But the Cobblers boss confirmed it will now be 'very difficult' for his players to finish in the top six in Coca-Cola League One.

Gray takes his players to Cheltenham Town tomorrow in a game that could represent a drink in the last chance saloon as far as the fading hopes of promotion are concerned.

The Cobblers go to Whaddon Road missing four centre-halves – including club captain Chris Doig – and have the odds very much stacked against them.

But Gray has refused to call time on the play-off bid, although he is aware only a win will do tomorrow.

"If you look at the league table it's going to be very difficult for us," he said.

"Leeds have got games in hand and so have one or two others but until it's mathematically impossible we won't give up.

"We need to get three points at Cheltenham, that's for sure. If we do that then we can continue having these conversations about the play-offs.

"Until somebody tells me that we can'tfinish into the top six, no matter what we do, I'll still keep believing we can make it."

The two defeats over the Easter weekend have left the club's play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

Gray feels the losses to Nottingham Forest and Carlisle United– two of the best teams in the division – came as a result of some key players losing form at exactly the wrong time.

"The performances were more disappointing than the results," he said.
"We're at the business end of the season and yes it is all about results but at the same time we didn't play particularly well in either game over Easter.

"The Carlisle game was on for us to win and maybe we were just lacking that little bit of belief to kick on and go and beat them.

"I think one or two players' form has just dropped off recently and that's what has cost us.

"It was amazing that before the Forest game we were talking about the play-offs when this time last season we were talking about fighting to stay in the division.

"So that shows how far we've come."

With only Liam Dolman and Mark Little to choose from for the central defensive positions, Gray revealed one of Brett Johnson or Doig could be on the bench tomorrow after they returned to training.

"It's amazing how the injuries have gone," he said. "People were saying to me not so long ago that I had a lot of defenders and now we're down to just four.

"We're not too far away with Chris Doig and Brett Johnson and we've got a friendly arranged for them to play in next week.

"But if they come through training okay then I might have to take one of them to sit on the bench at Cheltenham."