Published: 09/03/2010 11:05 -
Updated: 09/03/2010 17:07
Luton's Hungarian defender Janos Kovacs has urged his teammates to show more professionalism ahead of tonight’s game against Forest Green.
Janos Kovacs
What should have been comfortable win as Luton went in 2-0 at half time, became a tense ending with Hayes & Yeading clawing the result back to 3-2 and Kovacs said: “After the first half, we should be winning these kinds of games easily to show to everyone in the league we are good enough to beat teams like Hayes & Yeading by five or six goals.
“It was very nervy at the end and we caused that problem. In the first half we scored the two goals and dominated and could have got five or six but we dropped the tempo in the second half. The whole team’s disappointed with the second half performance.
“We created chances and scored goals but we need to learn from the second half and we need to be more professional. If you are professional you come out in the second half and do all the things you’d done in the first half. We need that if we’re going to win promotion.
“It was frustrating to concede two, especially with these kinds of goals. Until the final whistle you need to focus, to work hard and that was missing in the second half.
“We need to go forward and score goals. I know we got three good goals but if we stop going forward and working hard every minute then you will struggle at some point. We need to pick ourselves up.”
Kovacs praised his teammate Claude Gnakpa who gave a man of the match performance and turned the defender’s long pass into a goal when he was bought down in the box before converting the penalty.
“I tried to put it behind the defender and Claude did the rest,” he said. “He’s an amazing player and he’s someone you know if you get the ball to, can dribble and make things happen.”
Manager Richard Money still believes automatic promotion is possible after Chester City's results were expunged leaving Luton nine points behind leaders Oxford United.
Town have eight of the last 12 games in the run-in at Kenilworth Road and the manager thinks this could boost his side's chances of bypassing the play-offs.
"I've made it perfectly clear since I have been here that we need to win as many points as we possibly can and then we'll see where we end up," he said. "I don't think the top two are away clear and I think there are as many as nine teams still in contention.
"If Oxford and Stevenage think they are away in the clouds then good luck to them.
"You only have to take a look at the fixture list to realise there are some very big games coming up and at this time of year you do get some surprise results.
"We've been on the end of one recently and were nearly again on Saturday.
"At this stage of the season it's all about holding your nerve."
Luton, who are now only one point of third placed Rushden & Diamonds with a game in hand, will be favourites to beat strugglers Forest Green Rovers tonight but Money has issues a word of caution that the Gloucestershire club will be no pushovers.
"I think the fact they beat York at the weekend is sign to everyone that it will be another tough game," he said.
"I don't care what division you're in, all games are tough.
"But it's about how we approach the game ourselves that matters.
"We will give Forest Green every respect. They are a good team who have a lot of mobility on their side.
"Dave [Hockaday - manager] likes to rotate his side around so we're uncertain how they are going to line-up but, as with all players at this level, they have those that can be as good as any in this division on their day.
"We've got to make sure we're mentality tough and strong enough and play the game in the right way.
"I think with eight of the last 12 matches at home, we feel as though it's in our own hands," he said.
"Playing at home has never been a hindrance in my career.
"What more do you want? Playing in front of 7,000 people in the Conference. That's fantastic.
"The supporters can be our 12th man. A lot teams come here and treat it like their cup final and raise their game.
"There's no doubt our supporters can play an important part between now and the end of the season.
"But it's a double-edged sword: we need to make sure they're with us quickly in games to help drive us on."
Money is hopeful that striker Liam Hatch will be available for selection after getting subbed of with a hamstring strain in the win against Hayes & Yeading.
"We hope he will be OK and give him every chance," said Money.
"If Hatch didn't pull through tomorrow we are fortunate we still have a decent group of strikers to choose from, which one or two other teams might not have to.
"He is at the stage where we are just wrapping him up in cotton wool."
Kevin Nicholls faces an operation on his knee on Friday while Ryan Charles (knee) and Lewis Emanuel (toe) will also miss out.
Town have eight of the last 12 games in the run-in at Kenilworth Road and the manager thinks this could boost his side's chances of bypassing the play-offs.
"I've made it perfectly clear since I have been here that we need to win as many points as we possibly can and then we'll see where we end up," he said. "I don't think the top two are away clear and I think there are as many as nine teams still in contention.
"If Oxford and Stevenage think they are away in the clouds then good luck to them.
"You only have to take a look at the fixture list to realise there are some very big games coming up and at this time of year you do get some surprise results.
"We've been on the end of one recently and were nearly again on Saturday.
"At this stage of the season it's all about holding your nerve."
Luton, who are now only one point of third placed Rushden & Diamonds with a game in hand, will be favourites to beat strugglers Forest Green Rovers tonight but Money has issues a word of caution that the Gloucestershire club will be no pushovers.
"I think the fact they beat York at the weekend is sign to everyone that it will be another tough game," he said.
"I don't care what division you're in, all games are tough.
"But it's about how we approach the game ourselves that matters.
"We will give Forest Green every respect. They are a good team who have a lot of mobility on their side.
"Dave [Hockaday - manager] likes to rotate his side around so we're uncertain how they are going to line-up but, as with all players at this level, they have those that can be as good as any in this division on their day.
"We've got to make sure we're mentality tough and strong enough and play the game in the right way.
"I think with eight of the last 12 matches at home, we feel as though it's in our own hands," he said.
"Playing at home has never been a hindrance in my career.
"What more do you want? Playing in front of 7,000 people in the Conference. That's fantastic.
"The supporters can be our 12th man. A lot teams come here and treat it like their cup final and raise their game.
"There's no doubt our supporters can play an important part between now and the end of the season.
"But it's a double-edged sword: we need to make sure they're with us quickly in games to help drive us on."
Money is hopeful that striker Liam Hatch will be available for selection after getting subbed of with a hamstring strain in the win against Hayes & Yeading.
"We hope he will be OK and give him every chance," said Money.
"If Hatch didn't pull through tomorrow we are fortunate we still have a decent group of strikers to choose from, which one or two other teams might not have to.
"He is at the stage where we are just wrapping him up in cotton wool."
Kevin Nicholls faces an operation on his knee on Friday while Ryan Charles (knee) and Lewis Emanuel (toe) will also miss out.
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