UPDATED: Hatters boss Still is wary of Macclesfield’s Moss Rose form

Former Football League club Macclesfield Town’s fine home form is cause for concern as Luton take on the Silkmen at the Moss Rose tomorrow night (Tuesday), writes Mark Wood.
L13-1011 LTFC v Macclesfield Town at Kenilworth road, Luton. 1 : 1 draw.
Mike Simmonds 
JR 35
17.8.13L13-1011 LTFC v Macclesfield Town at Kenilworth road, Luton. 1 : 1 draw.
Mike Simmonds 
JR 35
17.8.13
L13-1011 LTFC v Macclesfield Town at Kenilworth road, Luton. 1 : 1 draw. Mike Simmonds JR 35 17.8.13

The Silkmen boast the seventh-best home record in the league, having won nine, drawn three and lost three of their 15 games at home this season, scoring 27 times and conceding 17.

Macclesfield are one of the best teams to have visited Kenilworth Road this season, as Town struggled to a 1-1 draw against them back in mid-August, needing a last-gasp Luke Guttridge equaliser to earn a share of the spoils.

On the challenge ahead, Still said: “They’re a good side, a good home record. Very strong, I know they played the other week, but they will probably be anxious to play and to play at home.

“And along with every other game it’s going to be a tough game. Wherever we go and wherever we play.”

Macclesfield are currently 11th and six points off the play-offs and Still is determined that the Hatters can’t take their eye off the task in hand.

He said: “People are playing Dartford at the moment and they’re second from bottom at the moment.

“They drew with Cambridge, won at Wrexham, won at Kiddy, that’s the way it is because you’ve got to be ready for everything.

“If you take your foot off the pedal whoever you are and whoever you play, and Cambridge came unstuck, it’s important we don’t take our foot off the pedal.”

Macclesfield were in the Football League just the season before last, but have joined the long list of former Football League teams that have struggled to come to terms with rigours of Conference football.

And Still believes it shows just how tough the top flight of non-league football has become.

He added: “I go back to ‘89 and my Maidstone days, when Maidstone won the league. And I think at that time Newport County were the only ex-Football League club that I can think of.

“Since then, obviously with the promotion and relegation the league is going to be overcome by ex-Football League clubs, which shows the strength of the league.

“I think what also shows the strength of the league is that it’s not cut and dried if you get relegated you’re up there for promotion, it doesn’t work like that.

“It’s a tough, tough league. I think that the influx of foreign players into the country pushes everything down.

“Players that a few years ago might have been playing Premier League are now playing Championship.

“People that were playing Championship are now playing Div One, and Div One are now playing Div Two and Div Two is playing Conference or Skrill Premier.

“And I think it shows that we’ve brought two lads in, who have come to play at this level from Premier League clubs and not just Premier League clubs, but have played in the first team of Premier League clubs. I think it just shows the strength.”