Luton chief explains what he said to travelling Hatters fans after O's display

Luton boss Jack Wilshere explained just what was said between himself and some of the club’s travelling supporters when he went into the away end following Town’s 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient last night.

After a 90 minutes which, bar Jordan Clark’s brilliant cameo from the bench during the closing stages, was a fairly appalling performance from the visitors, it led to a small section of the 1,264 Hatters fans jeering some misplaced passes from Kal Naismith, also sarcastically cheering the skipper when he did pick out a man, with some even booing the Town captain when he was substituted and chose to walk past them in order to apologise for his mistake that had led to the O’s taking the lead early in the second half.

The full time whistle did lead to some general applause for the players from supporters, who had witnessed Gideon Kodua nodding home a stoppage time equaliser from Liam Walsh’s corner to ensure Town took a point home, with some of the squad heading over to pass on their shirts as a way of showing their thanks. Wilshere himself then displayed his appreciation to those who had remained too, but was seen climbing over the advertising hoardings to actually discuss the result with some of the fans on a more personal level.

Asked just what it was he said, the former England and Arsenal star revealed: “I could see their frustration. It was a few, it was two or three, but they were all together, it was nice. I always thought that with coaches and players, let’s chat, let’s talk about it, what are you feeling? I’ll tell you what we’re doing and what we’re trying to do and we had a good chat. I understand his frustration and I said to them, we’re trying, we’re trying to get better, we’re trying to work, we need to find some consistency and he agreed in the end. The fans were outstanding tonight and we need them.”

Having seen over 600 supporters make the lengthy trek to Fleetwood for what was a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of their League Two opposition in the FA Cup just three days previously, Wilshere was eager to praise those who put their hands in their pockets once more to follow their side in east London as well.

With Luton now back at home to Port Vale this weekend before another night game at Reading next Thursday ahead of a busy festive schedule, he urged those attending to remain behind their side, adding: “They were outstanding, even at the end when it probably wasn’t our best performance of the season, they’re there, they’re clapping us and we’re going to need them. I understand the frustrations at times, of course I do, as I get frustrated as well, but stay with us as we’re going to need them. Hopefully at the end of the season, we find some consistency between then and we give them something to cheer about.”