Chris Doig is convinced Northampton can improve their home form to make a concerted push for automatic promotion this season. The 24-year-old, who is the latest League Two winner of the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award, linked up with the Cobblers in the summer after seven years at Nottingham Forest. He had a loan spell at Sixfields previously during Colin Calderwood's first season in charge and the club reached the play-off semi finals. They repeated that feat again last season and bookmakers installed them as pre-season favourites to make it third time lucky. However, while Town are in the play-off zone, their home form has proved to be their Achilles heel with only three victories at Sixfields all season. The crucial Christmas programme is looming on the horizon for Doig and company and the centre half spoke to givemefootball's Ian Clarkson and he sees a bright future ahead.
Q:
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO WIN THE PFA FANS' PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR NOVEMBER?
A:
I had heard of the award and I was honoured and surprised to win it. Either the fans think I have had a good month or one of my friends has been voting for me loads of times! In all seriousness, it is nice to be recognised for your performances on the pitch and I didn't expect to receive it so it was a bit of a shock when I heard.
Q:
WHAT PERSUADED YOU TO JOIN NORTHAMPTON IN THE SUMMER?
A:
I was fortunate to have quite a few offers in the summer when I left Nottingham Forest and some of them were at a higher level than League Two. I had been on loan at Northampton before and the opportunity to work with Colin Calderwood again was the deciding factor. There is a really good bunch of players at Sixfields as well and the coaching staff and training sessions have been top class. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.
Q:
ARE THERE EXPECTATIONS FOR AUTOMATIC PROMOTION THIS SEASON?
A:
We haven't had that little bit of luck you need as, quality wise, we have some good players for this division. The supporters' expectations are high, as are the players and we want to secure promotion as well. Colin took over two years ago when I had my loan spell here and he turned them round from a pretty bad position to reaching the play-offs and losing on penalties. The lads lost in the play-offs again last year and people are hoping we can go one stage further this time around.
Q:
WOULD YOU EXPECT TO BE HIGHER IN THE TABLE?
A:
We need to get into the top three at some stage and even if it is towards the end of the season then that is okay. We should have more points on the board than we have as we have drawn far too many games. If we can start converting those draws into wins then we will be right up there challenging.
Q:
WHY HAS THE HOME FORM BEEN PATCHY THIS SEASON – IS IT BECAUSE EXPECTATION LEVELS ARE SO HIGH?
A:
It is a combination of supporters' expectations, which are justifiably high, and the fact that teams are coming to Sixfields and defending in numbers. They will put lots of men behind the ball and try and his us on the counter-attack which can be hard to break down and very frustrating. Our away from has been better as teams are more open on their own patch and that has helped us. However, it is up to us break teams down more and do better at home.
Q:
WHAT IS YOUR FESTIVE FIXUTRE PROGRAMME LIKE?
A:
We have got Notts County, Mansfield and a big local derby against Peterborough to finish of 2005. Then we have three games against sides in the top four, Rochdale, Wycombe and Leyton Orient. It is a tough programme but we will be looking to win as many of those games as we can to start putting pressure on the clubs above us.
