Wilder ready for ‘special atmosphere’ as Cobblers host Portsmouth

Pompey have only lost once since the first week of January and are three points below Northampton in the Sky Bet League Two table with each team having 13 games left to play.

The presence of a large contingent of visiting supporters should also add another layer of interest to a night fixture, which are traditionally played at a higher intensity than Saturday afternoon matches.

“The players should take a lot of confidence from beating one of the best sides in the league and we’ve got enough experience, among the players and among the staff, to not get carried away,” said Wilder, whose team has only lost once in 2015, and were impressive 2-1 winners at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

“Portsmouth are a very good side who in decent form and their manager is someone I’ve known for a long time and someone I get on with.

“I’m delighted that they’ve started getting results and it is always a special atmosphere when you play Portsmouth because their supporters always travel in number.

“It was a tight game against them here last season and all three outcomes are a possibility this week; I’m expecting it to be another entertaining and attacking game.

“There seems to be more of a zip and a tempo about night games wherever you are and hopefully that is the case again.”

Like the Cobblers, Portsmouth have been in good form since the turn of the year and are unbeaten in their past seven and have scored nine goals in their past three games.

“They have players that are adaptable and in their last game they changed their shape so they are like us in that regard that there’s several things they might do,” said Wilder.

“Portsmouth will need results just like we do and it’s all set up to be another good game with lots of attacking football.

“I don’t expect them to come here and sit in and we certainly won’t be doing that either.”