Under pressure Sampson vows to concentrate on league

Having spectacularly defeated Liverpool in the last round of the Carling Cup, the Cobblers were reminded of their League Two status as Ipswich beat them comfortably in the fourth round of the competition.

Their attention now must turn to their league campaign, which could be best described as completely disastrous.

They’ve lost their last five league games, including a 3-1 defeat away at newly-promoted Oxford at the weekend and a pitiful display against bottom side Hereford, where they threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3, and they are now firmly in the bottom two.

Despite the team’s horrendous run, manager Ian Sampson remains confident the Cobblers can pull themselves away from the drop zone.

“If they keep believing in each other we will be okay and I am confident that we can get out of the predicament we are in the league,” he said.

Though clearly proud of his team’s cup run, he went on to say that the time has come to focus fully on the league.

“It has been a great cup run. The win at Liverpool will live long in the memory for everyone connected with the club. But livelihoods depend on results at this club now and it is time to put that right.”

Sampson’s first task will be to record a win at home against recently relegated Gillingham at Sixfields this weekend.

This will not be easy as the Gills are unbeaten in their last three games and will have top scorer Cody McDonald to call on for the game.

The Cobblers will hope to have Leon McKenzie back to bolster their attacking prowess after he scored a hat-trick against Hereford and will hope to be among the goals again against the Gills.

Northampton are 7/5 to record their first win in seven, while the Gills are 9/5 to continue their recovery.

McDonald is 25/1 to be the top League Two scorer, follow the full League Two market here.