Aidy Boothroyd's men enjoyed a brief few days in the dizzying height of an automatic promotion place before successive reverses on the road at Gillingham and then at the New York Stadium on Saturday.
In a congested League Two top-half they now lie in 8th place but it means the pressure switches to those teams around them as the season enters its final third.
Town return to the comforts of Sixfields this Saturday and will look to continue their excellent home form against a Rochdale side back under the management of Keith Hill following his return to Spotland.
"I am learning about this league again," he said after Saturday's draw against Chesterfield, "learning about opponents and it's only the second game we have had since I came back.
"I have learned a lot about the lads in training, but you learn more about them in real action and today was real action. It was a great test for the players when we went one nil down. I wanted a bounce back and a response from the players and I got one."