WEMBLEY 2020: 'Strong mentality' will stand Cobblers in good stead for play-off final

Experienced wing-back Nicky Adams hopes the squad's 'strong mentality' and close bond will stand the Cobblers in good stead when they take on Exeter City in Monday's League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Adams is not the only one to have spoken of the unity and togetherness within the current Cobblers squad this season, with manager Keith Curle also keen to stress that it has been a team effort to reach the play-off final.

That unity was on full display against Cheltenham Town earlier in the week when they overturned a 2-0 deficit by winning 3-0 at Whaddon Road in the semi-final.

"I touched on it before the semi-final - you don't finish in the top seven if you haven't got a good set of characters and a strong mentality and the gaffer instils that in us," said Adams.

"It's just that belief that it's never over until it's over. We've been confident all season. There have been spells and patches where things haven't gone for us but we've been more than a match for any of the teams in the top seven.

"We know it'll be difficult on Monday. It's a final at Wembley and anything can happen, but we'll make sure we're ready and we'll give it everything we've got."

Town's onfield captain Charlie Goode felt the club's pre-season trip to Spain was when the squad began to bond.

He said: "In my opinion, the day we went to Spain for the first time as a group of players, that's where we really started to bond and ever since we've been such a close group.

"We get on so well, on and off the pitch, and I think you could see that the other night because some players who have been a massive part of the team all season didn't get the chance to come on in the two games.

"But we're still all together as a group, no-one has let their heads go down, and we all want the same and now we've got to produce one last push to get promotion."

Elaborating further on Monday's stunning win, Goode added: "Last Thursday didn't go our way but we turned it around with a special night for the club and now we've got a chance to make it one more special day and achieve what we set out to do. It's one last push.

"I honestly can say as a changing room we really did believe we could do it and that's the main reason why we won. If we didn't believe, I can assure you we wouldn't be sitting here now ready for a play-off final.

"That gives us a lot more momentum going into the game but it's a one-game lottery now. We've got to go and do it all over again."