The two sides meet at Sixfields in the first round of the newly-named Capital One Cup after a pre-season that, with the season starting a week later due to the Olympics, seems to have lasted a long time.
Having invested heavily in new players over the summer, most recently with the permanent signing of local hero Craig Bellamy, the Bluebirds are fancied to challenge for promotion from the Championship and showed their intentions with a 4-1 friendly hammering of Newcastle at the weekend.
That result brought this assessment from Toon boss Alan Pardew.
“I think we were caught out by the dynamic start from Cardiff.
“They are a well-motivated side and I have always been impressed by them. I can see them right up there battling for promotion.”
The League Cup has provided the only highlights for Northampton over the past two seasons with the likes of Reading, Ipswich and of course Liverpool having been despatched by the Cobblers. Those results though were not reflective of league form and Aidy Boothroyd will be keeping his focus firmly on improving Town’s standing in League Two.
The two sides have met on 51 previous occasions with Northampton taking the honours 24 times. Their last League Cup meeting went the Cobblers way after a two-leg tie in 1996.
Check out the full head-to-head records by clicking below.
http://www.northamptontown-mad.co.uk/head_to_head/next/vs/match/index.shtml
Source: FOOTYMAD
