A really good performance – Jon Brady defiant after goalless draw

Posted Wednesday, February 15, 2023 by PA

Northampton boss Jon Brady had no qualms with his side’s performance despite being booed off after Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

The promotion-chasing Cobblers were held to their third draw in a row on a frustrating night in front of goal at Sixfields.

They dominated all of the statistics, taking 17 shots to Wimbledon’s six, but failed to find a way through Nik Tzanev in the away goal, with Jon Guthrie and Sam Sherring missing the two best chances.

“We had the two real key chances in the game,” said Brady. “There’s the one with Jon where Shez has pulled it back to him, he’s two yards out and the goalkeeper has kept it out. Those were going in for us at the start of the season.

“The goalkeeper doesn’t know anything about it, and then there’s one near the end where Shez hits it and it’s going in but the ball hits Jon Guthrie’s legs. We’re just finding it a bit tough at the moment and it’s not quite going for us.

“But you could see the way we tried to play. There’s a purpose and identity to us and if we come off with a 1-0 win, everyone says it’s a really good performance. I feel that way anyway.

“I get that the final ball needs to be better and we need more cutting edge, and we will keep working on that, but there was energy and tempo and the players gave everything.

“Teams come here and sit in but at least we kept pushing and tried to win the game.”

Wimbledon have drawn 0-0 in four of their last six games.

“It was a closely-fought game,” said Dons boss Johnnie Jackson. “There wasn’t much in it.

“From our point of view, I thought we defended superbly and there was a real good shape about us.

“We had a threat on the counter but it’s a similar story to what I’ve said in the last few weeks, it’s turning those opportunities into goals and adding that last little bit in the final third.

“Clearly we are doing something really well at the other end because we are not conceding any goals and we are going toe-to-toe with all of these teams at the top end of the league.

“We are conceding hardly any chances. Obviously we’re not scoring enough but it’s hard to get that balance between being as solid as we are and scoring goals at the other end.

“We’re trying to find a way but we will keep working and it will come.”