Northampton Town must heed Kevin Nolan's supporter warning | OneFootball

Too early to declare safety warns Cobblers boss

Northampton Town won back-to-back games for the first time this season when they beat Mansfield Town 1-0 away from home on Friday evening.

Cameron McGeehan’s second-half goal helped Cobblers to a huge away triumph despite Sam Hoskins’ missed penalty before the break.

Town’s form has taken an upturn under new manager Kevin Nolan after long-serving former boss Jon Brady left his post with his resignation in early December.

Cobblers have won three, drawn three and lost three since the ex-Notts County boss took over, a run of form that should see them safe in League One come May if they continue on their current projection.

After another impressive win on Friday night, which followed completing the double over Huddersfield Town six days prior, Nolan was met with chants of "We are staying up!” by the travelling Cobblers faithful. Still, Nolan thinks the job is far from done and the club would be smart to heed his warning.

Kevin Nolan's warning for Northampton fans

16 fixtures still remain in the League One season and with many rival teams having games in hand on Cobblers, while he appreciates the support, Nolan does not want fans getting ahead of themselves.

He told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo: "It does my head in when the fans sing 'we are staying up'! I don't know why and I'm not having a go because they were fantastic but we've got so many games left and there's a lot of the season still to go. If we had two games to go, then fair enough! But there's a third of the league to go.

"But the fans were brilliant and they've been brilliant since I came in. The wind was blowing right into them and they must have been freezing but I'm delighted that they are going home with three points."

Kevin Nolan is right to send Cobblers warning

Football is never plain sailing, especially when in a relegation dogfight, and Nolan’s comments reflect this.

While Cobblers have hit a great patch of form in recent weeks, even with some players still yet to return from injury, they must remember how they got into their situation and that survival is still far from confirmed.

Nolan knows full well that football is full of ups and downs and his comments to supporters prove the experience and professionalism he possesses from his time in the game as a player, coach and manager.

Having a manager with such level-headiness can only be a positive for Town as they look to navigate their way away from the League One drop zone.

Northampton still have 16 games to play in League One, so attention turns to the visit of high-flyers Wrexham on Saturday.

Nolan’s side still have notable clashes with strugglers Bristol Rovers, Exeter City, Cambridge United and Peterborough United to turn their attention to before they can get too ahead of themselves. Cobblers also host Shrewsbury and travel to Crawley in the two games before the season curtails at home to Wigan.

While his comments are unlikely to stop Cobblers fans from showing their elation at the side's current run, like he said himself, staying up is certainly not a foregone conclusion and his side must remember that.