Proud Still hails Hatters’ first Moss Rose victory

The 2-1 victory was the first-ever time the Hatters have won at the Moss Rose and Still felt his side’s character came through on the night.

He said: “I think we’ve shown lots of sides to what we have, with great attacking performances, five and six goals.

“Today we showed another side here where we’ve played against a side who have a fantastic home record, I think only second to ours so someone said, but boy have we had to work hard.

“Everyone had to dig in, everyone had to work their socks off on what can only be described as a really, really heavy pitch. Really difficult conditions away from home.

“I think we were a little bit rusty if I’m honest because of the amount of games we’ve played, but when we needed to dig in, we dug in, and to be honest I thought the players were fantastic.

“It was another side of the game that we have to be able to do, dig in and grind results out and we’ve done it fantastically well today.”

Just over 400 Hatters made the six-hour round-trip to Cheshire and Still believes Town’s performance will have sent them home happy.

He continued: “Sometimes I think for supporters that’s a better performance than when you outplay teams and rattle in threes, fours, fives because they’re seeing everyone absolutely at their maximums giving their bits for the club and that’s fantastic.”

Livewire striker Andre Gray was again Luton’s matchwinner with a brace on the night, but Still felt it was a real team performance.

He said: “Andre’s come up with two goals today, he worked his absolute socks off. I think he’d run out of petrol at the end if I’m being honest, but I think all over the pitch… Paul Benson led the line unbelievably.

“The midfield worked tirelessly, the two centre-halves, Fraser’s (Franks) first game, I thought he went in and did a terrific job and when we needed a save Mark (Tyler) came up with some saves and yet, I look through the season so far, and Mark’s had a really, really good season, but maybe sometimes quiet. He’s pulled off some good saves, but he’s had to be on his mettle today and that’s the mark of a top class goalkeeper that he’s not had a fantastic amount to do over a certain amount of games, but today he’s produced some really top class saves.”

“He done brilliantly, he done fantastic I’m really, really pleased, really proud of the players, of everyone the whole lot.

“They’re been working hard when the times have been difficult with the weather and we’ve just had to work our socks off in training. Sometimes not in the best conditions.

“I’m not saying we’re any different from anyone else, but I’m only concerned with us and all that hard work has come to fruition this evening.”

The match itself was in doubt throughout the day as it twice survived pitch inspections at noon and 3pm and Still was delighted with the way Town maintained their focus in the lead up.

He said: “Everyone wants to play and we want to play, but as I say it was really difficult travelling down today not know whether we were going to play.

“You try and keep the mindset right and players focused, but when it mattered they’ve produced it and I’m delighted with it.”

A pudding of a pitch proved to be energy sapping for Town’s stars and Still is keen for them to recover properly ahead of Saturday’s visit of Hereford.

He said: “I think the order of the day now is rest. So we’ll be resting tomorrow and we’ll come in Thursday and warm down and prepare for the next game.”

The conditions made it difficult for Luton’s players at both ends as a bad bobble saw Gray fire a great opportunity over the bar in the first half.

The striker said: “I think it was a bit like the Nuneaton game. We looked a bit rusty at the start and they’re a very good team and they showed that in the second half.

“It was very difficult for us and it was just a matter of us holding on and getting in at half time and starting again in the second half and regrouping, and we did that and I think we controlled it a bit more than we did first half.”

Tyler felt the end in front of the away fans was particularly bad, as he said: “That bottom end was the worst.

“That top end in the second half wasn’t too bad. It was very slippery tonight, you’ve got to cope with the conditions and like the gaffer keeps saying, you have to win in every condition and at the moment we’re showing that.”

The one down point on the evening for Town’s number one was the goal they conceded to former Peterborough United team-mate Daniel Andrew, who was afforded too much space as he drilled home an equaliser in the first half.

Tyler added: “That was the only real shot on target first half. I know Danny well being at Peterborough, he’s come on leaps and bounds since he’s been here. And it was a good strike, I was unsighted so I was a bit annoyed, but we’ve dug in and kept it to 1-1 at half time and Andre’s come up with another quality goal so delighted.”