Cobblers boss looks ahead to Torquay's visit
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Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd has called on his players to be a little bit 'smarter' when Torquay United visit Sixfields on Saturday.
"We have had two players sent off in first three league games and that has clearly made our job harder," he said.
"It clearly doesn't help us but we were naive at Southend and our enthusiasm got the better of us. We also let the game get the better of us and we allowed ourselves to be influenced by the surroundings rather than be professional. We are a new team and these are lessons, we will learn from them and improve but we need to manage games and situations better than we have so far.
"Every player selected for us has a responsibility to not just play their own game but to help manage the game. You can't just let things develop, you need to control the game and the surroundings and we must learn to do that. Giving away silly cards and silly free kicks just invites pressure and it has to stop.
"The stats get skewed by the red cards but I am happier now we are getting players back fit. We need to get better quicker than other teams, both on and off the pitch. We have a smaller group this season but a better group and we need to learn how to win in a variety ways.
"Making the changes we have mean we will play in a more enjoyable way, but while we are in this transitional period from last season to this there is more that can go wrong. We are working hard to get through this period as soon as possible.
"It is early days but again in this division any team can beat any other. We will respect Torquay but we will focus on ourselves. Ben Harding and Ian Morris will of course be facing their former clubs and that will add spice to the game but it is not about that, it is about making sure we get back on track.
"Ben Harding did very well for us over 18 months. I am pleased he got fixed up and we wish him well after Saturday. From our point of view, Ian Morris gives us a balance we haven't had before. He can sit in, he can go wide, he can play central and the type of player he is allows us to give Chris Hackett more licence to get forward and hurt teams on the other side."