Hatters chief declares Town centre half didn't need to apologise for Rovers display
Mengi felt he should have done better in FA Cup tie
Luton chief Jack Wilshere insisted that defender Teden Mengi didn’t need to issue an apology for his performance in the FA Cup first round victory over Forest Green Rovers on Friday night.
The 23-year-old began the contest alongside Kal Naismith in the centre of defence, Town going with the same back-line that had kept a clean sheet at Northampton Town in their League One fixture the previous week. During what was a dominant first half, Mengi had made an important block when Jili Buyabu’s goalbound shot looked to be beating Josh Keeley to ensure the Hatters finished with a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Lamine Fanne and Nahki Wells.
Wells was then on target again eight minutes into the second period to give Town what looked like an unassailable lead over their National League opponents, but that wasn’t the case. Robbie Savage’s visitors pulled one back on the hour mark when Tom Knowles broke inside a flimsy challenge from makeshift right back Nigel Lonwijk to fire goalwards, Mengi’s attempts to block seeing the ball skim off his head and wrongfoot keeper Keeley to fly into the net.
A few minutes later, the former Manchester United youngster was then nutmegged by a ball forward and sprinting back to try and recover, only succeeded in bundling over Harry Whitwell inside the area for a penalty that Kyle McAllister arrowed into the bottom corner to make it 3-2. Rovers quickly had a third when Mengi’s attempts to tackle unluckily saw the ball rebound favourably for the Rovers’ attackers, and when Town couldn’t clear their lines, Aidan Dausch lashed home the equaliser.
Thankfully, Luton sub Gideon Kodua stepped up to meet Jerry Yates’ pass and crash home a stoppage time winner, but after the game, Mengi wrote an apology on his Instagram, which said: “Next round. We stuck together and got the job done. On a personal note: I hold myself to high standards, that said I’d like to apologise, I know I need to be better for the team and the fans. Enjoy your weekend hatters!”
Having witnessed the online post, Wilshere felt that had been no need for the defender to say sorry, as he stated: “I spoke to him about that. For me he’s been excellent and if we want a team and players that never make mistakes then we’d be in the Premier League and be winning Champions Leagues. He didn’t have to apologise to anyone, he didn’t let anyone down, if anything he stepped up I think.
"It can happen when you miss a tackle, it goes through your legs, you try to recover it and you give a penalty away. We’d much rather him run back as fast as he can and try and solve the situation. Then the mistake is feedback and we try and help the players, try and make them better, but they can’t get better without making mistakes, because that’s getting better.
“He was trying to do the right thing (for the first goal) too and it’s a situation where hopefully going forward we’ll keep the player who shot outside. Our aim when we’re defending is always, always to show outside, but also understanding that there are some good players around and some good wingers that can create some stuff, and Teds was just trying to help with that one.”
With Mengi tipped to leave during the summer, speculation swirling that a number of clubs higher up the footballing echelon were interested in acquiring his services, he eventually stayed put, and having recovered from a knee injury suffered in pre-season, has started five of the club’s last six League One encounters.
Asked how he has been since Wilshere was appointed, Mengi partnering Mads Andersen during his first match in charge and then featuring alongside Naismith in his last two outings, he added: “My first game Teds played as a left-sided centre back, and I thought he did okay. We wanted to then see what Teds would be like on the right with someone left footed next to him to give you that balance when you’re stepping in.
"What I like about Teds is he takes on information, he tries, he’s trying things. Obviously you can see he’s outstanding with his physical capabilities. He can cover spaces, he can defend behind, so we’re trying to help him just understanding the time to step in and be aggressive and then to protect the space behind. I’ve really enjoyed his performances, I’ve really enjoyed working with him and he’ll be important for us.”