Sunday, 7 March 2021

Beware teams coming into form

When Charlton were beaten at home by Burton the chorus of moaners focused on them being the bottom club.  The Brewers are now second in the form table, having won five of their last six matches.  Yesterday they beat table topping Peterborough 2-1.   They have pulled out of the relegation zone.

Tuesday's opponents Northampton beat Portsmouth 4-1 yesterday.  Admittedly Portsmouth have been faltering: the only victory they have been able to find recently is in the Royal Dockyard.  They are even below Charlton in the form table.  Manager Kenny Jacket is under pressure.

Even so, take nothing away from Northampton.   They owe a lot to manager Jon Brady who has been placed in charge until the end of the season.   I knew him as a player at Rushden and Diamonds where he made 185 appearances.   From 2009 to 2015 he managed Brackley Town.  He then returned to the county town to look after the under 16s for the Cobblers and has worked his way up from there.

He was interviewed for The Football League Show this morning and what came across was his passion for the task he faced.    He has already got the Cobblers out of the relegation zone and they are way ahead of Charlton in the form table.

So no 'it's only Northampton' on Tuesday.   This is not the team we beat away earlier in the season. Charlton will need to be well shod and defensively alert.  The first three goals for Northampton came from set pieces.  Our own set pieces often leave something to be desired, especially corners.

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