AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley is under no illusions as to the nature of this evening’s League Two trip to Northampton Town.

The Cobblers top the table by 10 points and have dropped just two points from the past 24 available – and that was a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool last weekend.

However, Ardley wants his players to be excited by the challenge.

“It’s a stern challenge, they are at home and they’re buzzing,” he said.

“They are a good team and they are not at the top, miles clear, because they’re not very good.

“It’s a challenge, but be excited by it – we still have 14 games to get 21 or more points, and whether you’re playing teams at the top or at the bottom, you’ve still got to try to pick up those points.”

AFC Wimbledon: Unhappy Ardley's double whammy of disappointment from the men in black

Life will get no easier this weekend when Dons entertain fellow play-off chasers Accrington Stanley.