Manager John Still on the Town's attempt to break a club record on Saturday
Cast your mind back. It was Friday the 13th. Friday 13th September to be precise. It was the last time Luton Town lost a match in the league.
Defeat against Cambridge on Tuesday night in the FA Trophy was the Town’s second in 26 matches in all competitions. Both defeats have left the Hatters to concentrate on the number one priority: promotion.
Wrexham were the last team to beat the Hatters in the Skrill Premier and the two sides meet at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. The 2-0 defeat in North Wales left the Hatters in 14th place in the table with a record of just two wins in eight games and only five goals scored.
How times change. Since that Friday 13th nightmare the Town have steamrollered their way to the top of the table with a run of 19 games unbeaten – 14 of those victories. The Hatters have also 51 goals in that time. And even won at Braintree.
The sequence has equalled a club record for league matches unbeaten, but it’s an achievement that doesn’t interest manager John Still.
The boss, who openly admitted a mistake in team selection influenced that defeat at the Racecourse four months ago, is only interested in the one record that matters most.
“You know what, I don’t even know how many games we’re unbeaten,” said Still at his press conference on Thursday. “It’s been terrific, but we could break 100 records or no records, the only record we want is the one that says we won promotion.”
The manager might not know, but he will be preparing his side for a match that could see the Hatters break the record and stretch the unbeaten league sequence to 20 matches.
But, as Still says, anything can happen in football…
“You can only control the controllables,” he continued. “We conceded an own goal the other night against Cambridge – there was nothing we could do about it. Those things happen.
“What I do know, though, is that if we go out and prepare for every game we have an opportunity to win.
“Over the years I’ve learned not to expect anything. I don’t expect to win and I don’t expect to lose. All you have to do is be ready as you possibly can for the next game.”