Boss on JPT tie
The Hatters start their long-awaited defence of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy when they take on League 1 Crawley Town at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.Not since lifting the trophy in glorious style at Wembley in 2009 have the Town played in the competition.
With the Town’s effectively classed as holders [last season’s winners Peterborough went out in the first round] and a certain amount of affection still attached to the tournament at the club given the success of five years ago, John Still is aiming to go as far as he can in this year’s competition.
“No pressure then!” joked the manager at his press match press call at the training ground on Monday.
“I always say, I wouldn’t pick a team that I didn’t think could win the game, so we’ll try and be as positive as we can and we’ll respect the competition.
“Even with the FA Trophy last year, when people say it doesn’t matter if we don’t win and it didn’t matter in the scheme of things, but you’ve got to try and win it, that’s the job.
“The team that I put out beat the holders Wrexham, took Cambridge, the eventual winners, to two games when they were on paper a lot stronger.
“I put a team out that I felt could win that Trophy and I’ll do the same in this competition as I will in the FA Cup, try and win.”