Play-off rivals hold no fear for Sampson
Ian Sampson says his Cobblers side fear no play-off opponent – including Notts County.
The Magpies are generally regarded as the team to avoid, with Coca-Cola League Two's top goalscorer Lee Hughes leading their line and 750,000-a-year goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel between the posts.
They defeated Town 5-2 at Meadow Lane in September in Sampson's first game in charge following the sacking of Stuart Gray.
There is a good chance County will finish in the top three, but if they don't then Sampson says his team won't mind meeting them in the play-offs.
"We don't care who we play as long as we get in there," he said. "If it's Notts County we play then we'll take them.
"Once you're in the play-offs it becomes a bit of a lottery. I've no idea where we're going to finish and I don't want to get ahead of myself.
"We've just got to keep going. I'm not going to predict where we'll finish, our aim now is to just consolidate in the top seven and see what happens.
"It was a difficult challenge I put in front of the players (to win nine games out of 13) and they're a third of the way there now.
"If we get another six wins then that should be enough to keep us in the play-offs."
Town play host to Morecambe tomorrow bidding to make it five wins on the spin and put some daylight between the mid-table chasing pack.
The Shrimpers could go level on points with Sampson's men with a win at Sixfields, and the Cobblers boss is well aware of those clubs bubbling under the top seven.
"One or two of the teams above us have hit a little bit of a brick wall but there are one or two below us who are chasing us," he said.
"Accrington have come out of a little bit of a slump and picked up two wins in a row, Port Vale have kicked on as well so it could get pretty interesting.
"You can probably go right down to Burton Albion in 13th for teams that could come into it.
"Those teams will still fancy their chances and Morecambe will as well after they got a good win at Hereford in midweek."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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