Drab draw does little to inspire strugglers

NORTHAMPTON and Crawley both moved a step closer to safety after playing out a dour goalless draw.

The home side had clearer opportunities, but an error-strewn, low-quality game always looked likely to end in stalemate.

After the contest, Crawley Town manager Gabriele Cioffi praised his team’s defensive performance.

“I thought it was another solid performance and the final score was a fair result because both teams could have won the game,” said Cioffi.

“Their main threat was from set-pieces all over the pitch, but we dealt well with those and we were good on the second balls, so I’m pleased with the point and the performance.

“In terms of football I think we’ve played much, much better, but this is a tough pitch to play football on.

“Last week the 3-0 defeat to Oldham didn’t mirror the performance, but we learned our lessons and, if we can’t win, we have to make sure we don’t lose.”

Cobblers boss Keith Curle echoed those views, saying: “It was a point earned and a clean sheet. It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought we looked solid defensively and that’s pleasing after conceding four in our last home game.

“I was disappointed we didn’t hit the back of the net with the opportunities we had in the first half, but the team showed they’ve got a backbone and we’re building on the win at Tranmere and the draw at Lincoln.

“It was very important to show the resolve and make sure we kept a clean sheet because if things don’t come off in the final third, you walk off the pitch with a 0-0.

“The defence gave us the platform, but we could have done better when we had the ball facing their goal. Some of our decision-making and some of our choices on the ball needs to improve and the players know that.” In the first half, David Buchanan cleared Tom Dallison’s early header off the line, before the Cobblers squandered a clear opportunity of their own, JohnJoe O’Toole skewing a shot over the crossbar from close range.

The second period was a marginal improvement and Northampton continued to have the better of the chances with Ash Taylor heading over at the back post and then Glenn Morris producing a fine stop from Joe Powell.