Luton Town Football Club

The old cliché of taking each game as it comes goes into overdrive at this time of year, as clubs battle for the points for different reasons. 

And, in the Town’s case, three points off the Play-Offs with three games to go, it takes on particular significance. A defeat against Hartlepool could spell the end of their challenge, yet depending on results elsewhere, their aim to gatecrash the top seven will rumble on for another week.

Of course three points at Kenilworth Road against a Hartlepool side in desperate need for the points in their quest to avoid a drop in the Conference would carry forth the Town’s challenge another week anyway.

There might be three games to go, but for John Still he’s only focusing on delivering a victory this weekend before thinking any farther ahead.

“I'm putting the other two matches on the backburner and saying let's just play one game,” Still said at his Thursday press conference.

“Let's hope we can get something from Saturday that can take us to the next game, we don't know that yet but let's see where we go. 

“It might lead to an unbelievably exciting last game of the season but until that comes we don't know.”

Positivity of ending the campaign on a high has been heightened by an improvement in form in the past three matches which has seen the Hatters collect four points and concede just once.

“The pleasing aspect is that in the last three games one goal was conceded and that from a deflection against the team top of the league,” added Still. “So we've tightened up.

“The last three games have been very encouraging. The team played the other night [against Dagenham] played with that 'we aren't going to get beat attitude', and we played very well against Burton and battled hard at Tranmere. 

“The players' spirits are okay and I think their up for the challenge.”