Shea admits Luton were ‘a bit in awe’ of rivals last term – but that’s all changed now

No longer being in awe of their rivals is one of the reasons James Shea attributes to Luton’s turnaround from Championship cannon fodder last term to a mid-table team looking up the league.  

The goalkeeper has kept three clean sheets in his last four, which has taken Town to seven shutouts for the season, matching the whole of last campaign in just.

The Hatters have also conceded almost half as many goals this campaign, with 21, than at the 20-game mark last year, when they’d shipped 41. 

That’s been the bedrock of Luton’s improved performance, which sees them currently seven points better off than at this point in the previous season, and sitting comfortably in 14th place, 11 points clear of the relegation zone. 

Last term saw them escape the drop on the final day of the Championship season as Nathan Jones returned for a second spell as manager and steered them to safety in the final nine games after the Coronavirus lockdown from March.

There had been green shoots of recovery before that, but it truly manifested under the Welshman and has continued to the point where the rhetoric at the club is gradually turning to how far up the table they can finish, rather than concerning themselves with survival. 

“I feel like we’ve got used to this level now,” said Shea, adding: “We were probably a bit in awe last year. We’re playing Championship, but we deserve to be here now. We are a good team and we’re keeping clean sheets, we deserve to and we’re turning into Championship players, which is the main thing. 

“We aren’t overawed by teams now. We’re going to places, putting in good performances. Even the other night at Middlesbrough, we lost 1-0 but we could’ve easily picked up a draw or win there, comfortably. 

“We could be sitting here with a few more points than we are on, but it’s the league and we are getting used to it.”

Jones believes Town should have a greater points haul than their 27 at present, after draws against Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City and Bournemouth, where they were the better side.

The manager said his side could be a top eight side and Shea added: “We can go as far as we want to go. I feel like we are a good team. We are a good Championship team and we should be looking up, rather than looking down. 

“So, if we carry on doing what we’re doing, keep everyone fit, everyone raring to go, I don’t see why not.”  

Town have also taken the scalps of promotion-chasing Norwich and Preston North End, with the second of a four-game quadrilogy against Reading coming up on Boxing Day.

“We’re not scared of no-one,” said Shea, with Town having already beaten the previously high-flying Royals in the Carabao Cup. 

“We go into each game thinking we’re going to win the game. If you’re going to be scared, there’s no point playing.

“We don’t stop playing Reading. Then we’ve got them again in a few weeks’ time. It’s going to be another tough game. Every game is tough in this league and you can’t predict anything. We’ll rest up, prepare right and go again.”

Shea has been back in the side for the last six league games after a shoulder injury to fit again Crotatian international Simon Sluga.

The 29-year-old former Arsenal youth said: “Slugs is back, Slugs wants to play, of course he does, Slugs is a Croatian international, he wants to play.

“As long as I’m in, I’ve just got to try and keep doing my job and stay in as long as I can really. I want to play, I admit that, I want to play as many games as I can.

“But Si started the season and Si’s been brilliant all year, since he’s been in the team, he’s been absolutely class.

“It was a shame what happened to his shoulder, he needed to get that right and thankfully he’s got that right now, but it gives me a chance to get some games and I just want to play, show what I can do.

“If we can pick up some wins, pick up some clean sheets, all the best. I just take it game by game, that’s all I can do.

“I’m not getting too far ahead of myself, I know I kept a clean sheet now, but it doesn’t mean anything.

“I just take each game as it comes and long may it continue. If I play, I play, if I don’t, I’ll be right behind Slugs.”