Curle admits Boxing Day off could be a blessing for Cobblers

Manager Keith Curle admits having no fixture on Boxing Day might not be such a bad thing for the Cobblers given their recent poor form.

Town have lost four games in a row, including the last two 4-0, but are currently in the middle of a 10-day rest period after their trip to Ipswich Town was postponed due to COVID.

"In light of our recent results I think it's a chance for us to get some rest and recuperate as a group because we know results haven't been going our way and we're disappointed to have conceded 10 goals in the last three games," said Curle.

"First and foremost, we send our best wishes to the Ipswich players and staff who have been affected and we hope they will be manage the outbreak and everybody will be OK."

It is the first time this since that Cobblers have had a game called off due to COVID.

Curle added: "I think credit goes to ourselves because it's not down to luck, it's down to the information that's been taken on-board by the medical department and how that's been implemented by the football club to reduce the risk.

"That's credit to a lot of people at the football club with the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to minimise the risk. You can be closed down at a drop of a hat so we've had to put guidelines in place and everybody at the club has adjusted to the new restrictions we've got in place."

It means Curle and his players will have Boxing Day off, something of a rarity in football.

"I can't remember the last time I didn't have a game on Boxing Day," admitted Curle. "Usually I can leave behind all the carnage in the house after Christmas Day!

"But we still will be training on Boxing Day. We've had to change the structure and the training programme around a bit but the preparation for Gillingham starts with the first training session on Boxing Day."