Curle happy with performance and feels Cobblers deserved at least a point at Lincoln

Cobblers boss Keith Curle was pleased with his side's performance despite their 2-1 defeat at second-placed Lincoln City on Saturday.

All three new signings - Ryan Edmondson, Mickel Miller and Bryn Morris - started and they made a big difference as Town dominated much of the first-half at Sincil Bank, albeit without creating too many clear chances.

Miller was forced off with an injury late in the half and that seemed to knock Cobblers out of their stride a little although Lincoln also struggled to test the opposition goalkeeper.

However, Conor McGrandles and Anthony Scully scored within nine minutes of each other in the closing stages and that kept the Imps level on points with Hull City at the top of League One.

Danny Rose scored a stunning consolation deep into stoppage-time but Town still dropped into the League One relegation zone.

"We started the game very well and credit to the new lads because they didn't look out of place," said Curle.

"I thought we had some good passages of play and used the ball very well and we enjoyed good dominance, but it was disappointing not to get enough numbers into the box in the final third because we put some good balls in.

"It's fine margins. Sam Hoskins had a speculative shot that hit the post. If that goes in, we might have got what would have been a deserved draw out of the game in my opinion.

"We had the lion's share of the ball in the first-half and I didn't really see them opening us up in the second-half apart from the two goals and again that's down to fine margins and decisions being made off the ball.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the defeat but it was a commendable performance."