We Must Keep The Faith!

Should he stay? Should he go? Which can be voted in our latest Vital Northampton poll. Ian Sampson should well and truly stay and those aboard ‘the Sampson out’ brigade are damn right pathetic.

It is clear that chairman David Cardoza is fully behind Sampson and co. and all must remain patient in a season that is a work in progress.

Cardoza has backed Sampson in building a young and hungry squad with the capabilities of tackling this division which many believe have the quality to push for promotion this season, including Cardoza himself.

At this stage, fans must remain patient in this tight league as we only have to look back to last season to see this Northampton Town side are capable of.

Languishing just above the relegation zone before the Cobblers hosted Dagenham on Boxing Day, Ian Sampson’s side went on a run with only one defeat in 22 games as his side shot up the league but eventually fell short throughout the last month of League Two fixtures.

Yesterday Sampson addressed the current situation which has seen the Cobblers fall to three consecutive defeats by starting Leon McKenzie in search of some goal scoring form which certainly paid off. The Cobblers going into half-time three goals to the good with McKenzie bagging a perfect hat-trick.

But boy, did Sampson’s young side witness one of the biggest lesson’s of their footballing careers when Hereford’s fired up and motivated side cancelled out McKenzie’s first half treble to snatch a 4-3 victory.

An frustrated Ian Sampson was visible from the sidelines as his animated figure saw his side fall apart before his eyes, and what what said after the match between him and his players would be a big lesson learnt.

Hereford’s previous visit to Sixfields was last seasons all-time low and now lets hope their latest visit turns out to be the same.

I remain confident Sampson’s side will come good and what better way to bounce back as the Cobblers travel to Oxford this Saturday for their local derby of this season.