Hatters manager Nathan Jones insists his side are ready for the challenges that October presents at the top of Sky Bet League Two – as he prepares to take his fifth-placed Town to high-flying Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
The Lancashire side sit third, two points above the Town, who also face fellow play-off and promotion place occupants Stevenage, Exeter and Coventry – with a trip to Crawley thrown in too – before a fortnight’s break for the Checkatrade Trophy and FA Cup at the end of the month.
Asked at his pre-match press conference at The Brache today whether he sees it as a big month, the Welshman said: “In theory, they are all important, but this one with the early pace-setters and top teams playing each other, then it is.
“We treat it as any other month. We know we’ve got a difficult start in terms of league matches, with Accrington, but we are ready. We are in good form, so we are ready for the challenges.”
The Town are unbeaten in five matches, and have won four of those. They have lost just one of their last nine league games, at home to Swindon when Scott Cuthbert was sent off, and their only defeat on the road came at Barnet on 12th August – almost two months ago.
Jones is respectful of an Accrington side, however, who qualified for the play-offs in 2015-16 and last season could have made the top seven right up until the Hatters beat them 4-1 in the penultimate game of the season.
“You’ve got to treat them well,” he said. “We tend to be decent against the top teams. In the past it’s been the ones we’ve been expected to win that we’ve come unstuck in.
“Accrington are a difficult side and we know that, but all we can do is prepare ourselves to win a football match, and we are going there to do that.
“We’ve been in good form in recent weeks in terms of the only one we’ve lost in a while was the one where we went down to ten men.
“I don’t think we could be in any better form going into the game, and God willing, we could get better as well.”
Jones has been without several of his midfielders in recent games, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Luke Berry suspended for three matches each, Andrew Shinnie and Alan McCormack injured and Lawson D’Ath only making his first appearance of the season in the midweek Checkatrade Trophy game against Barnet after suffering a pre-season ankle injury.
“It’s touch and go with Shinnie and McCormack, so we’ll see where they are, but as far as the rest of them – it’s not really a crisis,” said Jones. “Pelly-Ruddock serves the final game of his ban and Luke Berry is back. Lawson D’Ath has played in midweek, so he’s back involved. We’ve got good options.
“It’s unfortunate for Luke Gambin that he’s away with Malta because he’s been in wonderful form lately as well. We’ve got the players there who are in good form, so we’re covered.
“But we are looking forward to getting to next week where we’ll have our full quota back – which gives me a problem because we’ll have eight to choose from!”
TICKETS
Tickets for the game at Wham Stadium are still on sale until 2pm on Friday, but will now have to be collected in person from the Kenilworth Road ticket office, or the away supporters' ticket collection booth on the day at Accrington.
Tickets can be purchased from the LTFC Ticket Office in person over the phone on 01582 411622, or online, which you can access by clicking here.
The prices for this fixture are as follows:
Adults: £20, Seniors (65+): £15
Student (with photo ID): £15
Under-18s: £15
Under-12s: £5
Ambulant Disabled tickets are priced at normal rate with a Carer free of charge. Wheelchair disabled tickets should be purchased directly from Accrington on 01254 356950 (Jessica Fish).
Car parking is available on the above number at £5 per vehicle.
Away fan hospitality can be booked with Sophie Jones on 01254 356950