Steven Schumacher admits he’s happy to see the back of the holiday period after his side signed off with a goalless draw.
The Whites’ four games wrapped around Christmas yielded five points from a win and two draws to leave Wanderers off the automatic promotion pace.
And Schumacher admitted his side had not been at their sharpest in a first home game of 2026 as they were unable to end the stalemate with Northampton Town.
“It’s frustrating again, really,” said the Whites’ boss. “I know I'm saying similar things. We didn't hit the target, not once, from some good opportunities, which is disappointing.
“I'm kind of glad as well that the Christmas period's over. I think four games in nine days is mad. You could see there was a little bit of tiredness in there, even though we tried to change the team and keep as much freshness as possible. Maybe a little bit of mental tiredness as well as physical.
“But yeah, disappointing not to get more than a point from the game. We did create a couple of good chances today, not clear, massive-cut chances, but chances to score.
“We looked a threat from set-plays, something that we've tried to re-focus on over the last few weeks and get better at and early on in the first half I think one of them is a goal.
“I don't think it's a foul on the goalie. I think if that gets given, then every goal should get given as a foul from a corner, because there is contact throughout the box.
“But we did look dangerous. Richard Taylor had a chance from a set-piece, Kyle Dempsey almost scored from a set-play, so that was something and that might be our way to try and get ahead because, as I said last week, it's a difficult to break down low blocks and 5-4-1. Teams can sit in and conserve energy and it’s not easy, especially when you're not quite at your best at the minute.”
Wanderers, who made seven changes to their starting line-up following a New Year's Day draw at Doncaster, had their best two opportunities from open play in the second half but Amario Cozier-Duberry and Dempsey were both unable to test Town keeper Ross Fitzsimons.
And Schumacher’s men must now re-group ready to re-ignite their promotion challenge in a busy January, which brings seven more games starting at Peterborough United next Saturday.
“Peterborough will be a different test for us,” Schumacher added. “They’ve been playing well and they'll come at us and hopefully we can take advantage of that.
“We’ll have a couple of days just to re-set and re-focus really. I think over the first half of the season we've done loads of good things. We're not in the position that we want to be but, also, we're not in a position that's uncontrollable either. We'll stay calm because I think the players have done a load of good stuff.
“We just need to fine-tweak a couple of things and that'll be the plan over the next few days; try and find a way to win.”
Watch the full post-match interview on Wanderers TV