Hatters boss Rob Edwards believes that our home fans can play a big role in the second leg of our play-off semi-final against Sunderland at Kenilworth Road.
The home advantage will be crucial as it was in the first leg, as Edwards explained: “The smaller pitch changes the game slightly because obviously the distances aren’t as big, but there’s still enough room there for them to try and play their game, it’s just a little bit of distance. We’re used to playing there, so it should suit us a little bit more.
“I think the atmosphere was amazing for the Watford game, if we can use that as a model and notch it up a bit more again that would be what I’d like, and what we need as well. I think that was a great advert for how the Kenny is when it’s at its best.”
The Hatters have had three days to highlight changes that can be made going into the second leg as Edwards said, “We’ll try and be the best version of the team that finished third in the league this year, that’s it, we want to attack the game, we know we have to win it to stand any chance of going through, so it’s pretty easy for us, so our task is very similar to a normal league game, we want to try and attack it and win the game, obviously now this is a bit of a final if you like, because there’s something at the end of it.
“Going into the semi-final, we wanted to win it, we wanted to be in the best position possible, but at the same time, going away, to the Stadium of Light, you want to be in the tie and we’re in the tie.
“We didn't keep the ball well enough and we weren’t quite as aggressive as we normally are, so we were a little bit more mid-press if you like rather than high and a lot of our transitions, we gave the ball back too quickly and too cheaply, so that was the main reason why, in saying that, and we could be a lot better in the second half, they score the goal from a short corner routine, they didn’t open us up, for all the really good players that they’ve got, they didn’t create many chances, or any chance from open play, so that will give us a lot of belief as well.”
There was positivity from the Luton Town gaffer, who was asked about the chances the home side have of qualifying for the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
“Of course we can win, we’ve got 90-plus minutes to win a game of football and we’ve done that pretty well this season, we believe completely still. We know it’s a difficult task, we know they are a good team, but we’re in the play-offs, we expect it to be a challenge.
“We didn’t think it was ever going to be a walkover or anything like that. We’re one-down going into the home leg, but we’re more than capable of winning this game of football.”