Stuart Gray admits a few harsh words were said in the dressing room to inspire the Cobblers players to turn in a much improved second half performance in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town.

"The first half performance wasn't acceptable in any way and there were a few choice words said at half-time," he said.

"Full credit to the players though, they responded very well in the second half and if any team was going to go on and win the game I felt we looked the more likely.

"We changed our shape a little bit in the second half and I think having given the ball away far too cheaply too often in the first half we dominated the second half.

"The first half was disappointing and I've said to the players that you have got to perform for the 90 minutes, you can't just turn up and put in a 45 minute shift. You have got to be at it for the whole game.

"We got caught in possession for their goal and the players know that even if it had been 0-0 at half-time their first half performance wasn't have been acceptable.

"We just couldn't really get going in the first half for some reason but I think we dominated the game in the second half and we finished the game very strongly.

"Giles Coke was very strong in the second half and he took his goal well. We created enough chances in the second half to have won the game but unfortunately we just couldn't quite get a second goal.

"We are not the sort of team who can play badly and win games, to win games we have got to be at it from the word go and I think it's been shown that when we've started games at a high tempo we've gone on to win.

"Decisions haven't been made yet in terms of our budget for next season and I probably won't sit down with the Chairman until it is mathematically impossible for us to get into the top six.

"For now we have just got to keep going and as I've said before we don't want our season to just fizzle out.

"We've still got 15 points to play for and if we can beat our points tally and league position from last season then that will be an achievement in itself, but we aren't giving up on the play offs until it is mathematically impossible.

"Brett Johnson is probably 10 days further on in terms of his recovery than Chris Doig but they both still need some reserve team football before they will be totally ready."

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