Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd insists his team did not play ‘anywhere near its potential’ against Exeter City despite them recording their biggest win of the season so far.
And Boothroyd also believes Town can produce a lot more at both ends of the pitch than they have shown so far this campaign.
Goals for Adebayo Akinfenwa, Kelvin Langmead and Alex Nicholls sealed a 3-0 win over Exeter, who went into the game fourth in npower League Two and with four wins out of five on their travels in league football.
But while they were beaten by a very good all-round Northampton performance, manager Boothroyd did not feel it was a vintage display by his players, and thought they never hit top gear during the contest.
“It’s a good win for us but I still don’t think we played anywhere near as well as we can do,” said Boothroyd. “The fact that I’m saying that after we’ve comfortably beaten a very good team like Exeter shows what expectations I have of my players. “I know we will always score goals, from open play out wide and from set-pieces, but it’s vitally important we keep clean sheets.
“That’s what gets you success on a consistent level, and I think that’s our fifth one of the season. “We could could easily have gone behind in the first half before we scored but that’s what Kelvin Langmead and Lee Nicholls are there for.
“And the save from Lee (Nicholls) at 2-0 in the second half was vital against a player like Jamie Cureton who usually doesn’t miss. “There is still a lot more to come from us defensively and offensively. We’re getting better but there is still plenty of work to be done.”
Central to the Cobblers’ victory was on-loan Manchester City midfielder Emyr Huws, who acquitted himself very well on his senior debut and provided the cross for Langmead to score the second goal.
But, in keeping with the tone of his general review of the game, Boothroyd avoided any hyperbole in his assessment of the Welsh under-21 international’s first outing in mens’ football.
“I thought he did okay,” said Boothroyd. “He got a welcome to league two in the first 10 or 15 minutes where he got whacked and at the end of the game he was trying to score a Roy of the Rovers goal, which young players will have a tendency to do.”
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