Cobblers boss Keith Curle is stressing the importance of the second goal in games as he prepares his squad to face Colchester United at the PTS Academy Stadium on Saturday.
“Over the last eight or nine games there have been a number of missed opportunities,” he said.
“We’ve had chances to win games that we haven’t taken and that is something we are managing. The focus is on starting games well and getting that second goal.
“As I said after the game against Morecambe we needed to get that second goal, we had opportunities and if we’d have got that I think it would have settled everybody down a bit.
“The second goal in a game is vitally important and when you don’t get it there is an air of anticipation and anxiety.
“I was pleased with the way we started the game and the introduction of the two new loan players. Overall I was disappointed we didn’t get the goals in the first half to give us that dominance but once we get that air of confidence about us we will cause teams problems.”