Boss on Southend and Harriman loan
You only have to take one look at the results in League 2 this season to realise how tight the division is.The Town have only won once by a two-goal margin or more, and lost once by a two-goal margin or more.
So when John Still says the games are tough, they are exactly that. And that’s what the boss expects again tomorrow as the Hatters host Southend at a near-capacity Kenilworth Road.
“Southend’s a club that’s not far from me, so I know the club well and know the players well,” Still said at his Thursday press conference.
“Southend are always a decent team, always a team that’s in there competing in the Play-Offs.
“We know they’re going to be a tough opponent.
“They’ve got some experience in the team, got legs in the team, experience in the management team, so it’s tough.
“But I never try to get to drawn into other teams because they’re all tough.”
The Hatters go into the game boosted by the return of a number of senior professionals who came through Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie with Crawley.
And Still strengthened his defensive options with the loan signing of Queens Park Rangers’ right-back Michael Harriman, who goes straight into the squad to face the Shrimpers.
He’s someone that when I first came here, which is nothing to do with the players here, was on a list of players that were always in the forefront of my mind.
“Michael was our first choice and fortunately it’s worked for us, so I’m pleased with it,” continued Still.
“He played 40 games for Gillingham in League 1 last year and we tried to get him before.
“It’s what I’ve been waiting for. We’ve been speaking to QPR, they’ve had injuries and couldn’t let him go, they needed him there.
“If their right-back had got injured, someone would have gone in in front of him, but he was the next one and they just had to wait.
“He’s played for Wycombe on loan the previous season as well, so he’s one that we know and like.
“There were other options, but I like what I like and thought if we waited a little bit it would change and it has.”