Carden steps up to the mark in new formation

A CHANGE in formation and Keith Keane running out of steam allowed Cambridge United loan man Paul Carden to turn in his best performance yet as a Hatter in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Crawley, writes Mark Wood.

Illness and injury sidelined midfield dynamo Keane as Town tried out a 4-3-3 formation to combat the Red Devils’ midfield diamond.

Manager Gary Brabin said: “We tried a different system quite a little bit sooner than was planned.

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“Keith Keane wasn’t very well and he was one of the players we were worried about flogging a little bit.

“We tried a different system which is something we have up our sleeve.

“It was a 4-3-3. I thought the two wingers have been on fire and I wanted to unleash those.

“With Keith Keane going down injured we had no real protection and it was a good chance for Paul Carden to step in.”

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Brabin is confident Keane will be fit for Saturday’s trip to Mansfield, saying: “I think Keano’s just had a few little knocks of late.

“It’s sprung up a little bit sooner than we thought and he hasn’t been too well the last few days.

“Keano being Keano, he wanted to play but he wasn’t 100 per cent fit and I had to do the best for him.

“I don’t think it will do him any harm.”

Carden, 32, pictured above, was glad to be back in the starting 11, but admitted with the options Town have in midfield he has to be patient.

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He said: “We have some excellent players in the squad, Keith Keane, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells.

“You have to accept that you might spend a while on the sidelines and I’m old enough and ugly enough to understand that and hopefully give the manager a headache for the weekend.”

Carden thinks the competition for places is doing Hatters the world of good too.

He said: “You have to look at the number of goals we’ve scored and the players who are scoring them.

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“We are playing a lot more attacking, a lot more free and hopefully it will start to give people confidence.”

Disappointed Amari Morgan-Smith dropped to the bench and Brabin is enjoying the players fighting for their shirts.

He added: “I know he was disappointed, but that’s what I want.

“He was chomping at the bit to get back in and I want that throughout the squad.

“We’ve got to try and use people and get the best out of those players.”

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