Cobblers 'won't blame Hoskins' for Stags loss

'No-one is pointing fingers at Sam'
Sam Hoskins heads down the tunnel.Sam Hoskins heads down the tunnel.
Sam Hoskins heads down the tunnel.

Striker Harry Smith insists the Cobblers are not 'pointing fingers' at Sam Hoskins for Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Mansfield Town.

Town started well against the struggling Stags but were stopped in their tracks on 10 minutes when Hoskins, the last line of defence, made the fatal decision to clear downfield.

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Harry Charsley blocked his clearance and then raced through on goal before being nudged to ground. With the challenge deemed to be inside the box, referee Peter Wright pointed to the spot and sent off Hoskins for good measure.

Danny Rose converted from 12 yards and it was always going to be a long way back for the Cobblers, and so it proved as they were beaten 2-1.

"It's very disappointing," said Smith, who headed home a consolation goal in stoppage-time. "Obviously the sending off didn't help but, listen, no-one is in the changing room is pointing fingers at Sam Hoskins.

"He's been one of our best players this season and make no mistake, we won't be blaming him for this defeat at all."

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Smith also revealed the Cobblers felt aggrieved by the decision, adding: "Sammy's saying he didn't touch him and if he did, it was minor. From where I was sitting, it didn't even look like he was in the box.

"Apparently there's a picture on social media that shows it's just outside the box, but the referee had a decision to make and unfortunately it went against us this time."

Hoskins had to sit in the changing room for the remaining 80 minutes and hope his team-mates would bail him out, but it wasn't to be.

Asked if he had spoken to Hoskins afterwards, manager Keith Curle said: "I said to Sam I was disappointed and I told him he needs to select his options better.

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"He probably had about 18 options of what he could do with the football in that situation and he's picked the wrong one, trying to smash it through someone.

"If you have a look at physics, it's very difficult to get a football through a solid object!"