McCormack 'apologised' to Curle for his 'angry' reaction after being subbed in play-off final

Midfielder Alan McCormack revealed he apologised to manager Keith Curle for his 'angry' reaction to being subbed during the closing stages of Town's League Two play-off final against Exeter City.

The Cobblers were leading the 10-man Grecians 2-0 through goals from Ryan Watson and Callum Morton when McCormack made way for James Olayinka on 74 minutes.

The 36-year-old cut a visibly frustrated figure as he trudged off the pitch and took his place on the bench, however late goals from Sam Hoskins and Andy Williams ensured he would be celebrating again come the full-time whistle.

"I was a little angry coming off at 2-0 and I apologised to the gaffer for it because I wanted to be on the pitch and help the lads see the game out," admitted McCormack.

"Even if I had picked up an injury, that didn't bother me one bit. I just wanted to be out there to help the team because we had seen 2-0 leads slip from us at the start of the season.

"The reaction was just because of the whole build-up and wanting to be involved when the ref blows his whistle but at the end of the day, if my legs are tiring and there's a younger, fitter lad on the bench that can come on, then it's the right decision to make.

"But just in that moment, I was a little bit angry! It was more disappointment from a selfish point of view because I wanted to be on the pitch, but it's not about me, it's about the team and I quickly realised that and I apologised to the manager."

McCormack has never been one to hide his emotions on the football pitch and he's often eager to share his views with whoever will listen, whether it's opposition players, the referee or even his own team-mates and manager.

But he says his animated, sometimes fiery, on-field demeanour is simply a result of wanting to win at all costs.

"I've always had that in me and I've always hated losing," he adds. "I can't take any form of defeat well.

"It's about pride and it's about winning things - even if it's just a game of football with my lad out in the garden. When I do let him win, I don't let him win by much!

"Whether it's a game of pool or out on the golf course, I want to win. There's a bit of me that gets angry when I don't win but the older I'm getting, I don't let it get to me as much but in terms of football, my job is to win games and to perform and to help clubs win promotions.

"That's what I get paid to do so I don't see why I should accept losing. I've never taken defeats well and I've always been that fiery character when I have been beat or something goes wrong on the pitch."