Joka’s still got no ace
SLAVISA JOKANOVIC admitted he needs more personalities in the dressing room to end Sheffield United’s slump.
The only positive for the Blades manager yesterday was that they did not lose at Kenilworth Road.
The first 45 minutes were as dour a half you will see in the Championship, as both sides packed their midfields in a bid to seize control.
Only Kal Naismith’s crazy lunge on Oli Mcburnie, which earned the Hatters skipper a booking, resembled anything exciting.
It would be wrong to say that Jokanovic’s men ran out of ideas, because they did not seem to have many to start with.
That is not hard to believe from a side that lost 29 games in the Premier League last season, and have yet to win in the league this term.
Jokanovic said: “I cannot be satisfied, we didn’t show enough quality.
“We were without enough energy and at the end I did not have the sensation that we were close to winning. We tried but without the quality and the energy it wasn’t easy. In general, it has not been a positive start to the season.
“A lot of these players have played Premier League football but you cannot be scared about the game. You cannot lose the game before you start. We need personalities.”
Luton should have scored on the hour when Elijah Adebayo caught Blades keeper Wes Foderingham in possession, only for Allan Campbell to fire the loose ball against the underside of the bar.
United sub Luke Freeman’s scuffed, deflected shot was all the visitors had in reply, while Fred Onyedinma rattled the side netting at the end for the hosts.
Hatters manager Nathan Jones was relieved to put to bed last weekend’s 5-0 home thrashing by Birmingham.
He said:
“The thing is we’re constantly punching above our weight at this level, so now and again we’re going to take one on the nose.
“We reacted very well, we bounced back, we don’t often go very long without winning – or having defeat after defeat – and that shows we massive character.
“Today we went toe-to-toe with Sheffield United, one of the favourites for the league. They’re going to click as they’ve some fantastic players, but I thought we were excellent start to finish.”
LUTON: Sluga 6; Bree 6, Burke 7, Naismith 6, Bell 6; Osho 6; Cornick 6, Campbell 6 (Rea 83, 5), Mpanzu 6; Onyedima 6 (Muskwe 84, 5); Adebayo 6.
Subs not used:shea, Gomes, Lockyer, Pereira, Kioso.
SHEFF UNITED: Foderingham 6; Basham 6 (Freeman 45, 7), Egan 6, Davies 5; Baldock 6 (Bogle 30, 7), Berge 6, Norwood 6, Fleck 5, Norrington-davies 5; Sharp 6, Mcburnie 5 (Brewster 68, 5). Subs not used: Robinson, Burke, Verrips, Osborn.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Reece Burke: It had to be a defender, and the Luton debutant handled the occasion well.
REFEREE: Andy Davies 7.