English Other
2025-08-12 - Northampton Town vs Southampton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League Cup First Round
Tuesday 12th August 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Northampton Town
After avoiding relegation by 5 points, Northampton Town are once again entering a season in which they are bidding to consolidate their place in League One. Since 2016, Northampton Town have been promoted from League Two three times and also been relegated twice, but they are playing in the third tier for a third consecutive season.
This is the longest time Northampton Town have spent in this Division since 2009, but the worry is that they are not going to be able to build on the last two campaigns and instead will be dragged down. Kevin Nolan will be hoping that the off-season has allowed the players to understand his methods, although the early results have not been very encouraging.
Northampton Town have picked up a single point from the opening League One fixtures, while they are bidding to avoid another League Cup First Round exit. The side are unbeaten in 4 home games, although the draw with Bradford City this past weekend means 3 of those fixtures have ended in stalemate.
Southampton
Two of the last three Southampton seasons have ended with the team finishing bottom of the Premier League, although they will be strongly backed to earn promotion at the end of this season. Two years ago they bounced back from relegation immediately, albeit through the Play Offs, and Southampton have an experienced squad that can help young manager Will Still in his season in England.
Finishing the last campaign with 12 points will have really stung and Southampton are in a difficult position where they feel strong enough in the Championship, but perhaps lacking quality for the next level. At least the fans will get to see the team winning a lot more football matches compared with the last several months, which is also going to be important for the confidence of the players.
Southampton scored two very late goals in coming from behind to beat Wrexham in the Championship opener on Saturday, while they have had some decent successes in the League Cup over the last few seasons. The Saints have reached the Semi Final and Quarter Final in the League Cup in the two previous Premier League seasons that ended with relegation, but Southampton were First Round losers two years ago.
Will Still may choose to make some changes to the starting eleven to give squad players an opportunity to impress. Tyler Dibling is still not training with the first team as he looks for a move back into the Premier League.
Head to Head
Northampton Town and Southampton last met in the 2009/10 season having been drawn together in the League Cup and FA Cup and it was the South Coast club that won both ties.
The Cobblers hosted two Cup ties in 2004/05 and one in the 2009/10 season and Northampton Town were beaten each time.
Prediction
The new manager will want to see some improvements defensively, but Will Still has to be really happy with the attacking threat Southampton posed in their come from behind win over Wrexham.
Even with the expected changes, Southampton should have plenty of quality on the pitch and they should be able to get the better of Northampton Town.
Playing at Sixfields Stadium will help, but Kevin Nolan will be a little concerned with the chances his team have given up in the opening two League One fixtures.
Doing the same against a team like Southampton will likely lead to a pretty comfortable defeat and the visiting team can secure a place in the Second Round.
The Pick :
Northampton Town 0-3 Southampton
