Luton boss Matt Bloomfield said he was “disappointed” at learning that some fans have begun to accept relegation as the fate of this season, but says “100 per cent” still believes Town can avoid the drop.
A 2-0 defeat at Sunderland on Wednesday, where the Hatters managed just one shot on target and 34 per cent possession against a promotion-chasing Black Cats side in cruise control saw them slip to the bottom of the Championship.
While they’re only two points adrift of Derby, with a game in hand, a nine-game winless run in the league, while other teams around them are starting to find results, has seen some fans insist online that a second consecutive relegation is more than likely.
“I didn’t know that. I don’t read social media, I don’t look. I’m disappointed if they feel that way, but I understand it’s been a couple of seasons of losing games and I respect our supporters feelings,” said Bloomfield, who is without a win in his first five games in charge.
“They’ve been watching this team and they’ve been here a lot longer than I have. I’m here with fresh eyes, and I’m here with fresh energy and fresh enthusiasm. And I absolutely believe that that we can achieve what we want to achieve this season.
“We have to make them believe that. And we want them to believe that. And we have to give them something to cheer. It’s the only way that we can succeed is by doing it together. So, we want to do that for them. because they deserve something to cheer about.”
Town host second-in-the-league Sheffield United tomorrow, knowing that games are starting to run out, with just 15 more matches to haul themselves out of trouble.
Bloomfield said: “We have to be confident and optimistic about the afternoon. and I understand their [fans] feelings. I understand that they pay their money, they watch their team.
“We would love them to be fully behind us. And we would love to give them something to cheer. It’s up to us on the pitch as management, as coaching staff, as playing staff, as a as a group to give our supporters something to cheer, give them something to get behind.
“Of course we want to be as one, and we want it to be a mutual relationship. In my career, I’ve been really fortunate at the different clubs to have good relationships with supporters. I think it’s crucial that they understand that you’re here for the right reasons. They understand that you’re here to represent them the best way you possibly can, that you’re working as hard as you possibly can.
“But, ultimately, we’re all here for results and we understand that. And the supporters are here to watch their team win games. And if they’re not winning the games, then we understand they’re going to be disappointed and frustrated and understand the situation.
“So, yeah, I totally understand our supporters. We’re working for them as hard as we possibly can and we want to turn it around for them.”
The Hatters inherited by Bloomfield have drawn a blank in three of the 40-year-old’s five games in charge and have now scored 13 less goals than at the same stage as last term in the Premier League, when they were earning plaudits for performances against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Before the midweek trip to the Stadium of Light, Luton had an 11-day break between games – due to being knocked out of the FA Cup – and a January transfer window in which they brought eight new players to the club.
So, the scarcity of chances they created against a Sunderland side, who conceded two and were held to a draw by recently removed basement boys Plymouth, has proved a worry development for many Hatters fans.
This was discussed on the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast, with host Kevin Harper delivering an impassioned plea for fans not to give up and to try to make Kenilworth Road a fortress once again. Click on the video below to get straight to that discussion.
Asked if he’s still seeing the signs that Luton can rescue their season, Bloomfield said: “Absolutely, 100 per cent. I’m here to do a job, and I believe in the job we’re here to do, as a group, as a football club.
“Unity has to be paramount at these moments. I understand that it’s an emotional sport. Everyone loves football because it’s emotional. You’re either high or you’re low and not too many times in between. That’s understandable. That’s the game.
“But we are working our hardest every single day, and to represent them the best we possibly can and we really believe that we’ll give them some good results to cheer about.”
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