Northampton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink vows to fight to ‘bitter end’

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says he will fight to the “bitter end” after Northampton’s 2-0 defeat at rivals Peterborough left them stuck in the relegation zone.

Hasselbaink was told to quit by watching Cobblers fans but he insisted he would not resign after goals from Jack Baldwin and Jack Marriott moved Peterborough up to fifth in Sky Bet League One.

Cobblers captain Ash Taylor was also sent off with 11 minutes to go for fouling Marriott, a decision which was criticised by both managers.

Hasselbaink said: “The result is very disappointing but I think we played really well, as crazy as it sounds.

“We were really bright, created chances, were sharp and we were the better team and they scored in our best period.

“That’s the killer for us – they scored from two long crosses. I do not have an answer on that. That’s just a simple thing to defend.

“We are where we are because we do not kill teams off. It’s very tough at the moment.

“I have always fought in my career. I will always say it’s possible and I will fight to the bitter end. I’m not the kind of person to give up.

“The fans are entitled to say what they want but I think from this performance the chants are unfair.”

Free-kicks from Liam Shephard, from inside his own half, led to both goals with an unmarked Baldwin heading in after 12 minutes.

Marriott then lobbed visiting goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell for his 31st goal of the season two minutes later.

Northampton’s Chris Long had earlier been denied by Conor O’Malley when clean through, and after the break Sam Foley hit the outside of the post for the visitors, before Taylor’s late red card.

Posh manager Steve Evans claimed Marriott had a goal in the second half wrongly ruled out for offside.

He said: “I don’t think there was any doubt Northampton were better than us for the first 15 minutes.

“A lot of players looked as though they were finding their feet.

“But apart from one chance I thought they huffed and puffed and, from the moment Jack put us in front, it was a question of how many.

“The other Jack – it was a finish to make fans love him and other chairmen love him. It was an incredible finish.

“If he was in a Championship side creating chances he would be the top scorer in the Championship.

“I do not think Northampton were good enough to take something from us but we were not going to give them the opportunity.

“They have good players and should not be where they in League One, but the table does not lie.”