Kevin Nolan promises to fight on with Northampton

Under-pressure Northampton manager Kevin Nolan has vowed to keep ‘fighting’ after fans turned on his team during their 1-0 home defeat to bottom of the table Port Vale.

Jayden Stockley scored the game’s only goal right on half-time to leave Northampton with just one win from their last 14 league games.

Several of Nolan’s decisions during the game were jeered by home supporters at Sixfields, and the full-time whistle was also met by a chorus of boos.

“It’s obviously a really tough night,” said Nolan. “It’s pouring for us at the moment. They have one shot on target and it ends up in the back of our net and it’s right on the stroke of half-time.

“We had to chase the game in the second half and there’s a lot of anxiety in the stadium and I thought that went onto the pitch for the players because they stopped putting balls in the box.

“I can’t keep coming here and saying we’ve out-done them here and out-done them there. What we have to do is put the ball in the net and we haven’t done that tonight. We had three good chances tonight and one off the line.

“Those are the moments that go against you when you’re down there but in these times you have to stick together, keep believing and believe that it will turn for you at some point. That’s what we’ve spoken about after the game.

“It wasn’t to be tonight but this is a squad I believe in and we have to fight our way out of it and I’m looking forward to the scrap.”

Port Vale remain at the foot of League One but they have cut the gap to safety to 10 points.

“I thought it was a game between two teams lacking in confidence,” said Vale boss Jon Brady, who was returning to Sixfields for the first time since stepping down as Northampton manager in December 2024.

“I’m happy to get three points and to reduce them to no shots on target throughout the whole match is really pleasing.

“You can see the way they play, their goalkeeper is like a quarterback and every free-kick in their half is delivered right onto the edge of your box, but we stood up to the physical challenge.

“The boys put their bodies on the line and I think our fans can see we’re really fighting.

“Yes, I would have liked more quality on the ball, there was a few bits and pieces in the first half, but it was an excellent finish by Jayden and we closed the game out really well.”