Northampton boss Kevin Nolan plans to “enjoy the moment” after his team guaranteed League One safety with a 4-1 victory over bottom side Shrewsbury on Easter Monday.
Dara Costelloe’s brace plus a goal apiece for Aaron McGowan and Cameron McGeehan eased the Cobblers to all three points which, coupled with defeat for Bristol Rovers, officially confirmed their place in League One for another season.
Nolan said: “We’re going to have a couple of days off and I’m going to spend a bit of time with my family because I want people to enjoy the moment.
“I’m happy with the performance and the goals. I felt we could have put them under more pressure in the second half than what we did because we allowed them to play their way and get into the game.
“The third goal kills them off and we get the fourth but it was disappointing to lose one right at the end because I wanted a clean sheet, but that’s just me.
“I’ve said to the lads we need to have that ruthless edge, but I thought it was a good performance. Shrewsbury have drawn at Lincoln and Wycombe in their last two away games so it was never going to be a gimme.
“I know they went down the other day but that can take away the tension and give you freedom, but I thought we handled it well. There were moments where we needed a bit of luck and someone needed to put in a block.
“But I thought we were well worth the win and I’m delighted with the win and I’m delighted for the players because they’ve put in a lot of hard work.”
John Marquis scored a stoppage-time consolation at Sixfields but it was another miserable day for the already-relegated Shrews.
Manager Michael Appleton said: “It was a tough day. There were some really, really poor errors at the wrong times.
“We expected a lot of balls into the box, it was a long throw literally every time the ball went out when they were 30 or 40 yards from goal so it was a bit of a throwback, but I thought we dealt with that pretty well for most of the time.
“I didn’t feel we were under pressure or stressed in any way, shape or form but we didn’t do our jobs properly for the first goal and I don’t have to say too much on the second one.
“Then, in the second half, when we were on top of the game and they were getting frustrated, we gave another comical goal away, which just makes it very difficult.
“I’m trying not to be too angry and I have to be careful what I say because there’s still two games to play. We have to find a way to be well-organised for our trip to Barnsley.”
Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his dogged Dundee United side following the 2-1 comeback win over Aberdeen which clinched fourth place and a European spot.The Terrors, who returned to the William Hill Premiership this season, had lost their four post-split matches going into the final fixture against the Dons, who were two points ahead and looking in fine fettle when Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels score...
Barry Ferguson was left infuriated by one of the worst decisions he has ever seen and called for the introduction of goal-line technology after Rangers were on the wrong end of a pivotal first-half call in their season-concluding 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.With Gers leading through an early Cyriel Dessers strike, Nico Raskin looked to have put them two ahead in the 15th minute but Hibs defender Ro...
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes the toughness of his side has driven them to the League Two play-off final after they defeated Notts County 1-0 at Plough Lane.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the Dons a 2-0 aggregate victory that was as deserved as it was hard-earned.The South London outfit have not let in a goal in the last three games, and further demonstrated why their defe...
Dundee United clinched a European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place in the William Hill Premiership with a stunning 2-1 comeback win.Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game.United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher...
Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting William Hill Premiership campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through top scorer Cyriel Dessers and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs ...
James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons.Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the William Hill Premiership trophy to his team-mates ahead of Callum McGregor lifting it for the fourth year r...
AFC Wimbledon secured their place in the League Two play-off final as they defeated Notts County 2-0 on aggregate.An early strike by Josh Neufville gave the south London side a 1-0 second-leg victory at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.The Dons will face Walsall at Wembley on Monday, May 26 for a place in League One.With veteran striker David McGoldrick ruled out because of injury, and Alassana Jatt...
David Martindale believes the pressure is off his Livingston side after they booked their place in the Premiership play-off final with a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle.The Lions progressed 4-0 on aggregate, securing a second 2-0 win with Jamie Brandon’s opener added to by Stevie May’s stunning half-volley.They will now face either Dundee or Ross County over two legs, with the...
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca pointed to Marc Cucurella’s Barcelona connections after the defender headed the only goal against Manchester United to keep his side’s Champions League hopes in their own hands.The 26-year-old got on the end of Reece James’ cross in the 71st minute to power home his seventh goal of the season and rescue the Blues just as two vital points looked to ...
Walsall boss Mat Sadler said guiding the Saddlers to a play-off final is the proudest moment of his footballing career after they completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Chesterfield.Late goals from Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi – with an Armando Dobra consolation for the Spireites in between – earned Walsall a 2-1 victory on the night.And it provided a measure of redemption for a side wh...
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