Promotion is all that matters to Cobblers striker Akinfenwa

Town will take on Bradford City in the npower League Two play-off final, with the winner taking all in the shape of promotion to league one.

Akinfenwa admits he would dearly love to score at the national stadium, but he will gladly draw a blank if it means the Bantams are beaten and the Cobblers are promoted.

The big striker is currently in the middle of a goal drought stretching back to February 19, but he played well in both the 1-0 play-off wins over Cheltenham, and is sure to feature when Town take on Bradford.

Whether it’s from the start or from the bench remains to be seen, but either way it is all about promotion for the Cobblers for Akinfenwa.

“Forwards are judged on goals, but if I can keep playing the way I am playing, and we win and I don’t score, I will take that,” said Akinfenwa.

“It is obviously nice to score goals, but I have said it before, I said it five games ago, if I don’t score again and we get promoted and I contribute to that, then I will be happy.

“But don’t get it twisted.

“Wembley is five minutes from my brother’s house, I am a London boy, and to score at Wembley is what dreams are made of.

“But if I have to choose between personal and collective, I will take collective.

“I think Northampton is going to come out in force at Wembley and it is going to be a good day.”

Akinfenwa was the lone striker at Whaddon Road on Sunday, and had to look on for long periods as the defence kept the Cobblers in the game.

And he admits the performance of the defence was inspiring for him and rest of the team.

“I just want to shout out to Clarke (Carlisle), Nathan (Cameron) and Lee (Nicholls),” said Akinfenwa.

“Over the two games they were colossal, all three of them, and we have got a really good team spirit and we take that out there.

“I am struggling a bit with injury, but looking back at those three, they spur you on and inspire you to do better.

“They make you want to keep going.”

Akinfenwa has been hampered in recent weeks by a hamstring problem that affects his back, but he is confident he will be 100 per cent for Wembley.

Asked if the injury will affect his chances of playing against Bradford, Akinfenwa said: “I hope not. It was at its worst on Thursday, and I got through that.

“I have got through both games, Wembley is two weeks away and I am sure I will be tip-top by then.

“I will be cool for it, I have two weeks now to get fit and I am sure I will be.”