Northampton Town skipper Langmead hopes it will be third time lucky at Wembley

The central defender, who is still battling to be 100 per cent fit for Saturday’s npower League Two play-off final date with Bradford City, has twice been a loser at the national stadium.

Langmead was part of the Shrewsbury Town team that lost 3-1 to Bristol Rovers in the league two play-off final in 2007, and then was at the heart of the Shrews defence two years later when they went down 1-0 to Gillingham, again in the league two final.

The 28-year-old will again get another bite at the play-off final and Wembley cherry on Saturday, and he admitted: “I have lost at Wembley twice, so I know exactly the other side of it.

“For me it is a fantastic chance for me to back there and hopefully get a win.”

Defender Langmead made a substitite appearance as a striker in the 1-0 semi-final second-leg win at Cheltenham Town last Sunday.

That was his first action since undergoing knee surgery after suffering an injury in the 1-0 win over Oxford United on March 23.

The skipper admits he faces a fight to get back into the team, with Clarke Carlisle and Nathan Cameron both putting in dominant performances in the two games against the Robins.

“The lads have done fantastically well and I don’t expect to walk back into the team,” said Langmead.

“I know I am going to have to work to try and prove myself.”

Whether he starts or not, Langmead is certain be in the matchday squad, and says the final is a great opportunity for the Cobblers to show the footballing world that the club is back on the up after two seasons in the league two doldrums.

“For this football club getting to Wembley is a great chance,” he said. “You can see the difference from where we were last year to where we are now.

“The difference is huge and that is credit to the management and staff, the chairman, the players and everybody involved.

“It is a great turnaround.”