Luton boss is well aware Town's players will have to get fans back onside

Luton boss Jack Wilshere is fully understanding that his players will have to do everything they can in an attempt to get supporters back on side once more during tomorrow’s home contest against Burton Albion.

When the Hatters last left the field at Kenilworth Road, they were cheered off by the home faithful after witnessing a 2-1 success over promotion-chasing Bradford City, a game that most onlookers felt was easily their best and most complete performance under Wilshere and probably of the season too. Eager to build on that, Luton then went to league leaders Cardiff City last weekend, only to end up very much second best on the day, losing 3-1 against a side destined to be playing Championship football next campaign.

With that result just about stomached, due to the class of the Bluebirds, it was then on to struggling Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, where nothing other than a victory was deemed acceptable, the Latics in awful form of their own at home, without a win since December 2, with five losses in all competitions as well.

However, having appointed Gary Caldwell on Monday, they too were just simply better than the Hatters, particularly during a tough to watch second half, as they triumphed 1-0 to put yet another in a long line of serious dents in Luton’s hopes of finishing inside the top six. The loss unsurprisingly led to another fall-out on social media from disgruntled fans on social media, a number questioning the way in which the club is run, with others looking at Wilshere himself and the players also bearing the brunt of the criticism too.

While at home, Town are unbeaten in 10, with six wins, when asked about the discontent from supporters that could turn the atmosphere toxic if his side don’t replicate the kind of performance they did last time out, when facing the Brewers, Wilshere said: “Yes, I understand it, I completely understand it. I don’t look at social media, but I understand it and I can imagine that the fans are angry.

"The players need to show something to get the fans on their side, which we have done I think at home in the Blackpool game, in the Bradford game, after two tough games, the players really understood what they had to do. The players have to have that same mentality going into tomorrow and try and give the fans something to cheer about which I think we did against Bradford in particular.

"We had a good performance, it felt like we were trying to build something and then we haven’t been good enough away from home, so I completely understand fans want consistency. They want consistency of performances, but probably more behaviours and what they see in the players. We haven’t done that in the last two games, so we have to be ready for that, we have to understand it, start the game right, on the front foot and give the fans something to cheer about it."

Even if they can’t get an early goal, then winning tackles, going in for fifty-fifties, all of those things can only help according to Wilshere, who continued: “They need something to get behind and they can see that the players are right in for everything. That’s what my message to the players, we have to do that first before we can think about how we’re going to set up tactically, how we think about how we’re going to win the game, we have to make sure that we get ourselves in the game by winning duels, by running, by competing.

"A lot of teams have come to Kenilworth Road and made it difficult for us, whether that’s by playing long balls, whether that’s by being in a low block. There’s no excuses, we have to make sure that we’re doing everything we can without the ball, all the basic things we’re talking about. Then with the ball we have to use it well and be brave, which we haven’t done in the last two games, but we have to make sure we do it tomorrow.”

Following the defeat at Wigan on Wednesday, there were some angry scenes among the 600-plus away supporters who had made the lengthy trip to Greater Manchester, as they vented their fury to the players following a sixth successive away loss and seventh in eight matches. After asking fans to point any anger towards him following the game, Wilshere felt the fact some of his squad went over and faced the music, shows the level of appreciation they have for the Town followers.

He said: “I think it’s just a sign that the players care. The players have massive respect for the fans, they understand that they travelled a long way on Wednesday night, they understand that they pay a lot of money for travel, for tickets, to support us, support the team, so I think it’s a sign of respect from the players to go and hear what the fans are saying.

"It’s not always easy for the players to do that and it takes some character I think to do that as it’s easy just to kind of clap and walk off. Sometimes I think it can help if you hear the fans and listen to what they’re saying, so I don’t mind it from the players, I think it’s just a sign of respect for the fans which we all have and understand their frustrations.”

After two incredibly disappointing away games, then although Town are back in the comfort of their own home once more tomorrow, the boss warned his squad that they can’t just turn up and expect the three points from a Burton side who are sitting just above the relegation zone, adding: “Yes, I am (happy to be at home), but I’m still not happy with the last two games where we didn’t get anything out of it.

"When you’ve had a good home record you look forward to that, but also knowing that we haven’t been good enough the last two games and it’s going to require something different. It’s not going to be as simple as we’re back home and everything’s going to fall into place, it's not, as Burton are a good team.

"They’re going to come, they’re fighting for everything, they’re fighting for points like we are and we have to be ready for that. We have to show something a bit different to what we’ve shown in the last few games and then hopefully we get the opportunity. If we match their spirit, if we win all of our duels, all the basics things we speak about all of the time, then we can show our quality, but we have to make sure we do that first.”