ALEXANDER IS VEXED BY TOWN ‘DIVE’
GRAHAM Alexander was furious with the decision making as two key moments saw his Salford side turned over by Northampton.
Salford found themselves behind after 34 minutes when Cameron Burgess was adjudged to have fouled Charlie Goode in the penalty box, leaving Sam Hoskins to convert from 12 yards.
Jordan Turnbull finished off a well-worked free-kick in the second half to effectively seal a first victory in five games for Keith Curle’s side.
Alexander was left deeply disappointed with the officiating though, and not only did he hit out at Northampton’s penalty, but he also felt his side should have had a spot-kick late on.
“It’s frustrating because I didn’t think there was anything in the game apart from a couple of decisions that went against us and a set-piece goal that we should have defended better,” he said.
“For me, the penalty he’s given against us is never a penalty. I didn’t think it at the time and I’ve watched it again and the lad’s dived and won the penalty.
“But sometimes these go against you away from home and that was the only difference between the teams and we were under pressure to get back into the game in the second-half.”
Chris Lines’ header was easy enough for Kyle Letheren in the visiting goal, while Hoskins shot wide of a post as the Cobblers started on top. Salford grew into the game and Adam Rooney forced a fine save from David Cornell, but Northampton led 11 minutes before half-time when Goode was fouled in the box and Hoskins found the bottom corner from the spot.
The home side doubled their lead midway through the second period when a deep free-kick found Andy Williams and he headed back to Turnbull who squeezed a shot through Letheren.
Williams put too much on his attempted lob when trying to make it three and Nicky Adams’ free-kick brought a fine save from Letheren, but Northampton had done enough to take the points
Curle believed the three points came off the back of efforts on the training pitch, saying: “We’ve had a good week as a footballing department with the conversations and the meetings we’ve had.
“The training, the focus and the application of the players has been very good and the changing room needed that result today.
“In terms of the performance, there’s still more to come but I thought the first goal today was important and it was vital to get the second goal. “I spoke to the players afterwards and the feeling in the changing room has been completely different and it’s one you like compared to recent games but that doesn’t make you a winner.”