Two of the newly promoted sides to League One, Northampton and Stevenage face each other this weekend. There were just two points between them in the league last year as they earned automatic promotions. Now each will be aiming to settle into the new division with three points.
Preview (Northampton vs Stevenage)
Because Stevenage finished ahead of them last season, Northampton Town was forced to settle for third place. This weekend, they hope to make up for it. The Cobblers still put up a strong effort to get promoted. Their preseason has gone well with two losses, a tie, and two wins throughout the course of the summer. Northampton Town wants to have the best possible start to life in League One. Jon Brady will want to see his team carry that level of confidence into the first game.
Although playing against opponents they are accustomed to could be advantageous for the hosts, both teams will encounter it, therefore there is little edge in this matchup. The fact that Northampton Town defeated both of their opponents last year with victories and draws may give them some confidence going into this weekend. This weekend, Stevenage should bring the same amount of expectation and fervor. This will set the stage for an entertaining opening-day match for the visiting supporters.
The preseason for Boro has been successful, much like it was for their opponents, building on their strong finish to the season in League One. With his wealth of experience, Steve Evans is a manager who should be making the most of it for the sake of the team as a whole. By bringing in players like Harry Anderson, Louis Thompson, and Nick Freeman so far, Stevenage has increased the depth of their midfield options. However, Boro was poorer away from home last season, dropping more games. They are scoring significantly fewer goals, so they will be cautious going into their League One campaign.
Team News
Jon Guthrie, the club captain for Northampton Town, was able to return in their last preseason game after suffering a hamstring injury. However, given his limited playing time this summer, it is unclear if he will be able to start after just 45 minutes. Tyreece Simpson and Marc Leonard both joined the team on loans this summer. They were able to play a part in their win over MK Dons but are eligible to play this weekend. Shaun McWilliams and Sam Hoskins missed the victory over MK Dons and raised some concerns. Both players will be available for the game.
Finley Burns and Aaron Pressley were recent additions to Evans’ roster that improved both the team’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Taye Ashby-Hammond will be hoping to keep up his strong goalkeeping performances after doing well enough on loan last season for the club to sign him this summer on a permanent basis. Teams always experience anxiety on opening day because they want to make a good first impression but also want to attempt to prevent suffering a crushing loss.
Northampton 1 – 1 Stevenage
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