Northampton Town manager Keith Curle insists his side are fully focused ahead of their trip to Leyton Orient on Tuesday. The Cobblers host Derby County in the FA Cup Fourth Round on Friday but Curle highlighted his side are only taking it game by game. Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton “Tuesday is our focus, it’s another opportunity to represent the football club and get three points. The focus from the players and coaching staff is all about Tuesday. After that it goes to the next fixture”.

• Sit 6th on 45 points – eight points off top spot
• Unbeaten in last five – W4  D1
• One defeat in last eight – W5  D2  L1

The Cobblers made it four wins on the bounce with a 4-1 home victory over Morecambe on Saturday. Goals from Paul Anderson, Ryan Watson, Nicky Adams and Chris Lines moved them up to sixth with victory; Aaron Phillips grabbed the consolation goal for Morecambe. Anderson stated to ntfc.co.uk “ it wasn’t going to be easy but we put on a good performance and scored goals at good times. It was a great win, the focus goes to Tuesday and we go again”.

Northampton’s Last Six Results

Saturday’s win moved the Cobblers into the top six for the first time this season and Anderson believes everyone is pulling in the right direction in order to get their target. Northampton sat 17th back in mid October but a win at Orient could move them up to third. Anderson signed a deal until the end of the season last week and is loving his football once again at Sixfields. Speaking to ntfc.co.uk ” it’s been a great week for the club and personally for me. I really believe we are going somewhere, the staff, players and fans are pulling together. We’ve been on a great run and all of us believe we are going right things”.

Form table Since October 18th

• Kept nine league clean sheets – three away
• No clean sheet in last three games
• One in last seven games
• No clean sheet in last six away games and just one in last eight on the road
• Conceded 17/30 league goals after 60th minute

Despite being just 90 minutes away from a potential fifth round FA Cup tie for the first time in 50 years, Curle has praised his side on their mindset on Orient. The 56 year old has won his last two games at Brisbane Road and insists their preparation will stay the same. Speaking to ntfc.co.uk “ credit to the changing room, the focus is on Tuesday and Leyton Orient. Our prep started yesterday with the coaching team and today for the players. All the fundamentals we go through in the prep, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a team at the top, bottom, league above or two leagues above. The format of our prep doesn’t change”.

• Away League Record – P13  W4  D4  L5  F15  A20
• Won last two games
• Lost just one of last four in all competitions – W2  D1 L1
• Only won one of last five away league games – W1  D2  L2
• Not won three away games in a row since February 2016

Victory on Tuesday would make it five straight wins for the Cobblers for the first time since February 2016. However, despite their lowly position Curle is aware that Orient will pose a problem after winning at Sixfields back in October. Speaking to ntfc.co.uk Curle stated “ they are a competitive team, with good ability and a manager who has just been given it on a full time basis. They are a team we know we can compete with. We know their strengths and weaknesses but it is about us getting on the front foot and implementing our game plan”.

• Failed to score in five league games
• Scored in last five games, netting ten in last three games
• Only failed to score in one of last 18 games in all competitions
• Scored in eight of last nine away games
• Netted two or more in 12 of their last 18 games
• Only Swindon (29) have netted more first half goals than Northampton (24)

Team News

Alan McCormack is a doubt following return from injury.  Nicky Adams, Paul Anderson and Vadaine Oliver were all taken off on Saturday and should all start at Brisbane Road.  Keith Curle could name an unchanged side for the third straight game at Orient.

Curle to ntfc.co.uk “ we monitor rest we give the players. The work ethic inside the building is very good. We pay a lot attention on the rest we give the players”

Head to Head – Northampton 30, Draw 21, Leyton Orient 29

Last Meeting – 05/10/2019 – Northampton 0-1 Leyton Orient

The Last Eight Meetings Between Sides

• Northampton have only won one of the last five meetings – W1  D1  L3
• Northampton have only lost one of their last six trips to Brisbane Road – W4  D1  L1
• Four of the last five wins between sides have been by the away side
• Northampton are unbeaten in last six league games at Brisbane Road
• Have only lost one of their last eight league games at Brisbane Road

Last Time Out  – 18/01/2020 – Northampton 4-1 Morecambe

Starting 11 vs Morecambe

Prediction – Leyton Orient 1-2 Northampton