Luton defender Bree happy to end the mickey-taking by netting a first senior goal against Sky Blues

Full back finally opens his account during Coventry win
Luton defender James Bree scores his first ever senior goal against Coventry CityLuton defender James Bree scores his first ever senior goal against Coventry City
Luton defender James Bree scores his first ever senior goal against Coventry City

Luton defender James Bree was thrilled to end the mickey-taking from his Town team-mates by notching a first goal of his professional career during last night’s 2-0 win over Coventry City.

The 23-year-old had made his debut for Barnsley back in May 2014, but never found the net during his 50-plus outings for the Tykes or subsequent spells at Aston Villa and Ipswich Town.

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Bree had also played 59 games for the Hatters prior to yesterday's fixture, as on his 60th appearance for the club and 163rd in total he finally broke his duck, to put Luton 1-0 ahead on 23 minutes.

On his long-awaited maiden strike, Bree said: “It’s unbelievable, it’s about time, I’ve been waiting for one.

“I never seem to get the chances, but that just fell perfectly for me and I just thought I’m going to put my foot through it and see what happens.

“Seeing it hit the back of the net was just an unbelievable feeling and it was quite funny actually as we were sat outside the changing rooms yesterday (Monday), we’d been doing some free kick practice, I’d whipped a few in and the lads were saying, ‘Breesy how many goals have you scored in your career?’

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“I was like ‘lads, I’ve played 150 games and never scored,’ and they were all laughing at me and taking the mickey, so it’s mental that I've bagged one so I can shut them up a little bit.

“I was 16 when I made my debut, so it’s been a long, long time.

“I can’t really remember many times in my career I’ve had chances, but playing wing back and the way the gaffer wants us to play, I think it’s inevitable that I’m going to get in those positions.

"It’s something I want to start adding to my game, getting more goals, more assists, so it’s good.”

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The goal when it arrived saw Harry Cornick played in on the left wing, the attacker looking up and delivering an excellent left-footed cross for Bree to volley past keeper Ben Wilson, who got hands to it, but couldn’t prevent the shot crossing the line.

Town's defender continued: “It’s a good team goal, it’s a perfect ball from Corns and Elijah (Adebayo) has taken the wing-back and the centre back in and it’s just fell perfectly for me on my right foot.

“There was nothing I could do really apart from hit it, it was perfect.”

When asked what it felt like when realising the ball had actually hit the net for the first time in his career, Bree continued: “Unbelievable, something that I haven't really experienced much, but hopefully there's many more to come.”

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It was an important time to score as well, with Coventry having missed a glorious opportunity moments beforehand, Max Biamou putting a one-on-one chance against the post and looking dangerous on the counter attack.

Bree added: “Going on from the Swansea game, we played so well, but didn’t take our chances, so the gaffer was on us before the game about being clinical and taking them.

“It was a big goal and I think it was a good time, the way we played the first half, I think we were the better team.”