Outstanding Goode admits he 'might have got away with one' in cup clash with Derby

The Cobblers skipper was outstanding throughout the fourth round tie at a sold-out PTS Stadium, heading and clearing nearly every ball that came into his penalty box as Town held the Championship outfit to a goalless draw.

But he was perhaps fortunate not to see red just 12 minutes in after bringing down Marriott when the striker only had goalkeeper David Cornell to beat.

“I’ve been told by a few people that I might have been a little bit lucky to stay on the pitch,” admitted Goode afterwards.

“It felt like a tangling of legs at the time and it actually came off my foot and went into his path but maybe I grabbed him on the shoulder a little bit.

“Maybe I’ve been cute in the way I’ve gone down which saved me but it sounds like the ref might have been on our side with that one.”

While Derby might not agree, Town will feel they earned a stroke of good fortune after giving away a controversial late penalty at Leyton Orient in midweek.

Goode added: “I feel like I might have got away with it but to turn it around from potentially getting sent off to winning man of the match, I think it’s a good night!

“You could say it evens itself out. Throughout the season there’ll be ups and downs, swings and roundabouts. I haven’t seen it back but to be honest I’m not sure I want to!

“I think I might just skip over that bit and watch the good bits.”

A draw was the very least the Cobblers deserved following a superb display against Derby, who didn’t manage a single shot on target across the 90 minutes.

“I’m delighted and obviously as a defender it’s brilliant to get a clean sheet,” Goode continued.

“I don’t remember Dai being tested much so credit to all the lads, especially Michael (Harriman) who stepped in at centre-back and did brilliantly.”