WILDER: WE’LL BE CHAMPIONS
MANAGER Chris Wilder admitted he won’t lose sleep over Northampton Town’s less than convincing win over Newport County because they’re destined to become League Two champions.
John Marquis’ 22nd-minute strike was enough to move Wilder’s men 13 points clear of second-placed Oxford United and a mammoth 17 clear of fourthplaced Plymouth Argyle.
And the Northampton boss says he couldn’t care less that the visitors dominated proceedings at Sixfields, missing a hatful of chances to grab a point or more.
“We didn’t deserve it but I don’t care,” said Wilder. “There’s no such thing as a bad win and I don’t care at all because we’ll be in League One next season.
“Some other teams in this league can play fantastic football but they might win one week and get beat the next and they’ll be playing League Two football next year. Or they’ll be in the play-offs at best.We’ll be champions and we’ll be in League One.”
Scott Boden, Alex Rodman and John-Christophe Ayina all could have scored before Marquis broke the deadlock midway through the first half.
It came from a sublime Ricky Holmes slide rule pass that bamboozled Newport defender Ben Davies and allowed Brendan Moloney to cross from the right.
Lee Martin held the ball up well and Marquis smashed it into the roof of the net from eight yards out, giving visiting keeper Joe Day no chance.
Ayina missed another golden opportunity before the interval and Medy Elito crashed a shot onto the bar 20 minutes from time as Newport tried and failed to get level in the contest.
“Credit to the opposition,” said Wilder. “They’ve not got a lot to play for and they came and knocked the ball about well.
“But we took our chance and we’ve won another game of football, which isn’t a bad habit to have.”
Newport manager Warren Feeney was full of Good Friday frustration after watching his side dominate against the champions-elect but come away with nothing.
“I’m gutted for the players,” said the Exiles boss.“Northampton will win the league easy and smash the 100 points-barrier and I don’t think you’ll see the champi- ons outplayed like we did, bar the first 20 minutes.
“It’s very fine margins. We didn’t track a runner for the goal but apart from that we had the best chances and really had a go in the second half.
“Chris Wilder is a fantastic manager and he said we didn’t deserve that.
“They’re romping this league and to come here and play like that I’m gutted for the players.
“They’re an honest bunch and they’re certainly playing for me at the moment.
“I’m just disappointed but at the end of the day it’s about taking your chances and we didn’t do
that. “Despite our performance the scoreline says 1-0 to Northampton and that’s annoying.”