Wilder frustrated but proud of Cobblers’ character after Newport draw

Sam Hoskins and Marc Richards put the visitors 2-0 ahead on the half-hour mark but County rallied and hit back within a minute through Scott Barrow before Lenell John-Lewis made it 2-2 eight minutes later.

Either side could have taken the spoils in a more cagey second half but the game ended all square.

Wilder didn’t let his frustration at throwing away a two-goal lead show after full-time as he praised his players’ character after another trying week for the club.

He said: “The overriding feeling in the changing room is one of disappointed but for me, I’m proud of the players and the support because of what’s gone on this week and that’s what I said in the huddle at the end.

“The way they’ve conducted themselves again and gone about the business and want to go and win and play for the football club tells you a lot about the character we have on the inside here.

“And a big shout out does to our supporters who have turned out in their numbers again. It’s a long way from home but they’ve backed the players and supported the club so they deserve a big mention first and foremost.”

On the game itself, Wilder’s cited Newport’s immediate response to Northampton making it 2-0 as the key moment, although he did admit a draw was a fair result despite feeling his side should have had a late penalty when John-Joe O’Toole went down in the box.

He added: “We started off really on the front foot and moved the ball about pretty well and looked comfortable.

“To go 2-0 up away from home and get pegged back as quickly as we did is really disappointing and then the game could have gone either way in the second half.

“I thought for the last 15 minutes we looked like the team that was going to win it but fair play to Newport - they showed a fightback which I’d expect under John Sheridan and maybe a draw was a fair result.

“I think if we’d have gone five or 10 minutes and settled ourselves down then I think we’d have gone on to win the game comfortably, but it gave them a massive boost to get straight back into the game.

“We’ve tried to go and win the game at the end and chucked people forward, and we’re disappointed because we felt we should have had a penalty, but it’s not to be and if you can’t win, you don’t get beat.

“The position we’re in is great and I think there’s still more to come.”