Cobblers midfielder Byrom rues “silly mistakes”

Northampton were once again architects of their own downfall on Saturday as Dagenham were the latest side to profit from some questionable defending to claim their first win of the season.

It means the Cobblers have taken just a solitary point from their last four League Two games against Barnet, Plymouth, Accrington and Dagenham.

Byrom said afterwards: “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot again and it’s not really anything they’ve done particularly well but we’re making silly mistakes.

“We were in front of the game and we were comfortable but then all of a sudden we’re 2-1 down at half-time and we’ve got a mountain to climb.

“If it wasn’t for silly mistakes we might have won and I think all season that’s been the case – no team has had to cut us apart and score a really good goal against us.

“We need to cut out the soft goals because it’s happening too often now.”

Chris Wilder kept his side in the dressing room for almost an hour after full-time as a few home truths were voiced.

Byrom added: “Things get said in the dressing room and after a defeat like on Saturday, they should be.

“We’ve got to go away, have a think over the weekend but then be back in on Monday ready to go again and ready to work hard.

“I think we’ve got to be men and got to be stronger. Confidence is a word that people throw about but at the end of the day it’s all about yourself – you’ve got to get ready for games, to perform in front of the fans and do it for the team and for the club.

“We’re controlling games but then we concede goals out of nothing. We have enough experience players in this team to see games through and even just to get to half-time like on Saturday.”

Oxford United are next in town with Wilder’s former side the visitors to Sixfields on Saturday, and Byrom, who was criticised by Wilder post-match on Saturday, is eager to take advantage of a rare week without a midweek game.

He added: “It’s a perfect opportunity for us to get the work in on the training ground and work on the things we’re not doing well.

“We have to knuckle down this week. It’s going to be a tough week and it’ll be a tough game against Oxford on Saturday.

“It’s a game where we’ve got to look forward to and be positive. We have to take the game to Oxford because we need points now.

“I know it’s early in the season and people say you don’t look at the table until 10 games in or whatever, but we need points now and turn this around.”