Curle denies his players are tired after successive home defeats

Northampton were beaten 1-0 for the second home game running on Tuesday evening when Jordan Lyden scored a late winning goal for leaders Swindon.

The Cobblers have expended a lot of effort and energy during their busy recent run of eight games in 24 days, particularly in the two FA Cup ties against Derby County.

Town have no midweek game for the first time in over a month next week but before then they visit Walsall in the league on Saturday.

Curle will not accept tiredness as an excuse, however, and was quick to shut down the argument that his players are lacking sharpness after losing on Tuesday.

"Disagree," he said when it was put to him that the schedule is catching up with his team. "It's a mental game.

"You'll be surprised if you tell your body what to do because you're in charge - the tail doesn't wag the dog.

"We've got to get there. If we want to have high aspirations we've got to cover that yardage and make sure we turn up and make sure players are accountable when they go man-for-man.

"We will outrun teams and we need to outrun teams. If someone's going to run 100 yards, we've got to run 101 and have that desire.

"We know we're physically in very good condition and we're very sharp and we're happy playing games. Professional players want to play games."