Wilder: Pompey tribute showed their class

The Northampton Town boss saluted the Blues for their acknowledgement of his team’s success at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Wilder, who was previously interviewed for the managerial post at Fratton Park, has guided the Cobblers to the title in impressive fashion.

Pompey paid their respect to the Cobblers’ achievement by providing them with a guard of honour before their 2-1 final-day victory.

It was a day to savour for the title winners, as they took the honour Paul Cook’s side craved.

Wilder felt the way Pompey doffed their caps to their success was laudable.

He said: ‘It was a tough game against an excellent set of players.

‘They are a quality outfit here and I want to say thank you for that. Our players got clapped on and clapped off.

‘It’s proper football club and they are a class act here.

‘Everyone we’ve come across at this ground has shook our hand and congratulated us. That’s spot on. It’s a big well done to this football club.’

Wilder also praised his own side for the manner in which Northampton have continued to deliver until the last day of the League Two season.

He said: ‘It was a tough game but to keep the unbeaten record going and get to 99 points has been a fantastic achievement by everybody.

‘We’ve just kept going. We’ve been up for a few weeks now but the players have kept going.

‘They are a special group and we’ve turned up in every single game this season.

‘We’ve not always been at our best but we’ve given it our all in every game.

‘We said at the start of the season winners don’t have a day off and it’s been a real special effort.

‘Now we will have a great party and I’m sure the supporters will turn up in their numbers for that.’