Curle happy with Cobblers' position ahead of final push

Town made a slow start to the season but twice went on a run of five wins in six games either side of Christmas before losing three times in a week against Port Vale, Swindon Town and Walsall last month.

That temporarily dropped them outside the play-off positions but wins over Exeter and Grimsby either side of losing at Cheltenham has them three points inside the top seven and seven behind third-placed Plymouth.

Cobblers host struggling Mansfield Town this weekend hoping to make further ground on the top three whilst consolidating their play-off spot.

"I think we're in a good position," said Curle. "Nobody would have forecasted the run that we went on when we had a bad week or so and lost Port Vale, Swindon, Walsall and Cheltenham.

"You look back and you think there were points to be had in every single one of those games and had those results been reversed, I don't think there could have been an argument against it.

"Swindon's goalkeeper made three big saves, against Port Vale we did everything bar put the ball in the net and the Cheltenham game could have gone either way.

"So that could have been another nine points on the board and that would have made the league table look very different, but all managers and fans will be thinking about what could have been.

"Our focus is always on the next game. There'll be twists and turns for all of the teams above us at the minute but we have to make sure we keep our house in order.

"We know other teams have got to play each other so they're not all going to get three points every weekend. We just need to make sure we focus on ourselves and take every game in isolation."

Meanwhile, Curle has also spoken about Charlie Goode's knack of winning fouls in defensive areas of the pitch.

Only one defender in League Two has won more fouls this season than Town's skipper, who was penalised for handball at Grimsby Town last weekend despite being nudged in the back.

"When you're shielding the ball, if somebody makes contact from behind it's a free-kick," said Curle.

"If it's at the other end where the centre-forward is in front of you and you push him in the back and he goes down in the box, it would be a penalty.

"So it's the same outside the box and if you get a push in the back, it's a free-kick. Whether or not it's enough contact, contact is contact.

"You get a lot of free-kicks and some are given and some aren't given but if Charlie feels contact, is it gaining an advantage? Is it trying to deceive the referee? No, it's not. He's trying to protect the ball and someobody pushes him in the back in his eagerness to get the ball.

"If they make contact, you're well within your rights to get a free-kick."