Cobblers charged with failing to control their players in Orient draw

Josh Wright's 86th minute penalty triggered a 17-man brawl which eventually saw Cobblers defender Scott Wharton sent off, as well as Orient's James Dayton.

Both clubs have been charged by the FA for the incident and have until January 29 to respond.

Northampton have also been charged for failing to control their players when they surrounded referee Alan Young following his decision to award a penalty against Wharton two minutes earlier.

An FA statement read: "Leyton Orient FC and Northampton Town FC have been charged with one breach of FA Rule E20 and two breaches of FA Rule E20 respectively following their EFL League Two fixture on January 21, 2020.

"It is alleged that Northampton Town FC failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 84th minute when they surrounded the match official.

"In addition, it is alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative and/or violent behaviour during the 85th minute.

"Both clubs have until January 29, 2020 to provide their respective responses."

Speaking about the incident on Thursday, Keith Curle said: "There's nothing as a manager you can do in that situation. I have done in the past and ended up in front of the FA!

"We have a code of conduct that's in place at the club and we don't encourage confrontation but there's also an understanding within the group that when your player is being jumped on by three other players, you try and get those players off.

"If you look at the aftermath of it, there's punches being thrown by their players and credit to our players because we didn't react."