two youth team players – but what did we learn, if anything, about Chris Hogg’s Cobblers?
1. Formations
Saturday's game was clearly an exercise largely focused on Town's out-of-possession work but it was still interesting to note that they appeared to play a 4-2-3-1 in the first half followed by more of a 4-4-2 in the second. Saunders, who unfortunately missed a bit of a sitter at 1-0, led the line before half-time with Hoskins and Dobson wide and Fornah in the 10 role. In the second half, List and Swyer played together up top with Briggs and trialist Wheeler on the wings. Photo: Pete Norton
2. New number one?
It's too early to say with any certainty who will start the season as Hogg's number one but the indications so far point to Zach Jeacock. The Lincoln loanee is rated highly by his parent club and Hogg has been full of praise since his arrival. He played the first half in goal on Saturday and was a vocal and confident presence. Two good finishes and a deflection gave him no chance for the goals and otherwise he did not have a serious save to make Photo: Pete Norton
3. Solid start
Summer signing Janoi Donacien was one of Town's most assured performers on the day. The experienced defender, who can play all along the back-line, spent the first 45 minutes at right-back and looked confident and very much at ease. He was also happy to bark out instructions to those around him Photo: Pete Norton
4. Midfield role for Perkins
Jack Perkins mostly played on the left last season, either at full-back or wing-back, but whilst he largely performed well, he came to Cobblers as a central midfielder. He partnered Grant Ward in the first half against Leicester and it will be interesting to see if that's where Hogg plans to keep him, especially given Town currently have only one natural senior left-back in James Maxwell, although Donacien can play there too Photo: Pete Norton