The Dons began the season with a hard-fought victory against Chesterfield but that early promise was dissolved by heavy defeats at the hands of Burton Albion and Bradford City who between them put 11 goals past Terry Brown's side.
Brown was happier however with last Saturday's draw against Dagenham and the midweek display in defeat at Southend.
That JPT reverse at Roots Hall saw a number of fringe players given a chance and, like Northampton's squad men against MK Dons, they did plenty to impress ahead of the weekend.
Speaking to the official AFC Wimbledon website meanwhile, Stuart Cash, part of Brown's backroom team, said his men had been working on the threat posed by striker Clive Platt.
"We have to stop balls coming in from their centre-backs into our box and our full-backs have to do better in stopping crosses coming in."