Curle concedes struggling Cobblers are still trying to get the balance right

Town were promoted via their stunning play-off final success against Exeter City in June, but after an encouraging start to the season have found life at the next level tough going.

The Cobblers, who travel to fellow strugglers Burton Albion on Saturday, have won just three league matches to date, and claimed just seven points out of the past 30 available to them.

It is a run of form that has seen them drop to 19th in the table, having played more games than all but one of their rivals down the bottom.

They also have the worst goal difference, having conceded more goals than every team other than Swindon Town and Burton, and also being the joint second lowest scorers in the division, netting just 10 times in 12 games.

But there have been a lot of changes at the PTS since that glory night in north London.

Of the team that lined up for the 1-0 defeat against Accrington last weekend, just four were in the starting line up at Wembley.

Of those that are no longer at the club, many were key men such as Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull, Vadaine Oliver and Callum Morton, and Curle insists it is going to take time for the new team and squad to settle down.

"We are going to face different challenges, and what we have realised is that how we played last season got us results, but we had different players," said the Cobblers boss.

"This season we have a different squad and we need to get that blend right of all being on the same page.

"When we are playing, when we go forward, when are defending, we all need to be on the same page with different characteristics within our game."

Often accused of being a long ball team, or' hoofball' as Curle's detractors have tagged it, the Cobblers could now be set to undergo a change in style and footballing philosophy.

They certainly tried to play a more measured and patient game in the 0-0 draw with Stevenage in the Papa John's Trophy on Tuesday, with the central defenders regularly taking the ball from goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell.

Town attempted to play through the thirds of the pitch more rather than going the direct route, trying to get the ball to the feet of playmakers Ricky Holmes and Nicky Adams.

But is it going to be a more permanent change in playing style? Curle was non-committal in his response, and said: "Sometimes it happens that you get a group that you can see is not 100 per cent confident.

"Then it is a case of, you can take the easy option which is to get rid of the ball, put it in the final third and get after it.

"Or you can set the team up whereby you can build confidence, get used to the ball, have touches, and then the more touches you have and you do the simple things well then that builds confidence."