Pilkington ready to lead Hatters back to the Football League

The disbelieving Hatters captain has his heart set on delivering Town back into the Football League when they meet AFC Wimbledon in the Blue Square Bet Premier Play-Off final at Eastlands on Saturday.

He said: “When I first signed for Luton Town I didn’t envisage us being in the Conference.

“We’ve got a chance on Saturday to rectify that situation.

“It’s football, you never predict anything. Between now and then we’ve got to make sure we do everything right.

“There’s going to be some nervous energy there but you need to use it to your advantage.

“Turn it to positive energy and hopefully all the players will put a good performance in.

“There are some tough away trips (in this division) so to go to Manchester where there is a great stadium and pitch, you try to embrace things.

“They don’t come along in football very often.

“It’s one game and more is riding on it for both clubs.

“You go out there and enjoy it because it may not happen again.”

Pilkington suffered a dead leg against Wrexham in the play-off semi-final second leg at Kenilworth Road and is relieved to be fit for the final.

He revealed: “It’s eased off. It isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, just a dead leg.

“I got away with one. It could have been a lot worse and the shin pad did a good job.”

Pilkington’s hoping the Hatters can repeat the performance they put in against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground during the first leg.

He said: “We’ve had two unchanged sides and I think its gelled very well and we have a lot of experienced players who can raise their game for the big games.

“We will try and replicate what we did at Wrexham. From one to 11 we were excellent.

“The result at Wrexham gave us a lift. We probably surprised ourselves as well as other people that we can perform like that.”

As for his own performance, he continued: “Especially in my position, I have to be dogged and do the basics.”

Pilkington is sure his own experience will come into play and knows there is plenty running throughout the squad.

He said: “I’m just that age. I’ve played enough games to know what it takes.

“A few of the lads from Cambridge have experienced it.

“Jason Walker played in the Trophy last year and scored at Wembley.

“We do have the experience and hopefully it will stand us in good stead.”

On the perception that AFC will have the neutral voting for them following their division with the MK Dons, Pilkington added: “As a player you don’t think about that really.

“Our fans will be behind us and spurring us on and the rest we can’t control.”