Danny Crow slots home his first goal at Kenilworth Road in Luton colours as they beat a Liverpool XI 3-0
As Luton prepares to host Kilmarnock on Friday night Danny Crow says that they are not scared of anyone following a 'comfy' 3-0 pre-season win over Liverpool’s youngsters.
The former Cambridge United striker, signed in the summer, was one of a host of impressive performers at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night, scoring the Hatters’ second goal against the Merseysiders.
Crow and his team-mates next face the tough test of Mixu Paatelainen’s Scottish Premier League outfit, who are expected to bring their first team squad. But the striker, who has now hit three goals in six pre-season appearances and looks an astute acquisition, says that his team will emerge victorious.
“Kilmarnock, you would have thought would bring a strong team,” said the 24-year-old. “Scottish sides are always big and strong. We have got to match them physically and be well organised but we believe we can beat anyone.”
The Liverpool win saw Hatters bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Conference North side Alfreton at the weekend, and Crow is certain that their first home match of their pre-season campaign was the real Luton.
“The gaffer said before the game that they [Liverpool] beat Oldham 3-0,” he said. “The lads knew we were in for a tough test and I think we deserved to win.
“It was a comfy win and we were solid, we were strong and I think it was a good performance.
“They were good players and we had to work hard and get close to them. If you give them space they will punish you.
“In the first half the lads worked extremely hard. In the second half the game got a bit more open but we got another goal. It was a very young team they put out, but you still have to win at the end of the day.
“We had a setback against Alfreton and everyone was disappointed at how that went. They were a strong team and that’s how a Conference game will be.
“The lads were very tired but we came back strong and that’s the main thing.”
Crow’s goal against the Reds was the pick of the bunch as he tapped in a flowing passing move.
He said: “It came off my heel but it went in and I was delighted to score.”
Also on target was his strike partner for the evening Matthew Barnes-Homer, who opened the scoring and looked like a different proposition from the player who struggled to break into the first 11 last term.
Crow said: “He’s doing very well. He worked extremely hard and he’s a good player. There is Tommy [Craddock] and Gal [Kevin Gallen] and I’ve enjoyed playing with them and I think we all compliment each other really well.
“Everyone is working hard and the gaffer has tough decisions to make.
“In training you see how good the players are and there is a lot of mutual respect between everyone. Everyone wants to play but I played with Barnesy, and it’s not the starting 11, but you have to take your chances.
“Gal has scored a couple of goals and Tommy has been doing very well [in pre-season]. He hasn’t managed to score but everyone knows what he’s about, he’s a good player.”
Crow was followed to Luton from the Abbey Stadium by Dan Gleeson and the defender matched the attacker by scoring on his home debut to grab the third against Liverpool.
“I’ve never seen him score, not even in training,” Crow joked. “It must have hit him, that’s the only thing I can think of.
“He’s a good player and there is Adam Newton out there at right back as well which shows the squad is a very good one.
“I’m proud to be a part of it, but it’s a squad that needs promotion and everyone is working hard towards that.”
Town boss Richard Money praised the hard work off the ball of his two strikers and Crow revealed that they have been working on defending from the front in training
He said: “The gaffer is adjusting to how different teams can play. We are doing a lot of work in training on pressing and holding off, and it seemed to work.
“I’m sure if we hold off on some teams it will work, some teams it won’t, so we’ve got to adjust our game.”
Either way, Crow showed Town fans what he’s all about with an all action display and the striker said that they can expect more of the same this season.
“The lads have banter with me because I’ve got long hair and I’m stocky like Carlos Tevez,” he said. “I always work hard and I like to be in people’s faces. I like a tackle and if we press from the front it sets the whole team off.”