Boothroyd: Cobblers kicking into gear at the perfect time

Town go to Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon (Saturday, ko 3pm) with the race for automatic promotion from npower League Two having altered somewhat in the past week.

Port Vale’s loss to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night means they are now third and only two points ahead of the Cobblers with Burton Albion now occupying second place in the division.

Rotherham and Cheltenham are a point behind Northampton with Exeter City two points back in a promotion race that is intensifying with only eight games left to be played.

And Boothroyd feels his team is in better shape than at any previous time during what has turned into an outstanding campaign at Sixfields.

“I think we’ve kicked into gear now,” he said.

“The players all know what is expected of them and I have the ability to change things if I need to.

“The main thing is grinding out results and just getting the results, no matter what the team is or what the formation is.

“There is a very good chance everyone is going to play and I’m always honest with the players.

“I don’t give the team out on a Saturday and everyone knows where they stand.

“You always get one or two sulkers but I think you get that in every business.”

Boothroyd was able to leave strikers Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clive Platt out of the starting line-up for the midweek draw at Morecambe so will now have both players back fresh.

He has also been bolstered in the past week by the improving form of winger Ishmel Demontagnac, who produced perhaps his best all-round performance for the club on Tuesday night.

“I thought Ishmel was excellent at Morecambe,” said Boothroyd.

“People will remember his free-kick that hit the post for our goal but the thing that sticks in my mind was his 70-yard run back and block on (Jack) Redshaw.

“He’s without doubt got the talent to do it, it’s just about getting the consistency to his game now.”