Opposition view: Ardley frustrated by penalty decisions after Dons lose out to Cobblers

Matty Taylor’s spot-kick, awarded for a handball by Chris Robertson four minutes from time, was all that separated the teams in a scrappy and low-key affair that yielded few clear-cut opportunities.

Whilst Ardley accepted Northampton’s penalty was ‘absolutely stonewall’, he was adamant his side should also have been awarded a spot-kick for an apparent handball against David Buchanan earlier in the second-half.

The Dons boss said: “I thought it was a 0-0 all day long. We played some good stuff in the first-half and overloaded them in midfield.

“But we never really looked like we had a cutting edge and were on the verge of scoring but there was some pleasing stuff.

“The second-half they had a few half chances but the two penalty decisions are what really decided it.

“That’s football, it sometimes goes against you sometimes. Theirs is an absolute stonewall penalty.

“I don’t know what Robbo is doing to give it away.

“And ours is a stonewall penalty too. Lyle cuts it back and the guy puts his arm behind him and stops the ball going in the box.

“One is given but one is not and we lose the game. We have to forget about it.”