Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Northampton Town and Charlton Athletic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Northampton Town will attempt to extend their unbeaten to four matches when they welcome Charlton Athletic to Sixfields on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, will have the chance to claim a second straight win after taking all three points off Derby County in midweek.
Match preview
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Northampton currently occupy a comfortable midtable position, having picked up 48 points from 33 matches in their first League One campaign since 2020-21.
With 11 points separating them from the playoffs, the Cobblers are unlikely to claim back-to-back promotions, but they are well-placed to achieve a top-half finish.
Jon Brady‘s side will head into the weekend in a confident mood after goals from Marc Leonard and Mitchell Pinnock guided them to a 2-0 win over Burton Albion last Saturday.
Having taken seven points from their last three matches, Northampton will look to extend their unbeaten run on Saturday when they face a Charlton side they beat 3-2 in January’s reverse fixture.
The hosts will fancy their chances of picking up at least a point after losing just two of their last 12 home league matches.
Charlton gave their survival hopes a significant boost midweek as they fought back from a goal down to beat promotion-chasing Derby 2-1 at Pride Park.
Alfie May dispatched his 65th-minute spot-kick to cancel out Eiran Cashin‘s opener, before Karoy Anderson scored his second goal of the season to secure Charlton’s first win since November.
After losing his first game in charge, Charlton boss Nathan Jones has now overseen a four-game unbeaten run, consisting of three draws and one victory.
Although the Addicks have undoubtedly improved under Jones’s watch, they can ill afford to rest on their laurels with four points separating them from the relegation zone.
Following their successful trip to Pride Park, Charlton will have the chance to record consecutive league victories for the first time since March 2023.
Northampton Town League One form:
Charlton Athletic League One form:
Team News
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Northampton are expected to be without the services of Ali Koiki, Akin Odimayo, Tyler Magloire and Danny Hylton due to injury.
After seeing his side get the better of Burton last weekend, Brady could decide to select an unchanged lineup for Saturday’s contest.
Leonard will be looking to continue his fine run of form, having scored four goals across Northampton’s last six matches.
As for the Addicks, Miles Leaburn remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Lloyd Jones will serve the second match of a two-game suspension.
Michael Hector has returned to training following a spell in the treatment room, but Saturday’s contest may come too soon for the 31-year-old defender.
May could be recalled to the starting XI after he came off the bench to equalise from the penalty spot in Tuesday’s win over Derby.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Moulden; Willis, Sherring, Guthrie, Brough; Hondermarck, Fox; Bowie, Leonard, Pinnock; Simpson
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Isted; Edmonds-Green, Gillesphey, Thomas; T Watson, Anderson, Camara, Coventry, Small; May, Kanu
We say: Northampton Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Charlton would have taken a lot of confidence from Tuesday’s win over Derby, but we think they may have to settle for a draw against a Northampton side that have lost just one of their last seven league matches.
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