Powell happy with Barnet run-out but knows Luton need to 'finetune' in attack
Town held to a 2-2 draw by League Two hosts
Luton assistant boss Chris Powell was happy with Town’s run-out during their 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at Barnet yesterday, but knows they will need to ‘finetune’ in the attacking areas ahead of the upcoming League One campaign.
The Hatters had fallen behind early on against their fourth tier hosts when Nnamdi Ofoborh’s shot crept into the bottom corner, as keeper Josh Keeley then made two superb saves to prevent the Bees from doubling their advantage. Nahki Wells, who had fired against the bar from 30 yards, drew the visitors level just before half time, latching on to Kasey Palmer’s pass and sidefooting under the body of home keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.
In the second period, young prospect Jayden Luker bundled home trialist Harrison Dudziak’s corner on 72 minutes, only for the Hatters to be quickly pegged back, Kabongo Tshimanga prodding home from close range as the spoils were ultimately shared. Giving his reaction afterwards, Powell felt Town should have been more clinical in the final third, following several promising ventures over the half-way line, particularly through Gideon Kodua and Palmer in the first period, and then Shayden Morris after the interval, but couldn’t turn them into goalscoring opportunities.
He said: “The gaffer’s really happy with the workout and it’s just building on the work we’ve done the last two weeks. It’s the same, I’ve seen quite a few of these pre-seasons and you want to win, you want that habit to be part of our DNA, but really I felt, and the management, all the staff felt we should have been three or four goals ahead.
"That’s what these games are for, it’s about trying to finetune those final actions in the final third. We had really good opportunities before Nahki got one just before half time, but we’re happy with the work, the output from the guys and we’ll build from it in Spain. I think we’ll really up the ante there, with one game out there and then when we come back it’s all systems go for the opener against Gillingham.”
For Wells, it was his second goal in as many friendlies, having been on target with a thumping header in the 5-0 success at Southern League Premier Central side Hitchin Town last weekend, as he continues to look sharp since returning. Having scored 10 times last term, but only five of them coming in the league, a tally he publicly felt should have been better, then finding the net again will do his confidence no harm at all according to the former England international.
Powell continued: “All strikers they want to get off the mark in pre-season, because in their psyche they know, okay I’m getting in the right areas, but they can still work on it, they can still finetune. There were parts of the game I’m sure our supporters saw that, it’s just the final pass we didn’t get right, but we don’t want to get too upset about it as that’s what the work is for, that’s what the double sessions are for, to get the guys’ relationships going.
"You talk about the units, the back four and I feel that sometimes it’s the midfielders connecting with the strikers or the wide players with the full backs, they’re the sort of things you work on. Once you get those behaviours, you put it all together like everyone saw last year, you can get a good team spirit, but a good team that are playing the way the manager wants to play.”
Following the trip to the Hive, Town now take their squad abroad for the next seven days, heading out to Murcia in Spain for a training camp, where they will also play another friendly against Saudi Pro-League side Al Kholood next weekend. Asked just how much this trip will help the players ahead of the new campaign, Powell added: “You build on the training, you build on the camaraderie, you build on the togetherness and the understanding of what Jack wants from the team. It’s always nice to get away, work hard, a different environment.
"Obviously a few of our fans will make the trip, which is nice for them to see Luton abroad, and then when we come back it’s Walsall, it’s Go Ahead (Eagles) and then it’s Gillingham. So this just adds to what we’ve been doing. It’s all been planned really well and we’re looking forward to flying out and spending some good time, not only on the pitches, but around each other. It's making sure that when the time’s right, we’ll have a meal together and we’ll bond as the next nine, 10 months are very, very important for this football club.”