TONY McMahon is aiming to bring the "angriest man in football" to book at Northampton.

City's trip to Sixfields tomorrow means a reunion for right back McMahon with Cobblers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The pair were Middlesbrough team-mates at the start of McMahon's career – but he remembers the Dutchman well for his striking skills and his temper.

McMahon said: "He was probably the angriest fella I've ever played with. If you didn't cross the ball, he'd certainly let you know it.

"He's got a real stare but he'd shout as well – and you'd always cross it next time.

"Jimmy was really hard on Stewie Downing. Fans used to think it was over the top but he got the best out of him and I'm sure that's what he is doing at Northampton."

McMahon was a teenager breaking into Middlesbrough's team in 2004 when Hasselbaink partnered Mark Viduka up front.

The Bantams defender said: "Jimmy was brilliant with me as a young kid. He wasn't coming to the end of his career but was in his early 30s and was class on and off the field.

"You could see with the way he was with us that he wanted to go into coaching and management later.

"He wanted to get everything out of you. Whether it was him staring or shouting, you just knew what to do the next time. It helped all of us.

"He was absolute class as a player and had the hardest shot I've ever seen. You moved out of the way fast if it was coming towards you.

"He wrote a nice piece in his autobiography about me, saying I was the joker of the group and I'd got a chance.

"I broke into the first team at the time and it meant a lot reading that later. I've still got a copy and he signed it for me."

Northampton were bottom when Hasselbaink succeeded Justin Edinburgh at the end of last month – but they have picked up seven points from his four games in charge.

McMahon is braced for another testing afternoon but is confident City can extend their own five-game unbeaten streak.

"Northampton were struggling at the start of the season and they've had a couple of good results since Jimmy came in," he said.

"He'll pick them up and get the team going – as he did with us all those years ago at Boro.

"Every game is tough but we're in good form. We're feeling really good about ourselves at the minute and playing well.

"We haven't lost away from home and we're all enjoying ourselves. Everyone is together, even the subs, and it's a good place to be at the minute."