McGowan vows to ensure Cobblers' standards don't drop after another home draw

Vice-skipper Aaron McGowan admits he cannot put his finger on the reason for Cobblers’ contrasting home and away form following another draw at Sixfields on Saturday.

Town drew at home for the third game in succession when held in a goalless stalemate against Tranmere Rovers. Whilst they still boast the fifth best home record in the division, Cobblers have not won at Sixfields in any competition since September.

By contrast, they have won their last three on the road and subsequently have more points from away games (21) than home (18) this season.

"We have spoken in the dressing room about the need to improve our home record,” said McGowan. “It's a difficult one because of where we are in the table – we are seven unbeaten and there's a little bit of a gap to fourth.

"But I couldn't put my finger on why that's the case with our home form. It's not as if we say different things or we think about it. Sometimes you go through periods where you can't buy a result away and you're unbelievable at home. It's football and it's a funny game.

"But we do need to be better at home, we know that, and it's not as if we are getting beat, but at times we haven't been able to break down teams who come here and set up to defend.

"That's our problem, that's on the players, no one else, but again, we are in such a good position and we have a real opportunity this season to go and kick on and now it's onto the next game."

It might be a good thing then that Cobblers are on the road to Harrogate this weekend, and as Jon Guthrie’s deputy, McGowan says he will ensure the team’s standards do not drop.

"We want to get back to winning ways and we don't fear any team in this league,” he added. “The standards we have set, it's important they don't drop now and it's important that me and Guths drive that from within the group.

"We will go to Harrogate looking for three points and nothing else. They are a tough team but with the squad we have available now, hopefully we can go there and get three points."