Next Up: Exeter City v Northampton Town

City will look to address something of a slide that has seen them lose three out of their last four games with the visit of a side whose loss of form has been altogether more dramatic. City have been boosted by the news that David Noble and Alex Nicholls have signed permanent deals, the latter’s first game as a contracted City player will be against his former club. Noble is likely to return to the starting line-up, his having missed the last four matches possibly a root cause of City’s downturn in form.

When the sides met at Sixfields back in August there was a clear gulf in class between City and Northampton, which makes it all the more astonishing that while City’s fortunes improved, so have Northampton’s deteriorated to the extent that Chris Wilder’s side visits the Park on Saturday knowing that a defeat could send the Cobblers into the relegation zone. Their last thirteen league matches have seen two wins, a draw and ten defeats, and it’s fair to say the natives are restless having expected, based on the club’s squad budget, to have a season battling at the top instead of a second successive struggle against relegation. A run of five successive defeats was ended last week with a 1-1 draw against Southend, the goal being scored by ex-City loanee Lawson D’Ath.

Another former loanee, Chris Hackett, will also expect to feature at a ground where he made something of an impact during his brief stay. Marc Richards and Ivan Toney make up a very highly rated strike force, the latter attracting the attention of clubs further up the pyramid, while veteran Matt Duke in goal has Premier League and Wembley experience on his CV.

The corresponding fixture last season was perhaps the nadir of City’s campaign as well as something of a turning point, as City failed to register a single shot on goal in a turgid 1-0 defeat (Morris). The reverse of this fixture in August saw City almost hold out against a superb Northampton side before an overhead kick from Richards in the last minute broke the hearts of the travelling faithful. The Cobblers enjoy a healthy head-to-head lead in Football League matches with 45 wins to City’s 28 (28 draws).

Match officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2015/01/06/match-officials-exeter-city-v-northampton-town/

Guide to St James Park for visiting fans – http://www.exeweb.com/2012/05/29/the-things-you-need-to-know-st-james-park-exeter/

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Last season’s encounter