Holmes confident Cobblers can come up on the play-off rails

MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY - Ricky Holmes and Cobblers boss Chris Wilder

Regularly in the past it has been the case that teams in league two have made late runs to clinch a place in the end-of-season knockout jamboree.

Last season it was York City that put together a run of 11 wins in 17 games, losing just once in that time, to set up a play-off semi-final with Fleetwood.

The Cobblers can’t quite match that Minstermen run for consistency, but they have won 10 of their past 15 matches, and with seven games remaining are four points off the top seven.

Despite a couple of hiccups, namely defeats to Carlisle United and Bury, Holmes believes the momentum is still with Cobblers and they can reach the play-offs.

“York did it last year and got into the play-offs from nowhere, and there is always seemingly one team that does that,” said Holmes.

“Crewe did it one year I remember, and they went up, and hopefully we can do that.

“We are keeping our feet firmly on the ground, but Saturday’s win over Luton keeps our season alive.

“If we had lost then it was dead and buried, and it’s never nice going into the last six or seven games with nothing to play for, as you just end up going through the motions.”

Holmes was the star man in an excellent team performance against Luton, and he has been in great form since joining the club from Portsmouth, initially on loan and then on a permanent contract.

Cobblers fans will still be pinching themselves that Pompey let such a class act as Holmes quit Fratton Park for Sixfields, but the player is quick to praise manager Chris Wilder and assistant Alan Knill for allowing him the freedom to express himself out on the pitch.

“This is a great place to work,” said Holmes.

“The gaffer and Alan Knill have really put the confidence in us to go out and perform and show everybody what we can do.

“We are a passing team really, and that doesn’t get credit in this league, because not a lot of teams do that.

“Chris Wilder just gives you licence to play, and that’s how I want to play.

“I don’t want to just hang out wide and just cross the ball.

“I want to get bums off seats, I was doing that at Portsmouth last season, although perhaps not as much this season, but I have come to Northampton and hit the ground running.

“I am really enjoying my football.”