Wilder happy to be on the road for opening clash of the season

Town will travel to newly-promoted Bristol Rovers on Saturday, August 8, and Wilder says that pleases him as there is always a little extra pressure on a home team on the opening day of any campaign.

“It is a cracking game for us,” said the Cobblers boss.

“I know from my time at Oxford United, that the first game back in the Football League for Bristol Rovers is one they are going to be really looking forward to.

“It will be a full house there, and as we always have done, our fans will travel well, and I am not too disappointed we are away from home for the first game.

“Playing away is not the worst thing to do on day one, because the pressure does mount on the home side to get good start, and it’s a game we can really look forward to.

“Bristol Rovers will be competitive, we will definitely be competitive, and it is all set up for an attractive opening day fixture, and it should be a great occasion.”

The Cobblers haven’t played at the Memorial Stadium since August, 2013, when Aidy Boothroyd’s team were beaten 1-0, with Roy O’Donovan being sent off late in the game.

Wilder is also pleased with his team being drawn at home against league one side Blackpool in the Capital One Cup, with that match being staged at Sixfields in the midweek following the Rovers encounter.

“I am looking forward to the Blackpool game,” said Wilder.

“It is a great draw for us, it pits us against a team that has gone down to league one, and most importantly we have got a home tie.

“We didn’t want to do a lot of travelling, and it’s a game in which we can give it a go.”

Wilder also confirmed that he is ‘well down the line with two or three players’ with regards to making signings, and one of the players he is close to tying to a Sixfields deal is a goalkeeper.

The Cobblers players are back in for pre-season training on Monday (June 22).

See Thursday’s Chronicle & Echo for your cut-out-and-keep Sky Bet League Two fixtures guide