The Blues got straight back to winning ways under the lights at the Pirelli Stadium, thanks to a penalty from Colby Bishop and Alex Roberston scoring his first goal for the club, securing a 2-0 victory over Burton Albion.
Now on to our second away trip this week. John Mousinho’s side head to Sixfields to take on Northampton Town.
Let's take a closer look at the team Pompey face this time around…
MANAGER
Australian Jon Brady is at the helm for The Cobblers.
After failing to break into the first teams at Brentford, Swansea City and Wycombe Wanderers, Brady joined Hayes and played 188 games for the Missioners in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.
He then transferred to Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 1998 and became a Football Conference champion with the club in 2001, scoring the winner at Chester City on the final day of the season.
Brady then had brief stints at Woking and Chester before plying his trade for the likes of Stevenage, Hereford and Cambridge.
He moved into management in March 2009, taking over Brackley Town. There, Brady secured 132 victories from 306 matches.
In 2016, Brady joined Northampton Town as their Under-16s coach and was promoted to Under-18s coach a year later. Following the sacking of Keith Curle in early 2021. Brady was placed in temporary charge of the first team.
The now 48-year-old was appointed permanent manager in May 2021.
Northampton were in a good position for an immediate return to the third tier through automatic promotion at the end of the 2021/22 season, however due Bristol Rovers hammering Scunthorpe United 7-0 on the final day and pipping The Cobblers to 3rd place on goal difference, they entered the League Two Play-Offs instead, where they were defeated over two legs at the Semi-Final stage by Mansfield Town.
Brady then guided The Cobblers to automatic promotion back to League One following a 1-0 away win to Tranmere Rovers earlier this year.
ONE TO WATCH
Scotland Under-21 international Marc Leonard is our one to watch this weekend.
The loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion first signed on loan to Northampton for the duration of the 2022/23 season. He scored his first professional goal against Sutton United in a game which ended in a 2-2 draw.
He helped the club to promotion to League One last season, playing 45 matches across the league campaign.
In July, Leonard re-joined Northampton Town for a second season on loan from The Seagulls.
Leonard wears the number 21 shirt.
TOP SCORER
Sam Hoskins is the current top goalscorer for The Cobblers.
Hoskins, who wears the number 7 shirt, began his career down the road at Southampton, joining the club as a trainee in 2015, signing his first professional contract 6 years later.
After making his debut, he was loaned out to Preston North End, Rotherham United and Stevenage.
The striker left Southampton in 2013, signing for Championship side Yeovil Town on a 2-year deal. Hoskins was released at the end of the 2014/15 season following Yeovil’s relegation to League Two.
Hoskins signed for Northampton Town on an initial 1-year contract in 2015, though 6 months later he signed a 2-and-a-half year contract.
In June 2020, Hoskins scored the Cobblers’ third goal as the side won 4-0 against Exeter City to win promotion to League One.
After being relegated back to League Two, he became the first Northampton player to score 20 league goals in a season since 1986/87. At the end of the 2022/23 season he won the EFL League Two Player of the Season award and was named as the Cobblers’ Player of the Season too.
Hoskins scored the only goal of the game when the club defeated Tranmere Rovers earlier this year, securing promotion back to League One.
So far this season, Hoskins has scored 11 league goals and has penned a new contract at Sixfields, committing himself to the club until 2016.
CURRENT FORM
Newly promoted to League One, Northampton are currently mid-table in 13th.
They have accumulated 23 points from their opening 18 matches and, after being defeated in all cup matches, Jon Brady’s side are now able to focus solely on the League fixtures this campaign.
Their previous 5 matches have ended in 3 victories and 2 defeats. The most recent win came on Tuesday night, when they defeated Blackpool by 2 goals to 1.
The last time these 2 teams met, The Cobblers came out on top with a 4-1 victory behind closed doors at Sixfields in March 2021. The only goal for the Blues that day came from a penalty scored by Ellis Harrison.
Can the Blues make it 6 points on the road this week, or will Northampton keep up their own winning streak?
You can join Robbie James, Jake Smith and Kirsty Roxanne for all of the unmissable action when Pompey Live returns this Saturday (December 2nd) from 2pm on 93.7 Express FM, DAB Digital Radio, Online or iFollow.
Kick-off: 3pm!
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