KEY INFO
The club’s ticket office will open at 9am on game day.
Redz Bar and reception for matchday hospitality in our Mayo Wynne Baxter Suite will both be opening at 5:30pm.
Match sponsors are EMW Law.
THE MANAGER
Jon Brady
Cobblers manager Jon Brady played for Hayes, Rushden & Diamonds, Woking, Chester City, Stevenage and Hereford United. He was part of the Diamonds squad that won the Conference title in 2000–01, scoring the winner at his future club Chester City on the final day of the season to make promotion mathematically certain.
In his coaching career, Brady successfully managed Brackley Town between 2009 and 2015, winning seven trophies and breaking numerous records as manager of the club, becoming the longest serving and most successful manager in their history.
He joined the Cobblers as Under 16 coach in 2016 and was promoted to Under 18 coach in 2017. He became caretaker manager of the first team, supported by Ian Sampson and Marc Richards, in February 2021, before being appointed manager in May 2021.
Brady enjoyed a solid season last time out that ended in final day heartbreak when Bristol Rovers won 7-0 to clinch promotion on goal difference, Northampton consequently finished fourth after looking comfortable to be promoted all season long.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Danny Hylton - Striker
33-year-old veteran striker Danny Hylton joined the club in the summer from Championship play-off contenders Luton Town after playing 19 times in the league for them last season, scoring four goals.
Hylton was a surprise capture for Brady’s side coming from the Championship, adding to the goal scoring threat already present within the Cobblers’ team. Hylton spent six seasons at Luton where he achieved promotion from League Two up to the Championship, and he remained a key part of the side all the way through the divisions.
The forward has achieved double figure hauls for goals in five different seasons across three different clubs, including two at Luton. He scored 26 goals across two years at Oxford United before his move to the Hatters.
Hylton started out at Aldershot in 2010 before moves to Rotherham, Bury, AFC Wimbledon, Oxford United and Luton Town.
Sam Hoskins - Midfielder
Experienced wide midfielder Sam Hoskins can occupy either the right or left wing. The Cobblers’ wide areas have certainly been an area of strength during their time back in League Two, with many goals being created or scored by wingers Hoskins and Mitch Pinnock.
As well as being Northampton’s top scorer last season with 13 goals, Hoskins leads the way again after three games having scored three since the beginning of the season. Including a brace against Colchester in a 3-2 home win.
The 28-year-old has now embarked on his eighth consecutive season with the Cobblers, and is known for his goalscoring habits from his preferred right-wing position.
He began his career with Southampton where he went out on loan to Preston North End, Rotherham United and Stevenage before joining Yeovil Town in 2013. He went on loan to Barnet, briefly, before Northampton bought him in 2015.
Jon Guthrie - Defender
Centre-half Jon Guthrie was a signing made by Jon Brady joining from the Scottish Premiership in the summer of last season. The 29-year-old scored a remarkable ten league goals across two seasons and 64 appearances for Livingston.
A centre-half known for goalscoring and danger from set-pieces, Guthrie scored eight in the league for the Cobblers last season, netting six before the halfway point of the campaign, just 20 league games in, with an average of nearly one goal every three games from centre-back. Standing at 6 feet and 3 inches, the defender is a major threat from set pieces and has an impressive aerial duels success percentage.
Guthrie is now captain and has started all four games for Brady’s side so far this season ahead of our clash at Broadfield Stadium.
Before his two years at Livingston from 2019-2021, Guthrie spent two seasons at Walsall, after moving from Crewe Alexandra where he stayed for over five years.
HEAD TO HEAD
Since 2015, Crawley have faced the Cobblers on eight occasions, with Crawley undefeated in their last five meetings in League Two competition, having lost the three games previous to this between 2015 and 2018.
Last season Crawley achieved four out of a possible six points against Brady’s men, not conceding a single goal with a 0-0 home game and 0-1 victory away at Sixfields, when Tom Nichols’ strike was the decider in a game full of heroic Crawley defending.
Our most famous meeting at Broadfield Stadium was when he hosted Northampton on Boxing Day of 2019 in a fixture that was very close to being called off due to the excess of water on the pitch.
The game ended in a rampant home victory as the Reds ran riot from the first whistle, scoring the opener on 27 minutes when Lewis Young set up Nathan Ferguson. The second-half was when all our efforts really came into fruition as Bez Lubala added a second after the hour mark before Ollie Palmer and Mason Bloomfield scored the third and fourth goals within the last ten minutes of the game. A special Boxing Day performance.
In our previous meeting before the thrashing there was more drama that unfolded. The Cobblers looked strong at Sixfields and took a two goal lead after the hour mark, having also missed a penalty early in the second half. But Crawley showed their character and were able to pull a goal back through a special strike from substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George on 70 minutes.
Crawley worked and worked before finally finding some fortune when Josh Doherty dashed forward in the 95th minute, in what was our last attack, tapping towards goal as the ball was deflected past the goalkeeper by defender Joe Martin. The travelling Crawley fans erupted as a late point was salvaged dramatically.
VISITOR FORM GUIDE
Northampton sit in fourth place after three games, achieving seven points so far. This has included a 3-2 opening day victory over Colchester United, a 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town and a 2-1 win over Hartlepool. Northampton are yet to keep a clean sheet but have scored six goals, with Sam Hoskins netting three. The Cobblers were knocked out of the Carabao Cup after losing narrowly 1-2 to League One Wycombe Wanderers at home.
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley 21/10
Draw 23/10
Northampton 6/5
*Odds from betting partners SkyBet at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
