Speaking to the official club website after the reverse at Oxford the new Cobblers manager said: "we are not where we want to be yet but we are not that far away either."
"Performance wise I think we have moved up a level and for long periods of the game I felt comfortable."
The Cobblers now face festive fixtures at home to Burton Albion and Swindon Town as Boothroyd's positive attitude is put to the test.