BRADY DEMANDS A 'GREAT DISPLAY'

A YEAR on from missing out on automatic promotion in such agonising and dramatic fashion, Northampton have the chance to finally seal their return to League One.

- Kirstie Dash

Jon Brady’s side were denied third spot in scarcely believable fashion at the end of the 2021-22 campaign as Bristol Rovers pipped the Cobblers to promotion on goals scored.

Northampton won 3-1 at Barrow on the final day, but Joey Barton’s side gazumped them by the barest of margins thanks to their 7-0 thrashing of relegated Scunthorpe.

Rovers struck five times in a remarkable second half to make up their goal difference deficit on the Cobblers, which had been five at the start of the day.

Northampton spoke to the EFL about Scunthorpe’s team selection, but accepted a result that condemned them to the play-offs, which ended at the first hurdle with a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Mansfield.

It was a galling end to a memorable season at Sixfields, making their response this term all the more impressive.