Hatters want new memories from Wrexham game

Luton triumphed 3-0 at Wrexham in last season’s play-off semis and Brabin is hoping for a repeat performance, although The Dragons will also probably look to draw inspiration from that game, writes Mark Wood.

He said: “I’m sure they will use that as a spur to go into the game. For me it’s a happy memory, but memories are in the past, it’s gone. We need to do it again, it’s soon forgotten.

“I would be delighted if we can perform as well as we did that day and I know we are more than capable of doing that.

“I thought the away performance from us was a real top drawer performance. If we could get another performance like that I would be delighted.

“It would be nice if we could go into that game in that sort of form. I’m sure the ones that performed on that day will remember it well. It was a real good performance. We go into every game confident, and aware of what we are capable of.

“Sometimes we come off and I think the lads know where they’ve fallen short sometimes when we haven’t performed to them standards.”

And he admitted his team selection could be influenced by who won’t be able to play in the FA Trophy semi-final at York on Saturday, although tonight’s game is the priority.

He continued: “All our thoughts are certainly focused on the Wrexham game and we will cross that when we come to it.

“We are aware that there will be certain players who are cup-tied for Saturday’s game, it’s something you have got to be conscious of, but all of our efforts and thoughts are going into Wednesday’s game at Wrexham.”

Brabin also knows that many could see the next two matches as potentially ‘season-defining’.

He said: “I think everyone knows they are two important games.

“We’ve just got to go into every game not looking too far ahead. Just focused on what we are doing.

“We are still in a healthy position. I think a lot will be made of the next two games whether good or bad. People will make a lot of assumptions, but our season won’t be complete after these two games and it certainly won’t be over after the next two games.”

But with the Trophy game being a two-legged affair he was bullish over the rest of the season.

Brabin continued: “It still wouldn’t be over as we’ve got to bring them back to our place. It’s a two-legged affair. It’s not going to be won or lost, but we do realise the importance of the next two games.”

And he was relishing the chance of locking horns against the Welsh side.

He said: “It will be a good game, it’s on the telly a good atmosphere. I’m very confident the lads won’t need too much winding up for that game.

“It’s a game I think we’ll relish. It’s sometimes tougher against some of the so-called lesser sides because of the expectancy.

“We haven’t got that excuse this time, we are away at Wrexham and the lads will relish that.

“I’m cerainly confident in the group of players that we’ve got that we are more than capable of going there and performing well and getting the right result.

“I think they’ve carried on from what they started last year. They’ve kept hold of the squad of players they had last year.

“They got in the play-offs last year on merit. And I think they’ve just progressed from that and it’s not surprise to us at all.

“They are a very workmanlike side, got some good players and they are up there on merit.

“We want to get used to the big games, the pressures of playing against these teams. Play-offs, title contenders and I think they are good games and we are really looking forward to it.”

There is also plenty of competition for places heading into the encounter on the back of a lacklustre 2-0 victory over Bath City on Saturday.

Brabin said: “That’s always healthy certainly at this end of the season. Saturday’s game it was good to get some more minutes into Ed (Asafu-Adjaye), Keano (Keith Keane). There were a lot of pluses come out of Saturday’s game in terms of that.

“We’ve got players who are waiting on the fringe of things for a game.”

Wrexham laboured to a 1-0 win at lowly Kettering on Saturday, but Brabin didn’t feel they were catching them at the ‘right time’ and is expecting a tough encounter.

He said: “It’s a tough league and a win’s a win. They will look at that, three points away from home as another win.

“They will have gained a lot of confidence from that and go into the game with a lot of confidence as we are.

“We know what to expect from them, but as I keep saying it’s about us. What they are doing is out of our control.

“We just want to perform the way we know we can. Definitely build upon what we have been leaning towards the few couple of months and it would be nice if we could go into that game with some of the form we know we are capable of.”

Financial foreboding has also surrounded the Dragons for much of the season, but they have been able to keep most of their players and injuries have also been kind to them, which has helped them to sustain their promotion push.

Brabin added: “I certainly think that helps. They’ve got a good squad of players and managed to keep hold of all their players.

“There’s been a lot spoken of financial troubles at the club but not to the point where they’ve had to sell players and that’s healthy for them.

“We are not too bothered about what goes on at Wrexham. We’ve got to focus on ourselves.”