Giving fans League One football to come back to is a 'massive motivation' for Cobblers

Fans were briefly allowed back into the PTS in December.

Giving Cobblers supporters League One football to come back to next season is providing Jon Brady and his players with 'massive motivation' to win their survival battle.

Town notched their first win of 2021 by beating Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening and in doing so they moved off the foot of the table.

But Brady's side remain in the relegation zone and with supporters not due to return to stadiums until next season, they have their work cut out to ensure they remain a League One team when fans are back in the PTS Academy Stadium.

"We miss them terribly and I'm sure they miss coming here with their friends and family and having that connection," said Brady. "In the world right now, especially in the UK, we can see an end point and we can see everyone coming together next season.

"It's a massive motivation for us to try and give our fans League One football to come back to next season and I think that's a huge motive for us to really strive for. This football league needs to be in League One - minimum - in my opinion."

Whilst fans may not be in the ground, Brady feels their support in spirit.

He added: "I feel that all our fans are really getting behind us now and the local connection is important because we have many friends and family in the county and there are so many well wishers - we're overwhelmed.

"We feel that and they're like a 12th man because they're urging us to win, which is such a lovely feeling."

Cobblers will be looking to achieve something they've not managed all season when Portsmouth visit tomorrow: win back-to-back games.

Brady continued: "The performance will have to be different to Tuesday because we're coming up against a different team but they're a quality side and a big club.

"They made the play-offs last season and they're up there again so it'll be a big test but they have strengths and weaknesses which we've studied and we feel there's ways in which we can hurt them.

"We feel we're getting stronger ourselves and with the players gaining a bit more confidence, why can't the momentum now start with us?"