Grimsby victory eases pressure on Hatters as difficult away run continues

That 2-1 triumph moved them 17 points clear of nearest challengers Cambridge United as Luton close on a return to the Football League after five years out.

With tough away games at Halifax and Dartford coming up this week too, success at Blundell Park has helped to ease the pressure on the run-in.

Boss John Still said: “I know it sounds silly, but I don’t really worry who we play, I don’t.

“I just believe so much in the group of players that we’ve got. All season they’ve overcome obstacles and overcome hurdles.

“We’ve got eight games to go now, if we keep putting in performances like that the rest will follow.”

Powerful midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was back to his best on the night and wasn’t resting on his laurels after helping inspire Town to victory.

He said: “You’re not going to be given everything, you need to get on with the game and let the football do the talking which we did and came away with the win and three points.

“Now we move on to Halifax at the weekend and hopefully get three points there.”

Halifax boast a fine record at the Shay, with their home form only second best to Town’s in the division.

They have won 14, drawn four and lost one of their 19 games there and also boast the division’s joint highest goalscorer, Lee Gregory, who is level with Luton’s Andre Gray on 26 goals this term.

But after two good wins on the spin and having only lost once in 30 games, Town are full of confidence according to full-back Scott Griffiths.

He said: “It’s a good start we just need to crack on with Halifax now, that’s going to be a hard place to go, but we are all in high spirits.

“They’re on a good run and confident and so are we. The camaraderie amongst the team, the spirit, the belief is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

No-one at Kenilworth Road believes the title race is over just yet, but Griffiths knows they are almost there.

He added: “I don’t bother looking at the table. I’m happy with the gap, but you can only take one game at a time to quote probably what most people have already said.

“We’ve got to look forward to the next game now, prepare for that and try and keep the gap. Ticking the games off and there’s less chance for people to catch up.”