Cobblers boss Keith Curle has pulled no punches this week following last Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Scunthorpe.
“Saturday was really poor and we can’t hide away from that,” he said.
“The lack of aggression in our play has been touched on and training this week has had an aggressive nature to it which I like. If you can be aggressive to your mates and teammates then it should become second nature.
“Talk is cheap and people can say the right thing but the true test will come on Saturday.
“We’ve got to do the right thing as a group and we have to come out and show a reaction.
“The nature of the performance on Saturday wasn’t good, we conceded silly goals and we were generally lacklustre. Players were given - in my mind - instructions that were very simple but we stood off Scunthorpe and our decision making was wrong.
“ We’ve talked about how we win games and we know we need to play in the opposition half and make sure we express ourselves in the right areas.
“Any team who goes on a run can propel themselves up the league but it’s about getting that level of consistency and getting that minimum requirement out of every single game.
“If we go out and win on Saturday that doesn’t mean everything is alright, we are still a work in progress. Last season was a case of surviving and this season it’s about building and pushing up towards the right end of the table.
“One of the things you need to be successful is a level of consistency and for every player they have to have a mindset for every game they go into that there is that minimum requirement.
“Too many times this season we’ve done very well in a game and then in the next game we’ve underachieved.
“Three points are on the table every game we go into and we have got to show the right desire, more aggression and be brave enough to express ourselves in the right areas of the pitch.”