---
title: "Opposition View: Northampton Town"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2015/08/23/opposition-view-northampton-town/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Bore"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2015-08-23T22:48:10Z"
modified: "2015-08-23T22:48:10Z"
---

# Opposition View: Northampton Town

Newcastle host Northampton Town on Tuesday in the third round of the Capital One Cup, just three days after holding Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

Ahead of the game, we caught up with Cobblers fan [Stewart Bailey](https://twitter.com/Stewpot) to get an insight into his beloved club. Here’s what he had to say:

**Northampton have started the season brightly with two wins from the first four league games, as well as a demolition of Blackpool in the League Cup first round. What is your target for this season?**

We confirmed the arrival of three new arrivals this summer which had me thinking we mean business. Then, completely out of the blue, chairman David Cardoza announced he was in advanced talks with a consortium to buy the club. As pre-season ended, our club was still in limbo. The majority of our signing are on one-year deals or loans and, for a second season running, our East Stand still resembles a building site – so Lord only know what the season ahead holds.

Personally, I believe manager Chris Wilder will do his utmost to get us up, but there is an old saying that goes ‘a new broom sweeps clean’. If/when the consortium takes over, they have got to hit the ground running, invest in quality players, get the East Stand built and get us die hard supporters on board quickly.

![Pete Norton/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2015/08/484886032.jpg)

**Just weeks after arriving on Tyneside, Ivan Toney could potentially line-up against his former club. Do you reckon he could a Premier League regular in the future?**

Personally, I believe that Ivan Toney can become the complete package. I see Peter Beardsley is involved in bringing on younger players at the Toon and I’ve already read Toney has started well in matches played so far. We had Berahino on loan a few seasons ago at Sixfields and I can see a lot of similarities between them. However, so many young players have left us and gone to bigger clubs only to find themselves having to drop back down the leagues to get first-team football. I hope Toney shows you what a good player he is and will make us Cobblers fans proud as he’s still one of our own as the song is sung.

**Which Northampton players should Newcastle be wary of?**

The last time we played a Premier League team away in the League Cup we drew with Liverpool 2-2 and then beat them on penalties at the Kop End. With boss Wilder being a Northerner, he won’t treat this tie lightly and will urge players & fans to give it their all. Smith in goal, defender Buchannan, winger D’Ath and striker Richards are the spine of the team, so expect them to be the stand out players.

**Josh Lelan was sent off in your last match. Will he be a big miss?**

![Pete Norton/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2015/08/4833957121.jpg)

It’s bad timing for Lelan to be suspended as defensive cover is a bit short, with Evan Horwood and Brendan Maloney both sidelined through injury, while youngster Sam Warburton has been loaned out to gain first-team experience. Wilder has brought some news players that can play in multiple positions, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we sign Tom Newey on a short-term deal to cover this position at short notice.

**Lastly, your predicted line-up and score prediction.**

Line-up: Smith, Buchannan, Cresswell, Diamond, Newey, D’Ath, Taylor, Watson, Byrom, Adams, Richards.

I think we will draw 2-2 and win on penalties to silence the Gallowgate End. May the best team win.

No doubt arguably the most successful Northampton manager to date Graham Carr will be in the stands watching on and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Ivan Toney on the Newcastle bench.