Wilder admits Cobblers ‘a bit short’ after hectic opening month

Town have accrued seven points from their first five league games, with their opening-week victories over Bristol Rovers and Exeter City being followed up by defeats to Barnet and Plymouth before the mini rot was stopped with last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Accrington.

As we move into September, the Cobblers are 11th in the table, eight points adrift of 100 per centers Leyton Orient, but well in touch with everybody else.

Throw in Capital One Cup and Johnstone’s Paints Trophy wins over league one sides Blackpool and Colchester United respectively, and Wilder is fairly satisfied with how things panned out in a hectic August.

“We feel we are a touch light,” admitted the Cobblers boss. “There is maybe only Leyton Orient, Plymouth and a couple of other clubs that will be satisfied with their start, because we all want to be better.

“We all want more points on the board, and we are disappointed obviously with the two games we have lost, and maybe the result at Accrington where we could have got another couple of points.

“If we had taken nine from the month then it would have been a good effort, so we are a little bit short, but it has been a tough start.

“We have played two away games against newly-promoted teams, we have played a really good Plymouth side that I would say will be pushing for the top three.

“I was disappointed in our performance against them after the first 30 minutes, but was also impressed by what they showed, so I am glad to have got them out of the way and not have to play them again for a few months.

“So we are a touch disappointed in the points tally, but nothing major.

“We are looking for that consistency, and hopefully we can kick on and get a win on Saturday.”

The Cobblers entertain Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday at Sixfields (3pm).