Tyler happy to be back with clean sheet

HOT stuff Luton impressed keeper Mark Tyler as he played his first 90 minutes of the pre-season campaign after suffering from a stiff back, writes Mark Wood.

The returning keeper kept a clean sheet against League Two Wycombe Wanderers on a swelteringly hot night at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday evening.

He said: “It was good. Very hot, but I think the boys did well. I had little to do, which is quite nice. It’s nice to get back in the swing of things.”

Tyler’s facing competition between the sticks, but was happy with his return, saying: “We’ve been training hard. Dimi’s (Kharine) obviously selected the matches for each and every one of us. I’ve been to the games and the boys have done well.

“Lewis (Kidd) did well against Dunstable and (Dean) Brilly’s done well when he’s come back, so it’s been good.

“We played well first half. I think a lot of people will see the way we’re going to play this year. Obviously it’s early days but from what I saw tonight I’m optimistic for the season.”

Full-backs filled out the back four in front of him, but he was pleased with what he saw.

Tyler continued: “Snoop (Lathaniel Rowe-Turner) and Ronnie (Henry) are obviously full-backs but played there on Monday. They are good players and can play anywhere across the back row. And obviously Jake (Howells), he’s a midfielder or left-back and Greg (Taylor) can play either flank. So we’ve got good options at the back. And Janos (Kovacs) and big Gaz Richards and Deano (Beckwith) as well so we are looking strong at the back.”

Attack-minded Luton are looking to play on the front foot, as Tyler continued “Especially with the way we want to play, with our full-backs advanced. Alex (Lawless) is good on the ball and a natural in that position. All in all the back four did well and it would obviously have been nice if Andre (Gray) or Fleets (Stuart Fleetwood) had put one away. But it’s football and we’re happy with the 0-0 draw which we can build on.

“There’s a few who have played 90 minutes already, so the fitness is there, we just need that match sharpness. It’s nice we’ve got another game tomorrow night and one Saturday so the games are coming thick and fast which is good. We’ve got Ipswich and Brackley next week so it will be a good few weeks before we start the season.”

The stopper is looking forward to Saturday’s visit of Championship Ipswich Town, but the games against lower league opposition, which have brought wins against Hitchin Town, AFC Dunstable and St Albans City have also helped to boost confidence.

Tyler added: “It’s always hard playing the other teams, because they want to prove a point. They are in your face and want to kick you, so you need to move the ball quickly and I think we’ve done that in the last three matches.

“Tonight we played well in fits and starts. We played good football and pressed quite well, but they had good possession as well so we need to keep a good team shape.

“It works both ways (playing against teams in leagues above and below). Everyone would like to play against League teams, but it’s always good to get the confidence up when we play the other teams and try and get a few goals.”