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?
5. First half skipper
It was noteworthy that Elliott Moore wore the armband in the first half, not Sam Hoskins who has often done the job in Guthrie's absence previously. Moore started next to Conor McCarthy and won a lot of aerial battles in his own penalty box Photo: Pete Norton
6. Playing style
Cobblers hardly saw loads of the ball given the quality of their opposition but, when they did have it, they rarely went direct and often tried to play out from the back and work it through the thirds. There was one particularly excellent passage where Town sliced through Leicester's midfield and Maxwell galloped clear down the left, only to slash his shot wide. Hogg has said that the team will be focusing more on their in-possession work this week Photo: Pete Norton
7. Young pair given a chance
It was great to see a couple of youth team players involved. Filip Opiela, a tall, rangy left-back, performed well in the first half, while teenage midfielder George Dalby did not look overawed playing against quality opposition in the second Photo: Pete Norton
8. Duo on trial
Cobblers had two trialists in action. Experienced midfielder Grant Ward, who last played for Port Vale at the end of the 2025/26 season, partnered Jack Perkins in midfield in the first half, while young wide player Lennon Wheeldon operated off the right flank in the second. It was hard to judge either player in the circumstances but Hogg will have a better idea having observed both in training over the last week or so Photo: Pete Norton