Jon Brady cut a frustrated figure after watching 10-man Northampton succumb late on to Stevenage – a defeat which saw his side slip into the bottom four.
Late goals from Dan Kemp and Jamie Reid ended the visitors’ dogged resistance after Northampton striker Tom Eaves was sent off in the 28th minute for a second yellow card.
Eaves was booked for an off-the-ball clash with Boro skipper Carl Piergianni in the second minute before receiving his marching orders from referee Scott Jackson for a clumsy foul on Elliott List.
Northampton manager Brady said: “It just sums us up at the moment. Injuries, red cards, and trying to fight your way through games.
“Tom has been really naive. He knows he’s on a booking and he shouldn’t go in for that second one. We’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb thereafter for 62 minutes.
“For probably 58 minutes of that the boys were brilliant and the effort they gave, and the organisation, was incredible.
“It was just a lapse of concentration to concede, then obviously they got the second because we’re trying to go for it. It was a really tough evening.
“It’s just difficult because you’ve got to set yourselves up in a block and defend for your lives.
“You know you’re going to suffer with the injuries we’ve got. We’ve constantly got 11 to 13 out. It’s hugely difficult but all I can do is praise the players who are playing at the moment as their effort and application as a 10-man side tonight was unbelievable.
“The resolve has to be strong and it was strong, but we’re suffering. For various reasons we’ve slipped down but there are 28 games to go and we have to remain positive.”
Stevenage manager Alex Revell was barred from doing post-match interviews after receiving a straight red card during the half-time break.
Boro’s goalkeeping coach Marlon Beresford was also booked in a bad-tempered meeting between the two League One strugglers.
Stevenage’s assistant manager Neil Banfield said: “Our Hearts were in our mouths but I think we deserved the victory. I think we’ve shown in the last two games that some of our football has been outstanding. The players work hard and they got their just rewards.
“I think you’ve got two really competitive teams and they’re going at it. Something’s gone on and the referee has dealt with it, so we just have to get on with it.
“It’s always difficult to work against a well-organised team, and they were very well-organised. But you have to be patient and you have to move them around.
“In the end we got our chances and we took them. It was a great win in the end.”
