WITH Town’s play-off spot now secured focus now switches to their final finishing spot and where the second-leg will take, but boss Mark Cooper is not concerned by such matters.

The Town boss argues historically the relevance of where the second-leg is played is minimal on who progresses.

The stats would say Cooper’s statement is incorrect. All ten teams playing the home leg second in the last five years of the League One play-offs have progressed to the final.

With Town eight points clear of fifth-placed Sheffield United and holding two games in-hand Cooper’s serve as warning to his players that they cannot take anything for granted in the post-season shakedown.

Cooper’s challenge now is to keep his side motivated and ensure they finish the regular season with momentum behind them.

“I don’t think (playing the home leg second) is that important, if I’m being perfectly honest,” Cooper told the local media “Over the years I think if you look at it statistically it won’t make that much of a difference.

“We need to go into the play-offs in good form and maybe in the last two or three games get the team I’ve got in my mind to play in the play-offs to play in those games, to get a bit of continuity.

“I understand the home advantage can help but statistically I would think there’ll be an even split in terms of who goes through, whether you’re at home or away in the first leg.

“It’s nice to play at the County Ground when it’s full and the crowd is behind us but I’m not sure how much of an effect it has on the other team. All I know is you have to play home and you have to play away, you have to play with 11 players on the same pitch with two goals and one ball.

“For the fans it’d be brilliant and I’ll be pleased for them if we do get home advantage. I hope they get behind us.

“Whoever you play in the play-offs, you have two incredibly hard games and pressure and luck play a big part. To get to Wembley, you’ve got to play really well.”