Curle admits players 'felt the pressure' before vital Burton win

Cobblers boss Keith Curle admitted his players had been 'feeling the pressure' prior to their morale-boosting 3-1 victory at Burton Albion on Saturday.

Town were on a run of one victory in seven games across all competitions and looked to be spiralling towards the League One relegation zone before heading to fellow strugglers Burton.

But Curle's men were impressive in victory at the Pirelli Stadium as Harry Smith's second-minute opener paved the way for three well-deserved points. Smith added a second before Chris Lines sealed the deal as Town moved up to 16th in League One.

It was an important and much-needed result for the Cobblers and one that should ease the pressure on both Curle and his players ahead of another big game against Rochdale on Tuesday.

"We've been in a difficult situation but we know that and sometimes you've got to keep telling players and reminding them that they are good players and tell them what they do that makes you think that they're good players," said Curle.

"We've not won games and results haven't gone our way and players do feel pressure because they are desperate to do well and they understand the situation. We are in a bubble but, at the same time, we're also not in a bubble.

"The players know how desperate the football club is for three points and they're trying so hard through the week and on gamedays, but sometimes you've got to be clever in your work and do the right work.

"I call that craft and understanding your role and taking a little bit more responsibility about where you need to be, which is something we have focused on. I can't fault any of the lads' work-rate but you need to be a little bit cleverer when you step up a level as we have done.

"We've got willing workers that will put a shift in and empty the tank when they go on the pitch. Our running stats are up there with any team but sometimes they're having to work harder because they haven't worked smartly.

"But this (Saturday) is a starting point because we set good standards for ourselves. We played against a team who were in a similar situation to ourselves and haven't won as many games as they would have wanted.

"Work-rate, I've not got a problem, but it's clever work and working together so we can create that team spirit and that team ethic on the pitch."