Source: PA
Sampson issues Thornton challenge
Northampton manager Ian Sampson has challenged midfielder Kevin Thornton to find a consistent level of performance and cement his place in the starting XI.
Thornton was superb in the Carling Cup win at Reading but found himself out of the side after an anonymous display against Hartlepool.
He came off the bench to inspire last weekend`s 2-1 win over Southend and Sampson now wants the former Coventry man to be on it from the start every week.
He said: "I don't hold any grudges, and that's why he came on against Southend - he changed the game for us.
"His performance against Hartlepool was not good enough. It was not a Kevin Thornton-standard performance and he knows that.
"Hopefully he will take on board everything that's been said to him in the last week or so and that it's not just a flash in the pan. One game out of four isn't good enough and he has to replicate that level in training and do the right things there and when we do play him."
