About the best possible thing you can say about Tuesday night’s defeat to Bradford City is that the Cobblers did not pick up any further injuries during it.
It was poor stuff from the home side, only marginally better than the loss at Barnet and only really because at no stage where the team as comprehensively overrun in midfield as they were at Underhill.
Speaking of the midfield, it was only involved in brief moments against Bradford, with Emyr Huws probably wondering what he has signed up for as the ball sailed repeatedly over his head.
On a dark and damp autumn night, the team picked up no league points but also added no new names to the club’s injured list.
That is a very minor crumb of comfort but the amount of players missing at present is hugely debilitating, and although he refuses to do so, manager Aidy Boothroyd could quite rightly cite this factor as a major reason for his side’s recent form.
As the cliche goes, all teams get injuries. But how many are without two of their first-choice defenders and three of their first-choice midfielders, with those players taken by squad players, utility men and completely untested rookies on loan from elsewhere?
Of course, the injuries are only part of the problem. Bradford performed like a team who had their opposition ‘worked out’ on Tuesday night and they will give Boothroyd plenty of food for thought.
The Cobblers at the moment are like a boxer, on the ropes and covering up as his opponent rains the punches down.
If they can get through the injury crisis and not be too far away from the division’s chasing pack, they might just be able to do something this season.
When the bell rang at the end of the Bradford game, they were battered and bloodied but still on their feet.
Many more injuries, though, and they will be too far behind on the judges’ scorecards when some players do finally return to fitness.
LEE NICHOLLS
Slightly hesitant on the goal and made the wrong decision on a couple of occasions... 5
DANNY EAST
Good to have him back in the side but made a bad mistake for the match-winning goal... 4
KELVIN LANGMEAD
Without him, it might have been a much bigger defeat. Threw his body at everything and comfortably Town’s best player... 6
ANTHONY CHARLES
Had his hands full with Wells who was lively throughout and provided the decisive piece of play of the game... 4
JOE WIDDOWSON
Played with typical enthusiasm and strength but got caught in possession on one or two occasions... 5
KEMAR ROOFE
Looked to get on the ball in the opening exchanges but faded as the game went on and had no real influence... 4
BEN TOZER
Struggled to win any second balls and even the trusty long throw-in failed to generate any goalscoring chances... 4
EMYR HUWS
Tried his best to get involved but the game seemed to pass him by at times... 4
ALEX NICHOLLS
Did not look comfortable or happy on the wing on this occasion and spent most of the game too far from the opposition goal... 4
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA
Was routinely punished for fouls, often unfairly, and should have won a penalty when he was hauled down in the box... 5
CLIVE PLATT
Rarely received the ball with any kind of quality but also found himself effectively marked out of the game... 4
Substitutes:
LOUIS MOULT (for Platt, 69mins)
Unlucky with header that was tipped over the bar... 4
Not used: Higgs, Demontagnac, Mukendi, Wilson, Hornby, Dias.
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