Rose hails Cobblers strike partner Ashley-Seal

Ashley-Seal was outstanding against the Gills, causing the visiting defence all sorts of problems with his pace, physicality and direct running.

Those attributes were highlighted in the 35th-minute when he picked the ball up 30 yards out, turned and ran at the Gills defence, before firing in a low shot that was saved, only for the rebound to fall to Rose who hammered the ball home to make it 2-0 to Town.

The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of what he is capable of before, but Tuesday was probably his most complete performance for the club since he joined from Molineux in the summer.

The only thing that is missing now for Ashley-seal is that first League goal for the club, with his three to date this season all coming in the EFL Trophy, but Rose is sure that is just around the corner.

"I thought Benny was brilliant, and he was really unlucky not to get a goal," said Rose, whose goal was his fourth of the season.

"For my goal he has taken a good shot and the keeper has pulled off a very good save.

"I thought Benny was a real thorn in their defence, and his performance was very good. I am sure his goal will come."

Ashley-Seal's partnership with Rose has the ingredients of being a really exciting one, with the pair's work-rate and attitude ensuring the opposition never get a minute's rest, and then when they get on the ball the pair have the ability and tricks to make things happen.

Ashley-Seal's run and shot set up Rose for his goal against the Gills, with Rose himself having won the penalty for Town's first, another direct run into box being illegally halted.

The former Mansfield Town man could easily have added to his tally in the second half as well, but he was pleased with his night's work.

"It was good to score, and it was good to get the penalty for Hosk (Sam Hoskins) as well, but I was a bit disappointed not to get the second goal where the guy has cleared it off the line," he said.

"But the main thing is we have got the three points and we can now move on to the next one."

The win was a crucial one for the Cobblers, who went into the Gills clash having lost four league one matches in a row, and having been smacked 4-0 in their prevous two encounters against Oxford United and Lincoln City.

That was a run that had seen the team drop into the bottom four, but Tuesday's win saw them back up to 19th, and Rose admitted that is a much-needed boost going into 2021.

"It was a good win against a good side, and I think we needed that off the back of two 4-0 defeats," said the 27-year-old.

"It was a great reaction from us, and I thought every man performed well and it was good to get the three points.

"It has been a tough year, it has been difficult without the fans, and it was sad not to see them there on Tuesday.

"But we got the three points which we knew we needed to get, it was a massive win for us."