Pearson admits Luton's inability to keep clean sheets last season was getting him down

Defender Matty Pearson admitted that Luton’s inability to keep clean sheets in the early stages of last season had started to have an affect him away from the game.

The centre half was part of a Town back-line that struggled badly at times to contain their opposition, having to wait until their 12th game for a first Championship shut out when Bristol City were beaten 3-0 on October 19, 2019, by which time they had conceded 20 goals.

A second then arrived some 19 games later, in a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on February 12, 2020, as Town’s defensive frailties seriously hampered any chances of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Although they managed it with a final day 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers, after a campaign in which Town were breached 82 times in total, Pearson said: “Last season it was a tough time, especially with the clean sheets.

“As a defender, that’s what we play for, if you keep clean sheets you generally win games.

“When you’re not keeping clean sheets and losing games, it gets on top of you and last year it probably did get on top of me.

“It wasn’t a great time, but you’ve got to pull yourself back together and go again, we turned it around, and thankfully we did.”

Since Nathan Jones returned in May, then bar a 5-0 defeat to Reading, Luton have been a tougher nut to crack, letting in just eight in their other 12 league games.

This season has seen just two hit Town’s net and with two shut out from four Championship fixtures, Pearson said: “We all know if we concede two or three goals in this league, it’s very, very difficult to win a game, the best you get is a draw.

“That’s our thought process, it always has been, but now more than ever.

“If we know we can get a clean sheet, or keep the score down to one goal, we’ve always got a chance of winning the game.

“We’ve got to stay in the games as long as possible, as we’ve got those players, Harry Cornick, Clicker (Jordan Clark), Collo (James Collins), all can get you goals.

“As long as we keep in the game, keep going and always believe, I always think we’re in with a chance of winning.”

On why Luton have become so hard to break down now, Pearson felt the return of one certain influential member of the team has played a huge part.

He continued: “The fans see it, I think Glen (Rea) when he came back in, he helps me and Sonny (Bradley) out massively.

“It’s a number of things though, having a season in the Champ, we know what’s expected, know what’s going to happen.

“We’ve been there, had a good 46 games last season of experience behind us of things that happened, but I think Glen in front of us has been a massive difference.

“I love having him there, you know all the ins and outs with him.

"He’s a top, hungry player and the rest of the team, Bez (Luke Berry), Pelly (Mpanzu), are all putting themselves about now.

“Second balls and the hunger to win the first ball, we’re loads better than we were the beginning of last season.”

This term, Pearson has played alongside Bradley during the opening four Championship games of the season.

He feels the pair have got back to their League One days, and admitted having athletic full backs on either side is a welcome plus too.

Pearson said: “I think we’ve always had a good partnership since the start.

“You don’t play League One and win the league without having a defensive foundation.

“It helps having two good full backs which we did in League One and now coming into this league, I think we’re back to having some good strong full backs again.

“Rhys (Norrington-Davies) has come in and done very well, he’s got a fantastic engine and reminds me of a left-footed Jack Stacey.

“We’ve got (James) Bree, we’ve got (Martin) Cranie, we’re strong all over.

“Then we’ve got Brendan (Galloway) and Pottsy (Dan Potts) so I think full-backs we’re strong this year.

“That’s one of the positions we need to be getting forward in, especially the way the manager wants to play, full-backs are key.”

With Jones bringing in Wales international defender Tom Lockyer during the summer, it has increased the pressure on Pearson to retain his form, something he relishes.

He added: “I’ve said it before, it’s not just my position, we made nine changes against Man United and any one of them could have easily played ahead of the league game.

“So it’s not just me, but I welcome competition, it’s what you need as a player.

"The whole team and the whole squad are ready and know if they’re not up to standard then changes will be made.”