Benson hails strike partner McQuoid

Hatters forward Paul Benson hailed striker partner Josh McQuoid after his outstanding display against Barnet at the weekend.
Josh McQuoidJosh McQuoid
Josh McQuoid

The duo were chosen upfront for the 2-0 win over the Bees as Hatters switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with McQuoid in particular excelling, as he had during the FA Cup tie with Crawley.

Benson said: “He’s been very good, he’s done his bit for the team when he’s played out wide in a three.

“I know he’s played there before and done it well, but I think ultimately he likes to play down the middle and you can see certainly he looks a very good player when he plays down the middle.

“I’m not saying he doesn’t look good when he’s wide, but he looks a different sort of player down the middle.

“He’s very clever, makes some good runs and is easy to play upfront with as he’s an intelligent player, so it worked quite well.”

It was Benson who set up McQuoid for his match-winner against the Red Devils in the FA Cup and he almost repeated the feat with another burst down the wing and inch-perfect cross that the striker failed to convert on Saturday, heading at Jamie Stephens.

Benson continued: “I don’t know what I’m doing out there! I should be the one in the middle really, but sometimes you get caught in these situations and got to just go with it.

“They always say forwards make the best crossers of the ball as they always know where they want to put it.

“It was pleasing that we got the cross in. It would have been nice if it was him crossing for me and maybe that would have been a different outcome.”

Winger Danny Green was another left mightily impressed by McQuoid’s recent form, as he said: “He does that role well, he plays upfront, but drifts out to the left as well.

“When he picks up those balls he can cut inside and do his magic there. He scored a great goal last week, so it suits him as well.

“He’s had to do a job on the wings, which he does well, he works hard, but I think he’s more of a striker when he’s poaching goals and he’s really good in the air as well, so I think that’s his strength.”

Meanwhile, when asked if Benson and McQuoid would continue their partnership against Stevenage tomorrow, boss John Still added: “They’ve done a bit of work in training as they all have.

“The combinations with all of them have looked okay so hopefully that will continue.”

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