Tom Pope is hoping to erase the disappointment of our mid-week defeat to Carlisle United by helping us pick up another useful away win at Northampton Town this Saturday. The Alex won 2-1 at the Sixfields Stadium last season thanks to a brace from Luke Varney, and a repeat of that success would go some way to easing the pressure at the bottom of the league. It is all so very tight as last weekend's results have shown. Crewe fought gallantly for a point at Elland Road, Leeds, but found themselves back in the relegation due to wins for Gillingham and Millwall.

Although you cannot help but to look at others results at this time of the season, Pope and the rest of the lads are just concentrating on what needs to be achieved within our camp. That objective remains 50+ points as quickly as possible.

Tom told the club's official web-site: "We went into the Carlisle match full of confidence after what has been a decent little run for us. We went into the game looking for three points and maybe if we had taken a couple of our chances we would have done, but we didn't take them and that is why we are struggling at the bottom of the table.

"Byron (Moore) is still a young lad and it is his first full season at this level, so no-one is blaming him for the defeat on Tuesday. It is a team effort and I think he had just one of those nights. He would score them all day long in training, but on the night it just didn't go for him in front of goal. That can happen.

"I didn't think there was much between the two teams, but Carlisle won the game and that is why they are in the top two and we are in the bottom four. They took their chance on the night and to be fair defended well.

"I didn't really get a chance when I came on. If I do get a chance to play and I get a chance in the game then I am still confident that I can score a few goals. All we can do now is take what we have learnt from Tuesday and target three points on Saturday at Northampton. "