JOHN Coleman is ready for a game of "cat and mouse" as they prepare to host Northampton Town tomorrow – the second of three successive home games.

While the Reds brushed Bristol Rovers aside in the first of them – cruising to a 6-1 win on Tuesday night – Coleman will take nothing for granted when another struggling side in Northampton come to town.

The Cobblers are currently 21st in League One and without a win in five games while the Reds are just outside the play-offs on goal difference alone.

But Coleman knows that stands for little if they don’t prepare the right way against Keith Curle’s side.

“There has been a lot of changes in their personnel since we last played them,” Coleman told the club website.

“We have to keep preparing for the next team, it’s a progression thing. One team will play differently than the other.

“Keith has a lot of experience in this league, and in higher and lower leagues, he knows what he is doing.

“He will be aware of the way we are playing and will be coming up with a plan to try and stop us and exploit what he deems to be our weaknesses. It’s a game of cat and mouse and you need a bit of luck along the way.

“It’s a balancing act between not getting carried away and keeping the players high and confident. We need to keep them wanting more and if you enjoy doing something, you want to do it more.”

Deadline-day signings Adam Phillips and David Morgan will be eligible to play while Coleman will be hoping that Michael Nottingham and midfielder Matt Butcher – who both came off with injuries on Tuesday – will be available.

Ross Sykes, Mo Sangare and Kaba Lamine Sherif are out with long-term injuries while Gary Roberts – who returned to the Wham Stadium during the January transfer window – and Ryan Cassidy are both short-term casualties.