Town duo Clark and Naismith earn plaudits for their roles in Luton's new-look defence at the City Ground

The two new members of Luton’s much-changed defence earned plenty of plaudits from Luton first team coach Chris Cohen after they helped Town to a seventh clean Championship sheet on the road when beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground last night.

Summer signing from Accrington Stanley Jordan Clark, primarily a winger in his career so far, began at right back, with Kal Naismith, who has been used mainly as a wingback during his brief time at Kenilworth Road so far, went into centre half alongside Matty Pearson.

The pair both excelled in their roles, with Naismith producing a brilliant performance in the heart of Town’s defence, while Clark defended solidly, but also brought the ball forward with real purpose, starting off the move that led to Luton’s only goal, while was inches away from a second himself.

Cohen said: “Good players can play anywhere.

"You look at Kal, look at the attributes he’s got, is he able to play as a left sided centre half? 100 per cent yes.

"You look at Clicker and how intelligent he is as a footballer, in possession and out of possession, is he able to play as a right back? Most definitely.

"Those two have been brilliant, alongside a lot of others who were playing in their natural position.

"But you look at the performances all round and I can't look at one person and think they were below par.

"That’s the foundation that builds a good away performance and they thoroughly deserved the victory in the end.”

Naismith himself was quick to praise the efforts of Clark too who was picked ahead of regular right back James Bree on this occasion, who came off the bench late on.

He said; “That’s the mentality of the changing room, wherever we’re needed we’ll try and do the best we can.,

"You’ll see people play anyway, so for Clicker to go back there and do as well as he’s done is unbelievable.

"We’ve got Breesy who is one of the top right backs in the league, so you’ve got strength in depth everywhere and I thought Clicker was excellent tonight.”

Meanwhile, the ability of Town’s duo to cover a range of roles is something that the club can only benefit from going forward, as Cohen added: “Him (Naismith) and Jordan Clark can play any position on the football pitch.

"To have that when you’re making substitutions, or changing formations, it’s so helpful.

“Kal can go in at centre half, right back, right wing and he’s played up front.

"He’s played in a ten and he can play anywhere that you ask him and Jordan Clark is very much the same.

“If you are a team, like we are at the moment, who do change formations at times within games, then the players have been valuable to do that.

"He’s (Naismith) been great.

"He’s got an unbelievably good character and he’s got so much character reference from friends up at Wigan and he’s been brilliant since he came in.”