Brady was eager to unlock Watson's goalscoring form

Ryan Watson's sudden burst of goalscoring form has not come about by accident.

The midfielder made it four in four games on Tuesday night when he netted both goals in Town's important and well-deserved 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.

Watson has been moved into a more advanced role by caretaker boss Jon Brady and is thriving on the extra freedom to get forward and join attacks.

The 27-year-old, now Town's joint-top scorer in all competitions this season, also hit the crossbar against Burton Albion and had three chances in the goalless draw with Rochdale.

"The first thing I said to Ryan when I came in was 'I want to get you higher up the pitch because I know you can score goals' - he's got a fantastic shot on him," revealed Brady.

"I wanted him to enjoy his football and I'm so pleased for Ryan. I thought it was quite funny at the end on Tuesday when he came out of defence and went down in stages, but that was only because he had worked himself into the ground.

"I think Ryan is an exceptional player and I want to keep seeing him flourish."

Watson's two goals were Northampton's first at home in 2021 and lifted Cobblers off the bottom of League One and up to 22nd.

It was also Brady's first win in charge as a good performance was finally rewarded with three points.

"I've never been through a period where we've played six games like we have and had the efforts we've produced and not had the rewards," Brady added.

"I felt that it had to come and we had to keep believing that it would come. Fair play to the boys - they're the ones who delivered it.

"Out of the six games, tactically, no team has ripped us apart and we've had more chances than the opposition in every single one so we have to keep believing in the process and tactically how we set our team up."