The view from the other side: Northampton Town

What have you made of the season so far?

"In the last 12 months, our football club has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and now thankfully, we are moving back in the right direction again.

"In the summer, Rob Page inherited a league winning team undefeated in 24 league games and managed to ride the momentum into this season before we finally lost our first league game of 2016 at Chesterfield on 17th September, ending the undefeated run at 31 games.

"However, from that moment up to his sacking in January, we proceeded to lose 11 of our next 18 league games including a couple of cowardly performances against local rivals Peterborough, failed to register single Checkatrade Trophy point and were embarrassingly dumped out of the FA Cup by seventh tier Stourbridge.

"The high and lows of football were condensed into a very short period.

"While not a bad bloke, Page looked out of his depth from the moment the tide turned and was thankfully put out of his misery after a 5-0 reverse at Bristol Rovers last month.

"Justin Edinburgh was recruited to steer us away from a dangerous position near the foot of the table and thanks to nine points achieved from the first 15 available and a style of football that is more reminiscent of Chris Wilder’s heroes of 2015/16, I think most Cobblers fans are enjoying watching their football for the first time since very early on in the season."

What are the hopes for the rest of the season?

"My solitary hope is that we continue to pull ourselves away from the relegation zone and ensure that April/May is a comfortable one spent watching the sides below us scrap it out for survival.

"We probably need another four wins from the last 14 games to make certain of our League One status next season so the earlier they are achieved, the better in my eyes.

"Once it is, I’d like to see him focus on next season early and focus on resolving the futures of a number of first choice players who will be out of contract (i.e. Adam Smith, Zander Diamond and John-Joe O’Toole)."

How has Justin Edinburgh been doing?

"So far, so good.

"He’s won three of his first five games including some key victories against teams who are struggling below us in the table.

"He has very quickly settled on a consistent starting line-up and whilst we still look suspect at the back – especially as fitness gives later in games – we look more than capable of opening up any team in this league, averaging 2.4 goals a goal scored under Edinburgh so far.

Northampton Town fan - Ben Trasler

What players do Blues need to keep an eye on ?

"Our talismanic player is one that Southend fans may remember from a very brief loan spell two years ago, John-Joe O’Toole.

"Having spearheaded our League Two title winning season in 2015/16 with 12 goals from central midfield, he had an uncertain period under Rob Page and at times found himself out of the team due to both suspension and selection.

"However, under Justin Edinburgh he looks a player reborn and has doubled his goal tally for the season with four games in our last three games.

"Another player to watch out for is 21-year-old Crystal Palace loanee Hiram Boateng, who is another player who had an varying first half of the season on loan at Bristol Rovers.

"Having joined us in January in one of Rob Page’s last acts before getting the sack, he has accompanied John-Joe O’Toole and set piece specialist Matty Taylor in a central three and shone with a series of excellent performances full of powerful running and deft little touches – very Yaya Toure-esque.

"Boateng has already made his Premier League debut for Palace and without wishing to go overboard with any predictions, will definitely end up playing his football at a level above League One.

What’s the team news ahead of the game ?

"Sadly, one shining lights of this season Sam Hoskins recently sustained a serious knee injury and has been ruled out of the rest if the season.

"Leading goalscorers Alex Revell is also currently sidelined with a calf injury.

"Hoskins and Revell aside, we should have a near full strength squad to pick from.

"Right back Brendan Moloney and centre half Gabriel Zakuani are both nearing full fitness after recent niggles and will vying for starting positions in a defence that has only kept two league clean sheets since our 4-0 victory against the Southend in September."

What’s the predicted line up?

"With three wins in four and a seemingly settled team for the first time all season, I don’t see Edinburgh making and changes for the trip to Roots Hall.

I’d expect an unchanged 4-3-3 of Smith (GK) Eardley, Diamond, Nyatanga, Buchanan (DF), Taylor, Boateng, O’Toole (MF), Smith, Anderson, Richards (ST).