Because City have points in the bag, it is the form of others that determines how close we are to promotion as much as our own results. I believe that a draw on Monday at Swansea and a win at Macclesfield could well leave us one win shy of automatic promotion. It could happen at either Southend or at home to Huddersfield. For the record two draws in these games is also likely to mean "job done". It's so close I can see the hairs.

Which is nice, given that City took a bit of a hiding from a committed and powerful - and not a little fortunate - Northampton side. They lined up with a three pronged attack of Marc Richards as big guy running between penalty spot and centre spot, plus Sabin and ex-Blunt Smith drifting either side of him in the gap between City's defence and attack. It was a tactic that City simply couldn't cope with - putting our most accomplished centre back at left back didn't help - but Sabin in particular, hitherto a player to have made no impact on the lower reaches of the Nationwide, took us apart and scored twice, albeit one a total fluke. It was typical that City should put in such a spirited second half performance after such a first 45 hiding, and we nearly rescued a point that would've been scarcely deserved as Northampton sat too far back and invited us on. Credit must go to both managers - Taylor for firing City up for the second half and being courageous enough to perform radical surgery on a defence ripped apart; and Calderwood, who has got his expensively assembled (by someone else) side playing decent committed football. A former player from the higher leagues with the skill and humility to make a fist of it in Division 3? Take note, Messrs Molby and Hateley.

On a warm afternoon City lined up:

Myhill
Thelwell Joseph Hinds Delaney
France Ashbee Green Elliott
Burgess Allsopp

So Ashbee returned from suspension, Lewis dropped to the bench (which also featured the restored but not yet match fit Dawson) and the back four was shuffled to accommodate the loss of Marshall and the return of Joseph. It was a rip-roaring first half and no doubt provided rich entertainment for the neutrals in the crowd. It wasn't very pleasant watching for the City fans mind, but one had to accept begrudgingly that Northampton were the better team. A rarity in the first minute, as City performed their normal bluffing kick-off routine and it worked! France was freed down the right, he squared to Burgess and the big man saw his shot blocked. Chance number one created, 6 seconds on the clock!

It wasn't long before the scoring began either, as Green rolled a routine pass back to Joseph in order to begin a new phase of play - something that City have done to great effect hundreds of times this season. This time Joseph was smartly closed down by the barrel chested Richards and was dispossessed as he tried a dangerous drop of the shoulder when perhaps lumping it into the stand would've been preferable. Richards now had a run on goal but as he advanced towards the penalty box Delaney and Hinds both sprinted back looking to make a challenge. Rather than try anything too risky, Richards didn't wait until the covering defenders got to him and instead spanked a glorious 25 yard shot past Myhill and into the roof of the City net. A stunning finish, a fine goal.

City rallied quickly though and after a drop ball was awarded on half way following an injury to a Cobbler's noggin, Myhill cleared centrally to Burgess. Ben's flick fell into Allsopp's path, who in turn nodded the ball on to the pacy Elliott, who beat two defenders to the ball and lobbed Harper from 18 yards. With parity restored and the KC making some noise again, a real thriller looked to be in store. That was true, but too one-sided for the liking of the majority of attendees.

The two teams traded blows for a few minutes without carving any genuine chances, but after 15 or so minutes Northampton took the upper hand and gave the City defence real problems. Thelwell looks a player short of confidence already, so the chasing he got was no surprise. That Joseph and Hinds also wilted under the pressure was less expected. Northampton crafted a 2 on 1 after a City corner was cleared, but that floundered as Richards overhit a through ball that would've given Smith an open goal. But soon after ex-Baggie right back Lyttle was given too much time to cross after a period of sustained Cobbler pressure and Sampson stooped to head goalwards. Hinds (I think) blocked this effort but the ball hit Sabin in the shins and rebounded past a blameless Myhill for 2-1. More Northampton domination ensued but City held on until 31 minutes when Ashbee was apparently fouled on halfway by the combative Trollope. The ball ricocheted into Sabin's path and he advanced on Myhill before slotting the ball past the stateside custodian for 3-1 - Hinds' despairing lunge on the goalline could only divert the ball into the roof of the net.

City continued to try and get forward but Northampton threat up front was ever present. A clear holding foul (possibly face-mask) on Allsopp from a corner went unpunished by the on-this-occasion inattentive (but otherwise competent enough) referee and close to half time Elliott accepted a mishit clearance and played in Allsopp but the Aussie hitman, clearly still not the full ticket in front of goal, saw his shot blocked by Harper in a carbon copy of the save Boston's Bastock effected ten days earlier. Left back Ullathorne saw yellow on the stroke of half time for dissent, and as the whistle blew the KC crowd were subdued but not hostile, perhaps recognising that the 1-3 scoreline was far more down to the quality of Northampton's play rather than any constant failings in the City side.

The usual half time game of head tennis amongst the City subs was rendered difficult by the fact that only Walters emerged to stretch his legs. Changes were clearly afoot, and it was no surprise when two were made at the break. The struggling Thelwell was replaced by the youthful Wiseman, while the unfortunate, in my view, Hinds was swapped for Dawson with Delaney correctly resuming at centre back. Hinds may be a bit lightweight but he didn't put in a bad shift, one chasing tackle to rob Richards in the City box being particularly memorable. But off he went nonetheless and it's fair to say that City's defence was transformed from jelly to granite as the expected post-half time wave of attacks materialised. Delaney lofted a free kick towards France, whose towering header was squared to Allsopp, only for Danny to once more find the keeper with his header. The play was mainly in the Northampton half but the Cobbler defence held firm. Calderwood also acted wisely, bringing on the nippy Asamoah and the wily Taylor for the fading Sabin and knackered Richards. This presented City with a new threat, with young Wiseman picked out for particular exploitation by the new front two. When Ashbee was booked for remonstrating with the referee (is it possible to "remonstrate" with anyone other than a sporting referee?) it seemed as though things were slipping from City's grasp because despite the lion's share of possesion good goal scoring chances were few and far between. But then City won a free kick about 22 yards out just left of centre when Sampson was adjudged to have handballed. While the kick was being lined up Walters replaced France, who had had an ineffectual time of it. And Walters first act was to congratulate Dawson on a beautifully executed free kick that swerved unerringly into the top corner of the net, despite a man being stationed on the post to prevent it. A fine goal, and at 2-3 it seemed that the Tigers could claw themselves back into the game.

This was lent some credence moments later when Burgess flicked a ball into Green's path and the Cumbrian rammed a powerful shot against the post with keeper Harper looking on. Then Asamoah tricked Joseph, wriggled clear in the box, pulled the ball back and presented Taylor with an open goal that the ageing ex-Cambridge manager skied high into the South Stand. That aside City asserted more pressure on their cobbling foes but their back line held firm and in the end the final minutes were played out with little threat to either defence.