NORTHAMPTON were among the pre-season tips for the League Two promotion race after a summer overhaul.

But, like City, they have made a slow start in the first month.

Keith Curle’s Cobblers currently sit in 17th spot, a point behind the Bantams, with two wins from the opening six games.

Both, though, have come against sides also expected to be up there in the mix.

Andy Williams returned to his old club to score the only goal at Swindon and added another two last weekend when they claimed a first home win against Plymouth.

Curle still feels his side need to be more ruthless and stop “over-playing”.

He said: “We still need the squad to get the mentality where we want to play but we also want an end product and we want to put the ball in the box.

"We don't need to dress it up and we don't need to take the extra pass. We need to be clinical and we need to be a threat in the final third.

"You have to be ruthless when you're playing against good teams.”

Deadline-day signing Michael Harriman is expected to make his Northampton debut at Valley Parade at left back.

Harriman was in the Wycombe team that went up from League Two in 2017 but was released at the end of last season as part of budget cuts.

He contacted Curle himself to ask if he could train with Northampton – and impressed enough to earn a short-term contract until January.

Harriman’s arrival off-sets the injury blow to Ryan Watson, who broke his collarbone in the midweek loss to Peterborough in the Leasing.com Trophy.

Central midfielder Watson, who has been one of Northampton's form players, now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after surgery.

Curle will also monitor Matty Warburton after he came off against Posh with a nasty gash on the ankle.