NORTHAMPTON boss Jon Brady praised his players after reigniting their automatic promotion bid with a win at Boundary Park.

Oldham Athletic's survival bid was dealt a blow as a 2-0 win for Northampton boosted their promotion hopes.

Goals in either half for Jon Guthrie and Louis Aperre pushed the Cobblers up to fourth and sent Latics back into the bottom two.

And after falling off the pace in the race for the top three with just one win from four, Brady was pleased to get back on track.

“It’s a good win for us here of course,” he said.

“I thought we had a legitimate goal ruled out early in the game, but the lads showed a real strength of character to bounce back from that and go on and secure a well-deserved win.

“We did have a bit of luck with the first goal, but we’ll take it.

“To a man the lads were excellent.

“We controlled possession throughout, we created lots of chances, but it is just about getting the three points.

“Consistency is key in our last four games now.

“If we can replicate this performance in all of our remaining games, we’ll give ourselves a chance of gaining automatic promotion.

“It’s all about the next game and then the next, and if the lads just keep believing, then hopefully we’ll get there.”

And Brady urged his players to back up their performance when they host Harrogate on Easter Monday.

“We have to back it up, but there are no easy games in this league,” he continued.

“Harrogate are a good side and Simon Weaver is an excellent manager, but with our support behind us, hopefully they’ll drive us on.

“They can spark us into life, and then hopefully we can spark them into life.”

Oldham ended the game with 10 men after captain Carl Piergianni was sent off in the 88th minute for an adjudged elbow on Guthrie, of which Brady said: “It was dangerous, but that’s all I’ll say until I see it again.”