Naismith insists Luton 'need to get back' to Wembley having won the Vertu Trophy
Luton skipper eyes play-off final next month
Skipper Kal Naismith insists that Luton ‘need to get back’ to Wembley having experienced victory at the home of English football with the Hatters after beating Stockport County 3-1 in the Vertu Trophy final on Sunday.
The 34-year-old was part of the Town XI who was able to walk up the steps at the famous venue and get his hands on the cup, lofting it high to the 30,000-plus supporters who had also made their way to the capital. With Luton still having a realistic shout of making the play-offs, six points adrift of the top six with five matches left, and a game in hand over sixth-placed Stevenage, then having his appetite whetted by the day out, Naismith is eager to head back there on Sunday, May 24.
Asked if Town will benefit from their Wembley success in their run-in to the third tier campaign, which begins at home to Northampton Town this evening, an opposition who will be relegated if they fail to triumph, then speaking to the Luton News, Naismith said: "I think we use it, we can definitely use it. We don't get carried away and think now we've cracked it and we just turn up and play, it’s not that. Northampton pose a different test, it’s at home and in front of our fans which I think definitely helps as I think they'll be energised and buzzing, as will we, but this is a different game and it's football, it’s funny.
"You think you’ve smashed it and you’re flying and your heads up, shoulders out and it brings you back down to earth. So we need to get back on it and the basics, we'll do that in training, planning and we'll go again. Five cup finals, we've got to win every game that was the feeling after the game. As delighted as I was to be there, I’ve seen Clicker again and we both said the same thing, ‘let’s get back there, we need to get back there.’ It's just an incredible feeling that you want to keep repeating, so to know that we can do it so soon in four weeks, honestly it’s just lock in for four weeks and give absolutely everything as we need another one of those days.”
Meanwhile, Luton keeper James Shea, who is back on the bench this evening for the contest having started in Sunday’s final, is of the same opinion as his team-mate and believes that if the Hatters can get into the top six, then following their victory in London, no-one will relish going up against Town. With the Hatters on a run of five wins from six and just one defeat in 12, he stated: “The football we're playing is really good.
"We've got a bit of momentum now and we just need one more big push to get into the play-offs and if we get into the play-offs, I don't think anyone will fancy us. Stockport are going to be in the play-offs comfortably, we’ve shown we can match them a few times this season, so if we can get into the play-offs, it’s going to be tough don't get me wrong, we need a few results to go our way, but football’s a mad game and you never know what’s round the corner.
"They’re (Stockport) a good team, they were probably favourites (to win the Trophy), they’re higher in the league than us, the league table doesn't really lie does it, and they’re a really good team and I thought we were fantastic. I thought we played some unbelievable football, it’s started to show in the last 10-12 games what we're really about now.
"It’s not going to happen overnight, it takes time, but I'd like to think everyone can start to see the process we're going through, the way we're trying to play. The results are starting to follow now, you just hope that one more push and we can get into the play-offs at the end of the season. We’ve got a lot to do, we need a little bit of luck to go our way, but I’m sure as long as we look after ourselves and take care of our results, with a bit of luck, you just never know.
"We’ve lost one in 12 and the one we lost was Reading where we probably should have won that if I’m honest, but we are in good form at the minute. We’ve got to keep going, keep level, keep our heads on, enjoy the win don't get me wrong, but come we’ve got to be back on it and get ready for Northampton as it’s going to be another tough game.”