Luton defender Odoffin takes pride in clean sheet at old side Rotherham

Town defender Hakeem Odoffin spoke of his pride at helping the Hatters pick up their second clean sheet in three away matches when winning 2-0 at his old team Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old was part of a Luton back-line who were dominant during the first period at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, although it was thanks to the Millers’ Players’ Player of the Season from last term, that they weren’t breached, heading a Cohen Lee volley away from goal that looked to have the beating of keeper Josh Keeley.

After Kasey Palmer scored twice from two Shayden Morris crosses to make it 2-0 at the interval, it was Odoffin who came to the fore in the second period, throwing himself in the way of Harry Gray’s shot when he looked like he was destined to pull one back, positioning him well to clear the danger away again from another header that flashed across goal.

It means Town, who had also shut out AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday, are now joint fifth in the table for clean sheets, with 13, as speaking about the contest afterwards, Odoffin said: “I’m very pleased to get a clean sheet. It’s never easy coming away from home, they won at the weekend, so it’s a game that we knew we had to come in and we had to trust the process, had to respect them and I felt like we did that.

“It’s something I pride myself on and all the boys in the back-line. It was definitely a team effort getting that clean sheet, wanting to defend because at times you’re going to have to sit in, going to have to be patient and I felt like we did that well. We could have scored on the counter-attack a few times, but it felt like a very accomplished and thorough performance.

“You come here, it’s always nice to see some familiar faces, but when you’re on the pitch I only have one goal really and that’s to get three points and to get a clean sheet was perfect. It’s just one of those things, it’s lovely to see everyone and then when you're on the pitch, there’s no friends anymore. I enjoyed it in the end, enjoyed the fight from the boys and then the calmness and the composure as well. After the game on Saturday (2-2 draw at Mansfield), it was a point of emphasis that we started the game strong, get ourselves to a certain tempo and I felt like we did that. We could have scored more goals, but ultimately I felt like it was a very controlled performance away from home."

Odoffin was able to achieve his targets in what was a new-look defence, partnering Kal Naismith in the centre of the back four, with Joe Johnson left back and Nigel Lonwijk on the right. The quartet had completed the second 45 minutes at Mansfield at the weekend after Mads Andersen was replaced at the break and asked about playing alongside Town’s skipper, he continued: “We’re constantly communicating, constantly demanding more from each other and demanding more from everyone else, trying to be that base of the bine.

"We have Keels behind us taking to us, we’re talking to Walshy (Liam Walsh) in front of us, it’s good, it’s what you want an it’s just about building relationships in the team. It’s because of the work we do, everyone that’s coming in you feel comfortable, you feel like you can trust them and Kal’s no different.”

Arriving in the summer, Odoffin joined with a non-musculoskeletal issue requiring a minor surgical procedure that saw him sidelined until Jack Wilshere was appointed in October. Having got fit again, he was then out with another injury for around three months, but since returning against has been nothing short of a revelation, Luton winning seven from 10 games, without a defeat.

Wilshere highlighted the efforts of the centre half alongside Naismith, as he said: “I like Kal at centre back and he gives you a nice balance. I wouldn't say that’s his favourite position or probably his best position but he can definitely step in there. You know what you’re going to get from Kal defending wise, he gives everything, wears his heart on his sleeve.

"He competes for everything, wins duels, but with his left foot with the ball he gives us a nice balance. Haks as well was outstanding, he’s a monster. We’ve missed him this season and it’s a big job for us, for everyone, to make sure that next season we make him robust and make him available for more games.”

With Odoffin already becoming a huge favourite with supporters on the terraces due to his whole-hearted and committed efforts on the pitch, his popularity doesn’t appear to have landed with the defender just yet, as when told that was the case, answered: “It’s nice, I didn’t know that, but I feel the love any time I’m speaking to any fans. When the games are done and we get to go over and thank them for making the trips to away games and the support at our home, you can feel the energy they give us. All we can ask for them is to keep believing with us and we’ll keep fighting.

“I don’t really look at it as any type of form or my performance really. as I’m really focused on the result, us winning games. I feel like that’s the main thing and whatever I can do to help, I’m delighted to do. It’s enjoyable to be on the pitch with the boys and I feel like we’re all willing to fight for each other. You can trust the person next to you and we have to keep that going, keep that belief, so it’s very enjoyable.”

With Luton now having just two games left of the season, Town need to win both if they have any chance of getting into the top six, and having picked up six victories and two draws from their eight matches, then asked just how much credit they can take from triumphing when knowing just what was at stake, Odoffin added: “We talk about it a lot, the process, being process-driven, and I feel like if we trust the process and we’re acting on the process then the results will come.

"We showed that again. Today (Tuesday night) was another day when I felt like that was a point of emphasis after the weekend to start strong, to start on the front foot. I felt like we set the tempo of the game and we reaped the rewards of it. As a player and as a group, we can only focus on the next game and that’s all we’re doing.

"We’re focusing on the challenge ahead, not looking too far forward, not looking elsewhere, so focus now goes on to the weekend and we have to take that in. Enjoy it, enjoy the evening, as getting a clean sheet, getting a win, is what we wanted to come here and do and we did that. Now it’s about recovering, speaking about what we did well, what we can improve on, and then it’s about going into the weekend to get another result.”