Northampton boss Jon Brady saluted a job well done by his players after they eased to a 3-0 victory over struggling Crawley.
Both teams started the day in the bottom six but there only ever looked to be one winner at Sixfields once Tariqe Fosu fired the Cobblers into a 16th-minute lead.
An own goal from Jay Williams made it two on the half-hour mark in and then Mitch Pinnock’s crisply-finished third sent Crawley packing and completed a good week for Northampton, who are up to 17th in League One after taking seven points from nine.
“I’m really pleased with today and it’s been a good week to pick up seven points from the three games,” said Brady. “We needed to reset after losing against Wrexham and we’ve responded really well.
“I thought we were good out of possession and reduced them to very few chances, I think they had two shots on target and one of those was from distance. That was positive and our shape was strong.
“We worked on set-pieces on Friday and it was brilliant from Tariqe to execute the first goal and give us a head start and I think it was important to score that first goal early because it breathes confidence through the group.
“The way we have played in our shape, in and out of possession, has given the players more belief. The fixtures are coming thick and fast but we’re in good rhythm and I’m really happy with the players and how they have performed in the three games this week.”
Crawley boss Rob Elliot said: “When you give away two poor goals from set-pieces you put yourself on the back foot. We had a warning for the first one but we do the same again for the second corner and the lad finishes it.
“That changes the whole landscape of the game because it allows them to counter-attack, which they did well, and when we did get control, we weren’t able to make more of our chances.
“Goals change games and we need to tighten up in terms of our organisation and our set-up because we did it so well on Tuesday but we haven’t followed it up in a game that I felt was a good opportunity for us.
“It’s really disappointing and when you’re chasing the game you leave yourselves open. We still carried a threat but there wasn’t enough in the final third to work their goalkeeper.
“I don’t know if there were some nerves or a bit of apprehension but I’m not sure why that would be.
“It’s important to reset this week and make sure we understand what we need to get better at.”
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