Orient boss Nolan: Fantastic Cobblers made us look ordinary

They took a while to get going but Northampton never looked back once Rod McDonald’s superb overhead kick had given them a 1-0 lead shortly after half-time.

A sublime Ricky Holmes volley made it two and James Collins added a late brace as the Cobblers put Orient to the sword with a wonderful second half performance.

“Northampton were fantastic and they showed us what it takes if you want to be getting out of this division,” said Nolan afterwards.

“They’ve come here, they were efficient, they were brilliant in what they did and they made us look ordinary.

“Our boys now know that if you want to hit the heights and get out of this league, that’s the level that you need to get to.

“We had a few half chances but they contained us and put blocks in and when they needed to they cleared it and put it in behind our centre-backs.

“The two centre-forwards harassed us and the four lads in midfield worked their socks off for them and we warned our lads before the game because we knew this is what they’d do.

“We had to match them for the full 90 minutes but we haven’t and you see in the second half how much of a good team Chris has built there.

“We were finding it difficult to create chances but that’s due to their good play and you have to take your hat off to the opposition and I’m certainly taking my hat off for them today.

“In the second half I thought they contained us unbelievable well. They didn’t let us out, they won every header and they won every second ball and that’s something we have to learn from.

“If you want to win games then that’s what you’ve got to do.

“We did that at Portsmouth but they’ve done it to us today and there’s a reason why they’re top of the league and that’s because they do it consistently and that’s what we’ve got to if we want to get out of this league.”