The biggest surprise at that not one team from all four divisions is confirmed as promoted or relegated as yet, but many have their days numbered.
Following Town's performance on Friday our days in Division Two appear to be numbered. Wigan were visitors to Sixfields and they champions to be brushed aside a weak Cobblers side. Andy Liddell, who has a good record against the Cobblers, drove home a fierce shot from 12 yards in the 9th minute and it was one way traffic from there.
Town tried and tried to get back into the game and apart from a header off target from Steve Morison and a waek Dudfield shot, not much else went Town's way. The major talking points of the half involved two debatable decisions by the referee.
The first in the 36th minute, Steve Morison broke clear from the Wigan defence, keeper John Filan raced out of his area and clattered the Cobblers striker on the right edge of the penalty area. The incident happened well outside the box, but Filan escaped with a yellow card when it could have been red.
The second and more devastating decision came at the other end three minutes before half time, Paul Ried appeared to win the ball in the penalty area from Neil Roberts, but the Wigan player made the most of the incident and a penalty was awarded. Lidell finished from the spot after a stop start run up. These run ups were outlawed a few years ago but the ref Eddie Ilderton was in no mood to make Wigan retake the spot kick.
The second half was a non entity as far as football is concerned, Wigan had the point and Cobblers huffed and puffed against a lost cause. Hargreaves, Gabbiadini and Asamoah were thrown into the action to try to salvage something from the game, but Wigan held on for the points.
Cobblers Man of the Match
Ian Sampson just stole it from Paul Ried, the two central defenders had the best peformances on the night. It was a solid Sammo performance, a rare positaive on a depressing night.
Ref Watch
Where do they get these clowns from? Eddie Ilderton stamped no authority on the game, he appeared to give every decision based on who shouted first, showed no assertiveness throughout the 90 minutes giving terrible decisions both ways.
Atmosphere
Very disappointing considering it was the 3rd largest crowd of the season. The early goal killed off the enthusiasm of many Cobblers fans.