Jordan Clark believes Luton Town’s Vertu Trophy triumph at Wembley can provide the momentum needed to drive a late push for the League One play-offs.
The Hatters produced one of their most thrilling performances of the season to beat Stockport County 3-1 under the arch, recovering from an early setback via a Clark assisted goal for Emilio Lawrence and the first of a Nahki Wells double to lead by half-time before seeing the game out professionally, as the striker bagged his brace late on.
With five league games remaining, attention now quickly turns to the run-in, with relegation threatened Northampton Town and Clark coming to Luton tomorrow night, and Clark is convinced the confidence gained from lifting silverware can have a major impact.
“Winning the cup final, it’s going to give us even more confidence going into these last five games, and I’m just looking forward to them now. You get a little taste for it there, and you see the fans, you want more of it. So it’s down to us now to finish strong and try to get the last play-off place.”
On Sunday at Wembley, Luton had to respond after falling behind early on, but Clark felt the reaction across the side was exactly what was required on the big stage.
“We knew we could take the ball and pen them in. It was just finding the right pass and that bit of quality in the final third and obviously when they got the first goal there was a bit of disappointment, but maybe a little bit of a kick up the backside that we needed.
“And [it was] just a good reaction from everyone, and to get two goals and to be leading half-time was massive.”
Clark played a key role in the equaliser, feeding Lawrence, and had special praise for the young Manchester City loan forward’s impact in recent weeks.
“I just saw him in space and just rolled it to him and he did the rest. He’s in good form at the minute. He’s taken his chances and he’s impacting games a lot with goals and assists, which is obviously why they fetched him here. To do it on this stage will give him even more confidence and hopefully he can keep playing like that until the end of the season.”
Wells’ two goals ultimately secured the trophy, and Clark admitted it that his second and Town’s third goal was a special moment because it was in front of 33,000 Hatters fans.
“Yeah, just a great feeling. I’m buzzing for Nahki as well. Obviously, it’s for everyone, but I’m just buzzing for him as well. For individual to score two goals and two great goals as well, which is massive,” he said of his fellow experienced team-mate, adding: “To take the game away from them in front of our own fans was magic. Just unbelievable again.”
After a dominant first half, Luton were forced to dig in after the break, with keeper James Shea producing a crucial save late on before Wells wrapped up victory deep into stoppage time.
“Second half, it was a bit of stand off. But we knew they were gonna have a bit more possession and chase the game a little bit more and have a few chances. Obviously, Sheasy made a world-class save. I’m obviously buzzing for him and then to get a third goal, just to calm everyone’s nerves and take the game away from them, which was really nice.”
Three years ago, Clark scored Luton’s goal in a 1-1 Championship play-off final draw with Coventry City that went down to a penalty shoot-out. The midfielder scored from the spot in that as Town won an historic first promotion to the Premier League. That was the last day of the season, and the party could begin. However, any celebrations after Sunday will be short-lived, with the squad quickly turning their focus to tomorrow night’s visit of Northampton Town.
With play-off hopefuls Bolton and Stevenage playing tonight, there will be a further movements in the top six, but Luton know they just have to win their games to keep up the pressure on the promotion pack they’re chasing.
And after tasting success at Wembley once again, Clark knows the message within the squad is clear – they want more.
“[There are] five more cup finals now, if you want to put it that way,” he said, adding: “We’ve had a little taste today, and like I said, we want to be back here [Wembley], come the end of May.”
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