Graeme Jones says Luton are getting punished for every indiscretion so far in the Championship but that he’s recognised a pattern of conceding early in the second half and he’s taking measures to address it.
The Hatters have conceded crucial goals in the first ten minutes after the interval in their last three games, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Kadeem Harris last night consigning them to their third straight defeat, a run that Town have not experienced since April 2016, back in League Two.
Jones says that warm-up drills the players could be seen doing before the second half kick-off at Hillsborough were as a result of recent games against Cardiff and West Brom.
Asked about his side’s disappointing restarts, the manager said:“I’ve recognised that at Cardiff, recognised that at West Brom and you’re probably aware, we had a half time warm-up today, so it has been addressed.
“It has been a strategy and we’ve spoken about caffeine hits at half time. The goal was scored in the 54th minute, so it was not right after half time like the other day (against West Brom. There is a correlation there that we’re trying to address.
“It’s another one where Sheffield Wednesday didn’t win the game, we gave them the game. It’s a 0-0 and everybody goes home thinking it was a great away point.
“We’re getting punished for every little thing at the minute and until we change that by winning a game of football, that’ll keep happening.”
Midfielder Andrew Shinnie said: “A couple of half times we’ve come out a bit sluggish and on Saturday West Brom punished us for a six minute spell where we weren’t at it, so the gaffer likes trying new stuff.
“I think he wanted us to do a warm-up at half time but it’s just little things, little margins like that. Starting the second half like that can cost you the three points in the game if you come out sluggish in the first few minutes.
“We just need to be aware of it.”
