Cobblers skipper Carlisle says former club York are a big danger

The Minstermen arrive in Northampton as the second bottom team in npower League Two, and with just three games left to save their Football League skins.

They have won just one of their past 18 matches - although that was against Plymouth last week - and last month sacked Northampton-born Gary Mills as their manager, replacing him with former Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington.

Carlisle played 14 times for York earlier this season, before making the switch to the Cobblers in November, and when he left Bootham Crescent the North Yorkshire side were above Northampton in the league two table, and seemingly set for a good season.

But it has all gone horribly wrong for the Minstermen, and Carlisle admitted: “I am very surprised at where they are in the league.

“I am surprised about two things, the first being where they are in the league because they have such ability.

“When I was there they played with a freedom, there were no shackles on the way that they performed.

“They loved to pass and move and play the ball out from the back, and that was encouraged.

“I really expected them to be up at the top of the table alongside us at the end of the season.

“The second surprise was the dismissal of Gary Mills.

“When I was there, everything was intimated towards that all he had to do was survive in league two and the chairman would be happy.

“That was the only expectation placed upon him, and everything else would have been a bonus.”

Although York are in the bottom two, they are on a mini run of three matches unbeaten, and Carlisle has warned the Cobblers faithful the visitors to Sixfields tomorrow will be a dangerous opponent.

“They are a very big threat on Saturday,” said Carisle.

“They have ability within the squad, and I have seen them destroy teams for large portions of games.

“But if you tie that in with the fact they are going to be severely up against it.

“They are fighting for their survival and are in the position we were in last season, and I think us being in that position last season will give us an understanding of what to expect.”