Northampton Town

Northampton v Rochdale
Northampton are without experienced duo Ian Taylor and Sean Dyche but have no fresh injury concerns. Taylor is sidelined as he continues his recovery from a broken arm, and centre-half Dyche serves the second game of a three-match ban. Rochdale hand a late fitness test to midfielder Scott Warner, who had cramp during his first appearance since January against Darlington. Manager Steve Parkin has no other new injury or suspension worries.

Northampton 2-2 Rochdale
Rickie Lambert's 90th-minute penalty secured a vital away point for Rochdale against promotion-chasing Northampton. The Cobblers led in the sixth minute when Josh Low finished from a Eoin Jess corner and Scott McLeish doubled their lead from another set-piece. But Dale's top scorer Lambert pulled one back six minutes after half-time with a left-foot volley. And when David Rowson brought down Alan Goodall in the area, Lambert stepped up to score from the spot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northampton: Harper, Crowe, Chambers, Doig, Low (Gilligan 89), Hand, Jess (Rowson 70), Smith, Johnson, McGleish (Kirk 70), Lee. Subs Not Used: Hunt, Bojic. Goals: Low 6, McGleish 35. Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Griffiths, Jackson, Goodall, Brown (Dagnall 45), Jones, Doolan (Christie 45), Cooksey, Kitchen (Warner 80), Lambert. Subs Not Used: Gallimore, Boardman. Booked: Cooksey. Goals: Lambert 51, 90 pen. Att: 5,732 Ref: J Singh (Middlesex).

Darlington 0-1 Northampton
Scott McGleish kept alive the Cobblers' automatic promotion hopes and dented Darlington's play-off prospects. Northampton went close when Martin Smith saw his shot from the edge of the area come back off the post, before Chris Doig headed against the crossbar. Quakers should have scored but Jonjo Dickman mis-hit his shot from six yards after being set up by Simon Johnson. McGleish won it with a simple tap-in at the far post after Darlington failed to deal with a low cross from Josh Low. Darlington: Russell, Duke, Clarke, Appleby, Valentine, Keltie (Peacock 72), Simon Johnson (Sodje 54), Dickman, Wainwright, Cooke, Jemal Johnson. Subs Not Used: Norton, Beaumont, McLeod. Booked: Cooke. Northampton: Harper, Crowe (Hunt 83), Chambers, Doig, Johnson (Westwood 67), Smith, Rowson, Hand, Low, McGleish, Jess (Kirk 67). Subs Not Used: Lee, Gilligan. Booked: Crowe. Goals: McGleish 70. Att: 5,220 Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).

Northampton 2-0 Stockport
Goals from Scott McGleish and Martin Smith helped Northampton take another step towards automatic promotion. McGleish broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Stockport failed to clear a corner and the Cobblers' top scorer finished from close range. Smith grabbed the crucial second in the 73rd minute when he cut in from the right and his curling cross shot deceived keeper Spencer. McGleish almost hit a second moments later when his volley hit the post. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Northampton: Harper, Chambers, Dyche, Doig (Westwood 51), Low, Hunt, Rowson, Johnson, Smith (Hand 77), Kirk, McGleish (Gilligan 90). Subs Not Used: Jess, Lee. Booked: Kirk, Chambers. Goals: McGleish 54, Smith 73. Stockport: Spencer, Briggs, Raynes, Williams, Robinson, Hamshaw (Beharall 56), Boshell, Taylor, O'Connor, Griffin (Malcolm 71), Bramble (Dickinson 46). Subs Not Used: Smith, Tunnicliffe. Booked: Dickinson. Att: 6,544 Ref: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).

Calderwood pleased with late form
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood feels his side have "hit form at the right time" after recording back-to-back wins over the Easter weekend. "We won this game on the back of our second-half performance," he said after Monday's 2-0 win over Stockport. "We have broken a couple of club records this season, but we have not achieved anything yet. "You cannot take anything for granted, but we want to finish the job off as soon as possible."

Cobblers youngsters handed deals
Northampton have offered professional contracts to five youth-team players. Striker Scott Cross, midfielders Danny Green and Danny Mitchell and defenders Liam Dolman and Tom Bonner have all been offered terms. Cross, 18, has scored twice for the first-team this season, while Dolman and Bonner have also featured. "It is unprecedented for this club to have this many graduates from a group," head of youth Scott McLachlan told the club's website.

Oxford v Northampton
Oxford hope on-loan goalkeeper Andrea Guatelli will be back after missing the defeat at Boston through injury. Fellow loanee, midfielder Jay Smith, is still struggling with injury and he is likely to miss out. Northampton expect to have Jason Crowe back after he missed the win against Stockport with a hamstring strain. Experienced midfielder Ian Taylor is still recovering from a broken arm and is not ready to return, while Fred Murray is out with Achilles trouble.

