Here's what Paul Driver had to say on tomorrow's match
The Hatters youth team’s 100% record against Dagenham & Redbridge so far this season has no bearing on tomorrow night's FA Youth Cup second round match between the two, according to Paul Driver.
Town ran out 10-2 winners against the Daggers in their first match of the season and continued in that vein with a 4-0 victory a fortnight ago playing against the same side.
Youth team boss Driver said that league form goes out the window when it comes to the cup and he expects a tough test against a Daggers side that put seven past Colchester United.
He said: “I have got no interest about what the scores were in the league. It’s a cup game, the league form has no bearing on it.
“They [Dagenham] beat Colchester who are a category two side 7-3 and anyone that does that to a team of that standard is deserving of a lot of credibility and caution.
“What you do know is that when it comes to the FA Youth Cup, everyone puts their best side out and when Dagenham and Redbridge did that against Colchester, they won convincingly.”
The Hatters beat Barnet away in their first round draw, as George Murray netted a brace and Freddie Hinds scored late on to wrap up a 3-1 win at the Hive.
Driver thinks it’s a massive bonus for the players to play at Kenilworth Road and it gives a good opportunity for fans to come and see the Hatters’ future stars in action.
“We haven’t had many games at Kenilworth Road, but I just want the players to go out there and enjoy the occasion, enjoy the home support and being cheered on,” Driver said. “It’s a joy playing at Kenilworth Road, so they just need to relax and play to the best of their capabilities.
“If they do that, then we have got a good chance of winning. If we don’t, then we will struggle.
“The fans were a little unlucky last year as they had to come to various parts of Lancashire to watch most of the games.
“Tomorrow’s game they can come and see them in action, which some will have already seen play in the Checkatrade Trophy, so they can come and have a look in their own environment. Let’s see if we can do ourselves justice with the performance we put on.”
Even on the back of the fantastic results for Town against the Daggers this season, Driver’s side experienced first-hand what Dagenham & Redbridge are capable of on their day, as they brought a halt to the Hatters’ long unbeaten run last term.
Driver said: “They took away our unbeaten run last season. We had gone 30 or so games unbeaten and they beat us.
“Dagenham have now got players that are in and around John Still’s first team, so they’ll have improved a huge amount as a result of being in that environment.
“We just need to go out there and enjoy the fact they are playing under lights on your home ground, with the added carrot of a victory means playing at a ground with a load of tradition in Hillsborough.”
Tomorrow’s match will kick-off at 7pm.
Tickets will only be available for the main stand for the game on the 17th November, with prices as follows:
Adults: £3
Concessions: £1
Due to the arrangement of the match, The Supporters’ Trust’s evening with Mick Harford will now take place on the 24th November at 7:30pm.
Town’s squad for tomorrow night:
Lewis Todd (GK)
Tiernan Parker (GK)
Tyreeq Bakinson
Harry Bean
Scott Belgrove
Kavan Cotter
Akin Famewo
Freddie Hinds
Jack James
Ciaren Jones
Joe Mead
George Murray
Arthur Read
Michael Shamalo
Jack Snelus
Kitan Sorunke
Connor Tomlinson