Widdowson: Cobblers’ Chesterfield collapse was a one-off

The left-back acknowledges the performance was nowhere near the standard the team had set in its previous three games, all of which ended in victories.

Results elsewhere, however, were kind to Town, who remain a point outside the npower League Two play-off places with a game in hand on several of their rivals.

The top seven is the minimum aim for Widdowson this season, a barrier that could be breached if the team beat Burton Albion at Sixfields on Saturday (3pm kick-off) and other matches go their way.

“When we win, it’s job done and onto the next one and when we lose it’s ‘where did we go wrong?’ and then we’re onto the next one,” he said.

“It’s not about getting on a run, being consistent is about getting results whether those are wins or draws for a period of time.

“Going two or three games and then losing is not what we want to do.

“The Chesterfield game was a bit of a one-off, we certainly hope it was anyway.

“It is a very unpredictable league and I think we’re one of the better teams in the league.

“We should definitely be pushing for the top three and the play-offs at the very least.”

There were confrontations between players in the dressing room at half-time on Saturday, something Widdowson believes is healthy for a team that is as ambitious as the current Cobblers side.

“We went into the game at Chesterfield with a lot of confidence but we got brought down to earth,” he said.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half and we got punished for it.

“Nobody is happy about being 3-0 down at half-time and things needed to be said.

“We weren’t doing the right things and that’s why we were losing.

“When things aren’t being done right then you have to discuss them.”