Northampton Town manager Jon Brady insists he takes Joey Barton's criticism as a compliment following the Bristol Rovers boss' claim the Cobblers are a "glorified rugby team".
Rovers edged an intense League Two promotion battle 1-0 to move into fourth in the division and level on points with Northampton, just a goal and a place above them in the first automatic promotion berth.
Speaking after the game, Barton was critical of the length of the grass at Sixfields and the apparent agricultural style of play employed by Brady's side, claiming he wouldn't pay to watch them and branding the Cobblers "awful".
Brady has responded to the insult in the Northampton Chronicle, claiming it's a measure of how his team were able to restrict Rovers' attacking play as the Gas scored early through Harry Anderson but were unable to trouble the scoreline thereafter.
"I would say that they didn't get it their own way in terms of how they wanted to play," Brady said. "With how we pressed, we stopped them playing and I think that was frustrating for them so I take it as a compliment.
"If he wants to talk about our style of play, then that's his opinion, but we will see what happens over the next few weeks and we will just keep quiet.
"There is no need for us to comment. We do our business in-house and we are a club that is very respectful of other clubs and other managers and we don't say things behind people's backs. We want to keep those values and those standards as a football club and as humans and as people."
These latest comments follow Brady's criticism of referee Oliver Langford, as he branded the official's performance as "absolutely shocking", claiming Rovers midfielder Sam Finley should have been sent off for a series of dangerous challenges. He also labelled Barton, "the gift that keeps on giving".
With just seven points separating Northampton in third and Mansfield down in 10th, who have four games on hand on their rivals in the play-off places, there are sure to be many twists and turns in the League Two promotion race with new rivalries forming.
It's not the first time Barton has taken aim at a direct rival, nor used rugby as a comparison. In February he joked he wanted legendary rugby union referee Nigel Owens to take charge of an upcoming game against Sutton United due to the rugby-like tactics employed by the south London side.
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