Hatters boss Rusk praises ‘big point’
COUNTY boss Simon Rusk reflected a “big, big point” for his side, as The Hatters salvaged a dramatic, last-gasp draw at National League leaders Sutton Utd on Saturday.
After Harry Beautyman had put the hosts in front with a well-taken header early in the second half, left-back James Jennings pounced to head home deep into stoppage time to earn a point for The Hatters – and continue a run of form showing seven points from the last nine.
The point on the road came hot on the heels of a late 2-1 win over Barnet at Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening, with County holding into fourth spot in the National League following the dramatic stalemate at Gander Green Lane – and boss Rusk insisted his side got their rewards with Jennings’ late strike.
“We absolutely deserved something out of the game. The goal at the end is what we deserve in the second half. We’re coming away from home to a team sitting top of the league, in great form and with all the momentum, so of course you’re going to have to ride out periods of pressure,” he said.
“It was a tight game – it was always going to be the case. There were always going to be moments of pressure, so it’s a credit to the players for taking that clean sheet in at the break and looking dangerous ourselves.”
“I think overall we absolutely deserved a result.”
Rusk, however, did express his “massive disappointment”, his side feeling they were denied two spot-kicks from the officials on the day.
Firstly, an apparent handball by Louis John inside the Sutton penalty area was waved away, before a shoulder charge on Derby loanee Jack Stretton also went unpunished with the score at 0-0 in the second half.
The former Brighton U23s boss felt that, had The Hatters been granted penalty kicks for each challenge, his side would have been chasing a late winning goal, as opposed to the late leveller which Jennings did convert.
“It’s a huge disappointment for me that we’ve had two absolute, stonewall penalties (waved away). The referee has a hugely difficult job, but they’ve got to get those decisions right. I’m frustrated with that, because we shouldn’t be chasing in the late stages of the game for a draw, we should be chasing for a win because we’ve been denied those penalties.”
The afternoon also saw a new-look front three for The Hatters, with new boys Paddy Madden and Jack Stretton partnering Alex Reid up top – but Rusk dismissed the notion that the trio would form County’s regular strikeforce going forward.
Chorley loanee Harry Cardwell and striker Richie Bennett have also been in contention in recent weeks, with Nyal Bell now out on loan at neighbours Altrincham until the end of this season.
“I’m not looking to necessarily gel a certain front three. It was the side we went with on the day to play the circumstances on that day, and I think they looked lively and had some good moments in the game. Jack has got great energy and speed, we all know about Reidy’s goalscoring record this season, and Paddy’s been really unlucky with two or three chances in the game. They’re chances that show we’re just those fine margins away from where we want to be,” he said. “There were definitely lots of positives to take away from Saturday in terms of those performances, but we will be adaptable as the season goes on.”
Despite the late equaliser, Sutton remain ten points ahead of The Hatters with a game in hand in the National League.
Matt Gray’s side do now have to face seven of their next eight outings away from Gander Green Lane, however – and Rusk is keen not to pay the league leaders too much attention with a large chunk of the campaign still to be played.
“It leaves us in a situation where we just have to keep concentrating on ourselves. I’ve got no concern about what anyone else is doing at this stage, other than the level of our performances, which at the moment is good.
“Saturday was a good day for us, it’s a big point in the end. A lot of teams would perhaps have caved in and not kept plugging away. But to be away from home at top of the league and to be putting all the pressure on, and to get our goal having had real dominant spells in the game, showed great character. So whatever Sutton’s results are, I’m not really focussing on that. I’m focussed on how we grow as a group, and we’re growing really well. We just want to keep getting our three points on the board and see where that takes us.”
Attention now switches towards an Edgeley Park double header for County, with play-off chasing sides Eastleigh and Hartlepool Utd the visitors on Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon respectively.
“They’re all big weeks from here, and they’re all big games. We are facing teams that are in and around those top spots, so people will naturally place a different kind of significance on the match.
“We’re growing as a side, we’ve followed up on two good wins with a big point away from home, and we just want to keep moving in the right direction and see where that leaves us”, said Rusk.