Goal hero Guttridge: Cobblers have done nothing yet

Guttridge fired in a sizzling volley in the 1-0 win at Cheltenham on Sunday night that guaranteed Town a Wembley final, in which they will meet Bradford City on Saturday May 18.

But the 31-year-old, who has been a key figure of the team in the past month, was very quick to play down the achievement, which he feels is well overdue for a club of Northampton’s size and stature.

“All we’ve done so far is get to Wembley, we haven’t actually done anything,” he said. “It’s a massive achievement in terms of where the club has been in the past couple of seasons.

“I’ve said for a long time that Northampton shouldn’t be down where they have been but talk is cheap.

“It’s no good talking about it, you’ve got to do it on the pitch and we know it’s going to be a very difficult game against a good Bradford side in the final now.”

Guttridge struck up a good understanding with leading goalscorer Adebayo Akinfenwa during the pair’s previous time together at the club and it has been rekindled in the past month, with the striker laying on both of the midfielder’s goals in that time.

The strike against Cheltenham was a goal-of-the-season contender and it came at a pivotal moment in a crunch game but for Guttridge - who spent several weeks out of the team just after the season’s midway point - the overwhelming feeling was one of relief.

“The ball went into Bayo and we understand how each other plays so I knew he was going to pop it inside,” said Guttridge. “It was a great lay-off and it sat up nicely, begging to be hit.

“I caught it sweetly and fortunately it just flew into the net. I think it was just a feeling of relief.

“It’s been a frustrating season for me all round and I haven’t scored the goals that I would have liked to have scored.

“Just to be getting into those situations is something. Nine times out of 10 that shot might hit the crossbar and come back out but it was my day and the keeper didn’t get anywhere near it.”