Jack Wilshere believes Luton’s 1-1 draw at League One leaders Huddersfield Town will prove a valuable point as the Hatters extended their unbeaten run to five matches and moved up to third in the division.
Jordan Clark put Town ahead just before half time, with his second in two games, as he swivelled on Kasey Palmer’s assist to sweep the ball home. It was his sixth of the season.
But former Hatters striker Joe Taylor levelled soon after the break with rocket of a volley into the roof of James Shea’s net. They will have smelt blood then, but the visitors stood up to the challenge of facing the division’s top team and highest scorers, shutting them out after that.
Though both teams had to settle for a draw, Luton’s manager was keen to stress that they had travelled to Yorkshire looking to win and extend what had been their best winning run in six years.
“I felt in the first half, we started well,” Wilshere said, adding: “Probably played into their hands a little bit towards the end of the first half and they started to get on the front foot a bit, which they’re good at. They’ve been good at it all season. There’s a reason they are where they are. They do that consistently well.
“We came out of that situation well, we scored in the first half and we felt in the second half we could go and take the game to them. And we knew they were going to start fast. The idea was to soak that up. I thought in general we did soak it up apart from that moment. And it’s a really good finish from Taylor.
“Then we came back into the game and I thought you saw, probably in the second half, two good teams that were both trying to win.”
Wilshere felt there was little to separate the sides in terms of clear-cut chances, although he admitted Luton could have shown more quality in the final third, as Nahki Wells and Clark had openings.
“That’s probably what we’ll reflect on and review over the next few days, the quality in the final third, the decision making,” he told the BBC.
However, the manager was keen to put the performance into the context of the demands placed on his players during a busy run of fixtures where Luton have played seven games in 24 days since returning from last month’s international break.
“Given the context, what the players have been through the last three or four weeks with the games and the performances that they’ve given and the results, that’s the consequence of doing good things consistently.
“[We wanted] more quality in the final third, but the way we defended and the spirit we showed set pieces as well. I thought we defended really well there. So, credit to the players.”
The Hatters had to ride their luck in the first period as Huddersfield hit the woodwork twice from set pieces. The visitors also lost their captain early when Kal Naismith was substituted with an injury.
“He felt his calf,” said Wilshere, adding: “We will have to see over the next few days how bad it is. He felt it tighten up. We made the decision, which hopefully was similar to Nahki, where he came off and he just felt a little bit of tightness. And then the scan showed that it wasn’t much. So hopefully it isn’t that, but I don’t know yet.”
After the final whistle, Wilshere brought his players and staff together in a huddle, explaining that he wanted to recognise the collective effort during a demanding period.
“I know people say it, but it is like your family away from your family,” said Wilshere, adding: “I enjoy spending time with the players. I enjoy spending time with the staff and I thank them for their efforts over the last sort of three or four weeks.”
Town will now prepare for an FA Cup tie at home to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday before going into the next international break, but Wilshere acknowledged the importance of maintaining the confidence that has come with their recent results.
“Momentum in this league, at any level of football actually, is really important. It keeps building confidence, which is really important that we continue to do that.
“We try and isolate each game as that when we prepare for it. But we’re also aware of the run we’ve been on. We didn’t come into the game thinking, OK, let’s get a point. But I think when we reflect on it, it’ll probably be a good point.”
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