Northampton vs Derby Prediction (23.03.2024)

With a big win over 3rd placed Bolton, Derby County took a huge step towards promotion last weekend. They are the only team near the top in action this weekend, giving them a chance to put even more pressure on the sides around them. It's an away day for them, a trip to Northampton Town, a team in mid table and on a run of games without a win.

That run of games without a win now stretches to five for Northampton, seeing them slide down the table after a good push, especially in the period before Christmas. But with just two draws and three defeats from those last five, they begin the weekend in 14th, and are in no mans land now, with nothing to really play for.

Beaten last weekend, they lost 2-0 away against Wycombe and before that, they lost 1-0 away at Blackpool. Draws against Cambridge and Charlton have come recently, but both of those sides are struggling this year, and don't offer anywhere near the same kind of quality as Derby do.

Last weekend felt huge for Derby. They gained three points on Bolton by beating them, three on Peterborough after they lost, and two on Barnsley by them only drawing. Four clear of Bolton, seven clear of the other two, and they're the only team playing this weekend at the top to put even more pressure on the sides below.

They've won their last four games, with the one against Bolton being the biggest of course. A narrow 1-0 home win in that game, and a 2-1 home win over Reading before that. Other wins have been against Bristol Rovers and Port Vale, both far more impressive with 3-0 scorelines.

Derby are seemingly heading for automatic promotion, and I'll take them to win this game, and get another three points on the board. Northampton are struggling, and Derby are on a roll, so it's an away win here.