Kevin Nolan explains why he feels Cobblers have struggled so much since Christmas

Cobblers sat in the top half of League One on Christmas Day but they were thumped 5-1 by Burton the following day and have since only won once in the league to tumble all the way down to 22nd.

Cameron McGeehan and Tyrese Fornah both picked up injuries during the festive period, as did Ethan Wheatley, who was then recalled from his loan spell by Manchester United.

"I think it’s what I've spoken about,” replied Nolan when asked why he thinks his side’s form has tailed off so dramatically. “We won the game before Christmas and we were good in possession and scored goals and we had a front three that were contributing (Wheatley, McGeehan, Fornah) but then we lost all three at the same time.

"You're hoping the lads can step up but Valey (Jack Vale) wasn't quite ready and Tom Eaves was in and out and you've got to try and work with and manage certain players because of their injury records. It (Northampton’s form since Christmas) doesn't read well but it's still the same team and squad and we have to find what we had before Christmas and find it quickly. When we do, we'll start going back in the right direction.”

Nolan also believes the relentless schedule – including six successive midweek games, five of which have been away – has played a part in Town’s struggles, specifically with regards to the lack of time of the training pitch.

"With the run we're on at the moment, going Saturday to Tuesday every week, we're not able to get on the training pitch and lay foundations and go through plans for what we want,” said Nolan.

"We're having to go off a lot more visual stuff and at this moment it's a deterrent for us. We have to strip it all back, which is what we did when we first walked in the building, and get back down to basics.

"Port Vale just did all the basics the other night . They had one shot on target all night and they score it. We have to help the lads and stick together and fight together and all the things I was known for."