Jack Wilshere insists a return to Kenilworth Road will not automatically solve his side’s problems, despite an unbeaten home run.
The Hatters host struggling Burton Albion this afternoon, looking to steady a campaign that has drifted off course on their travels in the last week with a humbling 3-1 defeat to champions elect Cardiff. An even more chastening 1-0 defeat to a relegation-threatened Wigan followed on Wednesday, handing them their first home victory since early December.
While Wilshere’s side have struggled on the road, home comforts have offered encouragement. The Hatters are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games since mid-October, winning six and drawing four, and have taken five victories from their last six at Kenilworth Road. They last won six out of seven at home in the league between November 2018 and February 2019.
Burton Albion, however, will not arrive simply to make up the numbers. Luton have lost three of their five league meetings with the Brewers, though they did win the reverse fixture 3-0 in August and will now look to complete a league double. Burton are winless in their last seven away league matches, drawing two and losing five.
Even so, Wilshere is not expecting a straightforward afternoon.
“Of course, when you’ve had a good home record, you look forward to that,” he said. “But also knowing that we haven’t been good enough for the last two games, it’s going to require something different.
“It’s not going to be as simple as we’re back home and everything’s going to fall into place. It’s not because Burton are a good team.
“They’re fighting for everything, like we are. We have to be ready for that and show something a bit different to what we’ve shown in the last few games.”
Having changed formation at Wigan to include Devante Cole and Ali Al-Hamadi as a striker partnership, this time Wilshere wants the basics in place before any tactical considerations.
“We have to do that first before we think about anything, before we think about how we’re going to set up tactically, before how we think about how we’re going to win the game,” he said.
“We have to make sure that we get ourselves in the game by winning duels, by running, by competing.
“If we match their spirit, if we win all of our duels, if all the basic things that we speak about all the time, then we can show our quality.”
Supporter frustration has been evident in recent weeks and Wilshere accepts that the onus is on his players to shift the mood.
Supporter frustration has been evident in recent weeks – and Jordan Clark went into the away end at Wigan to talk to any fans – so Wilshere accepts that the onus is on his players to shift the mood.
“I completely understand it,” he said. “The players need to show something to get the fans on their side. Fans want consistency. They want consistency of performances, but probably more behaviours and what they see in the players.
“We have to start the game right on the front foot and give the fans something to cheer about.”
On transfer deadline day earlier this month, Wilshere also revealed that Isaiah Jones is his preferred choice for right back. The former Middlesbrough man has played three times since then, but not in that position, which has been occupied by Nigel Lonwijk.
Asked if he would finally play Jones in his preferred position, Wilshere said: “Yes, but what I like about Izzy is he is very versatile and he gives you a lot of quality in a few positions. Left wing, right wing, probably at Cardiff as well he was left back for a bit, but I agree, his best position is right back.
“Sometimes with the way we play and JJ’s [Joe Johnson] played and we’re asking him to be a little bit more adventurous, you kind of need three centre back profiles then and that’s why Nigel’s played there, that and Izzy hasn’t been available.
“So we’ve got two different options now where Nigel’s more of a defensive type, but Izzy gives you something going forward as well. So I have to make that decision. It’s a good decision I think to have where you’ve got variation in how you want to attack again, but Izzy will play right back as well.”
Jones has only made nine appearances this term, having suffered a stress fracture in his back before the campaign kicked off, and another setback in late November, which kept him out until January 31.
Wilshere said: “He was out for a long time and credit to him he came back and played 90 minutes, which is not easy, especially against a tough team who ask you to defend a lot and put you under a lot of pressure which he did against Cardiff. Then he played again [at Wigan] so he’s building his fitness, there’s more to come from Izzy I’m sure of that, but at the same time we have to be careful as well.”
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