Curle adamant Cobblers should have had a 'nailed-on penalty' after re-watching Accrington draw

Cobblers boss Keith Curle was adamant his side should have won a first-half penalty at Accrington Stanley on Saturday after re-watching the game.

There were muted appeals for a spot-kick on 39 minutes when Cameron Burgess put two hands on the back of Danny Rose inside the box, preventing Town's striker from jumping for the ball.

Stanley had a penalty shout of their own in the second-half when Joe Pritchard tumbled in the area - a decision Accy boss John Coleman questioned at full-time - but neither were given and the game ended goalless.

"I saw some of the talk after the game was them appealing for a penalty decision that they felt should have gone their way," said Curle.

"But we also had a penalty claim and the more I look at it, you're thinking 'how has that not been given?' because the lad has two hands on Rosey and makes contact with his back.

"It stops him from jumping. It's a nailed-on penalty."

Cobblers won 11 corners at the Wham Stadium on Saturday - nine in the first-half alone - but could not convert any of them.

"We didn't make first contact enough with our set-pieces," admitted Curle. "We just need to get that extra half a yard.

"We've got very good delivery from both sides and the ball is going into the right areas but it's only about that half a yard to get in front of your man.

"But we have looked back at the game and we're pleased with the chances we created and how we executed the gameplan.

"Accrington were in good form and had scored a lot of goals but we felt our best form of defence was attack and I thought we caused them problems, enough for them to change their shape and change their gameplan after 25 minutes.

"We got on the front foot and we stayed there. They had a good period for 10 or 15 minutes after they made the change but we got information on to the players and adjusted and we finished the first-half very well.

"The second-half was quite even but if you can limit a free-scoring team like Accrington to very few chances, there are positives to take."