'That was us to a tee' - Rose says Swindon performance shows the way forward for Cobblers

Striker Danny Rose believes the Cobblers' performance in the first-half of Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Swindon Town is the template for how the team should attack every game this season.
Christopher Missilou and Danny Rose scored the goals that secured Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Swindon Town (Pictures: Pete Norton)Christopher Missilou and Danny Rose scored the goals that secured Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Swindon Town (Pictures: Pete Norton)
Christopher Missilou and Danny Rose scored the goals that secured Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Swindon Town (Pictures: Pete Norton)

Town set up their first home Sky Bet League One win of the season as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 28 minutes, with first goals for the club from Christoper Missilou and Rose himself.

It was a dynamic opening 45 minutes, with Rose and Benny Ashley-Seal causing the Robins rearguard all sorts of problems with their pace and willingness to work, and the midfield swarming all over their visitors.

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The Cobblers played some good football as well, playing the ball on the ground and at tempo, and although they did drop off and allow Swindon the time and space to get back into the contest in the second half, the hard work and damage had been done.

Cobblers striker Danny RoseCobblers striker Danny Rose
Cobblers striker Danny Rose

Town return to league action at the PTS Academy Stadium this Saturday when they host Charlton Athletic, and Rose believes how he and his team-mates performed in that first half against Swindon is the right way to play going forward.

"The way we played in the first half is us to a tee," said Rose, who signed for the club from Mansfield Town at the beginning of October.

"If we can do that for 90 minutes, and I know that is going to be hard because of the intensity we are playing at, but if we can do that for the whole 90 minutes then I am sure we will be a threat this season."

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The attacking combination of Rose and the excellent Ashley-Seal was certainly an effective one as they didn't give the Swindon defenders a minute's peace, and there was a noticeable drop off in the team performance when the latter was withdrawn at half-time.

And Rose added: "I think it was a really encouraging performance, and I think we caused them a lot of problems in the first half.

"That wasn't just us up front, I think it was all of us.

"Chris bombed forward and got his deserved goal, and then he has put me through for my goal, and I think to a man we were brilliant in that first half.

"Defensively and attacking wise I think we were absolutely brilliant, and then in the second half we showed a lot of character to claim the three points."

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Lee Bowyer's Charlton, who were relegated from the Championship in the summer, come to the PTS this weekend off the back of two successive wins, having previously endured a bit of a sticky patch as they went five games without a victory.

They are a squad packed full of quality, including Northern Ireland international striker Conor Washington, Wales full-back Chris Gunter and former Scotland international midfielder Andrew Shinnie.

They can also call upon former Crystal Palace and Wigan midfielder Ben Watson and the likes of ex-Peterborough United playmaker Marcus Maddison and proven EFL strikers Omar Bogle and Chuks Aneke.

It is certainly going to be a testing afternoon for the Cobblers, but Rose said: "This is an opportunity we can relish.

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"There are some good teams in league one, there is Charlton, Pompey, Peterborough who we have already played, but if we go out there and catch them on an off day you never know.

"We will go into Saturday's game full of confidence after the three points the other night."