There will be more ups and downs but Cobblers are on the right track - Hogg

After collecting just six points from their first seven games, Cobblers have picked up seven from the last four, including Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Colchester United on Saturday.

"It wasn't perfect but we were solid and hard to beat and we are progressing in the right direction, that's for sure,” said Hogg. “A win today doesn't change everything, it's not all sunshine and rainbows because you win one game, there's a lot of hard work and a lot of graft and grind still to do.

"We'll have more ups and downs but one thing I do believe in is that hard work will generally get you results. We have to stick with the good things and keep developing them, and also brush up on the areas we need to improve.

"It's up to us to keep believing and we all have to drive that. We have to come back in and keep looking to get better. The biggest thing is the personality of the players to go and perform again.”

Cobblers rarely looked in trouble once 2-0 ahead against Colchester, not that Hogg felt particularly comfortable.

"I'll enjoy my Saturday evening but even at 2-0 with a few minutes left, you're still a bit on edge and you just want the ref to blow his whistle,” he added. “But I thought we were comfortable and we actually had some good chances to go and score more goals.

"Some of those chances won't be recorded on the stats - Owen Dale's one-on-one - but we looked dangerous on the break in the second half.”

Next up is a trip to in-form, free-scoring Accrington Stanley.

"I can't wait for Accrington,” continued Hogg. “I'm really looking forward to going there and testing ourselves against a good League Two team. The manager is a good guy and a good coach and it'll be a really good challenge for us.”