CREWE CUT TO PIECES BY CURLE’S ‘BRAVES’
KEITH Curle believes the “bravery” of his Northampton players was key in their crushing victory over Crewe.
David Artell’s Crewe have a strong away record this season, but were undone by three early goals at Sixfields.
Scott Wharton scored twice, before Sam Hoskins converted from the spot and, although Chris Porter pulled one goal back, Andy Williams’ lobbed finish shortly after half-time wrapped up the points.
“We had a gameplan and to play against Crewe you need to be brave,” said Curle, whose side moved into the play-off places.
“Scotty Wharton was excellent today. Jordan (Turnbull) and Charlie (Kirk) were also very good because they were brave and I like my defenders to accept challenges and be prepared to play one-on-one.
“I think we stopped them from playing. We took a look at the videos of Crewe and they dominate possession of the ball, they recycle play and they’re brave in their way.
“But we stopped that and we nullified that. You’ve got to be brave to beat them.”
Crewe started well and went close through Paul Green, but Northampton struck after 10 minutes when Nicky Adams’ free-kick was eventually stabbed in by Wharton.
Kirk then toe-poked wide, but the home side moved into a commanding position with two goals in five minutes. Wharton scored his second with a brilliant finish from Adams’ freekick and then Paul Anderson was felled in the box, leaving Hoskins to drill home the resulting spotkick.
Crewe continued to create chances, though, and they were back in the game eight minutes before half-time as Nicky Hunt’s shot was spilled by David Cornell and Porter was on hand to tap in.
Kirk then smacked against a post, but Northampton restored their three-goal cushion 11 minutes into the second half as Williams raced on to Vadaine Oliver’s flick-on and lobbed the stranded Will Jaaskelainen.
Crewe boss Artell lamented his side’s wasteful finishing.
“In the first half we should have been 3-0 up but we went 3-0 down,” he said. “We had our chances but Northampton were clinical from set-pieces and that just about sums the game up.
“There were some real good performances in possession and some real poor ones out of possession and that’s what has cost us the game.
“You can’t give anyone a three-goal start. Northampton are going well at the minute and it’ll be a tough place to come as their team progresses.
“We weren’t able to handle their style at times. It’s as simple as that.
“Northampton did what we expected and they were clinical when the chances came.”
NORTHAMPTON: Cornell 8, Goode 7, Turnbull 7, Wharton 9, Anderson 7, Lines 7, McCormack 6 (Pollock 84, 6), Adams 8, Hoskins 7, Williams 7, Oliver 7 (Smith 74, 6). Subs not used: Hall-Johnson, Warburton, Harriman, Arnold, Waters.
CREWE: Jaaskelainen 6, Ng 6, Hunt 5, Mbulu 5, Pickering 7, Green 6 (Anene 75, 6), Wintle 6, Lowery 6, Dale 5 (Powell 61, 6), Porter 7, Kirk 6 (Ainley 65, 6). Subs not used: Nolan, Jones, Richards, Finney.