Crawley boss Cioffi hails defensive display in Northampton stalemate



Posted Sunday, February 17, 2019 by PA

Crawley boss Cioffi hails defensive display in Northampton stalemate

Both Northampton manager Keith Curle and Crawley counterpart Gabriele Cioffi praised their teams’ “solid” defensive performances after Saturday’s drab goalless draw at Sixfields.

Defences were on top throughout an error-strewn afternoon as the two teams, 16th and 17th respectively in League Two, moved a point closer to safety.

John-Joe O’Toole and Joe Powell came closest for Northampton, while Dominic Poleon might have snatched victory in stoppage-time but was denied by home goalkeeper David Cornell.

“I thought it was another solid performance and the final score was a fair result because both teams could have won the game,” said Cioffi.

“Their main threat was from set-pieces all over the pitch but we dealt well with those and we were good on the second balls so I’m pleased with the point and the performance.

“From the bench it looked a penalty at the end. I think the referee made his decision because Ollie (Palmer) had kicked the ball away from himself and he didn’t have it under control, but it’s fine.

“I’m happy with the front two in terms of what I asked from them and in the second half we played well. We were solid, we got on the second balls and showed effort to win tackles.

“In terms of football I think we’ve played much, much better but this is a tough pitch to play football on so that’s OK and one point is a positive result.

“Last week the 3-0 defeat to Oldham didn’t mirror the performance but we learnt our lessons today and if we can’t win, we have to make sure we don’t lose.”

Cobblers boss Curle echoed those views, saying: “It was a point earned and a clean sheet.

“It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination but I thought we looked solid defensively and that’s pleasing after conceding four in our last home game.

“I was disappointed we didn’t hit the back of the net with the opportunities we had in the first half but the team showed they’ve got a backbone and we’re building on the win at Tranmere and the draw at Lincoln.

“It was very important to show the resolve and make sure we kept a clean sheet because if things don’t come off in the final third, you walk off the pitch with a nil-nil.

“The defence gave us the platform but we could have done better when we had the ball facing their goal.

“Some of our decision making and some of our choices on the ball needs to improve and the players know that.

“But as a back four, we kept the ball out of the net and Dai (Cornell) did what we needed when he was called upon.”

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