Reading begin a three-game run of away matches with a trip to Northampton Town this Saturday. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.
Form
Northampton Town finished 19th in League One last season, two places and five points clear of the relegation zone. This will be their third straight season in the third tier, having won promotion from League Two in 2023 when finishing third in the league.
The Cobblers are having another tough season and currently sit in the relegation zone in 22nd place. Their recent form has been poor, having seen two draws and three losses in their last five games, with their last league win coming six weeks ago.
They come into this Saturday’s game off the back of a 2-1 away loss to Rotherham United, who sit one place below the Cobblers in the table. The two sides faced each other back in October, with Reading picking up a 1-0 home win after a second-half goal from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
The boss
Kevin Nolan: Nolan was appointed Northampton manager in December 2024, taking over from Jon Brady, who resigned from his post after three and a half years in charge.
The former midfielder had a 19-year career as a player, representing Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United. He joined Leyton Orient in January 2016 as a player manager but was sacked less than three months later.
Nolan went on to join Notts County as manager in January 2017 and guided the side to safety in League Two in his first season. Nolan led County to a fifth-placed finish in his first full season but was sacked in August 2018.
In 2020 he went on to join David Moyes’ coaching team at West Ham, where he stayed until his departure in May 2024. The 43-year-old had a spell as assistant head coach of the England under-20 team before taking over the reins at Northampton.
He guided the Cobblers to a 19th-placed finish in the league in his first season in charge and has won 20 of his 59 games in charge so far, giving him a win percentage of 34%. Nolan likes his side to play intense, high-energy football.
Squad and team news
The Cobblers have signed two players so far in the winter transfer window with defender Elliott Moore arriving on a free and 17-year-old striker Jake Evans joining on loan for the rest of the season from Leicester City.
Northampton are hoping to have defender Elliott Moore and midfielder Cameron McGeehan available again after injury, but this game may come too soon for former Reading loanee Tyrese Fornah.
Predicted lineup
Fitzsimons, Willis, Guthrie, McCarthy, Burroughs, Guinness-Walker, Taylor, Campbell, Hoskins, List, Eaves
Key player
3. Conor McCarthy: Defender McCarthy signed for Northampton last summer on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at Barnsley.
He started his career in the youth setup at Cork City and made his debut for the club in 2016. He went on to join St Mirren in 2020, where he spent two and a half years before moving to the English Football League with Barnsley in 2022.
McCarthy made 38 appearances for the Tykes over the course of three seasons, while also spending time on loan at Swindon Town. Since signing for Northampton, McCarthy has made 26 appearances for the club, scoring two goals.
The 27-year-old Irishman is a centre-back who is a physical defender and strong in the air.
One to watch
23. Terry Taylor: Midfielder Taylor moved to Northampton on loan for the second time in his career last summer, joining from Championship Charlton Athletic.
He started his career in the youth teams of Aberdeen and Wolverhampton Wanderers, making his professional debut in 2019. Taylor went on to join Burton Albion on a permanent deal in 2021, where he spent almost two and a half years, making 69 appearances for the Brewers.
A move to Charlton followed in 2023. However, Taylor has found appearances hard to come by, so has gained first-team experience over the course of two loan spells with Northampton, also spending the second half of last season on loan with the Cobblers.
Taylor has represented the youth teams of both Scotland and Wales and has 11 Wales under-21 caps to his name. The 24-year-old is a defensive midfielder who is an effective set-piece taker and tackler.
Category: General Sports
