Cobblers boss Wilder determined to end '˜eventful season' on a high

Way back on August 5, Northampton Town started their Sky Bet League Two campaign with a 1-0 win in the sunshine at Bristol Rovers.

On Saturday, the Cobblers will wrap up a brilliant, title-winning season, with a trip to Portsmouth, with once again the sunshine forecast to shine.

A travelling army of almost 3,000 Town fans are making the trip to the south coast to watch their heroes, and Wilder wants to reward them with yet another three points.

“It’s been an eventful season in the history of this football club, and we want to finish it how we started, with an away win,” said the Cobblers boss.

“To go into the final game in the position we are in is unbelievable and we want to reward our great support with one last final push.

“It is going to be a great occasion and we want to play well.”

The Cobblers travel south without Brendan Moloney (knee), while Rod McDonald (calf/Achilles) and Joel Byrom are doubts, and Wilder hinted he will be naming the same team that saw off Luton Town 2-0 at Sixfields last weekend.

The Town boss also made it clear that there will be no change in attitude from his players, even though the promotion and the title are a long time in the bag.

“We won’t make many changes, and I think we have shown in the last month and a half that we have continued to try and go about our business, and be consistent in everything we do, and I think we have done that,” said Wilder.

“That’s shown by the way we played on Saturday, the way we played at Yeovil, against Crawley, we have just kept the foot down.

“That is what we wanted to happen, and the players have carried that out and we enjoy winning games.”

Portsmouth were expected to claim a promotion place this season, but they have fallen short.

Pompey only confirmed their place in the play-offs last week, and they already know they will be playing Plymouth Argyle in the semi-finals.

A win over the Cobblers will see them seal home advantage in the second leg, and although Wilder will be doing his utmost to esnure the Cobblers deny them that win, the Town boss does admit he wants Paul Cook’s men to get through and win at Wembley.

“I have a lot of respect for Paul and that football club, and I hope they go well in the play-offs,” said Wilder.

“It is a tough division to get out of, and you just want to get out of it whatever way you can.

“We have obviously gone through the perfect route, while Paul will possibly think the perfect route is to win at Wembley in front of 40,000 or 50,000 of their supporters. But they have a bit of work to do, and we still have as well.

“Portsmouth have had an excellent season.

“They will want to have the opportunity to go up and they have certainly got the manager and the players and the ability to roll through the play-off games, and I am sure they will give it a right good go.”