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Cobblers and Wombles square up with both struggling for form

By Alex Gibbings

It is still very early in the season to be describing games as a relegation battle.
But for Northampton Town and AFC Wimbledon, only managing to rack up two wins each this term, it looks like it could be a long season for the two.
The Wombles travel to Northamptonshire in League One to face the Cobblers at Sixfields, with both teams looking to avenge the previous weekend’s defeats.
Wimbledon lost 3-0 away at Oxford United on Saturday, whilst Town were hit for six on their own turf, as Bristol Rovers ran out 0-6 winners in what was a day to forget for Northampton fans.
Neal Ardley will hope to celebrate his five-year anniversary with AFC Wimbledon with a win on the road this Saturday. He will be anticipating a reaction from his players following a run that has seen them fail to win any of the last four.
Speaking to iFollow Dons, Ardley said: “I try to give them an identity of what we are about and as a manager you make sure they are fresh and fit, but when they go on the pitch and things don’t go well you cannot do anything about it.
“The only people who can make things better are the players. I set the culture, I try to make sure they are aware of the opposition, and give them the freedom to play.”
For Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the other hand, his Cobblers side have largely struggled since his opening win against Doncaster Rovers in early September.
They were embarrassed last weekend on their own patch and Hasselbaink said he won’t be afraid to ring the changes.
Speaking to the BBC after the Bristol Rovers defeat, Hasselbaink said: “Everybody is playing for their futures, I don’t care if they’ve got two or three years left on their contract, they need to accept that.
“It’s just not good enough, this week we have got more time on the training pitch and we will have to go back to basics and get things right.”

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