Paddy Madden: Fleetwood aren't favourites against Northampton but we're still targeting play-offs

The Cobblers lost four successive League One games before Christmas, and despite collecting four points from their next two, defeat at Lincoln City on Saturday left them in the bottom four.

“I wouldn’t say we’re favourites,” said striker Madden. “League One is a tough league. They beat us at their place 1-0, so it’s going to be a tough game. I don’t think you go into any game as favourites. That’s just the way League One is – anyone can beat anyone on their day.”

Fleetwood are anxious to taste victory themselves, having done so only once in 10 league outings, and Madden added: “We just have to make sure we approach things properly and build on that point on Saturday at Wigan, who are on a good run.

“We need to take it from there to get the three points that we’re all crying out for.”

Town have slipped to 12th but Madden is still aiming at a play-off push. “Your target should stay the same until it’s out of reach,” he said.

“We’re all winners in this dressing room. We don’t come here to finish mid-table and have a season that peters out. You don’t want that,.

“I’ve been in circumstances like that and those seasons are just boring. We’ll get ourselves safe first and go from there.

“Our target should always be to progress the club and progress ourselves. Top six, that’s where we’re aiming.

“We’ve been inconsistent, if I’m being honest. We’ve never really got that run of results we’ve wanted.

“I think every club goes through spells. We haven’t been terrible either. We’ve won a couple and then lost a couple but we just need to get that consistency going.

“If you’re not taking the three points, then at least make sure you’re taking a point.”

Town have been struggling for goals and the Irishman feels they lost their way after scoring nine in two games in November.

He added: “There were the Bristol Rovers and Plymouth games, where we had a way of playing. We kind of went off that for some reason.

“I think when you get that kind of momentum going you should stick to the same game plan, if I’m being honest, and let teams worry about you.

“We had that, and for whatever reason we just came off it and changed it up.

“When you’re getting a run of form going you just need to do the same thing, I think, and let other teams worry about you.”

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