Patience a virtue for in-form Luton

LUTON Town manager Richard Money felt his side’s patience finally paid off during their 4-0 thrashing of Darlington on Tuesday night, writes Mike Simmonds.

Hatters took over an hour to break down a dogged Quakers backline, but once Claude Gnakpa fired home from 20-yards on 68 minutes, the visitors were easy pickings as Luton ran in a further three goals.

Money said: “I thought it was reward for patience.

“It was a night that I thought we played extremely well all the way through.

“It took a while for the first goal to go in, and some teams can get frustrated and lose patience, but it’s not our style.

“We kept moving it really well, kept creating chances and once Claude got the first, then, as often happens here, the floodgates open.”

Gnakpa’s strike was his 10th of an increasingly prolific season, as he has scored in the last four Blue Square Premier matches.

Money said: “He can be frustrating at times, but he’s a matchwinner and he’s got the all-important goal.”

Lloyd Owusu then helped himself to two goals as he continues to regain full fitness since joining the club in January.

The boss continued: “It was a great move and his touch to set himself up for the shot was excellent.

“It was a real good finish, he was desperate to come off, but he got another goal and in the end we could bring him off.

“His second was a super move, a great ball from Claude and a really good header from Lloyd.

“He gives us a focal point and has given us another dimension which is important.

“He’s very important to us and we don’t want to put him at risk.”

The rout was completed by a sublime finish from the increasingly impressive Alex Lawless, who is revelling in his central midfield slot.

Money added: “If you see that goal on any Saturday on Match of the Day, everyone is drooling.

“Unfortunately it’s only our public that’s seen it, but it’s a goal worthy of a much higher level.”