Wilder reveals how harsh words helped Cobblers beat Carlisle

Sheffield United loanee Calvert-Lewin levelled things up on the stroke of half-time after Carlisle had taken the lead through Alex Gilliead.

Hoskins then put Town 2-1 up just after the restart and Calvert-Lewin rounded things off before Charlie Wyke netted a late consolation for Keith Curle’s men.

Wilder admits he gave his attacking aces a talking to at the break as he sought to motivate them.

And his words of wisdom paid dividends as the Cobblers turned things around to secure a 3-2 win that moves them up to fifth in Sky Bet League Two.

“I had a bit of a pop at both of them at half-time because I felt we needed a bit more out of them,” Wilder said.

“For Dom to score two goals was a great effort. He was excellent in the second half.

“It was also good for Sammy to get a goal. It was one of the worst goals we’ve scored all season - we don’t score rubbish goals, and we should do. He took his chance.”

Carlisle felt aggrieved that Calvert-Lewin’s first goal was allowed to stand, with manager Curle feeling goalkeeper Mark Gillespie had been fouled at the corner.

But Wilder was quick to praise referee Graham Horwood, and said: “I don’t for the life of me know what they were complaining about.

“It was never a foul on the goalkeeper and they were going off their heads.

“It was amazing that they wanted to speed the game up in the second half, where in the first half they were in absolutely no rush to do anything.

“I thought the referee was really good. He handled and managed the game.

“Referees have a responsibility because supporters want to come and watch and game of football and he nailed it.

“They started booting the ball away and playing some silly games, but we got the right result in the end.”