Cobblers have to show 'no fear' and 'thrive' on the pressure of a very tough run-in
Boss Jon Brady has told his Cobblers players to 'thrive' on the challenge of their very tough looking Sky Bet League One run-in.
Town have eight matches left to secure their safety, but the opposition they have to face couldn't be much tougher.
The Cobblers still have to play five of the current top seven, and face away trips to the top three, starting with the Easter Monday clash at leaders Hull City.
They also have to go to second-placed Peterborough United (April 17) and third-placed Sunderland, who they play on the final day of the season (May 8).
Town face a trip to sixth-placed Gillingham (April 24) and host seventh-placed Blackpool (May 1) as well as another side with play-off ambitions, 11th-placed Ipswich Town (April 20).
Their other two remaining fixtures are crucial home games, against Shrewsbury Town this Friday and relegation rivals Bristol Rovers next Saturday (April 10).
It is comfortably the toughest run of all the teams involved in the relegation scrap, but Brady says it is a schedule he and his players 'can't fear' and that they have to embrace it.
“What better way to do it, why can’t we look at it like that?," said Brady when asked about the run-in.
“What better way to do what we need to do than by doing it against the top teams. Why not?
“That is the way we have to focus on it, we have to welcome it and thrive on it.
“We can’t fear it, we are not going to fear it, so let’s bring them on.”