Jones not anticipating any ill feeling in Cumbrians clash

Hatters boss Nathan Jones isn't expecting there to be any ill feeling carried on between his side and Carlisle United when the two teams meet at Brunton Park this evening.
Tempers flare up in the 1-1 draw between Luton and Carlisle at Kenilworth RoadTempers flare up in the 1-1 draw between Luton and Carlisle at Kenilworth Road
Tempers flare up in the 1-1 draw between Luton and Carlisle at Kenilworth Road

During the 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road back in December, the Cumbrians had Michael Raynes sent off for an alleged elbow on home striker Danny Hylton, which was later rescinded on appeal.

Jones had labelled the challenge as ‘cowardly’ which Carlisle boss Keith Curle took umbrage with, but on whether it would affect tonight’s game, the Luton chief said: “No, I don’t think so. There wasn’t any bad feeling. We felt something had happened, they didn’t, they appealed it and it got rescinded, no problem.

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“I was surprised at that decision, but I know Keith, I know his staff there and I know Danny and Raynes are friends. They played together (at Rotherham), I know they’ve talked since.

“So no, I don’t think there’s any bad feeling whatsoever. We’ve had incidents with teams that after the game have been a problem, but you can’t dwell on it.

“A lot worse used to happen back in the day, so it’s nothing.”

The hosts go into the game on the back of an appalling run of form, suffering four straight defeats, without even scoring, as they have dropped out of the top three.

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Jones felt the loss 18-goal frontman Charlie Wyke to Bradford City on transfer deadline day was a blow to the Cumbrians, as he continued: “They’ve been there to be shot at, fair play to them, all season, and they’ve been a really difficult side to play against.

“Obviously losing Charlie Wyke is a big thing, but I don’t know why they’ve hit a little bit of a bad patch.

“Everyone does through the season though. They haven’t had too many bad results, but hopefully that will continue against us.”

While Luton were losing to Stevenage at the weekend, Carlisle suffered a 3-0 home reverse to Cambridge United and when asked if he was anticipating a reaction from the United players, Jones added: “They might do, but we need to do that as well.

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“We’ve both come off the back of a defeat at the weekend, so I can’t second guess what’s going to happen.

“We have a gameplan we’ll stick to, that’s all we can affect, whatever that is, however that affects Carlisle affects them.

“It’s difficult, and all games are at the minute. They all need to be treated with the same intensity and same commitment and character.

“If we turn up for the game, we’ll be a difficult side to beat.”