Manager Roy Keane was delighted to be given a home cup tie with Town at the seventh time of asking, the Blues having been paired with Northampton in Saturday’s Carling Cup fourth round draw. Overall, Town had had eight away draws in succession in both cup competitions, five in the Carling Cup.
Keane said: "We’re just pleased we’ve got a home draw, we’re surprised we’re at home. I think we were in the last couple of teams that came out.
"We’re glad for the home draw, glad for the supporters because it was eight in a row away. It’s nice, but that game will take care of itself. Our priority now is Tuesday and we’ll need to play better than we did at Scunthorpe.”
The last meeting between Town and Northampton was in the 1987/88 season, also in the League Cup, on that occasion at the second round stage.
The Cobblers came away from the first leg at Portman Road with a 1-1 draw, Romeo Zondervan having scored for the Blues, but Town won at the County Ground, Mich D’Avray (2), Graham Harbey and David Lowe netting for John Duncan’s men in a game which went to extra time.
In the 1977/78 season the Blues won another second round tie, Trevor Whymark (2), Eric Gates, Paul Mariner and Clive Woods scoring the goals.
Overall, the Blues have won 11 games between the teams (nine in the league), 10 (seven) have been draws with Northampton winning 10 (10).
Carling Cup - Fourth Round
Newcastle v Arsenal
Birmingham City v Brentford
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City
Aston Villa v Burnley
Leicester City v WBA
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham v Stoke City
Ipswich v Northampton
Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk