Naismith not getting carried away as Town skipper hails Luton's unity
Bond is returning between players and supporters once more
Town captain Kal Naismith declared there was no way his side would be getting carried away despite starting the League One campaign in thrilling fashion with a 4-3 triumph at Reading on Saturday.
The Hatters, who are one of the favourites to win promotion this season, looked to have got off to the perfect start at the Madejski Stadium last weekend when Jake Richards put them ahead after just five minutes. Those hopes of an opening day victory then appeared to have been dashed by a 30-minute hat-trick from ex-Luton striker Jack Marriott, as he took advantage of an error-strewn defensive display from the visitors that ensured the Royals were 3-1 to the good by the break.
However, Town didn’t let their heads drop, as after a passionate team talk from boss Jack Wilshere, which has since been put on social media by the club, they came out and scored twice within seven minutes through Kasey Palmer to draw level, before Gideon Kodua grabbed an injury-time winner to spark scenes of sheer elation in the away end. With Luton now entertaining Notts County this weekend, hopes will be high from home fans that their side can make it six points from six, but Naismith isn’t taking anything for granted.
He said: “The energy’s good, I can’t deny that, the energy is good, there’s a feel-good factor around the club and that always helps, but for us as players you never get carried away. This is a tough league, you play tough teams every week and it can change fast, so just keep your mind on the job, one game at a time. I’m sure the manager will think there’s lots of areas we can improve and do better, so we need to watch it, take bits from it and learn, but then it’s just full focus on the next game and one game at a time.”
What will aid the Hatters this term is that there now appears to be a real sense of togetherness between players and supporters, fostered mainly thanks to a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions that the club are now on. Although there was one crushing disappointment in there, Town’s 3-2 victory at Bolton Wanderers on the final day of the campaign not enough to earn a play-off place, pipped to the play-offs by Stevenage, Naismith felt even that strengthened the bond, that had disappeared at times last term.
He continued: “I’d say one of the saddest moments last season was Bolton, but also one of the best, standing there at the end, feeling like you never achieved that thing, but I feel like we achieved the thing that’s most important with this club and that’s getting the fans united. We’re a team and I felt that and I feel that here (at Reading).
"I never once felt or heard any moaning, groaning, I just heard the fans behind us the whole time. They travel in their numbers, full, packed out, incredible, and they got us over the line. The celebrations at the end, you see the first thing every player does on the bench is goes down there and celebrates with the fans, just feels good.”
The fact that Town didn’t make a huge number of alterations to their side from last season to this, as the arrival of Emilio Lawrence meant there was just one change from the starting line-up that won 3-2 at Bolton Wanderers on the final day, to heading to Berkshire on the opening one, was also something that was heralded by Naismith.
He stated: “The Reading game last year at home, we lost because we deserved to lose, but then the run we went on was incredible, so you don’t need to rip it up and start again. We’re in a great place. We’ve got a great togetherness, never give up, it was just about keeping that and the fact we could keep it, is just incredible, it just gives us hope.”
That continuity was something boss Jack Wilshere admitted he was always eager to retain as well, pointing to the fact that some of his best bits of business over the summer were ensuring those who had played such a vital part in their brilliant run, were back for another crack at the promotion places, saying: “That’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to keep everyone together and we’re very grateful to the club for that as I was really strong with my message about that.
"We worked really hard to create something, an identity on the pitch, but also a spirit like you see, that was really important. Clicker (Jordan Clark), Walshy (Liam Walsh) coming back, Kasey, Emilio coming back, adding a little bit more quality in certain areas and strength in depth. We want to improve from last season, but the main thing was getting everyone back together and going from there.”
Finally, the manager agreed with his skipper that the manner of Saturday’s success at Reading, Kodua netting a memorable last-gasp strike, will do even more to strengthen the relationship between his squad and their followers, both on the road and at Kenilworth Road. He added: “They were outstanding and they would have been proud of the players if we came away from here with a point, I’m sure of that, because of the character they showed.
"But I keep talking about building that connection with them and moments like that, when you win it after a strange game, and they stuck with them the whole way, that creates an even bigger connection. I spoke to the players about that last game at Bolton and that moment we had in front of the fans, being frustrated, disappointed and holding on to that. We had another moment with them which we need to continue moving forward, as we need them at home. I’m sure it’s going to be sold out, sure it’s going to be rocking and that’s what we want.”