ROBINS ARE READY TO SOAR
GARY JOHNSON reckons this draw can spark a reversal in fortunes for Cheltenham Town as they bid to pull away from the foot of the League Two table.
The Robins have managed only one league victory since their National League title triumph last season, but produced one of their best displays of the campaign so far against the high-flying Hatters.
Danny Hylton put Luton in front in the 52nd minute with a fine solo effort before Daniel O’Shaughnessy levelled 12 minutes later.
Johnson said: “Everyone needed to raise it 25 per cent from where we’ve been and that was a muchimproved performance.
“We’ve done a lot of work and we put on a really good performance against a strong team.
“It was a good advert for League Two and I am proud of Nathan Jones [Luton manager], who I had as a player and coach at Yeovil
“For us, there is light at the end of the tunnel because we won back possession against a diamond midfield. They had to change that shape to stay in the game, which means we did something right.
“Tactically the lads played to the letter and not all teams we play this season will be as good as Luton. I didn’t see ‘our’ game against Stevenage on Tuesday (0-0 draw), but here I’ve seen it. I am much happier.”
Cheltenham were the better side in the goalless first half before Luton opened the scoring, and Jones said: “I am a little bit frustrated in terms of how we’ve played, but credit to Cheltenham because they stifled us, put us under pressure from dead-ball situations and it’s not a bad point when you look at it that way.
“We didn’t get going in the first half and we knew we had to be better and started well in the second half.
“We took the lead and then I am disappointed to concede from a set play.”
Jones praised Hylton after seeing him net his sixth goal of the campaign and also lead the line against Cheltenham’s back three.
“I am pleased he is on the scoresheet again and he grafted against three big, strong, very competitive centre-halves,” Jones said.
“Scott Cuthbert was also excellent and we needed him due to their aerial threat.” Hylton put Luton in front after picking up a pass from James Justin and beating Aaron Downes. He then cut into the box, beat O’Shaughnessy and rounded Russell Griffiths before finishing calmly in front of nearly 1,000 travelling fans behind the goal. The leveller came from Jack Munns’ corner, which was powered towards goal by Danny Wright. His header was kicked off the line, but O’Shaughnessy followed up to fire into the net from close Cheltenham pushed late on, with former Luton man Asa Hall sending a shot just over the bar.