Furious Curle admits Oxford City showed 'more hunger and desire' as Cobblers suffer FA Cup calamity

Keith Curle and his Cobblers team endured a humiliating FA Cup defeat at non-League Oxford City

The final 2-1 scoreline does not even begin to tell the story of a catastrophic evening for the Cobblers who were bullied and outclassed by a part-time outfit three divisions below them.

Even when Sam Hoskins put them into a seventh-minute lead, it was clear that Oxford had more quality, hunger and determination about their play, with James Roberts deservedly bringing them level just five minutes later.

Roberts missed a spot-kick early in the second-half but Josh Ashby made no mistake from 12 yards after more brainless defending 16 minutes later, one of 20 shots that the home side racked up as they sealed a famous victory.

Cobblers goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell saves James Roberts' penalty

"You could say it was the beauty of the FA Cup but I don't think there was anything beautiful about our performance tonight," admitted a furious Curle.

"I've got players knocking on my door and agents ringing me up saying they need an opportunity to showcase what they're all about and tonight was that opportunity for some players to take the platform and show what they're about.

"Collectively and individually, we didn't perform.

"Oxford deserve a lot of credit because they've welcomed us here and played fantastically.

Oxford City's jubilant players celebrate their FA Cup first round win over the Cobblers

"They competed all over the park and they showed more hunger and more desire to play.

"They played their pitch very well and they know how to play on it but our basics, individually, were nowhere near good enough.

"There was no personality throughout the team. I didn't see a single person's personality come through. It just wasn't good enough."