'Frustrated' Curle refuses to blame Vale defeat on bad luck

Manager Keith Curle admitted 'frustrated' was a 'very apt word' to describe his emotions after the Cobblers were beaten 1-0 by Port Vale at the PTS on Saturday.

David Worrall scored the only goal of the game with a second-half header as Vale became the first visiting team to win at Northampton since Leyton Orient way back on October 5, some 11 matches ago.

The Cobblers were unfortunate to lose on Saturday though given they dominated large portions of the second-half, three times denied by the reflexes of Scott Brown, but Curle would not use that as an excuse.

"Frustrated is a very apt word on this occasion," admitted Curle.

"We didn't get into our flow in the first half and that was slightly down to the conditions but we didn't win enough first contact and didn't land on enough second balls before half-time

"But you've got to give Port Vale credit because they defended very well and denied us a few opportunities and as and when he was needed their goalkeeper did excellently.

"There were some defining moments in the game and I thought we had a strong case for a penalty when the lad got dragged down.

"But we put enough balls into their box and we had some quality deliveries, we just missed that extra half a yard to get away from our man and make first contact.

"That's something we've been very good at but the important thing is for the changing room not to walk away thinking we were unlucky - we understand we didn't do enough and that's important because we don't let luck be a part of where we want to go."