Town chief highlights the importance of set-pieces for the Hatters
Town have now scored four of their last five goals from corners
Hatters boss Jack Wilshere revealed just how big a part of his thinking set-pieces are and will continue to be during his tenure at Kenilworth Road after Town scored from another two to end their lengthy search for an away win when triumphing 2-1 at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
With 27 minutes gone, Luton won a corner on their left hand side which saw Liam Walsh curl over an inch-perfect delivery that Chairboys keeper Will Norris, who also struggled when conceding four at Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day, failed to read or even get off the floor for, skipper Kal Naismith able to simply nod home from just a few yards out.
Then, 12 minutes later, the visitors were at it again, only from the other flank on this occasion, George Saville swinging the flag kick over and Kasey Palmer left unmarked at the near post to power his header into the top corner. It continued a rich vein of form for Town from such incidents as four of their last six goals have now come from set-pieces, as last weekend against Reading, it was Saville who ghosted into the box to meet Jordan Clark’s delivery to find the net in the 3-2 defeat, while in the 2-1 Vertu Trophy success over Northampton, it was also from a corner, albeit a very different one, Naismith’s low pass to Walsh seeing the midfielder fire into the net via a deflection.
It led to the travelling Hatters fans serenading their side with the ‘set-piece again ole, ole’ chant, after the second goal went in, but being such a threat was no surprise for Wilshere, who made he packed his starting XI with enough height to give them every chance when venturing into the opposition’s area, saying: “It’s true that when I pick a team, it’s a big part of the thinking, set-pieces, delivery, threats.
"Who’s going to attack it? Who’s going to be good at it? Who’s going to be good at defending them? As in this league it’s so important, and I think we have to move forward like that as a whole club. Even when we recruit in the summer, we’re looking at who can take a set-piece? Who can be a threat from one? As it’s so important.”
It was also pointed out to him that with his former club Arsenal no doubt lifting the Premier League title this season on the back of their threats from corners, then Wilshere, who spent well over a decade with the Gunners, is well versed in what a big role they play in the modern game, as even Junior Quitirna’s consolation for the hosts came after Town didn’t clear their lines particularly well from a Wycombe corner.
He continued: “Listen, they’re the best at it and they set the bar. We need to be better at it, we talk about it a lot, we review them a lot, even defending set-pieces. I think maybe it was a second phase their goal which we’re not happy about, but when you have a real threat from set-pieces, you’re in every game, because at any moment you can score when you get a corner so really happy with that.”
Meanwhile, the prime beneficiary of Luton’s first corner, Naismith, echoed his manager’s thoughts on the importance of deadball situations, as he said: “Set-pieces are huge, it’s a huge part of the game. Premier League, Champions League, every division you see how important they are. I thought particularly first half there was so much good play as well, exactly what we wanted to do. We knew they would come on to us high, we played through the lines and we got into some great areas, just that final bit that we’ll continue to work on and we’ll get right and score a lot more from open play. But set-pieces are a huge part and I’m delighted we managed to put two away.”
Although he might not have got the exact contact he wanted either, it was still enough to double his tally for the season, that also coming from a set-piece, which may as well have been a corner, and make it 47 league goals in his career now, as Naismith added: “I’ll take it, a goal’s a goal, trust me I liked it. For me as a defender you don’t get many. That’s my second of the season, I know I need to chip in with more, especially with set-pieces.
"You’ve seen our delivery with George Saville, Liam Walsh, they’re always on the money. Us as defenders, we’re always speaking about how we can attack it a bit better. I’ve managed to lose my man, I’ve managed to make sure I’ve got contact on it. It’s hit my right eye, it went in, but just delighted to put us in front and see it hit the back of the net.”