Kal Naismith insists the Hatters have the character to put their worst display of the season behind them as they attempt to respond to Saturday’s 5-0 collapse at Barnsley when they host Huddersfield Town tonight.
The captain said the squad must not allow one heavy defeat to derail the progress they have made under manager Jack Wilshere, which, prior to the weekend, had seen them win four in a row for the first time in five years, as part of a five-game unbeaten streak.
“We’ve taken giant strides from where we were. We’ve been incredible. I’ve been so proud of the boys to come through where we’ve been to where we are now. Trust me, we’ve come so far,” Naismith told the BBC.
“The staff have come in and it’s just been incredible. It’s probably been too much on the way up and sometimes football’s got a good way of humbling you. I think that’s what’s happened, but we’ve got a lot of character and we’ll bounce back.”
Talking of Wilshere’s impact, the Scot said: “Since he’s come in and the staff, it’s just been incredible. It’s the most joy I’ve had in five, six weeks of football, learning, how everyone’s been on the training field, the environment, everything’s been so incredible.
“[Saturday] was tough but we’ll go right back to what we’ve been doing and we’ll bounce back.”
Luton have picked up just one win from their last five league matches in front of their own fans, beating Doncaster 1-0 back in September, before Wilshere was appointed. Huddersfield, though, have struggled in midweek. They have lost five of their last six Tuesday to Thursday fixtures in League One.
The meeting with the Terriers has not always been kind to Luton. Including play-offs, they have won only one of their last eight Football League games against Yorkshire side, although that win was the most recent – a 2-1 Championship victory in January 2023. Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last four league visits to Kenilworth Road, with the previous three all ending level.
Luton boss Wilshere echoed Naismith’s sentiment, stressing that the players must learn from the Barnsley defeat but not allow it to define them.
“Since I’ve come in we’ve been working on that confidence, belief and when something like this happens, it either shatters your confidence and belief or it’s a little bit of a wake-up call.
“We’ve done well up to here [Barnsley] and done well to get us back up the league and back into contention with some good performances and some good results, but it’s not easy, this league.
“It’s been outstanding up to now and we’ll have to learn from this, then write it off and go again.”
Forward Nahki Wells is likely to miss out after leaving Oakwell in a protective boot, meaning Jerry Yates is expected to lead the line. Out of favour defenders Nigel Lonwijk and Christ Makosso could also be in contention for a place in the squad as the Hatters look to lift themselves after a bruising afternoon in south Yorkshire.
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