Buckle delighted with Chairboys stalemate

He said: “I was thoroughly delighted with it. I thought it had everything apart from a goal.

“And I thought it was a real entertaining game and there was a lot of realism to it. It wasn’t a pre-season friendly where sort of we have it you have it, there was some great pressing from us, some good football and our shape worked very well tonight, I’m delighted with everyone. The big plus was the youngsters coming on as well.

“I thought we did excellently and I thought we had the best chances in the game. The move for (Stuart) Fleetwood’s chance was an incredible move, double figures on the passing, and the same with (Andre) Gray in the first half.

“I thought we looked very dangerous on the night against a good Wycombe side who have just come down from League One. It was a big test for our players tonight and we’ve come through it.”

And he was glad to be back on home turf after May’s play-off final disappointment.

Buckle continued: “It was nice to come back to Kenilworth Road after last season. I think there’s been an improvement on the team. I think we look very fit the way we cover the ground. We’ve got a lot of energy and young legs in the team so it’s looking OK. We’ve still got a lot of work to do and hopefully we can get a few more of the injured back.

“We’ve got some excellent youngsters at the club and JJ’s (O’Donnell) only one of them. It gives me great pleasure when you can play them. He’s in the team on merit. It’s made it difficult for me. Because you’ve got (Jake) Howells who can play at left-back and (Greg) Taylor as well. Taylor did a shift on the right and there’s good versatility throughout the team.

“But all the young boys are exciting. We’ve got some exciting youngsters at Luton and I won’t be afraid to play them.”

The performances from the midfield and attack were also cause for optimism, with Buckle saying: “I thought our midfield three worked really hard with Yas (Kasim) sitting in front and pulling the strings. Certainly Fleetwood and Gray looked a handful.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s visit of Championship Ipswich, Buckle added: “Again trying to get the fitness levels up. Trying to get the understanding. There’s nothing like playing against really good opposition and we’ve done that tonight.

“It will be another tough test against Ipswich and one the players will be looking forward to now. There’s a buzz around us, there’s a good feeling and a togetherness.

“I think the work-rate of the whole team and the boys that have come on, the Luton fans really like to see that and they appreciated that tonight with the energy and the legs we had in the team.”