Boss Wilder praises '˜first class attitude' of the Cobblers squad

The Cobblers are top of Sky Bet League Two going into the final 19 games of the season, two points clear of second-placed Plymouth Argyle with two games in hand.

Their run of form since the end of September has been little short of magnificent, and they have won 10 of their past 11 league games.

Wilder has been able to name a fairly settled side throughout that period, and that has led to players seeing their first-team action kept to a mimimum.

But the Town boss says there is nobody at Sixfields moping about because they can’t get a game, and that those not in the team are helping to ‘drive each other on’.

“I think we have got a really good group,” said Wilder.

“We went to Stevenage last Tuesday (for a friendly), and there are players like Jason Taylor, Josh Lelan, Ryan Cresswell, Sam Hoskins, players like that who are not in the team at the moment, and their attitude was different class.

“It’s not all about the result, but they have gone to Stevenage and done a really professional job and got the maximum out of the game.

“It was commented on by the opposition manager and coaching staff how well our players went about their business, so that is really good.

“It is good that we have players of good ability and it’s a nice, strong group, but the attitude of the group is first class.

“They are all driving each other on and that is what needs to happen in these last 19 games of the season.”

The Cobblers were already flying before the turn of the year, but Wilder has added three experienced players in the January transfer windon in James Collins, Lee Martin and Luke Prosser, while Chris Hackett and Evan Horwood have left.

“I am delighted with the group,” said the Cobblers manager.

“I believe we have done really good business with the help of the chairman (Kelvin Thomas), who has been very supportive and has backed it in the right way.

“We have got good deals over the line that financially fit where we are, without putting the club at risk, but he is backing myself and Alan (Knill) and making sure we go into the last 19 games with the squad as strong as it can be with the money we have available to spend.”

And referring again to the attitude of the players not featuring regularly on match days, Wilder said it is not a situation that is has come about by accident.

“The attitude of the lads not in the team is first class, and that’s not something that has just happened overnight at this football club,” said the Town boss.

“We have built that up, we have made that happen, the staff and the players, that this is what we are about, this is our identity that whatever we do, wherever we go whether it is a reserve game, a pre-season game or a senior game, that we go about our business in the right way.

“Those players have a massive part to play, and any one time they have to step into the first team they have to be right mentally and physically, and last Tuesday showed we are in a good place with those players as well.”