AFC Wimbledon came away with a second successive 0-0 draw on Tuesday night as we were well matched by Northampton Town.

A third game in a row against one of Sky Bet League Two’s top four sides, we struggled to get any real rhythm into our play, with set pieces proving to be our best route to goal overall.

It means the gap between ourselves and the play-off places has widened, meaning that Saturday’s home game against Hartlepool United has increased in importance.

Johnnie Jackson made three changes to the side that drew against Carlisle United as Jack Currie, Saikou Janneh and Ali Al-Hamadi came in for Lee Brown, Harry Pell and Diallang Jaiyesimi. This coincided with a shift to more of a 4-3-3 formation.

It was the hosts who fashioned their first chance almost immediately as Sam Hoskins arrowed in a shot that Nik Tzanev matched comfortably. Marc Leonard then saw an equally tame effort gathered up by the Kiwi.

After a cagey first-half, things could only get better in the second. First a short corner caused pinball in the Northampton area before the hosts managed to scramble the ball clear as Currie fired in a shot.

We threw on the likes of Jaiyesimi, McAteer and Pell, however neither side produced any true forays forward in the closing stages, meaning it finished goalless at Sixfields.

AFC Wimbledon: Nik Tzanev, Chris Gunter, Alex Woodyard, Saikou Janneh (Diallang Jaiyesimi), Josh Davison, Ethan Chislett (Kasey McAteer), Ali Al-Hamadi (Harry Pell), Alex Pearce, Armani Little, Jack Currie, Paul Kalambayi

PIC: Dennis Goodwin (Pro Sports Images)