Expectation part of the pull for Town defender

IF Town defender Dean Beckwith needed any introduction into the expectation at Luton Town, he certainly got it on Tuesday night, writes Mike Simmonds.

There was a tense atmosphere at Kenilworth Road during the clash with Forest Green Rovers, especially when Luton went behind to Charlie Griffin’s header, although they eventually salvaged a draw thanks to Beckwith’s debut strike.

Asked it he could hear the fans frustrations, Beckwith said: “Not too much when you’re playing.

“They come here and want to see us win. We want to win as well but we dominated the game and if it wasn’t for their keeper, we would have won the game comfortably.

“I can understand their frustration, we’re frustrated as well.

“We’re at home and we want to get off to a good start, we want to win every game we play.

“We dominated the game but the keeper kept them in it.”

Beckwith was made aware of the pressure on the players at Town to regain their place in the Football League before signing when he spoke to former team-mate Craig Hinton, who spent time on loan at Luton last season.

He said: “I was aware of the expectation as I know a lad who was here last year, Craig Hinton.

“I don’t think he played too much, but said the expectation from fans, players, management staff, everyone wants to get into the League.

“I was aware of the size of the crowd and the lads had told me that at away games, sometimes there’s more Luton fans than home fans.

“So I’m aware of the expectation and looking forward to it.”

This season there doesn’t appear to be one side who will run away with the title like Crawley and Stevenage have done in previous campaigns.

Fleetwood splashed the cash during the summer, while York City have won their opening two matches.

Beckwith added: “You’ve got to look at the two sides who have come down. There’s always strong teams like York, but then there’s some teams who are throwing money at it to try and get out of the league.

“Anyone can beat anyone on their day in this division, but I feel you can put us in there as well.

“There’s probably going to be five or six teams trying to get that promotion place.”

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