Keith Curle came back to haunt Brunton Park as goals from Scott Pollock and Sam Hoskins sent Northampton into the top half and gave Carlisle a fourth league defeat on the trot.

In front a sub-par crowd, even for a cold Tuesday night, The Cumbrians failed to make their promising first half count as a ruthless Cobblers put the pressure on Steven Pressley.

The under-fire manager opted for all three former Northampton men in his starting XI, those being Jack Bridge, Hallam Hope and Byron Webster.

Left-back Jack Iredale was suspended for already picking up five yellow cards while Nathan Thomas came back into the fold, and Harry McKirdy returned to the squad.

Curle, who spent almost four seasons in the Border City until 2018, was an anticipated figure back in Cumbria, with Peter Andre’s ‘Mysterious Girl’ (now Mysterious Curle to most fans of these sides) being played during the warm-ups.

For the match, he changed his winning centre-midfield partnership Chris Lines and Alan McCormack for Pollock and Shaun McWilliams, with former Blue Nicky Adams also starting out wide.

Carlisle controlled the vast majority of the first half, with Nathan Thomas coming closest thanks to his outside of the boot effort, forcing goalkeeper David Cornell to go full stretch and tip wide.

Most of the game was played down the Cumbrians’ left and Cobblers right-back Michael Harriman struggled to contain a lively Blues attack.

However, Andrew Williams almost took the lead earlier for Northampton when Carlisle ’keeper Adam Collin fumbled a cross, but the away team’s joint-top goalscorer failed to pounce quick enough.

All square at the break, and even rare cheers for the hosts heading into the tunnel after a much-improved display.

Half-time: 0-0

Curle hooked Harriman at the interval, opting for the strike power of target man Harry Smith up front.

That changed the game plan for Northampton as his hold-up play allowed his side to advance, and the switch to the three at the back matched Carlisle, shifting Adams to wing-back.

Within six minutes, the visitors broke the deadlock after Jarrad Branthwaite, a 17-year-old making his home league debut, failed to clear on the right of the penalty area and Pollock smashed in off the crossbar following a few ricochets inside the box.

Nevertheless, Branthwaite earned home Man of the Match and was a shining light in this current abyss of darkness that anyone connected to his club are staring at.

The local lad’s composure and confidence in possession allowed for some tidy pieces of play, not to mention important defensive interventions.

On the other side, Billy Waters was booked for diving, before Lines replaced him, solidifying the Cobblers’ midfield. Pressley opted for changes of his own but they failed to make much of an impact.

A few half-chances weren’t enough to trouble Northampton, as Collin denied substitute Vadaine Oliver from doubling his team’s lead on the counter-attack as the closing stages loomed.

In the four minutes of additional time, further pressure was added onto Pressley when substitute Harry McKirdy’s corner went straight out of play and from the goal kick, Sam Hoskins was able to finish a breakaway move into the roof of the net.

Cue a mass exodus inside most of Brunton Park, with the Paddock – the section behind the dugouts and in front of the Board of Directors’ seats – becoming hostile just as Curle had alluded to with the local press in the build-up to the match.

Director Steven Pattison appeared to be riled by one supporter’s complaints amongst a tirade of them, as Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens tried to ease tensions with the help of security.

Curle received a warm applause from the final 50 or so in the Paddock, following his time speaking with the ground’s staff long after the game was over, post-praising the 176-strong travelling support on the far side.

It wasn’t so poetic for his fellow boss, though, as he walked into the tunnel accompanied by a chorus of jeers and chants for him out.

Five points off the bottom laying in 21st, this campaign looks bleak for the Blues; while the Cobblers strolled into ninth heading back to Sixfields with a second consecutive two-goal win and clean sheet under their belts.

Pressley may not have a future at Brunton Park, and despite his courageous stance of ‘being determined to get through this period,’ the end for him feels nigh.

Attendance: 3,324 (176)

Home star man: Jarrad Branthwaite

Away star man: Scott Pollock

Referee: Scott Oldham

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent