Ton-up Lockyer ready to ‘thrive’ in Sunderland play-off cauldron

The feverish Stadium of Light atmosphere might be daunting for many players, but Tom Lockyer is banking on an enjoyable occasion in which to mark a century of Luton appearances and draw first blood at Sunderland in the Championship play-off first leg tomorrow. 

Town qualified with relative ease in the end, in third place with the second most amount of points (44) accumulated this calendar year behind champions Burnley.

In contrast, Sunderland sneaked into the top six on the final day courtesy of a 3-0 win at Preston, though they needed Millwall to slip up and the Lions did in spectacular fashion losing 4-3 to Blackburn despite being 3-1 up. 

It has pitted Town against the Black Cats with the first of a double-header in the north-east, with the chance to run out in front of 45,000 Mackems. 

“(It’s) enjoyable. We have to thrive off the occasion or it will pass you by,’ the centre back said of the partisan following Luton are set to face.

“I’ve always enjoyed the bigger games and bigger atmospheres. Going to the lesser grounds and the lesser teams are not quite as fun sometimes. The bigger games are what everyone looks forward to.”

Luton haven’t lost in the road in 12 outings and that was the only time under boss Rob Edwards’ guidance, so they will hope to silence the Sunderland crowd, but Lockyer said: “That will take some doing.

“The game is on at half five and I think they will be in the boozer from about 9am! So it will take some doing. Like you’ve seen in the last game, just one ref’s decision or a bit of magic from them can spark everyone back up again. It’s going to be a tricky one for sure.”

It was only eight years ago that Lockyer was playing in the non-league for Bristol Rovers and his journey has almost mirrored Luton’s as they got out of the Conference the season before, so his career is one that offers the Welshman plenty of perspective.

“It’s one to be enjoyed. It’ll be amazing,” he said of the first of potentially three games to get into the Premier League.

“It’s one to look forward to. These games don’t come around often in a player’s career. A player’s career is quite short, so to be involved in these types of games are ones you look forward to and probably the ones you’re going to remember at the end of your career.”

This campaign has already been one to savour for Lockyer. The defender has been a big part of 20 clean sheets for the Hatters this term, plus they’re on a 14-game unbeaten streak, while he has also made the Championship team of the season and gone to the World Cup with Wales.

If he plays against Sunderland – which he’s expected to after being rested for last weekend’s stalemate dead-rubber end to the regular season – he’ll reach his ton of Town appearances.

Lockyer said: “It’s only the other day that I looked and I was on 99. It’s nice to see 100 appearances for a special club like Luton. It is nice and hopefully, we can mark it with a win.”

Despite finishing 11 points ahead of them, Lockyer has warned Hatters not to take Sunderland lightly.

He said: “It’s never going to be as easy as you think it is. We finished third in the league and Sunderland sixth, so it ain’t going to be an easy game, especially if we’ve got to go up there. 

“Forty-thousand, the Stadium of Light, and we know exactly what that atmosphere can do, especially when we conceded late on there. 

“It was a bit of an onslaught after that so we’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough game, but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

The two clubs recently played out a 1-1 league draw at the Stadium of Light, with the hosts coming from behind courtesy of a controversial late penalty award to Amad Diallo, which was later admitted to as a mistake. 

Lockyer said: “They had that penalty at their place which was never a penalty in the million years, everyone knows that. We’ve had an apology from the referee at the time. 

“We were comfy and then, after that, we were backs against the walls and quite lucky just to get away with a point. That’s football for you. Moments change games.

“Hopefully, we can handle the occasion better than the opposition and that’ll stand us in great stead.”   

Luton are yet to win promotion to any division via the play-offs, while the Black Cats made it to the Championship last term via the League One Wembley showpiece, so Lockyer knows just what a tough prospect tomorrow’s clash will be. 

He said: “We’ve not even discussed Wembley. Sunderland are a really tough opposition so it’s going to be two really tough games. We can’t take our eyes off the ball, thinking that just because we finished third we’re going to automatically get to Wembley. It doesn’t happen like that.

“We’re going to need the whole squad, not just those that start. We’re going to need the fans away at Sunderland and then especially back home at the Kenny. It’s not going to be easy, I can’t stress that enough.

“Sunderland are an excellent side. Their attacking players pose such a big threat. They’re some of the best in the league, so they are where they are for a reason. They’re in the play-offs because they’re a great side.

“They’ve got some incredibly talented players and we’re not taking it lightly.”