Our prediction for this League 1 match:
Northampton
Match Time & Date:
23/03/2024
16:00
Prediction: 0-1
Derby
High-flying Derby County will be aiming to move one step closer to securing automatic promotion when they face mid-table Northampton at Sixfields Stadium. The Rams are eyeing their fifth consecutive league win, but bear in mind that important attacker Dwight Gale suffered a hamstring injury in a 1-0 win over Bolton at the weekend. Korey Smith is widely expected to step up, with Kane Wilson pushing for a start as well after scoring the winner against the Trotters.
The Cobblers, on the other hand, suffered yet another dip in form, with the team losing three of their last four league matches. Given Northampton’s difficulties in front of goal, we predict that the visitors are going to pick up all three points from Saturday’s encounter. The good news for the visitors is that defender Liam Moore has overcome his injury. It has to be noted that Derby County crushed Northampton Town 4-0 at Pride Park earlier this term.
Highlighted Player (Conor Hourihane):
Conor Hourihane is an Irish footballer who plays for Barnsley. The midfielder was born on 2 February, 1991 and he started his youth career at Premier League club Sunderland. In 2011 he joined Plymouth Argyle and he spent three years at Home Park.
After scoring 15 goals in 125 appearances for the Pilgrims in 2014 Hourihane decided to take next big step in his career. On 23 June he signed a three-year deal with Barnsley for a fee of £250,000. In August he won the League One Player of the Month award and, no doubt, he made a flying start to his Barnsley career. Hourihane made 46 appearances for the Tykes in the 2014/2015 League One campaign, scoring 15 goals and he certainly helped the team return to the Championship.
The Irish midfielder has eight caps for the U-21 team. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as defensive and left midfielder as well. Conor Hourihane is a right-footed footballer.
Highlighted Team (Northampton):
Northampton are a professional football club that compete in the League Two, the English fourth tier. The Cobblers play their home matches at Sixfields Stadium, the venue that has a capacity of 7,798. Northampton Town are well known for their claret and white home kit, while black is the dominant colour of their away jersey.
Northampton did well to make it to the Charity Shield final in 1909, with the team suffering a 2-0 loss to Newcastle United in the title game. The Cobblers are holding the record for the shortest time taken to secure promotion from the bottom tier to the top flight and relegated back down to the bottom again. Northampton Town managed to do so in only nine years.
Peterborough united are regarded as the club’s main rivals, with other significant rivalries including the likes of Oxford United, Milton Keynes Dons, Cambridge United, Coventry City, and Rushden & Diamonds.
