A look ahead at next season's rivals continues with Northampton Town
Who’s in charge?
The experienced Chris Wilder took charge of the Cobblers in January 2014 when he signed a three-and-a-half year contract having left Oxford United. Wilder’s extensive managerial career had started back in 2001 at non-league Alfreton Town before he spent six years with Halifax Town. In 2008 he headed to the Kassam Stadium and managed to get Oxford back into the Football League in 2010. He won 121 of his 269 games in charge of the U’s before opting to move to Sixfields, where he guided Northampton to League Two safety after they had been six points adrift at one stage. As a player, Wilder represented 11 clubs in a 15-year career which started at Southampton and included a brief loan spell with Northampton.
Last season
After starting with two wins, including a Capital One Cup success at Wolves, Northampton lacked consistency and at one stage in October and November they lost seven out of nine in all competitions including exits to Rochdale in the FA Cup and Leyton Orient in the JP Trophy. They also lost all four games in December before a revival saw them win five of their next six. They won three of their last 12 and finished the season in 12th place with 61 points. Their Capital One Cup run ended with a 3-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.
Summer plans
There is one familiar face to Reds fans that has joined Northampton during the close season. Nicky Adams, who played for two years with Reds, has headed down the M1 from Bury after he was released at the end of last season. Another wide man, Alfie Potter, has joined from AFC Wimbledon and the Cobblers have also recruited former Preston defender David Buchanan and ex-Derby County youngster Josh Lelan.
Previous meetings
Reds did the double over Northampton in our League Two promotion campaign in 2011-12, winning 1-0 at Sixfields in a televised game thanks to a goal from Matt Tubbs and 3-1 at home in April 2012.
How far is it?
It is a 216 mile round trip to Sixfields Stadium.
