Steve Evans insisted his Stevenage side should have scored more as they beat Northampton 3-0 to remain in the League One play-off spots.
Jamie Reid put the hosts ahead after just two minutes before Jordan Roberts’ 42nd-minute cross evaded Max Thompson to double the lead.
Elliott List added a third midway through the second half to seal all three points against a Cobblers side who failed to have a shot on target.
Evans said: “If we are being honest Northampton got away lightly today, but it is a really good side with really good players. We tried getting some (of them) ourselves.
“We are pleased we have won the game and the supporters were entitled to that at home but we have seen a real good performance.”
Stevenage remain two points ahead of seventh but they are now only two points behind Peterborough in the automatic promotion places.
Evans, who led Boro to promotion from League Two last season, added: “We spoke to the boys about the period over Christmas and with the win today it leaves us a point behind where we expected but sometimes performances over the long period are good.
“There is no disputing that when you hear the Barnsley staff saying that (Boro’s 2-1 defeat at Oakwell on Saturday) was the best away performance of the season, we carried that forward today into this performance.
“Coming away from Barnsley they knew what they deserved but what you have with this group is fantastic and they work hard by backing each other.
“We shouldn’t forget that if we get a result here on Friday against Cambridge, we go into next year in the top four and that was unthinkable back in June and certainly unthinkable back in March.”
Northampton struggled after going behind early, and it took until the second half until they had a shot, which was a speculative free-kick from distance.
Northampton manager Jon Brady said: “It was hugely disappointing the goals we conceded, and especially conceding early on in the manner that we did.
“You can’t give the first goal away like that, it wasn’t good defending. The second one was a fluke goal that just loops in and again that shouldn’t happen.
“The third is also bad defending and put us on the back foot.
“It gave us a hugely tough afternoon and we will have to gain perspective and it is a difficult Christmas schedule and I have to manage bodies.
“Today wasn’t a good performance. I feel sorry for the fans but the performance wasn’t to the standard we require.”
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