Ryan wins the tryin’ game... TUNNICLIFFE TURNS JEERS TO CHEERS

WHAT a difference a week makes for Luton’s Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Seven days on from being booed by his own fans after being substituted during the 1-0 home defeat against Cardiff, the midfielder was cheered by the 873 hardy souls who saw the Hatters end a run of 12 straight away defeats thanks to his first goal of the season.

But Tunnicliffe’s journey from zero to hero won’t change him. Nor does he expect his moment of glory to silence the hate mob.

“Probably not,” he said. “But that’s football and you can’t please everyone. The fans have one view, but if you ask my team-mates, they know I give 11 out of 10 in terms of effort.

“If I’m not having a great game with the ball, I’m still going to try. And I’m sure every single one of them want to see me on the team sheet because I will put my body on the line and run around.

“Being booed isn’t nice, but I won’t let it affect me. Boo me or cheer me, as long as the gaffer keeps believing in me, I’ll try my hardest to keep us in the league.”

Luton have now amassed nine points from their last five games, having picked up just one from the previous eight.

And while results elsewhere did them no favours, that elusive first away victory since September has given them momentum.

“To win at a place like this is a massive boost,” added Tunnicliffe, whose description of his wonderful 17th-minute winner hardly did it justice. “It was a great cross from Dan Potts and it’s hit my toes and rolled into the bottom corner. That result has been coming and the belief has never wavered.”

If the Hatters feel upwardly mobile, the opposite is true of Jonathan Woodgate’s Boro.

After winning four on the spin over Christmas, they are winless in nine league and cup games.

“Performances like this aren’t good enough,” said captain George Friend, whose return from injury was accelerated by Dael Fry being sidelined for a month.

“We’ve been unlucky with results, but everyone will be disappointed and frustrated by this.” BORO: