Paul Hart joked that he “wouldn’t have got up again” if he’d joined boss Nathan Jones in a knee slide celebration on Saturday – but that the scenes at Kenilworth Road have given the club a lift.
Kal Naismith’s 97th minute last-kick winner against Championship leaders Bournemouth sparked chaotically jubilant scenes with the manager’s in particular going viral on the internet as he ran up the touchline towards the Kenilworth Road end and launched into a slide that injured his hamstring.
At 20 years his senior, assistant manager Hart wasn’t nearly as acrobatic in his celebrations and he said: “If I had joined him, number one I would have dug two trenches and, number two, I wouldn’t have got up again!
“How he does that I don’t know but I guarantee he wasn’t wearing his Armani trousers when he did it.”
But the former Nottingham Forest chief did admit to having a spring in his step.
He said: “It’s always a good place to come to work, a great atmosphere here no matter what. We get on with things but certainly after the result on Saturday, it has given everybody a huge lift.”
It means Town are four games unbeaten now in all competitions, including taking four points off Fulham and Bournemouth, who Jones believes will get promoted to the Premier League this term.
Hart added: “We have done really well against the top teams this year. I think it’s fair to say that we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve enjoyed the win and we need to get back down to basics and try and perform again. Whilst we have enjoyed beating a top team, we know that we still have a way to go.”
Fans have been on a high since the memorable scenes on Saturday with one video on social media from outside the stadium demonstrating the roar when the winner went in.
Asked where the experience of being at the centre of it ranked in his career, Hart said: “That is one thing about Kenilworth Road. The noise we get from our supporters is fantastic and for a spectacle it must have been wonderful to watch.
“I can only say that we played really well in the first half, we came off the boil in the second half for a bit and then finished the game really strong. To watch it as a supporter, I thought it was a great game of football, they gave as good as they got and I can only say that we were superb.”
It was Naismith who wrote himself into Hatters folklore with his stunning strike on Saturday and Hart believes the Scot is proving a highly valuable asset for Luton.
“With Kal, I always say that he’s a great trainer and he replicates what he does during the week on a Saturday which is the essence of a professional footballer,” said the 68-year-old.
“I enjoy his performances, he puts the ball at risk, he’s confident and he’s a great lad. Very popular around the place and I think he’s enjoying his football.”
