Hatters not out to avenge Smith injury says boss
Having almost gifted Barnet a Boxing Day point, Town manager John Still is hoping his team can focus on maintaining their place at the top of the table when the Bees arrive at Kenilworth Road tomorrow.
The Hatters were in command against the Bees a week ago until they were rocked by the injury to midfielder Jonathan Smith shortly before half-time.
Edgar Davids’ side upped the ante in the second period as the Town looked affected by the events before the break, and the Hatters manager admitted he will do everything in his powers to ensure his men are ready to keep-up their 17-match unbeaten league run.
“We have to focus on is just on winning the game,” said Still. “What’s happened happened.
“I don’t think we owe anyone anything. It was an unfortunate incident for us in terms of Jonathan’s injury and I don’t want to labour the point, but Jon Nurse has done nothing but apologise.
“I’m not saying that people won’t look back at it after and go ‘that was for Jonathan Smith’, but that’s OK.
“For me I’ve just got to focus on this game and make sure everyone is fully focused.
“Otherwise you lose your focus and, if the focus is on revenge, I’m not always sure that focusing on that is the right thing.
“The focus should be 100 per cent on winning a football match. If you want to drag outside influences to help you do that that’s OK, but you mustn’t lose sight of where you want to go and that’s what I’m hoping and I know we’re capable of doing that.”