Wimbledon boss Ardley talks up Cobblers' quality

Dons entertain Town at the Cherry Red Records Stadium (ko 3pm) in a position of strength, as they are four points better off and three places higher than Justin Edinburgh’s men in the Sky Bet League One table.

But Ardley is expecting a very difficult afternoon for his team, and has highighted the quality of midfielders John-Joe O’Toole and Matt Taylor and strikers Marc Richards and Michael Smith, who is a former Dons loan player.

Asked what sort of team Dons can expect to come up against at the weekend, Ardley said: “A good one.

“I know Northampton have been a little bit up and down with their form and performances, but they had a good win last week against Charlton.

“They have two of the better forwards in the league, as we know, in Michael Smith and Marc Richards, and they have a lot of good qualities.

“John-Joe O’Toole scores goals every season, Matty Taylor has quality that goes well above this league, and so on and so forth.”

Ardley, who saw his side draw 0-0 at Sixfields earlier in the season, is expecting another tight game and says it is going to be all about who gets things right in the business areas of the pitch.

“To win you have to peform to a high level, you have to take your chanes when they come, you have to do both boxes well,” he said.

“Justin knows that, he is experienced enough, and I think whatever team does both boxes well will probably win the game.”