Hasselbaink delighted with clinical Burton performance

The Brewers boss was very happy with his team’s showing against the Cobblers, particularly in a first half that saw them race into a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes.

The win moves already-promoted Burton a big step closer to claiming the Sky Bet League Two title, although Shrewsbury’s win at Cheltenham Town means that feat can’t be achieved until the final day of the season.

“It was a good performance in the first half and I was delighted, athough I have seen us play better,” said the former Netherlands international.

“We were just very clinical, and that is what you need to be.”

Lawson D’Ath’s goal on 54 minutes was the high point of a spirited effort from the Cobblers to get back into the game in the second half, and Hasselbaink admitted that Chris Wilder’s men caused his team problems after the break.

“Northampton are a good team, and when you go in at half-time at 3-0 it is always difficult to come out in the second and replicate it, because the mind says you want to do other things,” said Hasselbaink.

“Northampton had nothing to lose, they made two positive substitutions, and they went more direct and put us on the back foot.

“You have to give them credit for that, but I must say that once we got back to understanding what they were doing, then we were again never in trouble and back on top.

“To finish the game off that professionally, I must say that is all credit to my players.”