Boothroyd calls on Cobblers' players to raise their game

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd has laid down a challenge to his senior players at Sixfields ahead of Saturday's home game with AFC Wimbledon.

Boothroyd was pleased with how his much-changed side performed to beat MK Dons of League One in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy.

The Cobblers boss wouldn't be drawn on whether any of the fringe who played on Tuesday night will feature in the league at the weekend, but said that competition for places is healthy.

'Sometimes that little bit of extra pressure from a teammate, it brings the whole level up', Boothroyd said.

'It makes us all that little bit more on our toes and treating every second of every session and every game as if it is the last one, and I think when you get players in that frame of mind, it very very quickly buids up momentum'.

Northampton suffered their first league defeat at Plymouth last weekend. They lost 3-2 despite leading 1-0 at half time.

'We certainly were the architects of our own downfall at Plymouth, especially to go one-nil up, and have as many chances as we did in the first half and the second half', Boothroyd added.

'But some of the decisions we made were really comical and unacceptable for where we want to get to and where we're at right now.

'But I'm in a position now thankfully where we either learn and make a different mistake which isn't as drastic, or somebody will come into the team that won't make that mistake.

'That's why the competition, and that's why Tuesday's result was so good for us'.