Boothroyd tells Northampton Town players to grasp big opportunity

Town have got away with successive 1-0 defeats at Cheltenham Town and Bradford City with their top three fate still in their own hands, mainly down to their rivals failing to capitalise on those slip-ups.

But with just four games of the season remaining, there is surely now no room for any more errors on the Cobblers part, starting with Saturday’s meeting with York City at Sixfields (ko 3pm).

“We have to make sure we aren’t waiting for others to help us, we have to do it ourselves,” said Boothroyd.

“It’s that stage of the season. People take wins for granted, but they are very, very hard to come by in any league, against anybody, particularly when teams are fighting for their lives or going for promotion, or players are working towards new contracts.

“It is how it is, and we have to now do our job.”

Although the Town boss doesn’t want his team relying on others, he also admits he will readily accept help when it comes rivals dropping points.

And he is now hoping that Bradford City, 1-0 winners over Town at Valley Parade last weekend, could be a dangerous opponent for three of the Cobblers’ other rivals.

The in-form Bantams, who are four points behind the Cobblers, still have to play Rotherham United, Cheltenham and Burton Albion, and Boothroyd admitted: “Coming away from Bradford on Saturday I was obviously very disappointed.

“But it gets to the stage that when you look at the bigger picture, that win for them might just keep them honest.

“They have got Rotherham to play next week, they have to play against Cheltenham and Burton, and they have got some games where they could help us out.

“So if they have a chance of being successful, then they might take points off our rivals, and then it’s down to us to make sure we do our bit.”