Calderwood closes in on promotion
Northampton manager Colin Calderwood hopes that a win at Oxford on Saturday could leave his side on the brink of promotion from League Two. "We had a super Easter with two good victories, but I feel we still need one more big away performance," Calderwood told the Cobblers' website. "I know from my time at Swindon that Oxford's fans can be quite boisterous. "But we need to play sensibly, and with all the attacking options we've got, we need to make sure we score goals."

Oxford 1-3 Northampton
Two goals in three second-half minutes made sure of the win for Northampton. Chris Doig's third goal of the season gave Northampton a 17th-minute lead, putting the visitors in charge. Jason Lee's glancing header nearly doubled the lead before Martin Smith's angled drive and Josh Low's header put them 3-0 up. Defender Chris Willmott's header pulled one back for Oxford but Northampton's sixth win in seven game keeps their promotion bid on track. Oxford Utd: Turley, Robinson, Willmott, Roget, Dempster, Burgess, Hargreaves, Quinn, Mansell, Sabin (Basham 55), N'Toya (Odubade 82). Subs Not Used: Guatelli, Brooks, Winters. Goals: Willmott 75. Northampton: Harper, Doig, Chambers, Dyche, Johnson, Low (Bojic 85), Hunt, Rowson, Smith (Hand 73), McGleish (Kirk 85), Lee. Subs Not Used: Dunn, Jess. Goals: Doig 16, Smith 69, Low 71. Att: 8,264 Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Calderwood thrilled after victory
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood was delighted with his side's 3-1 victory over Oxford on Saturday, which put them three points off automatic promotion. "I am proud of the team and it was close to a perfect performance," said the Cobblers manager. "The lads are upset to have conceded, but that was the only negative in the whole performance. "I must say a big thank-you to the fans that travelled. We are desperate to finish the job next week for them."

Northampton v Chester
Jason Crowe could return following a hamstring injury for Northampton's potential promotion party with Chester. Martin Smith (hamstring) should be available, but Ashley Westwood (thigh) is out as second-placed Cobblers chase a win to secure automatic promotion. Chester defender David Artell is ruled with a chipped cheekbone but Justin Walker is in contention for a return after recovering from an ankle knock. But fellow midfielder Stuart Drummond is a doubt with a knee problem.

Calderwood relieved at promotion
Northampton manager Colin Calderwood spoke of his relief at being promoted after his side's 1-0 win over Chester. Scott McGleish's strike was enough to earn a top two finish for the Cobblers. Calderwood said: "I was as nervous before the match as I was before any match I played in and until we crossed the finishing line you always worry. "It was a narrow victory. I think we were affected by the occassion a little bit but we kept going and we knew we we should have gone up." Calderwood's side are now level on points with league leaders Carlisle who have a game in hand over the Cobblers. "I want to keep the majority of the players together for next season, we are a good team and I want good players to stay here." "I know the chairman has felt the near misses of the last two seasons so I am very happy we have done it for him. "It was ours to lose, but we have not done that and now we can relax and enjoy it."

Jess hopes to earn Cobblers deal
Veteran Eoin Jess hopes to earn a new contract after helping Northampton to promotion from League Two. The 35-year-old former Scotland midfielder, who joined the Cobblers last summer, told the club's website: "I feel fit enough to carry on. "My contract is up in the summer, but I'd love to stay here, and hopefully something will get sorted out. "I won a few medals with Aberdeen, but to win my first ever promotion at this stage of my career is just amazing."

Calderwood hopeful trio will stay
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood is hopeful Lee Harper, Mark Bunn and Ian Taylor will sign new deals. Goalkeepers Harper and Bunn are set to sign up but Calderwood is concerned veteran midfielder Taylor may leave. "Lee and and Mark are both quite close to agreeing terms," Calderwood told the club's official website. "We are still trying to persuade Ian Taylor to stay on with us next season but until anything is signed and sealed there is an element of doubt."

Calderwood named new Forest boss
Nottingham Forest have appointed Northampton manager Colin Calderwood as the new boss at the City Ground. The 41-year-old former Scotland defender has signed a three-year contract with the League One side. Calderwood, who has just guided Town to promotion from League Two, had also been given permission by the Cobblers to speak to Championship side Ipswich. Forest have been without a permanent manager since Gary Megson's departure in February. Joint caretaker bosses Frank Barlow and Ian McParland took them to the brink of the League One play-offs, but the pair did not want the job full-time. Calderwood played for Forest between 2000 and 2001 and also spent time with Mansfield, Swindon, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

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