Chris Hogg has thanked Cobblers fans for the backing they gave him and his team in Saturday’s game against Swindon - and he says their support will be ‘massive’ over the coming weeks and months.

Hogg received a warm ovation for his first competitive game at Sixfields, but he was more grateful for the backing that his players were given during the 90 minutes.

"The support is massive, more so for the players,” he said. “It was really nice for me and I've had some positive support from people and real encouraging words. That's great and I want to do really well for the people associated with the club, but it's more important for the players on the pitch.

"It helps massively when they know they are going to be supported through thick and thin. This was a good first step on the journey we're on. It's the start and who knows where it'll end up but if we show some of the traits we did today, especially out of possession, then it's a good start.

Now the first game is out of the way, Hogg is hopeful that his team will improve as the games and weeks go by.

"It's always an emotional day that first game,” he added. “I used to feel it as a player. I came in early this morning and everyone's excited and wanting a positive day and it's been a while since we had a really good crowd in.

"I have to thank them for tuning up and supporting the boys and hopefully they appreciate their efforts. You feel it on that first day so to get it out of the way is really good and we can be a bit more emotionally stable going into next week.

"It's about trying to build week by week. It was a positive day all round. We’d have loved to come here and score goals but if you put it in perspective, the reality was never going to be that on the first day of a new League Two season, especially in the conditions.”

While Town were defensively solid against Swindon, the attacking play was a little clunky and disjointed.

Hogg continued: "It's just that last little bit and that comes down to execution, but we've got to be harder to beat as a club. We need that grit to not lose and to not give up. That's the mentality I want and Sixfields needs to be a difficult place for teams to come.

"I thought the lads did great in limiting them to very few chances. There were some flashes across the box but the defensive stuff was a big positive and that has to be part of our identity and a building block for us going into the season.”