So the big attendance didn’t quite materialise but if the Cobblers produce many more results like this one the bumper gates will soon be back at Sixfields.
The 4,000-odd crowd was a pretty good one for the win over Morecambe once all the factors had been taken into consideration.
Free Champions League football on television and the prospect of a cold evening (although it was actually quite mild on Tuesday night) have been the regular enemies of league two clubs trying to get people through the turnstiles on Tuesday nights this season.
But if the team continues to win matches such matters will be trivial.
Everyone knows the only way to guarantee packed houses in football is for the team to be picking up victories and scoring goals.
The current side is doing both - their past four matches have generated 13 goals, nine league points and a narrow FA Cup exit on penalties.
Such statistics will lead to bigger crowds, which will lead to more money going into the club and - theoretically - more cash for transfer, signing-on fees and wages.
Better players, basically.
The past two or three years have shown how damaging the negative spiral (poor on-field results, less fans, reduced spending power) have been to the club and it has taken Aidy Boothroyd a full 12 months to get the curvie moving in the other direction.
Nothing has been achieved yet but the manager and his players deserve a lot of credit for getting the group into a position where, even with four first-team players injured, they are in striking distance of the automatic promotion places.
It’s all looking pretty good at Sixfields at the moment and as for the crowds - if you build a great team, they will come.
Match ratings
LEE NICHOLLS
Most of his saves were regulation but moved his feet sharply to get all of his body behind them ...7
BEN TOZER
Was always going to be moved out of the centre of defence with Carlisle coming back to the club and did really well as a right-back at both ends of the field ...8
KELVIN LANGMEAD
Another assured performance from the man who is getting better with every passing game ...7
CLARKE CARLISLE
Survived a sticky moment in the first five minutes but grew into the game and was cutting everything off by the end of it ...7
JOE WIDDOWSON
Blotted his copybook with a booking that will now keep him out of Saturday’s game at Oxford ...7
JAKE ROBINSON
Some very good moments but appears to be trying to force the issue a little too much at times ...7
LEWIS HORNBY
Another good outing, although he began to tire torwards the end. Booking was ludicrous ...7
BEN HARDING
Kept things ticking over in the middle and won plenty of second balls in another solid, fitness-enhancing display ...7
ISHMEL DEMONTAGNAC
Never occupies the middle ground between sublime and ridiculous and scored one of the best free-kicks seen at Sixfields for several years ...7
CHRIS HACKETT
The former Millwall man could probably play in goal and still look great. Is really thriving just behind the striker and teams can’t live with his close control, pace and balance ...8
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA
It’s getting the point that, whenever the Cobblers get a long throw or are in a crossing position, you expect Akinfenwa to get on the end of it - and he usually scores ...7
Substitutes:
CLIVE PLATT (for Akinfenwa, 73mins)
Was mainly left to fend for bits and pieces but did everything he had to do with a assured smoothness ...7
LOUIS MOULT (for Robinson, 78mins)
EMYR HUWS (for Hornby, 78mins)
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