On Line: 6:58pm

Both managers fielded strong sides which included there new signings. The opening moments of match were not very entertaining, and it was the Cobblers who pushed forward, getting some early efforts in on goal.

Walsall were passing the ball around well and keeping possession, something which the Cobblers also managed to do when on the ball. You could tell there was a lot of quality on the pitch, and it was to be about how it is applied.

Northampton looked eager to get forward and test our back line. We on the other hand, looked comfortable playing in front of Northampton, hoping to get Bazeley or Aranalde to the byline should the chance arrive.

When the Saddlers did get wide during the first half, quality balls were put in to the opposition penalty box, but the only problem was Hawley isnt great in the air, while Merson never seemed to be around.

When Northampton eventually broke the deadlock it was an all to familiar chain of events.  Dudfield was given space down our left flank, we allowed him to cross the ball, failed to win it, marking was poor (Roper) and their player (Richards) put the ball in the net. 

Merson was looking very normal, and didnt look comfortable as the second center forward. He was involved in some nice passing moves, but was never a threat to the Cobblers back line. When he had a free kick on the edge of there area, he was no where to be seen, as Oakes blasted the ball high and wide of the target. 

Our only two chances of the half came from Wrack who failed to capitalise on a good Merson through ball, and Oakes who blazed the ball over the bar from 6 yards out when he only had the keeper beat, after excellent work from Bazeley down the right wing. 

Over all it was a very boring 45 minutes of football from a Saddlers perspective.

Half Time:  Cobblers 1-0 Walsall

The Second half was much of the same. The Saddlers looked very light weight up front, and failed to push on to the Cobblers. Northampton were playing some nice stuff now, getting the ball out wide, and in to there lively front men every time they could.  

Lee put Corica and Pedro on for Samways and Wrack, and we went with 2 wingers. We began to get forward via our wide men, and Darren Bazeley looked to have Lee Harper panicking when his cross come shot landed on the roof of the net just after the break. 

Dudfield, who was playing up front for the Cobblers looked to be a very handy player and had two chances to double the Northampton lead, before he finnally did on 67 minutes. Dudfield received the ball in the Walsall area after a nice touch from Asamoah, allowing him to unleash a well executed volley, and put the Cobblers 2-0 up.

Merson and Hawley left the field just after the goal, and they were replaced with Fryatt and Birch. Fryatt looked sharp and soon saw one of his efforts sale just wide of Harpers goal. He nearly latched on to a Matias through ball later on in the half, but he put to much pace on it.

The final chance of the game fell to Birch, who latched on to a great cross from the left wing, but could only head it straight in to the arms of Lee Harper.

A disappointing performance from the Saddlers, who you always thought could raise there game a notch if they had to. We seemed content with playing in front of there back four, rather than getting behind it and causing them problems. Corica and Matias both did well when introduced, as did Fryatt who looks to have goals in him. 

We seem to have the same defensive problems as we did last year. The only positive we can take from the game is that Vinny Samways keeps on proving he is a quality player. He looks like he is going to be a real star for us this season, he never wastes the ball and covers a lot of ground during a game.