CAMPBELL HURTS COBBLERS CHASE
JON Brady has insisted his side will bounce back after Northampton Town’s push for automatic promotion suffered a blip with defeat at Rochdale.
Tahvon Campbell’s goal after 53 minutes separated the two sides, but the home side were never really threatened after edging ahead.
Brady’s men remain second in the table, despite defeat and the boss insists they will not dwell on a poor performance with so much to play for.
He said: “We have to really be at the top of our game and we have more quality in our team than we showed today.
“We never tested their goalkeeper near enough to what we should have – it wasn’t good enough offensively.
“We don’t want to be hanging on, we want to drive on. We have no time to get down about this game, we have to dust ourselves down.
“I think the players are more disappointed with themselves because they have played their way into a hell
of an opportunity to achieve something this season where people didn’t expect us to be.”
Rochdale created the best chance of the first half when Matt Done crossed for Jimmy Keohane to fire goalward, only for Liam Roberts to pull off a good save.
The Cobblers hit back when Jon Guthrie launched into an impressive run forward, powering through Dale’s midfield from his defensive position and shooting narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Northampton threatened again when Mitch Pinnock fed Ali Koiki on the left, but his firm effort was kept out by a commanding Jay Lynch.
Dale eventually broke the deadlock after 53 minutes, with Max Clark turning Alex Newby’s cross into the sixyard area to allow Campbell to pounce from close range.
The Cobblers struggled to create any openings, with Guthrie’s 30-yard drive in the 85th minute underlining their inability to get in behind the home side’s back-line.
Dale could have added a second with Liam Kelly unmarked at the back post, but he smashed a shot high over the crossbar when he should have at least tested Northampton keeper Roberts. Rochdale boss Robbie Stockdale was pleased with his side’s showing against a team high up the table.
He said: “I thought we played well. I loved our control without the ball as well – we had some good moments controlling the game while they had the ball.
“It’s not easy paying when you are a little bit short on confidence. The first pass you don’t make you can come in for criticism.
“But we started the game well and the fans got behind that, so it was really important that we build on what turns out to be a really good point on Tuesday against Port Vale.
“Now we’ve won this one it’s been a really good week for us with a seven-point return.”