A big promotion clash at Vale Park saw second-placed Port Vale thrash the Brewers 7-1 to take a huge step towards League One football next season.
It leaves Burton in 5th place, one point behind Northampton having played one game more going into Saturday's fixtures.
Aidy Boothroyd's men have automatic promotion in their own hands, starting with the game against Bradford City this weekend and the Town boss will be looking for talismanic striker Bayo Akinfenwa to find his goal touch again after a relatively barren spell over the past two months.
Boothroyd told BBC Northampton: "He's getting in positions and missing them at the moment but strikers tend to get goals in batches.
"It's not really a concern for me. A little flurry of 10 goals would be nice between now and the end of the season."