St Juste - May miss out with a groin strain

Darlington meet Northampton Town this weekend as the two play-off chasers go head to head for the second time this season. The game is looking a very important one indeed and a positive result is really needed from the match. All that said however the rest of the season far from hinges on one game.

As Quakers showed on New Years day they are capable of mixing it with those at the top end of the table and given that Darlington tend to have faired better against the higher placed teams in the table there is every chance Darlington can get something out of this encounter.

Northampton Town were amongst the favourites last season to make the grade in the promotion stakes and they showed exactly why as after a poor start to the season they eventually made the play-offs. In the end a 2-0 defeat at home to Mansfield Town did the damager despite a 3-1 win in the second leg at Field Mill. This season The Cobblers are in the play-off mix again and with Darlington there as well this has the potential for a very entertaining clash.

The Cobblers have a very good home record and have lost just once all season in front of their own fans. Their only League 2 defeat was at the hands of Grimsby Town and Northampton avenged that result by beating the Mariners' in their own back yard in their last outing. This record certainly should faze Quakers as before Darlington beat Scunthorpe at Glanford Park the Iron had only lost one League 2 fixture all season as well.

One man who is not fazed by the match is assistant manager Mark Proctor. Speaking in the Evening Gazette Dave Hodgson's second in command believes Quakers have the personnel to hurt Northampton Town.

"We have players who can hurt them, and I always look for positives," said Proctor. "As a player I always believed we would win, even when we were heading for Old Trafford or Anfield. This is a big game for us, and there is no doubt that Northampton deserve to be pushing for promotion. I'm still getting to grips with this division, and some things just don't add up. For example, I cannot understand how a team like Macclesfield are right up there. We watched Northampton win at Grimsby on Tuesday, and they are a different class to the likes of Macclesfield."

Northampton certainly have threat in their forward ranks and this is something that Proctor realises having seen them in action.

"I was impressed with Josh Lowe and Trevor Benjamin in particular, so I know this will be tough for us," said Proctor. "But Hodgy and I discussed the game for an hour and a half on the way back from Grimsby, and know what we are going to do."

Colin Calderwood, like his opposite number who saw Northampton, has seen Quakers play when they won against Cheltenham at Whaddon Road and the Northampton Town manager knows Darlington are a threat.

"Darlington are a good side and they are very dangerous up front," said Calderwood on the Northampton Town official website. "The front two have played at a higher level and they have also got some good footballers in the rest of the team especially in the midfield area. I saw them against Cheltenham and they played really well for twenty minutes before Darlington's front two combined to give them the lead and the game changed after that. The front two gave them a way into that game when they didn't look like they could get into it and we have got to keep a close eye on them."

Darlington should have the services of Wijnhard for the game on Saturday. The forward suffered a groin strain in the match against Oxford United but looks set to feature. Craig Hignett should also feature however has not yet fully managed to shake off a virus. "It must be because he is getting old," smiled manager Dave Hodgson. Jason St Juste however has a slight groin strain and could well have to settle for a place on the bench.

For all those travelling to the match tomorrow have a safe trip. Full match commentary with Ray Simpson is available via Quakers World for those not able to attend. 

Last ten meetings

2004/05
League 2	Darlington	1-1	N'hampton	18-09-04
2003/04
Division 3	Darlington	1-2	N'hampton	17-02-04
Division 3	N'hampton	1-0	Darlington	22-08-03
1999/00
Division 3	Darlington	0-1	N'hampton	15-04-00
Division 3	N'hampton	0-3	Darlington	28-12-99
1996/97
Division 3	Darlington	3-1	N'hampton	30-11-96
Division 3	N'hampton	3-1	Darlington	26-10-96
1995/96
Division 3	N'hampton	1-1	Darlington	10-02-96
Division 3	Darlington	1-2	N'hampton	6-01-96
1994/95
Division 3	N'hampton	2-1	Darlington	08-04-95

Northampton's last five games