Wilshere could see Town 'really wanted' clean sheet at United

Luton boss Jack Wilshere admitted he could see just how much his side wanted the long-awaited clean sheet they finally managed to achieve during this afternoon’s 2-0 victory at Peterborough United.

Despite heading to the Weston Homes Stadium with three successive wins under their belts for the first time this season, the one thing that had been lacking for Town was a second shut-out of the campaign, and a first on the road since beating Rotherham United 2-0 in April, as they had conceded in every game following a 2-0 success over Stockport County back in early September, some eight matches ago.

They were certainly pushed to the limits in doing so as well, with Posh, under manager Robbie Savage, hitting the bar in the first half through Harry Leonard, and then reacting well to Town doubling their lead with 51 seconds gone after the break. For a good 25 minutes, the hosts threw everything at their opponents, with New Zealand international Matthew Garbett in particular trying his luck on more than one occasion.

However, Luton, with James Shea making five saves in total, plus a centre half pairing of Mads Andersen and George Johnston, who were particularly impressive, clearing anything and everything that came their way Andersen covering to clear a shot of the line once Shea had collided with Joe Johnson, recalled in place of the ill Kal Naismith.

Having been disappointed the Hatters didn’t get a clean sheet when beating Doncaster Rovers 3-1 in midweek, then having done so at United a few days later, Wilshere said: “It’s pleasing because you have to accept at times in this league, how many times did we speak about suffering and suffering together last season?

"We have to be able to do that. When we look back it, there’s probably some moments where we could have taken the sting out of it and when they were committing so many men forward, if we made one or two passes there was a moment to transition. But the way the boys defended and kept a clean sheet, I could see that in their eyes, they really wanted it and they got it.

“We should be standing here with two clean sheets in a row. We’re not, but credit to the boys as I thought in the second half, especially after the goal, there was a period where they really threatened our box and I felt comfortable. I look at Mads, I look at George, I think they’re developing a nice partnership together.

"They look like they like defending the box, which you have to do. JJ (Joe Johnson) helped, Izzy (Jones) is exceptional in one v ones and he’s getting better at playing in the back four. It’s not just the back-line, Sheasy as well, we talk about defending with 11 and I thought our high press was really good, as it’s accepting at times they are going to get into our box and we have to be ready to defend it.”