Wilshere dedicates Chairboys win to Luton's long-suffering travelling fans

Luton boss Jack Wilshere dedicated yesterday’s 2-1 victory against Wycombe Wanderers to the Hatters’ long-suffering travelling supporters after the club finally ended their lengthy search for an away success.

Since winning 3-0 at Stockport County on November 8, the Hatters had gone to Barnsley, Leyton Orient, Reading, Exeter, Plymouth, Huddersfield, Cardiff, Wigan, Port Vale and Doncaster and failed to triumph, garnering a measly three points in that time, scoring just six goals and conceding 18, and that’s not forgetting being knocked out of the FA Cup on penalties when visiting League Two Fleetwood Town as well.

However, the sequence was finally ended at a venue when Luton simply never lose, Adams Park, as Town extended their record to 16 games unbeaten since their first visit to the home of the Chairboys some 30 years ago in September 1996, as first half goals from corners by Kal Naismith and Kasey Palmer meant that Junior Quitirna’s classy late strike in stoppage time was a mere consolation.

Although Luton were taking on a side who had won their last four on home soil, and eight from 10 in the league, nearly 1,500 fans still made what was the admittedly short trip to Buckinghamshire in hope rather than expectation, but after finally being able to celebrate a long overdue three points with them afterwards, Wilshere said: “Credit to them. I heard yesterday how many were coming and it’s really unbelievable with how we’ve been away from home. And that’s true supporters, that’s true love for the club that they stick with us. That’s for them, that’s for them, as they’ve followed us to Wigan, to Doncaster, to Cardiff and we fell short a lot of times, but that one is for them and we need to build on it.”

Having moved 2-0 in front at the break, Town never really had any concerns until the closing stages of the second period, and the eight minutes added on by referee Craig Hicks, as they should have conceded a penalty when Hakeem Odoffin hauled down ex-Hatters attacker Fred Onyedinma, only for the hosts’ appeals to be waved away, before Quitirna’s effort made the final few seconds that bit more nervy.

On the feeling when the final whistle was blown, Wilshere added: “It wasn’t nice when they scored in the 96th minute and we had to see it out, but I felt in the second half, we were comfortable. I know they had a bit more pressure than we did, but we always know that’s coming. They made a lot of subs, made a lot of changes on the last line. They’re always going to play into them and I felt like we dealt with that really well. The goal I’ll have to watch back, it’s a set-piece and we can’t concede set-pieces, but I thought in general, the second half was good and a really mature performance.”