Northampton V Swindon preview

A good crowd is promised for Sixfields` opening match of the season. Attendances at Sixfields were disappointing last season, but the club seems to be making more of an effort to pull in the unconverted. Tomorrow is Family Day and with a BOGOF offer for tickets in the Chron and Swindons` allocation having been sold out the atmosphere should be good.

Lets hope the team can put in a performance to bring the punters back. Stuart Gray will choose from an almost fit, but small squad. The formation is likely to be 4:4:2 with Bunn, Crowe Hughes, Doig, Jackman; Henderson, Burnell, Johnson, Holt; Kirk and Larkin. New signings Hubertz and Jones are also likely to feature, probably starting on the bench alongside Dunn, Dolman and Gillingan.

Northampton are 3/1 odds to go down this season and Swindon 4/1. Cobblers are 5/4 to win Swindon 12/5 and the draw is 9/4.

Paul Sturrock has been keeping quiet about his teams chances this season. Although he has stated he`s rested his players before the season opener as they are looking a bit leggy?!! He has brought in Barry Corr and Steve Adams from his old club Sheffield Wednesday, Craig Easton from Orient and Hasney Aljofree. The defender, who was made captain in the summer when he signed from Plymouth, has been injured but has an ‘outside chance` of playing tomorrow. Defender Andy Nicholas and striker Barry Corr are also injured. Lee Peacock, a reliable goal scorer at this level, may be playing as a lone striker, as Sturrock is still looking for a striker despite signing his son Blair on the books.

Gray has been working on the Cobblers` strength and fitness, with tomorrow promising to be hot, stamina will be an important factor in winning the game. Let`s hope that his young side can play with the desire and energy they showed at the Direones last week.