Ahead of the trip to Pride Park, optimism levels were high when it came to the outcome of the game with 75% of those who voted in our poll inferring Luton would win.
Unfortunately, it was not to be the case with the Hatters slipping to a 2-0 defeat, with the goals coming early in each half.
But, once again, it was the manner of the defeat wit Luton showing just how inconsistent they can be.
The performance the side gave, in my opinion, blew away any of the confidence we had of a top-10 finish that was discussed in a recent article – you-believe-it-is-on-the-cards.
In fact, based on the showing at Pride Park, I am grateful that there is a decent points gap, still, between ourselves and the relegation places.
Delving into the comments left on social media, it appears I am not the only one disappointed with the performance, as the following posts illustrate perfectly:
Very poor
— Danny LTFC (@danny_ltfc) April 2, 2021
Bad Friday 😫
— Paige Buckingham (@paigeee_b) April 2, 2021
Disappointing and very frustrating. That was a terrible 2nd half
— Andy (@ajfkosovo) April 2, 2021
Feeble performance that . Definitely one to forget .
— Grant_hh37 🧡🏴⚽🤍 (@GrantTheHatter) April 2, 2021
But what did the boss, Nathan Jones, make of it all?
Talking to the local media and as reported by The BBC, Nathan had this to say:
“We are not a team to chase from 2-0 and we don’t usually have to do that, but we started both halves really poorly.”
Indeed, we are not, all our wins away from home, seven if I can count correctly, have been by a 1-0 score-line, goalscoring remains, as it has all season, a problem.
Continuing, the gaffer added:
“Derby started fast, but we allowed them to come on to us a little bit and we conceded. If we’d seen that period out then, for half an hour of the first half we were excellent, I thought, and created enough chances to have got on the scoresheet.”
But being a goal down was always going to be a handicap.
As for the second and deciding goal, Nathan further added:
“We want to start the second half well and go after the first goal and it was the polar opposite.
“From our corner they break, we had numbers back there, don’t defend it well enough and suddenly it’s 2-0 and pretty much game over.”
It was but the biggest question I have is why do we concede so many early goals?
Perhaps we can perform better, against Barnsley at Kenilworth Road, on Easter Monday.
COYH’s
Previous article by Mad Hatter
They Played For Both – Luton & Barnsley