The play-offs. The time of year when crowds are at capacity, games are fast-paced and ill-tempered, and all but one team will be thinking about what could have been. Due to social distancing, however, there will be no crowds, and preparation will mean the games will not run as perhaps expected. When Northampton Town host Cheltenham Town in the second first-leg of the League Two play-off, it will be very different to the norm.
Northampton Town Host Cheltenham Town in League Two Play-Offs
Form Before the Seasons Suspension
A lot has happened since the last action in League Two. Coronavirus meant the season was briefly paused, before an official curtailment last month.
Before the abrupt ending, it was Cheltenham who were in the better form. Michael Duff’s side had lost just two games in 2020, collecting 27 points in total.
Northampton, however, were struggling. They had won just two of their last seven games, and the decision to end the season on points-per-game meant that they narrowly edged Port Vale to earn a play-off spot.
However, form is now out of the window. In what will feel like the beginning of pre-season, the two clubs have had only a matter of days to prepare for this game. Both teams will feel like they have the chance to start again in the race to earn promotion to League One.
Excitement Building at Cheltenham
Injury updates were sparse in both managers pre-match press conferences. Slight issues are expected, however, the majority of both squads are fit.
Cheltenham boss Michael Duff has confirmed that some of his squad are not fully fit, saying: “The last week to 10 days has been particularly good. There are people carrying niggles. We’ll have to assess where certain people are. Different people come back at different levels of fitness just because they’re 25 different human beings. As a general rule we’ve been really happy with them.”
However, his attention has not been drawn away from how important these games against the Cobblers are.
“These are two-off games. If you don’t turn up for one of them that’s your season done. We’ll all be trying our best.
“They won’t be coming away too much from what they do and we won’t come away too much from what we do. We’ve both had successful seasons – that’s why we’re playing each other in the play-offs.
“They are a difficult team. The two games we’ve had have been really close affairs. We’ll just be trying to do ourselves justice.
“The last thing I want is to finish the game and go ‘well it wasn’t fair’. That doesn’t matter. All four teams are in exactly the same situation so that’s the key.”
Keith Curle Stresses the Importance of Supporters
Despite no fans being able to attend, Keith Curle has stressed the importance of the clubs supporters in the pre-match build-up.
Speaking to the official Northampton Town website, he said: “Some of the conversations I’ve had with some of the club’s supporters have been very humbling learning about their affiliation with the club going back generations.
“I think the supporters are rightly very proud of the work the club has been doing to support the community and there is a real willingness from everybody wanting us to do well.
“Thursday night will be different but we won’t be shying away from that. Our focus is on what we can do on the pitch, yes the stadium will be empty but that doesn’t stop us from playing the way we want to play.”
Head to Head Record
The two clubs have met previously in the League Two play-off semi-finals. Northampton were triumphant over their opponents, winning two-nil on aggregate. However, the Cobblers were defeated in the final.
The Robins have held the bragging rights more recently, having won three of the last four games between the two sides.
In their last game, Cheltenham were the winners, defeating Keith Curle’s side 2-1.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
