Cobblers players apologised to Nolan after Port Vale defeat
Kevin Nolan is hoping tomorrow’s derby against rivals Peterborough (12.30pm kick-off) can be a ‘season-changer’ for Cobblers after revealing his players apologised to him for Tuesday’s defeat to Port Vale.
Beaten by Jayden Stockley’s strike in first half stoppage-time in midweek, Town are now verging on must-win territory with 12 games to go, but Nolan insists the squad is in good spirits as they prepare to host Posh at Sixfields.
"The mood in the camp is good but obviously the players are disappointed,” he said. “They came to me after the game and apologised for losing but I don't need that and I don't want that and I don't expect it.
"They felt the heat of it the other night but I don't need it because I’ve been in these situations before and I'm big enough and ugly enough to take that on my shoulders. I just want the lads to go out there and play the way I want my teams to play and keep giving me 100 per cent.
"We just didn't take enough risks and let loose. That's down to us as coaches to give them the confidence to go out and perform, but it's not always going to be rosy, there will be difficult times and that's when you have to come out fighting and I believe these lads will.
"We've been on the wrong end of moments but we'll keep working to turn those moments into our favour. It's going to be another tough one on Saturday but we all love derby days. I loved them as a player and hopefully the lads get the backing they deserve and it's a game that can get us back up and running again.”
Has the derby come at a good time or a bad time? "I don't know – I guess we'll find out on Saturday! We have to look forward to it. Fans love derbies and players love derbies and it's a chance to get the bragging rights.
"I thought we did really well at their place earlier in the season but obviously we were unfortunate to lose Jack Perkins so early in the game. Who knows how the game would have gone if he hadn't have been sent off.
"The lads stuck to the game plan, we caused them problems and we could have got something, but we didn't and now it's a chance to get a bit of revenge and get the bragging rights back. It's a game I'm really looking forward to and hopefully it's a season-changer."