Aidy Boothroyd's position is now coming under intense scrutiny after two late goals conceded at Rochdale on Tuesday night turned three points into none and left the Cobblers in the bottom two.
The manager was once again required afterwards to find positives from a bad result and his constant assurances that the corner will be turned soon are not being borne out.
Loan signings Dallas and Norris again posed Town's biggest threat at Spotland but the major question would appear to be has the summer's wheeling and dealing left a poorer squad behind than the one which reached the play-offs?
Cheltenham arrive at Sixfields on Saturday on the back of a morale-boosting win against Morecambe on Tuesday night and will be in no mood to show mercy to the side that beat them to Wembley last season.