Luke Berry was full of praise for team-mates, both current and former, after his first goal of the season secured the Hatters a 1-0 win at Blackpool.
The 30-year-old midfielder netted on his first start of the campaign, with Tom Lockyer – who earned the midfielder’s praise for his redoubtable form at the other end of the pitch – nodding James Bree’s deep corner into his path to stab home from close range 12 minutes into the second half.
Berry heaped praise on Lockyer, who finished the game wearing the captain’s armband having taken over once Dan Potts went off injured in the 20th minute, leading what at times became a rearguard action in the face of some fierce Blackpool pressure.
“Tom Blockyer, yes,” said Berry of the man who hopes to have impressed Wales manager Rob Page enough to force his way back into the World Cup squad. “He seems to be everywhere he needs to be, defending the ball and he’s done so well since he’s come in.
“I don’t know if he’s played ten games on the bounce, or what, but I think he was the only centre-back on the pitch at the time, and he really controlled that back line. He did really well.
“A few times we were throwing our body at things and putting our bodies on the line. That’s what we do. Sometimes we come away to places and can’t be stringing the ball around, scoring three or four goals. It’s about putting a real solid performance in and getting in front of the ball.”
Describing his goal, he highlighted the impact of his former skipper Alan Sheehan, now Town first team coach.
“We practice our set pieces a lot with Sheez, who’s worked really hard with us, and it’s no surprise. We work on the first ball and the second ball, and he says always try to stay on the move and try to get a tap in, and I was there luckily enough to do it.”
With Jordan Clark playing right-back and James Bree at centre-half, as well as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu playing his second 90 minutes in five days after being our for five months, Berry believes the versatility and determination on display epitomises the spirit running through Nathan Jones’ squad.
“It just shows the group really, that every single day – even when you’re not playing – everyone is on it,” said Berry. “Everyone is defending, doing the ugly things as well as the pretty things on the ball, and when they are called upon, like today, it’s no surprise to us.”
And on his own fitness, he went on: “It’s been a really frustrating period, at the end of last season and the beginning of this season, where I couldn’t get up to the speed I wanted to be. Thankfully now I’ve got 50-60 minutes under my belt and hopefully that’s a good base to work from.”