Bristol Rovers promotion rival boss prediction as Gas wait on slip up

Northampton Town manager Jon Brady says his side doesn’t deserve the plaudits yet as they go into the final game of the League Two season.

The Cobblers are in the driving seat for an automatic promotion spot, as they are currently in third, five goals ahead of Bristol Rovers.

Northampton, who were relegated last season along with the Gas, have been in the promotion picture all season whilst Joey Barton’s side have only emerged since the turn of the New Year.

But despite being in a favourable position, their manager believes that no one is getting complacent given the task in hand on the final day of the regular campaign.

A defeat for Port Vale and a draw for Mansfield Town, along with a positive result on Saturday, has put them in to the position as favourites with one game left to play.

Northampton are on a good run of form and are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning three of them, including a draw against Exeter.

“The results on Monday have given us two opportunities,” he said.

“If we win against Barrow potentially we go up automatically and if we don’t the other route is the play-offs.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get into this position but the real time for reflection is when the season is done and dusted,” he said in an interview with the clubs official website.

“There are no pats on the back right now because we still have a job to do."

Northampton are up in Cumbria, where they face Barrow at Holker Street, knowing that a win should be enough to earn them an immediate return to English football’s third tier.

But in what would be a dramatic turn of events, they could secure a narrow one goal victory and Rovers win by six goals or more, which would see the West Country club overtake them.

There is some optimism for fans of Bristol Rovers, as despite the lowly position of the Bluebirds they have secured some impressive results.

Barrow have won their last two matches, beating former league leaders Forest Green Rovers and play-off hopefuls Sutton United, whilst also losing narrowly to Port Vale.

They have however lost their last two matches, which were at first-placed Exeter City and Swindon Town, who currently occupy the last play-off spot.

The Northampton boss is all too aware of the threat Barrow can offer and expects a difficult match under former Hull City boss Phil Brown.

Brady said: “First and foremost we have to give the opposition this Saturday the highest respect and we know we are in for a hell of a game up there.

“They have picked up some terrific results and under Phil Brown they seem to be a lot stronger and more resilient.

“It’s going to be a really tough game and that’s how we are approaching it.

“We know it will be a tough challenge but we believe that if we are at our best it’s a challenge we can rise to.