A stalemate to mark the start of the Matt Bloomfield era represents both progress and a reflection of some of Luton’s struggles this season as the new manager admitted there is “more work to be done”.
Hopes were high of a fabled new boss bounce, and the Hatters did all the probing to try and make a winning start a reality, but the sense was that it was still never quite enough.
But after five straight defeats in all competitions, a point stops the rot somewhat, even though it still saw Town slip into the Championship relegation zone. They started the match in the bottom three courtesy of early kick-off victories for Cardiff and Hull. Then Portsmouth then beat Middlesbrough and all three leapfrogged Luton to leave them second from bottom.
“Obviously, the league position is a concern,” said Bloomfield, adding: “I’m not going to be silly and sit here like a robot and say (that). The league position is a concern.
“It’s not really changed a huge amount. Before we kicked off we’d already dropped into the bottom three, I was told before I went out. So that was understandable, before we’d even kicked off, that there was then a chance that we remain there.
“We want to win games. We want to stay in this league we believe that we can do (that), absolutely, and that hasn’t deterred from today.”
There were indeed encouraging signs of the changes that the new manager is aiming to implement, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
“Some good and some not so good,” was Bloomfield’s assessment. “Out of possession, it was nice to get a clean sheet. First one in 12, I believe, since November and stop a run of five straight defeats as well. So, there’s some bits to be pleased with.
“Identity-wise, I thought there were some bits that came out. Obviously, we would have loved to have scored, created more clear-cut opportunities.
“We didn’t quite do that, that we were going after today. But I don’t think that’s been just today. I think that’s probably been throughout the season. So, more work to be done. But a good foundation with which for us to build.”
In their favour, the Hatters’ backline – a four-man effort – looked as comfortable as they have all season.
Preston did not have a single shot on target and only two in total, which added to the overall underwhelming sense that they’d arrived at Kenilworth Road to escape with a point. In the end, it didn’t lend itself to the new era vibes Hatters were hoping for.
But, as for new beginnings, Town’s structure was far more cohesive than the has been largely evident this term. It’s, arguably, a low bar, but passing the ball made a pleasing Kenilworth Road comeback. Purposeful, probing passing with a build-up that was quite considered at times, but then exploded with a burst of pace, or a quickening of the play. And there was penetration at points. It was a pleasing, if unfamiliar mix.
But, the visitors were compact and aggressive and though Luton found occasional joy in breaching the backline, they only fashioned one truly promising chance, which an unmarked Carlton Morris headed wide. In fact, only four of their nine shots found the target, with Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman comfortable every time.
Luton have now bagged just two goals in six games – and one of those was a Swansea gift – so if the early signs are that Bloomfield has tightened up at the back and wrestled back the lion’s share of possession (61 per cent), his biggest tasks may be what to do with the ball and how to get his forwards firing again?
They all got minutes here, as the manager changed his front three on 75 minutes, but the grandstand finish did not materialise.
Nor did they look like losing it either and that ensured only their fifth draw of the season, which is the joint lowest in the division, and speaks to the extremes of their results.
So, it’s too early to judge, but if a line can be drawn under the busts of recent months, Luton are still searching for that boom.
And, given victories for those around Town at the foot of the Championship, that’s a discovery that needs to come sooner, rather than later.
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