Wells hails 'unbelievable' finish as Luton defeat Foxes
Striker joins in the celebrations after last-gasp winner
Luton striker Nahki Wells hailed an ‘unbelievable’ finish to Saturday’s League One against Leicester City at Kenilworth Road, as the Hatters came out on top 2-1 thanks to Callum Marshall’s stoppage time winner.
The hosts had looked like they were going to be thwarted in their efforts to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this term, when Wells’ 39th-minute goal was cancelled out by Liam Cullen’s leveller just before the 90th minute. However, it was the home fans who were celebrating midway through the seven minutes added on by the officials when Emilio Lawrence’s deflected cross-shot was tucked home by the Northern Ireland international, with Wells, who had been replaced by Marshall with 15 to go, sprinting over to join in the celebrations, picking up a booking for his troubles.
On the late drama, Wells said: “That was unbelievable, that's what football is! It didn’t go the way we wanted it near the end, but it's that desire, that drive, a 12th man with the support helped carry us over the line, and Marshy getting that winner, it's crazy. It was a real sucker blow the equaliser, but them being down to 10 men, and a shout-out to the boys, there’s still time.
"We made sure we still have that belief and clearly we did have. We were able to work it well, the ball gets played across, Marshy’s in the right place at the right time, exactly what we want. He’s been great since coming in and he deserves that goal as well, so running across and getting a yellow, that's what football is.”
Earlier in the game, Wells had put Town ahead when their high press worked perfectly, Jordan Clark dispossessing visiting defender Caleb Okoli, and then playing the ball to his left when a supremely confident Wells clinically swept home his eighth goal of the campaign. Considering he notched just 10 goals throughout the whole of the previous campaign, on being two off that tally before November, he continued: “I came close on another one earlier, the keeper got a block and I could have had a penalty which I thought was on, but we were all over them and I knew it was going to drop.
"Brilliant play from Clicks, he worked it, he pressed, he won it and squared it to me. It was just about making the right contact. I was delighted to get another goal and keep that run going and more importantly contribute to us getting three points. That’s what my job is. On a personal note, it’s great to have those numbers at this stage, it’s a really good return.
"I would like to have more, I probably could have a couple more this season, but as a striker, it’s about being consistent, being realistic and so far this season that’s what I’ve been able to do. I've kind of picked up where I left off last season, and long may it continue. I want to be our talisman this season after what was a poor season for me last year.”
Town are now back at home once more tomorrow night as they have a real chance of making it three successive victories when facing Doncaster Rovers, a side who have struggled for results this term, although they did beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at the weekend. Wells knows that Luton must make the advantage of being in front of their own fans again once more, count, adding: “This is our fortress. You can look back through the results, I think it’s been one defeat in I don't know how many games.
"When we play here, we have to take points, we have to turn in good performances, we have to get the crowd behind us and the last two games we’ve been able to do that. It’s about going again. We’ve done the back-to-back, but this group needs to show more consistency and that’s been a little bit of an Achilles heel, but we’re working, we’re trying. I hope the support can understand that we’re going to give 110 percent and that's what they've seen today.”