Wilder overjoyed after Cobblers mark special day with '˜outstanding' performance

Northampton dominated from start to finish against the Hatters as goals from Zander Diamond and John Marquis ensured Cobblers ended their Sixfields campaign in fitting style.

There was a party atmosphere all afternoon and the celebrations continued well after the full-time whistle as club captain Marc Richards lifted the trophy and the players went on their lap of honour to soak up the perfect culmination of a remarkable season.

“I’m delighted with the way we’ve played today,” said Wilder afterwards. “Everything we’ve done, with and without the ball, has epitomised our season.

“We’ve played some fantastic football and we’ve opened teams up.

“It was a tight game and they’ve got a lot of quality and I’m sure they’ll go well next year because they’ve beat some good teams away from home.

“They had a couple of chances but I thought my team was outstanding – we were pressing and we were getting after the ball late on.

“Everybody talks about the technical stuff and tactical aspect but the commitment these players show and the work-ethic is unbelievable, with a sprinkling of ability.

“I’ve been in football a long time and for the day to go as well as it has, you couldn’t dream of it going any better.

“I’m made up for the supporters and made up that they’ve had a fantastic day on top of a ridiculously, unbelievable season.”

A record crowd of 7,664 packed into Sixfields on Saturday to witness a memorable day in the long history of the club, who were crowned divisional champions for just the third time in 119 years.

Wilder added: “To come out of it at the end of it, like we have today, with a victory to stick ourselves on 96 points, to lift the championship in front of our home support will go down as a special, special day in this club’s history.

“I’ve said all along that this team deserves to be put up with Graham Carr’s team and they deserve to be up there with the very best because this means just as much to the people of Northampton and the supporters, that have followed us all the way through.

“To see it go through the roller-coaster that has been this season and come out the end, I’m absolutely made up for them and I’m sure they’re made up for us and they’ll recognise.

“We’ve given the fans a team to be proud of, a team that has broke records, won games from every different angle, that have produced scintillating football and that have scored goals and stuck a points total of 96 with a game to go and that just sums it all up for me.”