Curle delighted with Northampton comeback

Posted Sunday, October 14, 2018 by PA

Northampton manager Keith Curle was thrilled to see his side pick up their first league win since he was appointed after coming from behind to beat Forest Green 2-1.

Reuben Reid’s first half goal had the visitors on track to extend their unbeaten run to 13 league games at the start of the season, but Aaron Pierre equalised before Aaron Williams grabbed a dramatic injury-time winner on a blustery day at the PTS Academy Stadium.

It was Northampton’s first home win of the season and lifted them to 19th in League Two.

“I’m delighted, especially given the nature of the opposition,” said Curle.

“They’ve had a very good start to the season and I admire and like the way Mark Cooper organises his teams and the principles he has in place in terms of how he wants the game to be played.

“We tried to stop them having a flow in their play. The conditions didn’t suit us in the first half and because we couldn’t clear the ball it allowed them to have a few passages of play and get people in pockets to cause us problems.

“We couldn’t get our back three up high enough to keep them penned in but we were able to do that in the second half for the majority of the time.

“Forest Green have some good players and they did manipulate the ball well but we denied them and turned them into a different game that suited us.

“With the quality we’ve got and the willingness and desire that’s building from players to get into the box and goalscoring positions, it gives you a good stepping stone.”

Mark Cooper, meanwhile, admitted it was a gut-wrenching way for his side to lose their undefeated start to the season.

“Losing any game hurts but especially in the manner we did today,” he said.

“In football you mistakes and unfortunately it led to a goal but we win together, we lose together and we draw together.

“In the first half we controlled the game but we thought that kicking the ball out of play in the second half was really brave and was the best way to do things.

“But all it did was invite to put balls into the box and that’s where both of their goals came from. We need to be braver than that.

“If we give the ball away and concede when trying to pass it, then I’ll take the blame. But today is not how we play and the two or three times we did pass the ball we caught them on the counter-attack.

“We have to see what the players are made of now. They have to show their mettle and have a good week of preparation and be ready for the derby next week.”