Hatters boss proud of side despite FA Cup exit

Hatters boss John Still felt his much-changed side could be proud of their performance despite exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Cambridge United yesterday.
Michael HarrimanMichael Harriman
Michael Harriman

Injury and illness forced Still into five changes, as Luton were without commanding skipper Steve McNulty (foot) or midfielder Nathan Doyle (flu), while Scott Griffiths, Luke Rooney and Shaun Whalley were also missing too.

The Luton chief said: “I thought it was a fantastic performance, I really did, second half, it was absolutely outstanding.

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“We were a bit a patched up but gave a first class performance because of illness, sickness and injury, so I’ve got no complaints.

“I was disappointed to lose as it was the FA Cup and I don’t want to lose, but if you’re going to go out, don’t go out with a whimper and we didn’t.

“We never let up, we got the goal, we had one or two half opportunities, but give them credit, they defended very, very deep, packed their box and made it difficult for us.

“We just needed a little spark, but I can’t look at the game with any negative feelings, everything I feel is positivity.

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“Defensively we were without Macca who’s a big leader for us, we didn’t have Doyley, but everyone has gone out and can look themselves in the mirror and say I’ve done everything I can to try and get the victory,

“When you lose it’s how you lose that’s important and when you lose playing with big hearts, strong minds, every ounce of energy you’ve got, that’s football.”

Hatters missed a glorious chance through Andy Drury as with Town trailing 1-0, he somehow side-footed wide of an open goal from Michael Harriman’s excellent cross and Still felt that was a turning point.

He continued: “In my opinion, if Drury scores, we would have had the greater ascendancy and gone on, but he didn’t and we didn’t.

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“If look at a disappointment, I think Dukes can do a bit better for the opportunity he had, but he’s had a terrific game so I’m not going to moan.”

Still also felt Town were denied another clear-cut spotkick as he added: “We had a stonewall penalty on Luke Wilkinson and he’s just dragged him down.

“I know it happens, we see it on the TV all the time, but I think it’s absolutely crazy.

“He’s standing there the ref, he’s got the perfect view but he didn’t give and we didn’t get it, so I’m not going to harp on about, because it happens all the time, but it was nailed on.”

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