Cobblers boss Keith Curle says he is expecting a very tough game as he previews Saturday’s home game with Mansfield Town.
The Stags finished fourth last season and were tipped by many to be among the pacesetters this time around, but Curle says they should not be underestimated in the slightest.
“If you look at their squad in isolation you would probably say it’s a squad that should be in the top seven,” he said.
“They shouldn’t be where they are but for whatever reason it hasn’t quite happened for them this season.
“Graham Coughlan has come in and he will be putting down his fundamentals and a platform in place looking to next season.
“They are a dangerous team because they have still got a lot of good players and they still have a lot of the players who got them near the top of the league last season.
“I like to win games at home because that’s where the majority of our fans see us but in saying that I want to win every game we play and we know we are capable of winning games home and away.
“It was a very professional performance last Saturday and if you read Ian Holloway’s comments after the game that epitomises what we want to do. We stopped them from playing, we played when we could and when we couldn't, we put balls into good areas.”