Poker-faced Cullen lays claim to Cards double

The poker-faced forward was adamant that Town’s first goal against the Cards should be in his name, despite his flick header from a corner taking a massive deflection of a home defender on its way into the net.

He said: “Definitely two, there’s no doubt about it in my mind, my goal all day long.

“I don’t really know myself (how it went in), I think it might have taken a deflection, but it ended up in the back of the net and I headed it towards the net, so I’m claiming it.”

His second was far more emphatic as he thumped home a superb header from Luke Guttridge’s inviting cross in almost carbon copy fashion to one of his goals against Lincoln City in Town’s 3-2 home win at the weekend.

He said: “Pretty much identical wasn’t it. A great cross again by Luke and I headed it in the net.”

It potentially took the former Hull City man’s tally to four goals in two games, but he was disappointed to again miss out on a hat-trick having also scored twice against the Imps.

At Kingfield Cullen headed against the bar in the second half and also saw an injury time effort turned over the bar by defender John Nutter’s foot with the goal begging.

Cullen continued: “I’d have loved to get a hat-trick, but if I keep playing the way I am and the team provides the chances then I’m sure it’ll come soon.

“I would say it’s a shoulder that’s hit the bar, I’ve missed it with my head, but the one in the last minute, the kid’s blocked it on the line.

“I’ll keep working hard in training and hopefully I can get a hat-trick soon.”

Cullen was only reintroduced into Luton’s team after target man Paul Benson had been ruled out through injury, but he’s grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

He said: “Paul got injured and luckily I got a chance to get in the team and I’ve shown what I can do and hopefully it continues.

“I thought we were clinical and we did the job that was needed to happen, we stayed tight at the back and Tyles (Mark Tyler) pulled off a great save early on, we’ve pushed on and got some goals and just carried on and scored some more.

“It doesn’t matter how badly or well you play if you’re scoring the goals you’re winning the games.”

Boss John Still was delighted for the 21-year-old striker, as he said: “If you look to pre-season I think the Dagenham game was very similar to the goal he scored from Scott Griffiths’ cross.

“Cully’s a very clever player and people don’t realise how good he is in the air and I thought that was a classic goal, real good movement with a really good finish so I was really pleased.”

And he was hopeful Cullen would be allowed to keep the goal, as he continued: “From where I was it looked like it was going in. I’m not one of these people that goes it was definitely his.

“Sometimes the view you get in the crowded box is so difficult, but he’s my player and I want him to have the goal, he deserved it.

“He’s played down the middle when really he needs to play with someone. I think he’s been fantastic the last few games I really do.”

Experienced keeper Mark Tyler revealed that popular centre-half Steve McNulty was also laying claim to the goal, but was full of praise for Cullen’s contribution.

The stopper said: “He’s claiming it and I think Macca was there and when we were warming down Macca was saying he got the final touch. It’s in the goal for us, as long as someone scores for us I don’t mind.

“It’s what we’ve been doing in training, shooting and crossing and finishing.

“Cully’s quality in the box, his movement’s great and he’s got another two goals today.

“Fair play to him, there’s competition for places up front and it was nice to see Andre (Gray) score, he’s been working hard in training so it was nice for him to get on the scoresheet as well.”

Livewire striker Gray looked much more like his old self as he netted his first of the season, much to Cullen’s delight.

“I’m buzzing for him, he’s been working hard on his finishing all season and the more goals we can score as a team the better,” he added.