'Everybody will fancy Cheltenham - but we'll come out all guns blazing'

Alan McCormack is quite happy for Cobblers to be considered the underdogs when they take on Cheltenham Town over two legs in the League Two play-off semi-final.

Cheltenham finished fourth in League Two this season and were the form team in the division when the campaign was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Michael Duff's side would have fancied their chances of chasing down the top three at the time of the suspension with just four points separating them from third-placed Plymouth Argyle having played a game less.

But last week's decision to end the regular season means they will have to earn promotion through the play-offs and it'll be Northampton, who by contrast just snuck into the top seven, up first at the PTS on Thursday.

"Cheltenham and Exeter pushed the top three very close and then Colchester and ourselves came in behind that," said McCormack. "Whether or not Cheltenham would have caught automatic promotion, nobody is going to know.

"We fancy ourselves but we know we're going to be the underdogs coming into this game and we know everybody will fancy Cheltenham and probably rightly so because they've had a great season and they play good football.

"But it's a different kettle of finish coming to our place and we're a different kettle of fish when it comes to playing against our style of play. You've got to stand up to it and you've got to match us and if teams do match us, then well played.

"But if not, we will come out all guns blazing. If anybody had the chance to watch training and see how competitive it is, nobody is holding back in challenges. Even though it might be your friend in front of you, nobody is holding back.

"We've come back in with a real hunger and desire to go and get the job done in the play-offs and we can't wait for next Thursday night - I'm sure Cheltenham are as well."