MAD HATTERS FANS SLAMMED
JOHN STILL was quick to condemn the behaviour of a minority of Luton fans after fighting broke out towards the end of a feisty goalless draw at Stevenage.
Paul Benson’s 86th-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on Stevenage’s Tom Conlon sparked confrontations among the fans.
Around seven or eight travelling Hatters supporters ran onto the pitch in an attempt to fight the home support in the East Terrace.
Punches were reportedly thrown between both sets of fans while the match was briefly delayed and police intervened.
The contest also ended in drama on the pitch as Luton’s Josh McQuoid saw his late header come back off the bar – the second time the Hatters had struck the woodwork after Danny Green’s earlier free-kick.
“Fans should always stay where they are and support their team, you can have a bit of banter but not cause problems,” Still said.
“Those people say they are Luton fans but they are not even football fans. It was only a dozen of them and the majority of our fans always come and support the players.
“There was a cup tie atmosphere here and that is what you expect from a derby. We had a sending off but to me it was a crazy decision. I had a good view of the red card and it was not a sending off at all.”
“We grew into the game and I thought if anyone was to score it should have been us,” added Still, whose side are now unbeaten in their last four outings in all competitions.
“To get a point and a clean sheet away from home is always a plus, games are coming thick and fast in this league and hopefully we can build on our performance.”
It was Stevenage, without a league win in five games coming into the match, who started brighter with Armand Gnanduillet shooting wide after seven minutes.
But Luton grew into the game, with McQuoid seeing his effort cleared off the line minutes before the break while Green’s free-kick came back off the bar on 76 minutes.
Hatters forward Benson missed from close range before he then dived in on Conlon and received his marching orders.
Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham said: “I thought it could have gone either way at any particular moment of the game.
“Luton had a good spell for about ten minutes in the second half but it was quite an even game.
“Chris Day made a couple of good saves, but the same can be said for Luton’s goalkeeper and we were pleased to see that freekick from Green come off the crossbar.
“With the sending off I did not see it clearly but it did not look like a red card to me. But a couple of the lads said he had taken off and went in with two feet. To me that is not a sending off but these days it is.
“We got another point and another clean sheet but we know we have to start putting wins on the board.”