📝 Match Preview: Northampton Town vs City

Exeter City travel to the PTS Academy Stadium to face Northampton Town on Saturday, on the back of three straight wins in EFL Sky Bet League Two.

Ryan Bowman's late winner against Macclesfield Town at Moss Rose last Saturday meant hte Grecians moved to second in EFL Sky Bet League Two, but level on points with Swindon Town in first place.

Northampton come into the match on the back of three straight league defeats, but City manager Matt Taylor knows what threat they pose ahead of Saturday's match. "They are a really strong team at this level." said Matt. 

"We found how difficult it was to go to Northampton at a similar stage last season where we were out of the game in the first half hour. We have to start the game well, and aim for a constant performance and play when it's on to play."

TICKET NEWS

Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here. Tickets can also be purchased from the club shop until midday on Friday, February 21. Tickets can also be purchased on the day.

There is a special pricing for under-11 Junior Grecian members and proof of membership will be required at the gate.

Ticket prices are as follows: 

South Stand

  • Adults: £22
  • 65+/Students: £18
  • Under-18s: £10
  • Under-11 Junior Grecians: £9
  • Under-7s: FREE

Further details

  • Advance Discounts? YES, there is a £2 increase on the day (and a £3 increase for under-11 members)
  • Ambulant: Pay age related price and carer free. 
  • Wheelchair: Pay age related price and carer free. 
  • Matchday Purchase available? Yes. Cash only.

THE CONTEXT

The Grecians come into the match on the back of Tuesday night's heartbreaking defeat to Portsmout in the Leasing.com Trophy semi-final. In the League the Grecians have won their last three and sit in second place in EFL Sky Bet League Two having won their last three matches.

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Northampton come into the match on the back of three straight defeats in the league and sit in eighth place, level on points with Colchester United, who occupy the final play-off spot.

LAST MATCH

Walsall 3 Northampton Town 2 | February 15, 2020 | EFL Sky Bet League Two

Walsall stunned Northampton in coming from two goals down to take all three points.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER

Exeter City 3 Northampton Town 2 | February 7, 2020 | EFL Sky Bet League Two

A rapid second-half riposte with goals from Aaron Martin and Alex Fisher saw Exeter City come from behind to beat Northampton Town 3-2 at St James Park.

MATCH DAY COVERAGE

As usual, we’ll have the match covered across our social media channels and we’ll have a post-match interview with manager Matt Taylor as he reflects on the result. You can also tune into BBC Radio Devon to listen to commentary as well.

STADIUM: PTS ACADEMY STADIUM (NN5 5QA)

The stadium was completed in October 1994, the first match took place on October 15 against Barnet.

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The stadium has also been known as Sixfields Stadium and can accommodate in excess of 7,700 seated spectators, with provisions for the disabled. Visiting supporters are situated in the Moulton College South Stand.

GRECIAN TRAVEL

  • The coach will depart from Unit 1 nightclub at 8:30am for a fare of £33.

Other pick-up points include: Honiton Road park and ride (by Miller and Carter Steakhouse), junction 28 (Cullompton services). Junction 27 (Tiverton), junction 25 (Taunton.) All other pick-ups by prior arrangement.

How to buy

The easiest way to buy is online, or on your mobile using the clubs ticketing system.

For more information or to book please contact Chris Woolcott on 01392 250250 or John Bishop on 07904036334 or by email at: john.bishop760@btinternet.com (after 6pm).

Alternatively, drop into reception at St James Park to book.

BY ROAD

There are a couple of ways that you can reach the PTS Academy Stadium. Take the M5 north before joining the M4 East and take the exit for Swindon where you need to follow the A420 towards Oxford. As you get nearer towards Oxford you then need to follow the A34 towards the M40 before joining the motorway for a short time before leaving for the A43 with will take you towards Northampton. As you get close to Northampton, you need to go straight over the double roundabout which takes you over the M1 and then joins the A5123. Follow that road before going straight over the next roundabout onto the A5076. Northampton Town football club is a little way up that road to the right. Other routes see you travel up the M5 before joining the M45 and coming down the M1 into Northampton. Northampton Town Football Club inform all supporters that supporters using the north or the non-tarmac south car parks at the stadium will be required to pay £4.00 to park their car at all matches.

BY RAIL

To avoid a number of changes, perhaps the best train to take on the day of the match is the 08:27 train from Exeter St David’s. This train travels to Birmingham New Street before you have to change to complete your journey to Northampton. This will get you into Northampton for 12:20.

Later trains will require you to change in London and use the London Underground service to get from London Paddington to London Euston station. Some routes can also require another change at Milton Keynes Central.

You can take the same route (via Birmingham New Street) back to Exeter at 18:14 which should get you back prior to 22:00 on the day of the match. The train station is 1.6 miles from the stadium which is just over a 30-minute walk. Otherwise, a taxi may be necessary to complete the journey.

PUBS/FOOD

According to footballgroundguide.com, the stadium itself has Carrs Bar (the entrance to which is at the back of the main stand) which allows in away supporters. It also shows televised football. The stadium is built on a leisure complex on the outskirts of Northampton, therefore visiting fans on arrival are pretty much confined to the complex.  There is a McDonalds nearby and there is a Flaming Grill pub, which offers real ale, serves food and shows televised sport.

AWAY FAN GUIDE

Click here to find out all you need to know about visiting the PST Academy Stadium.

TOTAL DISTANCE

The total distance between St James Park and the PTS Academy Stadium is 189 miles and should take just over three hours to drive.

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