Crewe Alex: Pre-match stats for League Two clash at Northampton

PREVIOUS MEETING

January 24, 2009 – League Two

NORTHAMPTON 5

(Clarke 2, 55, 70 pen, Jackman 19, Davis 57)

CREWE ALEX 1

(Daniel 30)

JULIEN Baudet's sending off set in motion this heavy defeat as Gudjon Thordarson bedded into the Alex hot-seat.

The Icelandic boss questioned the character of his players after they crumbled following the French defender's early dismissal for a last-man challenge on Giles Coke.

Danny Jackman curled in the resulting free-kick to double Northampton's lead.

On-loan Ipswich striker Billy Clarke had opened the scoring and the Irish youngster went on to complete a hat-trick after Colin Daniel had offered some brief resistance for Crewe. He notched his first senior goal when he diverted a Mark Carrington cross past stranded keeper Chris Dunn. But Clarke and Liam Davis scored just after the re-start as the Cobblers put the boot in.

Northampton: Dunn, Rodgers, Hughes, Doig, Jackman, Coke, Osman, Davis (Holt, 65), Clarke (Gilligan, 76), Akinfenwa (Larkin, 71), Constantine. Subs: Zieler, Dolman.

Crewe Alex: Tomlinson, Brayford, Jones, Baudet (sent off 18), O'Donnell, Miller, Murphy (Woodards, 42), O'Connor (Abbey, 74), Carrington, Daniel, Donaldson. Subs: Collis, Moore, Pope.

Attendance: 4,675.

FORM GUIDE

Northampton: WLWLD

Crewe Alex: LLWLL

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Andy Holt: The Northampton captain is a driving presence down the left flank.

WHO TO BOO

Adebayo Akinfenwa: His physical presence always ruffles Alex feathers, so he is unlikely to be popular with the travelling faithful.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Graham Horwood: The Bedfordshire-based official took charge of Crewe's 4-0 romp at Brighton last season.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Northampton: Dunn, Johnson, Rodgers, McCready, Kanyuka, Guttridge, Gilligan, Curtis, Holt, Akinfenwa, Guinan.

Crewe Alex: Phillips, Brayford, Westwood, O'Donnell, Mitchel-King, Murphy, Schumacher, Bailey, Grant, Moore, Zola.

PREDICTION

Both sides have struggled to find their feet after demotion to League Two. Crewe have been better on their travels since Dario Gradi's return so could extract a point from a 2-2 draw. Calvin Zola and Steve Schumacher strikes to be cancelled out by Akinfenwa and Steve Guinan goals.