Boss wants defensive improvement
Town boss John Still says the fine line between success and failure can be as little as one step.
The Hatters let a 1-0 lead slip against Orient on Tuesday with the visitors equalising two minutes after half-time when Jay Simpson converted from close range.
Despite pushing for a winner Still’s side had to settle for a point and the boss believes the Hatters need to defend better if they are to move up the League 2 table.
“We conceded a goal on Saturday against Crawley and we conceded a goal the other night that were so similar it's untrue,” Still said at his Thursday press conference. “I've gone through it with the defenders on DVDs and we've done some work on it.
“At the moment we feel our marking isn't correct and sometimes one step can make the difference.”
The Town won seven games 1-0 in all competitions last term but so far the Hatters have won once by that scoreline, against Mansfield in September.
“One thing we haven't mastered this season consistently is winning 1-0,” said Still.
“You haven't got to play great all the time to win games, you've got to be organised and disciplined.”
Leaders Plymouth lost 1-0 at Oxford on Tuesday and are likely to be without striker Reuben Reid for the game at Kenilworth Road.
The Pilgrims lie 10 points ahead of the Town in the table but Still says he would remain patient even if Argyle did leave Bedfordshire with all three points on Saturday.
He said: “We started the season slow – which didn't surprise me – then we picked up and the last few results, a couple of home draws and a defeat away, were not what I wanted – but we’ve only lost once in the last seven games.
“Come Christmas, we'll know exactly what we have to do – maintain or reassess where we are and it's not quite that case at the moment.
“Plymouth’s general teamwork has been good and I think they're one of the teams at this level who will always do well at home because it's a long way to go.
“They were a tough team last year – John Sheridan did a good job and they've built on that and they've got some decent all-round players.”
You can watch the whole of the manager’s press conference here on Hatters Player.