• League 2
  • 14th Apr 2012
  • KO: 15:00
  • Ground: Sixfields Stadium
  • Att: 5,060
Home team Score Away team

Northamptn

1 - 3

Bradford

C Carlisle 53 FT N Wells 11, 39, 54

BOOTHROYD AIMS TO RESTORE FANS' OPTIMISM

13th April 2012, 12:39pm

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Neal Kitson: Set to continue between the sticks

Neal Kitson: Set to continue between the sticks

Northampton have no new problems for the visit of Bradford.

Neal Kitson is set to continue in goal but changes could be in the offing elsewhere as the Cobblers look for the victory that would all but guarantee their Football League survival.

Defenders Byron Webster and Blair Adams, midfielder Toni Silva and attackers Lewis Young, Jake Robinson and Lewis Wilson will hope to come into manager Aidy Boothroyd's thinking.

Despite survival being almost assured, Boothroyd does not want his side to take their foot off the gas in the remaining five matches.

"This is a big week for us and it's important that we start it off with a good result at home against Bradford on Saturday. We want to finish strongly and I think that it's important that we start thinking about next season already," said Boothroyd.

"It is very easy to down tools psychologically once you have reached a certain target so it's important we stay as competitive and as strong as we can. We're not safe yet but we know we're going to be. We want to put as many points on the board as possible. We want to give the supporters some optimism going into the summer, I think that is something that has been missing here for a while and it's important we have that."

Bradford goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and defender Luke Oliver will return to contention following suspension.

Both players have completed their respective three-game bans for their part in the post-match brawl following the recent home defeat to Crawley.

McLaughlin played the full 90 minutes in the reserves' midweek draw with Hull and manager Phil Parkinson must decide whether to recall him straight back into the starting line-up or keep faith with Matt Duke.

Defenders Matt Fry and Chris Mitchell, plus striker Deane Smalley also featured in the reserves and could be included in Parkinson's squad.

Guy Branston has stepped in at centre-half in Oliver's absence and will be hoping to retain his place, while Marcel Seip has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

David Syers replaced midfielder Ritchie Jones in Monday's defeat at Shrewsbury as the latter felt the effects of a knock sustained against Southend last Friday and winger Kyel Reid is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up.

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