Wilder won't throw in the towel

Chris Wilder says he'll continue to fight for his job despite Northampton slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Tranmere on Sunday.

Kayode Odejayi had put the home side ahead just after half an hour with his first league goal for Tranmere, only for Marc Richards to level proceedings just before the break. However, the visitors couldn't hold on and 20-year-old super-sub Jake Kirby grabbed his first goal of the season just after the hour mark. It means the Cobblers, who have now lost five on the trot, are just two points off the League Two relegation zone, although Wilder is adamant he is still the right man for the job. "I put myself under pressure and understand that there will be pressure on me, you can't get away from that fact," he said. "I've never had a dismissal on my CV, I don't want that. Some managers will say it will always happen and some will say that the only way they make money is by getting paid up. "I don't want that on me and I'm fighting tooth and nail to treat the players the right way and get the right formation and team selection out of them that will get us results. "We're trying everything but ultimately we've lost five games and of course I understand the nature of the sport that we're in." There was little between the sides when Rovers took the lead, Odejayi capitalising on some slack marking to convert a low cross at the front post. Northampton enjoyed a period of possession after that and an excellent piece of play by Joel Byrom created the equaliser as he beat two players before teeing up Richards who fired home off the post. The visitors had plenty of the ball after half-time but it was Rovers who retook the lead, Kirby curling home the winner after a one-two with Max Power no more than a minute after coming on as a substitute. That goal means Tranmere are now out of the relegation zone on goal difference as Dagenham drew 0-0 with Southend. "There was a lot of effort and commitment and that's something that you get from this group on a game to game basis," Rovers boss Micky Adams said. "We've had to grind this one out but we're very, very pleased with the result. "We gave the ball away for their goal and Marc Laird will be disappointed with that but I didn't want that to affect us at half-time. "At the time we were trying to make a substitution but that wasn't a factor in it at all. "I want us to pass the ball and we've got the four midfield players in there that can all do that. "I will never discourage them from doing that - maybe it's a better ball to turn the other team's back four but I will never criticise players for trying to do the right things."