Clarke pleased with Rovers' character after comeback thwarts Cobblers

The Pirates looked down and out when goals from Nicky Adams and Sam Hoskins had put the Cobblers in command but Matty Taylor and Ellis Harrison rescued a point for promotion-chasing Rovers.

Clarke said: “Obviously at 2-0 down you are going to be happy to get anything out of the game. The first goal is so important in professional football and once Northampton got it they took control of the game.

“But it was a great comeback and epitomises what we are all about as a team. To come from two goals behind against the side that will probably go on to win the title shows some character.

“Other teams might have rolled over but we kept going and we got our reward for that. We have some good players but we probably haven’t got the best individuals in the league.

“What we are is a workman-like side with bags of character and that is probably why we are still in their pitching.

“We started really brightly, got on the front foot and created a couple of opportunities but the first goal knocked the stuffing out of us and we never quite managed to get ourselves going for a long spell after that.

“That was disappointing and when we conceded the second goal from another ball into the penalty area I was thinking we were miles off it.

“I was worried that we might get done by three or four. You have to be brave because I knew that we would be in with a great chance if we could score next.

“We made a few changes to go three up front in order to chase the game and everyone who came on had an impact. Matty’s goal was a great finish and everything he is touching is in the back of the net at the moment.

“We have five games left and we are going to try and win every one. We’ve probably got enough points to guarantee a play-off place now but we will keep fighting tooth and nail to try and get one of the two automatic promotion slots that remain.”