Focus on the Cobblers
Chief football writer Phil Hay takes a close look at Leeds United's opponents tomorrow - Northampton Town
The Gaffer
Stuart Gray. Gray is moving into the realms of long-serving managers after two years and 126 games in charge of Northampton Town.
There were always likely to be limits to Northampton's potential but the relegation battle the club are embroiled in has been something of a backward step for their manager.
Last term, the Cobblers rose to ninth in the division after finishing 14th at the end of Gray's first season in charge.
Disappointed though he may be, the former Southampton boss looks likely to guide the Cobblers to survival and prevent any lasting repercussions from a mediocre season.
The Danger
Jason Crowe. Leeds United and Northampton should know each other inside out having met three times already this season – twice in the FA Cup – and Crowe is an obvious threat after scoring both goals in Town's 5-2 defeat at Sixfields on November 17.
The defender is not exactly a likely source of goals but he is powerful in the air and was able to take advantage of poor defending from Leeds.
His tally for the season stands at eight, which is a sizeable haul for a player in his position, and he has found the net in two of Northampton's last three games, helping to earn a 3-3 draw with Scunthorpe United and a 2-1 win over Hereford United.
The Form
Northampton came good when it mattered, taking seven points from three matches before Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat to MK Dons.
Without that flurry of results, the Cobblers might have been relegated already, and they sailed close to the wind after suffering four defeats from five matches before a priceless victory over Leyton Orient on April 18.
Gray's side have been fairly convincing at home, losing only seven of their 23 games, and United were among their league victims, but 13 defeats outside Sixfields have been crippling.
Gray has enjoyed only three clean sheets in league matches away from home.
The Odds
On the evidence of last weekend, Grayson is highly likely to name a strong team tomorrow, and Leeds are 8-11 with William Hill.
Northampton start at 10-3 with 11-5 on offer about the draw.
The Whistler
Andy Penn. Penn was in the middle for an entertaining Carling Cup tie between Leeds and Hartlepool United earlier this season, a game which he handled efficiently.
He has issued 54 yellow cards and three reds during his 28 games, and the West Midlands official was similarly invisible when he took charge of Leeds' 1-0 win over Macclesfield Town last term, again in the League Cup.
YEP
