Page delighted as Cobblers' game plan secures victory at Swindon Town

Rob Page believes his side 'could have scored five' instead of the three they managed against Swindon Town on Tuesday, such was the way they carried out his game plan in their first away win of the season.
GOAL-DEN BOY - Harry Beautyman is congratulated after firing the Cobblers into an early 1-0 lead in their 3-1 win at Swindon TownGOAL-DEN BOY - Harry Beautyman is congratulated after firing the Cobblers into an early 1-0 lead in their 3-1 win at Swindon Town
GOAL-DEN BOY - Harry Beautyman is congratulated after firing the Cobblers into an early 1-0 lead in their 3-1 win at Swindon Town

Page was a man with a plan going into the game and whatever he conjured up worked to a tee as the Cobblers ran out 3-1 victors after soaking up plenty of Swindon pressure.

Harry Beautyman's early opener was cancelled out by Sean Murray but late goals from John-Joe O'Toole and substitute Kenji Gorre ensured Page would notch his first away league win as Cobblers boss.

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He said afterwards: "I'm delighted and over the moon with the performance.

HAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob PageHAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob Page
HAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob Page

"We showed out intentions in the first-half by pressing them high and we took the game to them, we frustrated them.

"We scored three but could have scored five with the amount of chances we had.

"I thought the substitutions made an impact tonight and that's what you ask of the squad and ask of the lads, both Kenji and JJ (Hooper) made a difference."

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Swindon had all the pressure and possession on Tuesday but their lack of cutting edge in the final third cost them dear, while Northampton defended with guts and then took their chances with ruthless efficiency.

HAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob PageHAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob Page
HAPPY MAN - Cobblers boss Rob Page

And afterwards Page revealed he knew how to stop the Robins.

"Defensively we had a plan," he added. "And I thought it worked - we went and pressed and then created chances.

"John-Joe set the tone with a crunching tackle in the first 30 seconds and that showed what we're all about tonight because every man put a shift in both with and without the ball and they deserve credit.

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"I thought we took our foot off the gas a little bit in the second-half which invited the pressure but with the defenders we've got in Gabby and Zander, I was very confident we'd deal with the balls into the box."