What's your assessment of the season so far and is a push for promotion realistic?
The season so far has been a weird one. We started very well and in October we had the chance to move into the automatic promotion places. From there on it all went south, the pre-cursor for that was perhaps the biggest injury crisis I've seen at Sixfields. At one point it was around thirteen players out and it really derailed us. We couldn't buy a win from there on, and many thought we'd be battling relegation again.
However, in the first few days of the January transfer window, Chris Wilder signed a few players, we've got a settled side now and we've really kicked on since. I think a push for promotion is realistic should we beat you on Tuesday! Winning away at Shrewsbury was a massive result and now everyone seems to believe we can gatecrash the play-offs.
Ricky Holmes was a player many Pompey fans didn't want to see leave our club. What do Teyn fans think of him?
First of all, thanks Mr Awford. The lad is a wizard, he hit the ground running and is a big part of the upturn in form. We were delighted to get him on a long, permanent deal, and, put together with our other forward players, there are real threats all over the pitch. He chases everything, never lets defenders settle and sails past people with ease. A top, top signing.
Who are the key players in your team?
The obvious one is Marc Richards, who's League Two's top scorer. He's a complete forward at this level and his finishing is superb. His hold-up play on his own up top is also very good, and he really is what every side at this level needs. A less obvious one is Jason Taylor; deemed not good enough for Cheltenham (?!?!) when he signed in January, he is another big factor in the recent form. He does the dirty work in midfield and really allows the other players to get forward and express themselves.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this current Northampton side?
The strength is the attack. We are the highest goalscorers in the league as it stands, and we have the ability to really open teams up home and away, no matter who they are. Weaknesses is a bit tougher, perhaps if you're being uber-critical you could say the defence can, on occasion, lack solidity and individual mistakes can creep in and allow other teams opportunities.
Both teams are in an excellent run of form so what kind of match can we expect at Sixfields?
A goal laden one. Expect us to really come flying out of the blocks, we seem to always score an early goal at home, and we like to peg the opposition back in the early stages. Portsmouth seem to have scored a few but also seem to have let a few in at the other end so I reckon there may be a lot of opportunities for both teams.
What do you make of the current Portsmouth squad and would you take a draw from the game if offered to you now?
The current Pompey squad, from an outside perspective, has quite a few players I'd happily see pull on the Claret shirt. Jed Wallace immediately jumps out, every time I've seen him he looks top quality and he's surely destined for bigger things. Matt Tubbs is another obvious one, him and Richards would be the best strike force in the division no question.
Predict the outcome of the match.
3-1 to Northampton.