Don't give in to Christmas temptations, Nolan warns his players
Kevin Nolan will give his players Christmas Day off – but he’s warning them not to overindulge during the festive period as they prepare to play four games in 11 days, three of which are away from home.
Cobblers go to Burton Albion on Boxing Day and then head back up the M1 to face Huddersfield Town on December 29th before Stockport County visit Sixfields on New Year’s Day, and they follow that by returning to north to take on Bolton Wanderers on January 4th.
"The players had a couple of days off at the weekend to spend an early Christmas with their families and they’ll be off on Christmas Day as well,” said Nolan. “But it's really important that they focus.
"You're with all of your loved ones but you have to take yourself away because there are so many temptations around Christmas. It's important they focus because we want to back up Friday’s win with another good result at Burton.”
Cobblers sit 12th on Christmas Day but the League One table is so tightly-packed they could rise or fall significantly depending on their performances over the next two weeks.
Nolan added: "It's brilliant to go into Christmas with three points but I've said to the lads, don't worry about anyone else, we just concentrate on ourselves and what we can do. We've done OK but I think we could have had more points and should have had more points.
"Football can be cruel and you don't always get what you deserve so you have to work hard and the boys are working hard and I'm delighted with each and every one of them. They've done me really proud since they came together six months ago. I'm seeing a good squad and a cohesive squad gelling together and we believe they can out-perform what other people expect.”
Defender Conor McCarthy said: "We just have to get ready for what is a really difficult period and it’s going to take a team effort and we’ll have to rely on everyone. That’s a message that’s really been driven home in the changing room.
"There are some players who will be disappointed not to play as much as they want but you saw two lads come on against Wimbledon and they made a difference. Training is really good and competitive and any successful team needs that.
"Burton’s next for us and another three points would be absolutely brilliant and it’d be nice to give the Cobblers fans another present.”