Nolan repeats frustration over 'ridiculous' schedule that has 'hurt' Cobblers since Christmas
Kevin Nolan believes Cobblers will benefit greatly from a respite in the schedule this week after he cited several reasons that, in his opinion, have contributed to his side's prolonged poor run of form.
This will be Northampton’s first week without a midweek fixture since the middle of January – some seven weeks ago – and that will allow Nolan much-needed time on the training pitch to try and put right the wrongs of the last couple of months.
Since Christmas Day, Cobblers have played 16 League One games and won only one, taking just eight points from a possible 48 in that time. Their latest defeat came against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane on Sunday when beaten by Callum Maycock’s early goal.
"Thirteen of those games were in 39 days,” said Nolan. “It'll help going from Saturday to Saturday and we can help the lads and give them some really good detail in terms of what we want to do with the game plan and we’ll be able to show them on the pitch.
"It's a poor run of form, we know that, and there's reasons for it, but that's not an excuse. We are where we are and what we've got to do is get ourselves out of it. We have a Tuesday game next week but then we have a couple of free weeks and I think that’ll really help us.”
On those aforementioned reasons, Nolan was asked to elaborated, adding: "There's lots of reasons – fatigue, injuries, playing coming in and out. We're going Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday so we're having to change the team all the time.
"Your squad gets settled quite quickly when you go from Saturday to Saturday but at this moment in time it's a case of waiting to see how the players come back after games and seeing who can do 90 minutes, who can do 60, who's not ready and who needs a rest. That's the reality and that's what managers have to deal with.
"We don’t have the same facilities as Championship clubs and Premier League clubs and a lot of big clubs at this level. We have to send players away and we can’t monitor them as closely as we’d like, but we’re leaving no stone unturned and we’re doing everything we can.
"I've complained about the fixture pile up for a long time, even before Christmas and going back to the summer. It's been relentless and it's ridiculous and it's hurt us and affected us, but now we have to fight our way out of it. We've put ourselves in this situation and it’s up to us to get out of it.”