Platt says experience will be key for Northampton Town

KEY ROLE - Clive Platt says experienced players such as Clake Carlisle (pictured) have a big part to play if the Cobblers are to get promoted

The former Coventry City man is expected to return to Town starting line-up for Saturday’s npower League Two date with relegation-threatened York City.

He has missed the 1-0 defeats at Cheltenham Town and Bradford City, a niggling calf injury relegating him to an unused substitute on both occasions.

But the experienced target man is now fully fit, and can expect a recall to lead the line against the Minstermen.

And if that is the case, Platt knows it is on his and the other seasons campaigners in the team such as Chris Hackett, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clarke Carlisle to see the rest of the squad through.

“We are in a great position, and obviously everybody wants to get promoted,” Platt told the club’s website, www.ntfc.co.uk.

“So there is a bit of excitement that we will do it, but there is also nervousness because we don’t want to lose our position.

“There are a few players that have been in this position before, with a lot of games under their belt, and there are a lot of promotions throughout the squad.

“Hopefully the older lads can help the younger lads through this experience.”

The Cobblers slipped to fourth place in the table following Tuesday night’s win for Burton Albion over Wycombe Wanderers, and the chasing pack are also closing in with on-song Bradford moving up to seventh and to within four points of the Cobblers following their midweek victory against Bristol Rovers.

But Platt is keeping his cool.

He knows Town’s promotion fate is still in their own hands with four games remaining, and he will be drumming that into his team-mates.

“We just have to do our jobs. Everybody has done it all season, they know what needs to be done and it is just sticking to that,” said Platt.

“We have had a couple of not great results away from home, but it (promotion) is still ours to win.

“We have a home game on Saturday and we want to win that to stay in the position we are in.”

The pressure is mounting on all the teams involved at the top end of the table, but Platt insists the Cobblers are mentally strong enough to handle the run-in, insisting the bigger problem for everybody involved is tiredness.

“It’s not mentally draining, it is more physically draining,” said the 34-year-old.

“It’s the end of the season, people have got niggles, and it’s just finishing off the job.

“There are tired legs, and there are a lot of teams that have played a lot of games.”

Town have go into Saturday’s clash with second-from-bottom York aiming for an 11th straight home win, and Platt has urged the Sixfields faithful to continue to get behind the team.

“We have that feeling at the moment, that when we play at home we are going to win,” said Platt, who has scored seven goals this season.

“Games have gone late on, and the crowd do get behind us, and through the season we have had that togetherness that has got us the results.”

A big crowd is expecteed at Sixfields on Saturday, but tickets are still available.