'Nervous' and 'excited' Goode preparing to 'lead by example' in play-off clash

Skipper Charlie Goode admits there are both ‘nerves and excitement’ as he prepares to lead out the Cobblers in tonight’s League Two play-off clash with Cheltenham Town.

Tonight’s play-off fixtures – the other being Exeter’s trip to Colchester at 5.15pm – will be the first two EFL games in more than three months and they don’t come much bigger, with Wembley and a shot at promotion awaiting the victorious sides.

And while Nicky Adams is the club's official captain, the responsibility of leading the team on the pitch rests on Goode.

“The important thing is to be calm,” said the 24-year-old. “Nerves are good but you don’t want to let the occasion get the better of you.

“Obviously we won’t have any fans at the ground but it’s a massively important game and some lads might not have played in the play-offs before.

“It’s my job to lead by example and pass on my experience but at the end of the day, it’s just a normal game of football and it’s up to us to go and win.

“It’s an opportunity for us and one that we thought might not come. If you had told us six weeks ago that we would be preparing for a play-off semi-final, we’d probably have laughed.

“But we’re here and we did all the hard work during lockdown in case something happened so we’re ready and it’s up to us to make sure we come through and finish what we started.”

Crucially, Cobblers players and staff returned no negative results in the final round of coronavirus testing before tonight’s big game.

That means everyone will be available for selection, although another round of testing will take place before Monday’s second leg.

“We were tested on Tuesday and everybody came back clear so that’s the nervous part out of the way,” added Goode.

“It’s definitely a strange feeling and I don’t think we’ll experience something like this again but ever since we found out about the play-offs, the lads and the staff have been brilliant and we’ve all worked really hard for the past few weeks.

“We all feel good, we’re raring to go and the excitement and momentum is building and we’re ready for it.”

With two games in four days following a three-month break, Goode has reminded everyone to be on their toes.

“It’s going to be a squad effort,” he continued. “The manager has probably had to make some of his toughest decisions in the last few days going into the game because every single player has come back firing and looks in good condition.

“Everyone wants to play a part and anyone could play a massive role. Someone who hasn’t started could come on and score the winner or make a last-ditch tackle and that’s what the squad is all about.

“We’re a real tight group and we’re all ready and it’s going to be a team effort.”