Brown rues defending as Cobblers romp home

COLCHESTER

United interim boss Wayne Brown said he could not justify some of his side’s ‘criminal’ defending in their defeat at Northampton.

Brown was pleased with his side’s overall performance but hit out at the defending for Northampton’s goals, particularly Fraser Horsfall’s header.

Horsfall converted Mitch Pinnock’s corner after 16 minutes before Sam Hoskins and Benny AshleySeal both scored in the second half.

“Believe it or not, but in the first half I thought we were the better team,” said Brown.

“But as well as we imposed our game on them, the bottom line is that the game is won and lost in each box.

“There were two free headers for them from set-pieces in the first half, one they score from and another cleared is off the line, and that’s criminal. You cannot justify that in any league in any country. You can’t give teams free headers in your own box.”

Hoskins was expertly denied by Sam Hornby inside 90 seconds before Northampton showed why they are setpiece specialists with the opening goal after 16 minutes.

Pinnock delivered another pinpoint corner and Horsfall stooped low to head home.

Colchester saw a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it, while Northampton occasionally threatened to add a second goal before half-time, Jon Guthrie going closest when his header was hooked off the line.

The home side doubled their lead with a brilliant goal four minutes into the second half. Jack Sowerby, Tyler Magloire and Paul Lewis all combined to set up Hoskins and he curled a superb shot into the top corner.

Alan Judge hit the woodwork for Colchester but Northampton’s win was wrapped up when Ashley-Seal turned in Hoskins’ cross in stoppage-time.

Northampton returned to the top three with the victory, keeping their 16th clean sheet in the process.

“We are very pleased overall,” said Cobblers boss Jon Brady. “We worked hard apart from maybe a 10-minute blip in the second half when I felt we got a little bit sloppy.

“It was good to get another goal at the end to make it more comfortable – it was important to get three goals on the board.”