Mark McGuinness’ first goal for Luton was enough to squeak past Hull and, after a turbulent two weeks, Rob Edwards said the hard-fought victory gave him “a lot of heart”.
A fortnight ago, the 5-1 rout at Middlesbrough meant a speculation-fuelled international break, in which many Hatters fans pondered whether the manager would even be in the dugout for this clash. But in the end it was all smiles at a result which put some welcome distance between Town and the Championship drop zone that they’d been teetering on the edge of.
The result was welcome relief. The performance, not so much, though that is hardly the point, for now, at least. It was, however, the kind of committed and dogged display that was needed against a Tigers side that started the day two places above them, having not won in their previous seven. By the end of it, Town leapfrogged the Yorkshire side to the balmy heights of 16th. What a difference a day makes.
“Yeah, it was important,” said Edwards, adding: “What was important though is the process of it all. I can’t control the result. And I know I’ve said this loads of times. I can’t control what was ultimately going to happen today.
“What was heartening for me was the way the lads stuck at it, showed some spirit, character, kept fighting to the end, in a really difficult game. So that’s the most important thing. Seeing the fans at the end as well. It gave me a lot of heart. So, it was a good day.”
It came despite Edwards having to reshuffle his pack at the last-minute when Amari’i Bell had to be withdrawn through injury before kick-off, and though the manager went with a back four, it was full of centre halves, with Reece Burke returning from a spell on the sidelines to play right back.
Marvelous Nakamba also returned, for his first home start since October 1, as did Tom Krauß and Carlton Morris.
It made for a first half that was devoid of any real quality from Luton, or cutting edge from Hull, though the visitors dominated. Instead, in horrendous driving rain, it was a match of moments. Not many, but Luton made the most of theirs and City did not.
And while the clash won’t live long in the memories for most, it will for McGuinness, after he swiped in Shandon Baptiste’s corner on 33 minutes, completely against the run of play. It proved the winner, though he banged the ball in again in the second half only to find that Liam Walsh’s corner had swung out of play before finding him.
But the substitute midfielder made an impressive impact after replacing the injured Baptiste on 56 minutes. Such was the scarcity with which Luton had the ball in the first half – 23 per cent at one stage – that his range of passing was a welcome highlight.
But the triumph did come with its fair share of hearts-in-mouths moments at the back, as Hull squandered the three biggest chances of the game.
João Pedro hit the post and squirmed a header wide, while Chris Bedia shanked off target from close range, showing all the hallmarks of a side that have now not won in eight games.
And in the closing stages, Thomas Kaminski pulled off a stunning save to flick out a leg to block Kasey Palmer’s deflected shot, having already committed himself to a dive.
Edwards admitted: “Hull are a really difficult, complex team to play against. And I admire a lot of what he (Tim Walter) does with his team and how they play.
“It’s not easy to come here. If we get it right, the press, it’s difficult to play against that. But full credit to them for being as brave as they were and continuing to play. They make it really challenging. They really do. I’ve not come up against that kind of style before. Makes you think. You have to be almost perfect all the time, positionally. And we weren’t.
“And then we had to rely on a block or a save or whatever it might be. yeah, a difficult day. And then we had the curveball of having to change a team not long before the game as well. And it just kind of like sums us up at the moment and has them for quite a long time.
“But full credit to the lads that went out and played and went over that line. They were they were brilliant, subs included, because they, they made a good impact as well.”
So, it was by no means a comfortable victory for Luton, which came with the customary injury-enforced substitutions for Burke and Baptiste – both thought to be precautionary – but maybe one that can help instil some confidence back into them.
And as Edwards completed his customary lap of appreciation, full of heartfelt gestures to fans and the return of his smile, Kenilworth Road responded with his chant. It gave him “a lot of heart”.
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