Brady feels 'intelligent' Cobblers haven't been 'stretched' enough

Stand-in boss believes it has got as bad as it can get for Town

Cobblers caretaker manager Jon Brady believes he has taken on an 'intelligent' group of players whose minds have not been 'stretched' enough.

There has been a clear shift in Town's playing style and approach since Brady's appointment as stand-in boss compared to previous manager Keith Curle.

Whereas Curle's Cobblers often took the direct approach, the team are now looking to keep the ball down more and work openings through quick passing and intelligent movement.

There were signs of that against both Burton and Ipswich, particularly in the first-half at Portman Road, although Town still remain without a goal in 550 minutes of football.

"Everyone looked at the result on Saturday and went 'woah' but we knew what we did and what we want to implement with these boys," said Brady after the 0-0 draw with Ipswich.

"I'll tell you what, these boys are intelligent. This is an intelligent bunch who will work hard for each other and I don't think their minds have been stretched for a while.

"They're now expressing themselves. If you look at Wigan last Tuesday compared to this performance, well, what do you think the difference is?"

Having hit rock-bottom with consecutive home defeats to Burton and Wigan, Brady has been impressed by the way his players have adapted to the new approach being asked of them.

"It was probably the youngest team we put out this season (on Tuesday) but to take those things on-board and be brave enough to do them, that's why I call them an intelligent bunch of young men," Brady added.

"We were decisive in key moments in our defensive third but we just need to be a little bit more decisive and clinical in that final third but it will come, it will come.

"I said before the game that, in my opinion, it's got as bad as it can get for them.

"Sometimes, when you reach that point as a professional sportsman, what you do is that you play with your own mind and you convince yourself that it can't get any worse so the only way forward.

"That's the only way for us to think now - to move forward."