SM
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca: 8 hrs 16 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Northampton boss Keith Curle: 'I'm not just a firefighter, I can win games'

:Headline: Northampton boss Keith Curle: 'I'm not just a firefighter, I can win games': ID:403465: from db_amp
Two goals from Callum Morton and another from Vadaine Oliver sent the Cobblers through.

Northampton manager Keith Curle saw his side book their place in the League Two play-off final at Wembley with a 3-0 victory at Cheltenham and then admitted that he needed promotion for his own CV.

Two goals from Callum Morton and another from Vadaine Oliver wiped out the Robins' two-goal cushion from the first leg and set up next Monday's Wembley date with Exeter.

Curle said:"I have a belief of where I want to go in my career and I need a promotion for my own profile. I think I've done a very good job at some of the clubs I've walked into but I need people to know that I'm not just a firefighter but that I can win games of football.

"We had spoken about the first goal and how vitally important it was. We didn't know when it was going to come but our plan was to get the first goal knowing that it would have an impact.

"I mentioned beforehand that a 2-0 lead was a difficult lead especially in a semi-final second leg at home. I'm not saying it's not undefendable but it's a mental challenge for the players. We thought we could impose ourselves.

"Callum Morton did everything that we needed him to do but today was about a team performance, a unity. We had an understanding all over the pitch."

And Curle explained how he had tried to inspire his players ahead of the game.

"All the players thought we were going to show them a clip of the first game but we didn't – we showed them a documentary when Arsenal had to go to Anfield and win 2-0 to win the league.

"It's not an easy thing to do and it resonated with me. I wanted to pass that on to the players that if you believe then something can happen."

Disappointed Cheltenham manager Michael Duff admitted the best side won.

He said: "We didn't turn up, got beaten up and didn't do the basics of the game which we normally do well. That put us on the back foot and then we didn't pass the ball particularly well.

"Every department of the game we didn't do very well and that's why we get a result like that.

"It's the first time we have been beaten up this season and the third goal encapsulated the night's performance but you have to suck it up and learn from it.

"They play in a very basic way but they do it effectively – they played to their strengths and they did it better than us.

"Maybe a few froze on the night – in the first 10 or 15 minutes I don't think we won a tackle. They deserved it."

amp_article__403465 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-06-23 06:05:19:
html db last update - 2020-06-23 06:05:19 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Keith Curle

Click here for more stories about Cheltenham Town

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall23164343202352
2Crewe AlexandraCrewe24119433221142
3Salford City24126629191042
4Port Vale2511862925441
5AFC Wimbledon23124735191640
6Notts County24117638261240
7Doncaster RoversDoncaster2511773530540
8Bradford CityBradford2410863327638
9Grimsby Town25121123640-437
10Chesterfield249783829934
11MK Dons2310493631534
12Bromley2481063530534
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham248793436-231
14Gillingham2393112224-230
15BarrowBarrow2477102326-328
16Fleetwood TownFleetwood226972828027
17Colchester UnitedColchester2451272828027
18Newport CountyNewport2375113040-1026
19Accrington StanleyAccrington2367103240-825
20Tranmere RoversTranmere2367101732-1525
21Harrogate TownHarrogate2574142137-1625
22Swindon TownSwindon2559113141-1024
23Morecambe2455142239-1720
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2446141938-1918
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .