Disappointed Page rues '˜embarrassing' defending after Lions tame Cobblers

A highly disappointed Rob Page described his side's defending as '˜embarrassing' after three mistakes led to three cheap goals conceded in their defeat to Millwall on Saturday afternoon.
BAD DAY: It was an afternoon to forget for Rob Page. Picture by Sharon LuceyBAD DAY: It was an afternoon to forget for Rob Page. Picture by Sharon Lucey
BAD DAY: It was an afternoon to forget for Rob Page. Picture by Sharon Lucey

Zander Diamond and Brendan Moloney were the main culprits with Lee Gregory, Calum Butcher and Steve Morrison all profiting to fire Millwall to a 3-1 victory, with Marc Richards scoring for Northampton.

“I’m very disappointed with the afternoon,” admitted Page afterwards.

“I thought we started OK in the first five or 10 minutes but they haven’t had a win in four games and came here going for the win however they could.

“We fell into their hands a little bit and started playing a bit direct like them which wasn’t like us.

“Harry Beautyman have any impact like he normally does and John-Joe didn’t make those runs in behind.

“We started brightly in the second-half but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

“All three goals are embarrassing really. When you look back at them, they haven’t had to work too hard to score.

“You can do all the work you want through the week but if you defend like that you’re going to give yourselves a mountain to climb and we did that today.”

The game’s key moment was undoubtedly Jak McCourt’s red card which came early in the second-half and at a time when Northampton looked to be building up a head of steam.

Page added: “I made the changes at half-time and I thought it worked for us for the short time we allowed it to but the sending off changes the course of the game.

“Jak scored the goal to get us a great point last week and he’s young and he makes mistakes but he’s got to learn from them and that today is certainly one he’s got to learn from.

“But he will do, he’s been great for us since he came in.”

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