‘Both teams deserve to be in Championship play-offs’ – Luton lowdown ahead of Good Friday clash at Millwall today

Millwall host Luton Town today in a clash of two sides chasing Championship promotion.

EDMUND BRACK got the lowdown on the Hatters from Ian Robertson from the We Are Luton Town fan page (@wearelutontown on Twitter) ahead of today’s match at The Den.

What a season it has been for Luton Town. How would you sum it up?

“It’s been better than expected. I had us down for about eighth or ninth.

“Since Rob Edwards took over we have gone another level above where we were with Nathan Jones, who put in very, very solid foundations.

“The mood in the camp was really good anyway but the win against Watford (last Saturday) has just added to it. It’s pure elation at the moment. Hopefully we can get our heads back in the game for Friday.”

How has Rob Edwards done since coming in? It looks like a seamless transition from Nathan Jones.

“You can’t discount all the great work that Jones did over a number of years that has created a really solid team. On and off the pitch, his work really counted. A lot of people – outside of Luton – will say that the results we have picked up is down to that Jones’ factor continuing but you have to give Edwards a lot of credit.

“He has identified areas where we could improve – mainly in attack – and we are just relentless at the moment. If we were confident and happy with what we had before, I don’t think we could have foreseen the position we’re in now and how much more he could actually get out of the players.”

Were you a little bit sceptical about his appointment? He had just been sacked by your arch-rivals and had jumped up a couple of divisions to land the Watford job?

“Absolutely not – he was my choice. When Watford signed him, I was actually a bit gutted. He’s a fantastic coach and had a good pedigree with Forest Green Rovers and the England set-up. He plays good football’. Then they went and sacked him – I couldn’t believe it.

“I always felt Rob fitted our style of play perfectly.
“You could say there was a bit of inexperience in the higher leagues, and he didn’t set Watford alight – but he did alright and got some positive results. He just needed time there.”

What was the feeling of the Luton fanbase when Jones left halfway through the season for Southampton? From the outside, he was seen as this talismanic figure.

“Jones fits the profile of what a normal Luton manager looks like. He was absolutely relentless in his work. Perhaps he ran out of a few ideas, and that’s how Rob has helped out a little bit.

“Luton fans thought it maybe became a little stale under Jones. For me, he would have found another way. I was slightly upset that he left, but it wasn’t unexpected. He had ambitions to manage higher than where we were. I don’t think anyone was distraught.”

Who has been your danger man this season and which players should Millwall look out for today?

“As you saw in that game at Kenilworth Road, Carlton Morris is hard to play against. With the top two, their relentless pressing is quite intense. It’s not just for 50 or 60 minutes either, it’s for most of the game. Morris and Elijah Adebayo are our main threats.”

How big is today’s fixture in the context of the season?

“It depends how optimistic you are, as a Luton Town fan. We’re six points off second place. Sheffield United’s form hasn’t been fantastic recently. We could maybe make it. But if you’re a little more realistic, second place is already done.

“We’re 10 points clear of seventh, so we can afford a draw against Millwall. Would I be happy with a draw? Quite probably, because they are a good team and we don’t always do that well against them. But we need to be looking at a win if we want to keep that momentum going. Millwall are the only team in 13 games to score against us in open play, which shows they have something about them.

“It’s two really good, well-oiled teams. Both aren’t labelled as being the sexiest who are up there, but we both deserve to be in the positions we are. We are more than deserving of our places in the play-offs.

“If I’m a betting man, it’s a draw.”

How has ex-Charlton winger Alfie Doughty performed?

“Doughty has been fantastic. It’s a really good success story. Stats-wise, he’s probably been our best player this season.

“At Stoke he didn’t really pull up any trees, did he? All he needed, because there was so much potential there, was someone to put their arm around him. Jones was after him for a couple of seasons, and you can see why.

“Ever since Edwards has come in, he has absolutely flown. He’s so good on the ball.”

Another ex-Charlton figure is Tom Lockyer (inset) – how influential has he been?

“What a stalwart. He’s been one of the best defenders in the Championship. He’s great to watch – he’s on the end of everything.

“His passion for the game and his passion for playing for us is superb. A lot of Charlton fans said that he wasn’t a Championship player when we signed him, but he’s turned out to be a very good one.”

Top-six prediction?

Burnley, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Luton, Millwall, West Brom.