Still ready to go on the offensive

Town boss John Still will focus on his side’s attacking threats when Town entertain Tamworth at the weekend, writes Mike Simmonds.
Steve McNulty scores Town's only goal of the evening against Stockport on Tuesday nightSteve McNulty scores Town's only goal of the evening against Stockport on Tuesday night
Steve McNulty scores Town's only goal of the evening against Stockport on Tuesday night

The Luton manager has already gone some way to rectifying the side’s soft underbelly, with four clean sheets in the six matches so far, but has seen his side net just four goals in the process.

Speaking after the 1-0 triumph over Stockport, he said: “‘I’m pleased to win, pleased not to concede a goal again, it’s very important, but we should have made more of our opportunities.

“If there’s a disappointment, that was it. I think we’ve worked out how to be solid, we can do that, which I’m pleased with, that’s a start.

“But we’ve got good attacking players and I think we should make more of what we’ve created and I found that a bit disappointing.

“Sometimes games are really weird and you can have so much of the game and not take the opportunities and the other team comes back.

“They had a couple of half chances late in the game, for what we’d done, I don’t think they deserved that. We have to make more of that.

“In fairness to the players, we’ve been playing Saturday, Tuesday since I’ve been here. We haven’t had an awful amount of time to work on the training ground, particularly the last week or so as its been so wet.

“Although we’ve been doing quite a bit of defensive work, we need to start working attack wise.

“It hasn’t been easy and that’s not making an excuse, but even taking that into account, I think we should have done better with our chances.”

Town’s goal when it came was a well-worked corner routine that Steve McNulty headed home for his first Town goal.

With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Still continued: “That’s my goal. That’s what we work hard on and all he has to to do is run and let the ball hit him.

“That’s what he did and he came running over to me and said, Mr Still thank you very much, that’s your goal. So I was very pleased with that.”

Still made three changes to his side as he continues to form his opinions of the squad inherited from previous boss Paul Buckle, but confirmed he was almost there now.

He added: “I’ve already identified some I think that can and some I think that can’t. I’m not 100 per cent with everything, but I’m on my way to doing it.

“I hadn’t seen Jon (Shaw), so was trying to give him the best opportunity with a partner I think might work with him.

Alex Wall needed a complete rest, Ronnie (Henry) had a bit of a virus over the weekend, so I didn’t want to rush him back.

“I think Simon Ainge has done very well in two games, so I decided to leave him where he was. Solomon (Taiwo), I knew he’s a good player so that took care of himself.

“I still want to look at (Matt) Robinson, and I want to look at a few more combinations of players.

“I’m quite looking forward now to the next two home games. Let’s try and win them, be bold and positive, I don’t mind losing when you’re positive and have a go, that’s what I want to do.”

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