Cobblers boss looks ahead to Cheltenham's visit
Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd talking ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two clash against Cheltenham Town at Sixfields, a game that kicks off at the earlier time of 2pm, a game the Cobblers are 11/8 to win.
“The game on Tuesday sums up our season so far and having performed so well to lose the game in the last few minutes because of two errors was heartbreaking for all of us,” he said.
“Although Rochdale are a very good team our game plan worked a treat and after 86 minutes I thought we were going to win.
“I thought we managed the game well and we frustrated and limited Rochdale but good, confident sides have the ability to keep going.
“That’s what happened and we allowed to happen rather than just finishing the game off.
“When teams have a tricky time a lot of players look after their own patch and the best teams are the ones who complement each other.
“I do think that we will grow from this experience, Tuesday night was another punch in the face but we’ve got to be battle-hardened and learn the lessons from it.
“There weren’t many kids out there on Tuesday night and that game should have been won but we gave a daft free-kick away and the rest is history.
“The supporters who travelled clapped us off which was brilliant and appreciated and at the same time what we need to do is start paying some of that back by getting some wins on the board.
“The players want to win for everybody and talking to them on Thursday we feel that we are very, very close to becoming a very good team and that’s where as a manager I have to look beyond the results but at the same time I know how important the results are because that’s what we are here for.
“I’m sure that it’s only a matter of time that we get ourselves on a winning run.
“Cheltenham have had the better of us in recent years here but obviously the games in the play offs at the end of last year we got the better of them.
“The games here are always very tight and it will be a difficult game but no game, as we’ve found out this season, is beyond us.
“We’ve shown that we can compete with the top teams and on your own patch whoever you are playing you’ve got to pick points up.
“I’ve had nearly nine years as a manager and in that time I’ve known and smelt and felt when a group is at it and when it’s not and this group are definitely on the cusp of something good.”