Having allowed caretaker King to sign four loan players since the opening of the January transfer window, chairman David Cardoza now has a 'stick or twist' decision to make as to whether he is the man who can keep Town in League Two with time running out.
"I need to reflect on the performance but we're back to square one now and the defeat means we've got to go to Torquay and win now," said King after the return to Sixfields following three consecutive away games was settled by goals from Bowman and Fletcher for the visitors.
Defeat leaves Northampton four points adrift of Torquay at the foot of the table with the two sides set to meet at Plainmoor next Saturday.