Marquis the danger man as Curle previews tough Portsmouth challenge for Cobblers

Cobblers boss Keith Curle knows his side face another stern examination of their League One credentials when they head down to the south coast to face Portsmouth this evening.

Pompey stumbled out of the traps this season but have found their form in recent weeks, winning five of their last six in all competitions - including Saturday's impressive 3-1 victory at Sunderland - to sit fifth in League One.

They also have two of the league's in-form forward men in Marcus Harness and ex-Town man John Marquis, who netted twice at the Stadium of Light.

"You'd say they have underachieved to still be in this division," said Curle. "But they've got a very good manager and some very good players.

"I think they're playing a slightly more direct style than previously but that's to play to their strengths because they've got a fantastic finisher and good centre-forward in Marquis.

"They're getting people in and around him more often and he knows where the goal is. They won't roll the ball out and execute too many passages of play to get into the final third."

While things are going swimmingly for Portsmouth, it's been far more of a struggle for the Cobblers. Having lost four of their last five league games, Curle's men are also yet to register a clean sheet this season.

"I don't think we're far away," insisted Curle. "At the moment we're being tested and we're being stretched but that's part of our development and sometimes you need to fail to improve.

"We can work through it as much as we want on the training ground and make players aware of the opposition's threats, but teams change in games and you need to be ready and identify dangers. There's only so much information I can give the players.

"It's something that comes with experience and sometimes you need to fail. Good players learn when they lose and we know we need more craft in our defending and in our attacking and you get that with experience but also with grinding out results."