Curle beaming with so much pride after Cobblers hold Rams in FA Cup

It wasn't as if the Cobblers were hanging on for a replay at a sold-out PTS Stadium because for large parts of Friday's tie they were the better team and had chances to clinch a famous victory.

Vadaine Oliver hit the bar in the first-half and Matty Warburton curled wide late on but it wasn't to be and both sides will have to do it all over again when they meet for a replay at Pride Park on the week commencing February 3.

Nonetheless, it was a fabulous night for the club, on and off the pitch, and they can now look forward to Monday's fifth-round draw with great excitement.

"I'm very proud of my players," said Curle afterwards. "I think today we showed the unity that was needed and the collective desire and ambition of the players.

"They stuck to the gameplan and believed in the gameplan and trusted the gameplan and that's so important because we all needed to be on the same page today and we were."

If there was one area that Curle could be critical of, it was in the final third as Town created but missed the clearer chances.

"When we get entries into the final third, we still need that bit more quality to pick the right pass and some of our interplay was too hurried and too rushed," added Curle.

"We had a spell where we were off the front foot but we were able to get back on it because of the demands that the players put on each other.

"It's not an instruction from me, it's an instruction from another player and that shows the players understand what we're all about and what's needed, individually and collectively."