Hatters fully focused on Trophy test as they seek glory on three fronts

Town travel to Blue Square Bet Premier leaders Grimsby Town on Tuesday night as they bid to make the semi-finals of the competition for their third year running.

The Hatters are still basking in the glory of their 1-0 win over Premier League Norwich City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, but Jon Shaw was pragmatic about the premier non-league competition.

He said: “It’s a competition we’ve got a genuine chance of winning. I keep saying this. People keep asking about it, we’ve got more chance of winning the FA Trophy than the FA Cup, we all know that. So we’re going to enjoy the FA Cup and enjoy this moment but it’s back to work Tuesday as normal.”

It means Luton’s stretched squad are still active on all three fronts as they bid for promotion from the Blue Square Bet Pemier in addition to their FA Cup and Trophy exploits.

Goalscoring hero Scott Rendell admitted it was hectic after Saturday’s win, saying: “It is, but that’s what you get at a higher level. If you want a good cup run you’re going to have to mix and match your teams.

“But it’s important for us to calm down. Obviously we’ll have a good night tonight and enjoy it, but we need to get ourselves ready for that game because it’s a very big game.

“Grimsby are doing very well in our league at the minute and it’s going to be another tough game, but that’s a very winnable cup to win for us and another great chance to get to Wembley so we need to get our heads on that Monday morning, and go down there with the right attitude.”

Much-travelled Rendell had to come from the bench to score the winner as he combined with fellow substitutes JJ O’Donnell and Stuart Fleetwood.

Rendell certainly made an impression and he’s hoping to start at Blundell Park on Tuesday, saying: “You can only do your best in every game you play in. I only played 15 minutes, I scored a goal, so I don’t expect to start every week now. But that’s all you can do.

“Tuesday’s another game, it’s a completely different game to this, and it’s a very winnable cup tie for us.

“We are in I think the quarter-final stage now, so if we go there we’ve got a very good chance of making it to Wembley and winning another trophy for this club.

“We need to go there with the right attitude and come out with a positive result.”

Town’s four frontline strikers have more than 40 goals between them this season and Shaw backed them all to shine when given the opportunity.

He added: “If Scott plays in the next round or if he plays on Tuesday then it will be because he deserves it and because he has put the work in. I give everything I’ve got and if the manager decides that Scott’s going in and Stuart is in, then so be it, that’s the point of having four strikers that you can call on.”