Curle felt 'keeper Cornell had let his standards slip before being dropped at Grimsby

Cornell had not started only two of Town's 35 league games prior to Saturday and both times he was straight back in the team the following weekend.

But, despite racking up more clean sheets than any other League Two goalkeeper with 12 this season, he might find it a bit harder to win his spot back following Arnold's performance at Blundell Park.

The 30-year-old, who signed from Shrewsbury Town last summer, made a couple of important stops on his way to a first league clean sheet for the Cobblers.

Explaining why he made the swap, Curle said: "Make no mistake, I've got two very, very good goalkeepers and Dai has done very well for us, but I just felt it was the right time to change it.

"In my personal opinion, I don't think Dai has maintained the high standards that he had set himself.

"That's a criticism but Dai will understand that because he does and he has set himself very high standards."

On Arnold's performance at Grimsby, Curle added: "I thought we looked solid and Arnie made some important saves as and when we needed him to.

"We also looked a threat when we attacked and the best way to defend a two-goal lead is by going and making it 3-0, as we did."