Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd admits last week’s defeat to Cheltenham hit him hardest this season.
Cobblers were coasting at 2-0 early on at Sixfields but ended up on the end of a 3-2 defeat to the third-placed Robins – Town’s third defeat on the bounce.
The manner of defeat has given Boothroyd plenty of food for thought ahead of Saturday’s trip to Torquay, but the manager insists he and the team will learn from a defeat which he called ‘a slap in the face.’
“It took me longer to get over Cheltenham than any other game this season,” said Boothroyd.
“One reason because I think if you come into a game and you’re miles off your opposition and they’re in the top three.
“And you know you’re just going to try and work to get a point and that would be a massive result for you. Which is where we were this time last year.
“But now, we’re not quite there, but we’re not too far away and results like that stick in your throat.
“It’s definitely onwards and upwards. “It’s been a bit of a slap in the face, but lessons have to be learned.”
Cobblers have found the net in their last eight outings, but it’s at the back where the problems are arising, leaking eight in the last three.
“I thought we just played football on Saturday,” Boothroyd added.
“And if you just play football it’s playground stuff. You win 4-3, you lose 4-3, 3-2 however that goes.
“I don’t want to play football like that. I want to be professional I want them to entertain, I want to score goals and I want to win. Every day has to be a good defending day and I didn’t think we did that at all.”
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