Jonathan Hayes says the Cobblers players knew they had to improve in the second half after a disappointing first half display at Cheltenham on Saturday.

"Individually and collectively I think we were poor in the first half and we knew we would have to up the tempo in the second half," he said.

"I think we did that and we maybe could have even gone on to win the game.

"Everyone was a bit down at half-time but that's when you look to the senior players in the team and the manager to rally round.

"The weather conditions weren't great, it was raining and it was very windy but the pitch was immaculate.

"We didn't really get going in the first half but in the second half we played to our strengths more and I think in the end we probably deserved to take all three points.

"It was a good finish from Giles Coke for the goal and all the boys said we should have had a penalty when Ian Henderson was fouled.

"A few weeks ago we set ourselves a target of getting four points from every two games and I think now we would probably have to win our last five games to stand a chance of getting into the play-offs.

"We have still got to play some of the teams around us which gives us a chance but realistically we know that it is going to be a very tall order."