Two games for the price of one

Bobby Ford's second half performance at Rochdale might have been enough to play him back into the starting line-up, although displacing one of Ian Atkins' favoured ex-Cobblers makes it unlikely. Christian Edwards' performance at Rochdale ought to be enough to see Dave Waterman brought back into the team, but we all know that's unlikely too. Atkins' criticism of Steve Basham may mean that Lee Steele gets his first start, but Dave Oldfield's new role will probably leave the old man propping up the dugout.

Carlisle have undergone a mini-revival of late, levering themselves out of the drop zone, although still perilously close to it. They haven't won their last three games, but little things like that should not make United complacent. Former Oxford loanee Lee Maddison has been playing for the Cumbrians recently, although not in their last match, at Kidderminster. Doubtless Maddison will prove the undoing of the Us, but whether it's him or not Rage Online's predictable prediction is 1-0 to the visitors.

Meanwhile we can report (file under scurrilous rumours) that former Northampton manager and long-time friend of Ian Atkins, and recently linked to the newly vacant assistant manager job, Kevan Broadhurst, has been doing some scouting for the club. Or maybe not, who knows?