Sixfields similar to Lions’ Den says Northampton Town winger Hackett

NEW LOOK - winger Chris Hackett (left) models the new Cobblers away kit for next season, while Joe Widdowson shows off the new home kit (Picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

Hackett, who joined from the Lions last summer, has helped Northampton win 14 of their 19 league games at Sixfields this season.

It is the second best home record in the division – Burton Albion have claimed one more point from their 19 games – and one which Cobblers will hope to continue against Oxford United today (Sat, ko 3pm).

For Hackett there are echoes of how Millwall, a club he made 144 appearances for, prided themselves on their form at The Den.

The 30-year-old said: “It’s actually quite similar. We had a great home record all the years I was at Millwall.

“It was very good and it’s similar here. The fans get behind us here and we’ve got something going pretty well.

“It does help, especially with what they do here; on Saturday people are being asked to bring a friend along at it does help the team because our home form has been good.

“You create that kind of mentality, that feeling about the place.

“I don’t think it’s got to be about size of the crowd, it’s the tempo you play at, the confidence you instil and the fear you put in the away team.

“We’ve got that about us at the minute and it’s combined with the crowd, who get behind us, and it’s combined with our spirit and togetherness at home. It works.”

Hackett will hope it works again when his former club Oxford come calling this weekend, as Cobblers look to enhance their promotion chances.

With eight games to go and Town sitting sixth in league two, every point will be crucial, and, after last weekend’s postponement at Wycombe, Hackett can’t wait to get stuck in.

“From now until the end of the season it will be eight great games because you’re either playing against a team struggling at the bottom or a team pushing for play-offs,” he said.

“This is the best time of the year.

“The last eight to 10 games of the season is the best time and the atmosphere is a bit more tense. It puts a bit more pressure on the games.

“The stakes are raised and they’re going to be even higher on Saturday because Oxford have still got something to play for and so have we.

“It will be almost a full house and it will be good.”