Wary Town ease to victory against whimpering Southport

Goals from Steve McNulty, Jonathan Smith and Andre Gray sealed the three points against a Southport side that have struggled on their travels this season.

Before the game they had just one win and one draw from 10 games on the road this season and went into the game following a 5-1 hammering at Aldershot.

McNulty, who got the ball rolling with a fantastic 30-yard volley, said: “They’ve had a bad result on the road on Saturday and we were saying in the dressing room before the game we need to get a goal and their heads might go down a little bit. It didn’t come, we had plenty of chances, Dre (Andre Gray) and Benno (Paul Benson) had good chances, but the goals didn’t come.

“We just have to keep plugging away and the goals will come and I thought we were comfortable to be honest.”

Smith was also wary that the visitors might bite back and was pleased to see the game out.

He said: “I’m just really pleased that we managed to get a win. A team that’s lost 5-1 at the weekend is always going to be dangerous so it’s important that we started well and we did, so I’m very happy with the three points.

“I thought we started well, the tempo was high, but the first goal in games is really important, in any game you play, especially at home, because teams have to come out a little bit more then, so it’s really important to get that first goal.

“There were chances. I think the gaffer thought we could pick it up a little bit, thought we could do more, more tempo, but I think going in at half time winning is always important.”

Hatters boss John Still revealed that he never felt his side were in danger of losing after McNulty had given them the lead.

And despite a ‘sloppy’ start to the second half, tweaking the role of industrious midfielder Luke Guttridge proved key.

He said: “I thought we were OK first half without being great, I’ve got to honest. I didn’t think we were in danger, I felt that once we scored I couldn’t see us losing.

“We started the second half sloppy. They just played that man in front of the back four that kept taking Luke out of the game.

“So what we did second half, we stuck Luke wide left and gradually got him back inside to try and create a bit of space.

“It worked perfectly because once he came back inside he got on the ball and I thought for the last half hour... We scored three and I think we could have scored more, hit the bar and played some good stuff.

“I think the touch from Alex Lawless was absolutely sublime for that goal and we’ve won 3-0 in what was a potential banana skin.”

The clean sheet was also a massive plus for the Hatters, who shut Southport out despite losing young defender Alex Lacey to injury late in the first half.

Still continued: “I’ve got to be honest, he (Steve McNulty) controlled the back line. I think we’ve been really blessed just lately because Ronnie Henry’s been steady, Macca’s been terrific, Lacey, who’s a young one who’s learning it has been good, but all of sudden Scott Griffiths has been absolutely fantastic.

“He’s just come on to the player that I had previously and we look really, really good defensively. We really do, Smudger (Smith) came back in today and he’s an important player for us.

“We’ve had to change the team around with Lacey coming off and (Andy) Parry going at the back, but he done brilliant when he went back there.

“All in all we weren’t as cohesive for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but once we got Gutts back inside and on the ball I always felt whenever he got the ball there was a danger and I was really, really pleased with that.

“Six points in the two home games and we’ve got five goals I’m happy with that.”

Following the loss of Lacey, Parry dropped into defence to partner McNulty, who was full of praise for the Southport summer signing.

He said: “Paz has done really well this season and come here and he wasn’t in the team at the start of the season, but he’s a great pro, comes in every day, works hard, he doesn’t bother no-one, gets on with his job and he got a call-up to England C which is great for him and I thought he deserved it as well.

“I think he has been one of our most consistent players this season when he’s got in the team and he’s doing really well.”

Still echoed McNulty’s views, as he added: “He can play there, he can play right-back, can play centre-half. He’s 21.

“It’s been a good week for him because he’s been playing regularly for us, and playing very well in a few different positions.

“He’s just played for his country, does it get better for a young man? I’m really delighted for him.”