Northampton Town manager Kevin Nolan believes Nene’s derby against Peterborough United this weekend provides the perfect opportunity for his side to “make everyone believe again”.
The Cobblers remain 22nd in the League One table after Tuesday’s home defeat to bottom side Port Vale, who are led by his predecessor Jon Brady, a display that drew boos from some home fans.
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They have won just once in the last 14 games and back-to-back home defeats to Leyton Orient and Vale have increased the pressure on the former Notts County boss.
“I took over when we were in a precarious position last year when everyone thought we were going to go down. We were favorites to go down this year and we knew we were in for a tough time,” Nolan told BBC Radio Northampton.
“When the (number of) games calm down a little bit and we can work with them and get people back (from injury), we really believe we can turn a corner and hopefully it will be there on Saturday.
“We know the atmosphere will be really good and we hope we can turn a derby day match into a victory, get everyone back on track and make everyone believe again.”
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Northampton lost 2-1 at Peterborough in December, although they took the lead through Jack Perkins, but badly need three points at Sixfields on Saturday as all the clubs around them have at least a game in hand.
And they have the distraction of an EFL Trophy semi-final at Luton Town next Wednesday with a place at Wembley on the line.
Nolan wants more positivity from his side – the division’s second top scorers – as they attempt to return to the form that put them mid-table following a 3-1 win over AFC Wimbledon on December 19.
“My game was about getting in the box and scoring goals and that’s where I want to play, at the forefront,” he said.
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“We have to take everything apart, exactly what we did when we first came into the building, and get back to basics.
“We have to stay together, fight together, everything I was known for (as a player). I’m not going to hide it, I know a lot about football and I know that when things aren’t going well, people are going to take it out on you.
“We have to keep believing. There is nothing we can do now in the transfer windows or to attract people. Sometimes you keep digging when you don’t need to, but we have to overcome that and fight our way out.”
