Cobblers boss Wilder: Things were said about us but we just keep rolling the wins out

In the lead up this game, the Carlisle manager said he was “surprised” to see Northampton so far clear at the top of League Two, however any question marks over Town’s position were quashed in the most emphatic fashion on Saturday.

John-Joe O’Toole bagged a brace in-between goals from John Marquis and James Collins as the Cobblers cruised to victory to move 13 points clear of second place.

Wilder said: “There were a few things said about us, weren’t there? There were a few things said in the lead up but we just get on with it and keep rolling the wins out and rolling the goals out.

“We have the most goals, the most wins and it’s an absolutely tremendous effort.

“I didn’t think at times we got out of second or third gear. We never really showed what exactly we were about but you have to beat the opposition that gets put in front of you and we’ve done that and done it pretty comfortably.”

On the game itself, Wilder pinpointed his side’s “incredible work-rate” as the key to victory with Carlisle outplayed by the league leaders.

Wilder added: “At times our work-rate was incredible; the two centre-forward getting round the back of their midfielders and the way we pressed and the way we harried them and got our heads down.

“Then when we broke it up we passed it and we scored four goals away from home so I can’t ask for much more.

“I thought our two up front were a real handful and this is missing our skipper and our leading goalscorer so John and Collo have played a big part and they were immense.”

Saturday’s three points means Northampton have taken 17 from a possible 21 in the past three weeks as they now sit 13 points clear at the top of League Two.

Wilder added:”We knew it was the last game of a really hectic period going Saturday-Tuesday and doing lots of travelling so it’s one big effort but there’s a lot of work to do and there’s a whole bunch of points to play for.

“We don’t listen to what’s been said about us and don’t do anything apart from get our heads down and work extremely hard.”