Rendell: Conference will be wide open this year

Table-toppers Newport County’s 2-0 victory over Hereford United on Tuesday night saw them make it five wins from five, but no team is expected to run away with the title as Crawley and Fleetwood have done in recent seasons.

A prime example of the league’s inconsistencies was Luton’s shock 1-0 defeat to AFC Telford on Saturday, while Cambridge slipped up at home to Dartford too.

Rendell said: “A lot of teams can beat anyone in this league.

“People would have looked at our result on Saturday and probably would have been a little bit shocked, but not overly shocked.

“That’s how this league goes and we need to make sure we prepare right for every game because people are going to want to beat us.

“People look at our games and think if we can beat Luton Town, it’s a great result and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Although Town were undone by Telford at the weekend, they only had their own wastefulness in front of goal to blame.

A whole host of opportunities went begging as Rendell continued: “I don’t think they were the better side, we had chances but just didn’t take them.

“We know with the quality we have in our side, if we continue making chances we will take them, so we’re not going to beat ourselves up.

“It’s when you stop getting chances, that’s when you need to start worrying.

“I think every game we’ve played so far, everyone’s had a few chances.”

What Rendell would like to see is Town in the ascendancy earlier in games, especially at Kenilworth Road.

He said: “It’s always important, especially when teams play Luton Town.

“They go a goal down early and are going to think, we’re in for a good game here.

“If they keep it 0-0 for half an hour, 45 minutes, that’s not to say we’re not going to do it, but it gives them a little bit of a lift.”

Although the season is just five games old, Hatters have two crucial home games this week, hosting Macclesfield on Saturday and Cambridge United on Tuesday night.

Rendell added: “We can go there on the back of this result (beating Ebbsfleet 3-1) with a lot of confidence.

“If we play the way we play, we know we can get the three points.”

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.