We had the chances to win by more, says Northampton boss

JON Brady insists he has no regrets over Northampton Town’s inability to score more at Barrow, which ultimately cost them a place in League One, as they were pipped to the post by Bristol Rovers’ incredible 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe United.

Northampton began the day level on points with the Gas but with a five-goal better goal difference - an advantage that was gradually clawed back by Rovers over the course of the afternoon as the Cobblers were unable to add to their three goals at Barrow.

Josh Kay’s strike for the hosts at Holker Street, then further reduced their advantage but the Cobblers didn’t press on the accelerator and it wasn’t until news of Rovers’ seventh came through that they went all our for a fourth, with Sam Hoskins denied a hat-trick goal by Paul Farman.

Brady was adamant a 3-1 win would have been sufficient and any greater margin of victory would have seemed improbable before the game, given the strength of the opposition in front of them since Phil Brown was appointed manager earlier this year.

“Let’s have it right, Barrow played a full-strength side and they played well,” Brady, pictured, told the Northampton Chronicle. “They are a good team. No one, since Phil Brown took them over, has gone 3-0 up at their place. No team has done that.

“I don’t think any team has even beaten at their place since Phil came in so we need to give them the full respect they deserve. They pressed us back but we had gone 3-0 up and we also had our chances near the end as well to win by more. There were a couple of really good chances.”

Although not publicly stating it, and chairman Kelvin Thomas claims he has congratulated Rovers on their promotion, Northampton are aggrieved at the manner in which they finished fourth behind Rovers on goals scored. That primarily lies with the strength of the Scunthorpe team selected by Keith Hill at the Memorial Stadium, which included seven teenagers with veterans Liam Feeney and Anthony Grant remaining on the bench.

Reports on Monday indicated Northampton were ready to submit an official complaint. The tol Post understands that as of yesterday lunchtime, the EFL have received “observations” on the matter from Northampton, but no formal complaint as such - in whatever format - has been received, nor is likely to be.

One of the teenagers in Hill’s line-up, Oliver Lobley who, on debut, scored an own goal and was substituted on 27 minutes, was released by Scunthorpe yesterday.