Northampton Town: Cobblers boss wants players to ‘be men’ in relegation scrap
AIDY BOOTHROYD has called on his Cobblers players to ‘be men’ as their battle against relegation continues against Macclesfield Town today.
Town play host to the Silkmen at a sub-zero Sixfields this afternoon with new signing Clarke Carlisle set to be handed a debut in the heart of defence.
And manager Boothroyd wants his players to learn the lessons that cost them a positive result at Torquay United last weekend as they take on a Macclesfield side who have lost five in a row.
“I think we need men,” said the Town boss. “We’re in a situation where we need to be able to recognise where we’re at and have the concentration to do what’s required.
“Against Torquay we did really, really well but the difference between the two teams is that their centre-back knocks three off the line and we lose a goal from a corner, which is something we haven’t done.
“It’s those fine lines. There’s a very fine line between winning and losing and what we’ve got to do is to get into the frame of mind where we don’t concede goals and we keep clean sheets.”
The capture of Carlisle – on loan until the end of the season from Burnley – was a result of some prior knowledge of the player and a slice of good fortune.
The centre-back is described by Boothroyd as both ‘the kind of player’ he wants at the club and somebody who it is hoped will spark the current group of players into a run of results that staves off the threat of relegation for good this season.
“Sometimes you go for players not thinking you’re going to get them but you go for them anyway,” he said.
“I think we’ve got very lucky in Clarke’s case because Preston were signing a centre-back, I’ve known Clarke a long time and he’s exactly the sort of player we need here and, more importantly, he’s exactly the sort of person we need here.
“He’s a leader in every sense and he’s a guy I know that knows my methods and will be able to help us to establish what we want to do going forward and speeds it up.
“I’m hoping he’s going to be a catalyst for us in making sure we not only get up the table but lay down a lot of foundations off the pitch in terms of what’s expected and a culture.”
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
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FranklyFrank
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:32 AMToday's game v Macclesfield is off - frozen pitch.
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