Town boss hails the future

Walker, 21, and Poku, 20, made their first and second league starts respectively to complete a rare 90 minutes for the Hatters. Brabin said: “I keep saying to Godfrey and Dan, it’s through no fault of their own, but they lack a little bit of experience.

“They are two very good players and I’ve got a lot of hope for their future.

“They’ve been waiting for their turn to play and I thought they got better and better as the game went on.”

Lacey returned to the side as a second half substitute after injury had kept him out since January 15 to produce a very accomplished display, while Watkins was full of industry and creativity on the left wing.

Brabin continued: “Alex has been injured a little bit, but was very close to the first team earlier in the season.

“Adam Watkins’ attitude has been different class every day in training.

“I think its given him a new lease of life the last month or so with the belief that he was within touching distance of a start. He was unlucky not to start but I think when he came on he did himself the world of good.”

At just 22, Ed Asafu-Adjaye is hardly a veteran himself either and the defender, now firmly back in the first team picture since Brabin took over, turned in a man of the match performance at left-back.

The boss added: “Ed’s really come on. He’s one of the players who’ve come to the forefront.

“I said to Ed in the past and he’ll probably be the first to admit at times he’s probably been a little bit off it.

“But certainly the last two matches he’s been unbelievably outstanding.

“His attitude in training is different class and I think he’s done himself no harm at all.”

Striker Jason Walker agreed with his manager that the future at Kenilworth Road is bright, adding: “Lacey’s a great player. I play against him in training being a defender. I know what he’s like in training and he showed out there he’s got class.

“It’s just a shame he didn’t score, and Adam Watkins too, it was a good save from the keeper.

“The future’s good. Players like Poku, JJ O’Donnell, Dan Walker, there’s loads. It’s not really an old team, we’ve got Ed as well, it’s a really young team with them in it. They are the future and it’s looking good.”