Dropped players left 'angry and frustrated' but Curle's bold team selection at Grimsby pays off

Curle made five changes for Cobblers' trip to Grimsby Town, the most contentious of which came between the posts as first-choice goalkeeper David Cornell was dropped in favour of Steve Arnold, who made his first start since Boxing Day.

Alan McCormack also returned to the team for first time since the same afternoon while Curle's other changes included starts for Scott Wharton, Mark Marshall and Vadaine Oliver.

But any doubts over the starting XI at Blundell Park were washed away inside just 26 minutes after Charlie Goode and Callum Morton both scored to set Town on their way to an excellent away victory.

Morton's second goal late on put the gloss on a fine day's work and secured a 3-0 victory, ensuring Curle could feel thoroughly justified come the full-time whistle.

"I've had some big decisions to make with the team selection because we've got players coming back in but we are a squad," he said afterwards.

"The players who weren't involved and were named as substitutes, their attitude shows that we are together as one.

"Yes, they're disappointed, they're angry and they're frustrated and there was some anger and frustration when I named the team on Friday but they reacted well."

With James Olayinka and Andy Williams soon to return and Harry Smith back on the bench at Grimsby, Curle's selection headaches show no sign of disappearing for these final 10 games of the season.

But any players disappointed to be left out are free to visit Curle's office to find out why.

He added: "If anybody wants understanding, come and see me because I've got an open-door policy and if anybody doesn't full understand the reasons why they're not playing and they want an explanation, I'm there to give it to them.

"Sometimes it's a challenge to them to show me more, sometimes it's a case of team selection being down to the tactics for a certain game.

"We had some players missing out on Saturday that have done very well for us and will continue to do very well because of their mindset and their professional standards and the understanding of what we're trying to create."