Boss Ian Sampson, speaking earlier in the month, eyed an unbeaten Christmas and a more solid look to the Cobblers rearguard and has been rewarded on both fronts with a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Boxing Day then a scoreless draw at Barnet. Skipper Craig Hinton told BBC Radio Northampton this week: "The two clean sheets we've had is definitely a massive improvement. "We've worked very hard in training on staying solid. "And we're always going to create chances at the other end, with the players we've got." Town were 2-0 winners over Bournemouth at Sixfields in August and have also defeated the Cherries in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this season.