Rob Edwards says he wants to avoid sounding like a “broken record” but believes the goals will come for Luton as they search for their first win of the season against QPR tonight.
Town put in a positive Carabao Cup performance in midweek, also against Queens Park Rangers, but they lost out in a penalty shootout, having lost to Preston and Burnley in the Championship.
Edwards will have new recruit defender Mark McGuinness available after he was cup-tied on Tuesday, and he expects to have Teden Mengi available for selection, with confidence growing that the club have fended off transfer interest in the former Manchester United man.
Fellow defenders Mads Andersen and Reece Burke got vital minutes at Loftus Road, but despite losing two out of three of the league games, with the defensive injury crisis easing, the focus has been more on Town’s attack after drawing a blank in their last two league outings.
“I think finding that first win and getting that feeling again and hopefully then it can really kick us on,” said Edwards.
“The performance levels have been have been good and we’re always going to ask for more and we’re always striving for more. And of course those areas we can be better in, but there was a lot of good things there that we want to keep, keep doing.
“We got 20 regains in their (QPR’s) half, which is ridiculous numbers. Things like that in terms of our pressing, gave us a lot of good control. We averaged a lot more bodies in the box when we were, when we were crossing, over three people in the box.
“There are things there that are coming. So, like I keep saying at the moment, we’re going to continue to improve and hopefully that’s always the case. But (it was a) huge effort.
“The intensity was better, no doubt about that. We’re going to need that at home under the lights and hopefully the supporters get behind that when they see the intensity on the pitch.”
And in particular, Luton’s front two of Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris are still searching for their first strikes of the season, having both notched double figures in the Premier League last term.
Edwards said: “They’ll come. They’ve shown it over the last few years with us. Just keep getting into the right areas and the goals will come.”
Adebayo had a groin issue towards the end of the cup game in midweek but has recovered to be selected again the Rs again tonight.”
Another concern has been the lack of conversions from set-pieces, something which has been plentiful in supply but less so in execution this term, having been such a potent weapon in the top-flight last season.
“We’ve not scored, but there’s been some big chances there as well,” said Edwards.
“So, I think over the last match round we had the highest xG. I know people say, ‘what does that mean?’ especially people of a certain age. But we created the most chances last round in the Championship from corners.
“So, we haven’t scored from them yet. But we had a couple of good moments, big moments, especially the one in the second half from Carlton’s one header on Tuesday night.
“But yeah, I take your point. We’ve had a lot and they’ve not gone in for us yet. We work hard in that area, and I’m pretty sure that will click as well.
“We’ve got a lot of people who want to score, which is the first thing. We’ve got good delivery with Alfie (Doughty) as well.
“Especially with what we did last year at that (Premier League) level as well, because we scored a good number of them, that’ll be a big focus that people will put in as well.
“So we’re a well we’re well aware of that and working hard in that area as well. But, just because we haven’t scored yet, so early in the season, there’s been some good signs there, so bear with us on that one.
“There’s been good stuff. I’m well aware I don’t want to sound like a broken record. I don’t know how else to put it, because I’ve said this a lot last year as well. And I think people would maybe take it a bit more last year because, all right, you played well against Chelsea and you can lose.
“But this year, I know there’s more pressure on to win. So I want to try and respect everybody and supporters because I get the pressure and now they won’t just accept playing well and not winning.
“So, I understand that. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but the best way to win is by doing what we’re doing at the moment.
“It will come and I accept that we need to be better in certain areas and tighten up in certain bits, and that’s down to me and down to the group to keep doing that.
“But there’s a lot of right things, good things that are happening there. We’re really aggressive, there’s a lot of good regains, the pressing was good, big chances created and good areas that we got into as well. So, we’re going the right way.”
Talking of the second clash against QPR in a week, Edwards said: “There’s no doubt, they’ll obviously make some changes. They can bring other people in. People that were on the bench the other day, one or two that didn’t play that will start for them as well. So, they’ll look a different team. It was good to sort of maybe joust a little bit on Tuesday and then we’ll see them for real.”
