COBBLERS: 'We must be professional' - Curtis
John Curtis has urged the Cobblers to adopt a professional approach when they play Coca-Cola League Two whipping boys Darlington at the weekend.
Despite having failed to win a league game since October 24, Town head to the north-east as favourites for a game against a Quakers side on an abysmal run of form.
At the weekend they were thrashed 5-0 at Torquay, and have recently recorded 4-0 defeats to Notts County and Morecambe as well as a 5-2 loss at Chesterfield.
It is a record that has left them rock bottom of the Football League, 11 points off safety and staring relegation to the Blue Square Premier firmly in the face.
Curtis, who will be in midfield for the final game before Christmas, says the team will be nothing less than professional in a match they must surely win.
And he also says he has no concerns about playing in a 'ghost town ground' – Darlington's average gate this season is 2,029, in a stadium that holds 25,000.
"We don't treat any game differently to any other we play," he said. "We've got to go up there, be professional, and make sure we get the three points.
"I've got quite a lot of experience of playing in stadiums that are half-empty so I should be okay. I've played a lot of games for reserve teams in front of stands with nobody in them so it won't be a problem for me.
"It doesn't really make any difference to me to be honest. Good professional footballers should be able to shut the fans out anyway.
"We won't let the supporters influence how we play up there, we'll go and do a job and get the win."
The injury situation at Sixfields mean the team is unlikely to change too much from the one that drew 1-1 with Port Vale on Saturday, which should mean another game for Joe Benjamin.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a decent game on the left of midfield last time out, and is on standby to do the same at the Darlington Arena this weekend.
"I thought Joe did very well and he can take a lot of positives out of the way he played," said Curtis.
"He's been away on loan and he's done very well down there at Eastbourne, so the manager here has noticed that and slipped him in here.
"I think he deserved his start and he didn't let anyone down at all."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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