Nolan explains why he feels 'peeved' by comments made about his team after Cobblers 'outplay' Cardiff

Cobblers are often described in overly-simplistic terms by outside observers, with words such as ‘direct’, ‘physical’ or ‘effective’ regularly used by detractors, and that was the case again after Saturday’s defeat to Cardiff when Bluebirds skipper Calum Chambers labelled Town ‘the most direct team in the league’.

Whilst Nolan’s side do go back to front quickly at times, they have many strings to their bow and on Saturday they became the first team this season to have more possession and make more passes in a League One fixture against Cardiff.

"I’m still disappointed about Saturday because we deserved something from the game,” said Nolan speaking on Tuesday. “We’re the first team this season to have more possession than Cardiff this season and sometimes you have to give credit to us because we outplayed them.

"It wasn’t all about physicality, which people tend to think when they play us, it was a really good performance from my lads, but it showed how clinical they can be and have been throughout the season. We had a good moment in the first few minutes with Jack Perkins and then they go down the other end and score with their first attack with a really good finish. That’s the difference and that’s where we’ve got to get to.

“But I probably haven't given my lads enough credit to be honest. I should have given them more credit than what I have, but that's only because I expect so much from them with the squad we built. We know where we are and the financial resources we’re limited to but we have no problems with that.

"But that’s why I do get a bit peeved sometimes when people talk about systems and style of play and how we play and everything else. They have much better budgets and bigger finances and they can do a lot of things that we can’t do, but you can’t take away from what we’re trying to achieve here and how we’re trying to do it.”