Season One: January-February Update
After finishing the year 2013 on top of the Skrill Premier by a comfortable five points, we were looking to use our squad strength to full advantage and claim at least twenty-two points over January and February, and progress in the FA Trophy! You might have thought it was an unrealistic target but let's see how we faired over the two months.
Results
Could there have been any better way to start 2014 than by demolishing Barnet 4-1 at home? This result sent out a strong message to the other teams in our league, and we won three and drew one of our next four fixtures, including a win against Kidderminster in the FA Trophy. Drawing the next two games in a row might have been seen as a confidence-hitting slip, but we recovered in time to defeat Hyde in the FA Trophy in our opening game of February. February saw us play a triple-header against Hereford in the one week; two FA Trophy semi-final legs and a league game in the middle. We drew the first cup leg away from home, before beating them twice at home to claim three league points and a place in the final of the FA Trophy! A demolition job at Nuneaton was good enough to see out the month in style. We had played fourteen games over the course of these two months, and we won nine times and drew five times. I'm delighted that we remained unbeaten, showing the great character that we have in the squad. I'm hoping for more of the same over the next two months to see out the season in style.
Player Of The Months
It was difficult for me to pick a stand-out player, but I had to give it to our Welsh Wizard,
Alex Lawless, who has been outstanding all season, especially over the last two months. He has been playing on the right wing, and has created several goals and has scored a few crackers himself. He has been Mister Consistent, and I am hoping for him to continue his form throughout the rest of this season.
Alex Lawless' Season Stats
Appearances: 35
Goals: 3
Assists: 15
MotM Awards: 4
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
Pass Completion Ratio: 69%
Tackles per Game: 1.00
Fouls Committed: 16
Fouls Against: 39
Average Rating: 7.10
Skrill Premier
Our outstanding form over the past two months saw us pick up exactly 22 points, which was what I had targeted. I am pleased that we hit that points target, as it has now put us a staggering nine points clear of Cambridge at the top of the league with just eleven games left to be played. We have lost just two games this season in the league, which is absolutely incredible, and our goal difference of +39 is remarkable. Provided we do not slip up massively, the league is all but ours. Hopefully we can keep our heads and claim the league title before the season is done.
March Fixtures
We play seven games next month, including the FA Trophy final against Braintree at Wembley. I want to win this trophy, as it would be great to have a piece of silverware so early on in my management career. From the six league games, I want to earn at least 10 points. If we can manage that, I am pleased with the month of March.
The months of March and April will have their own separate updates, due to the enormity of each game remaining. I will also give the FA Trophy final it's own update, as it will be my first cup final as manager of Luton Town and one that I am really looking forward to. Hopefully by the end of next month, we will have one trophy in the bag and another all but won. I hope that you are all enjoying this story, it is a growing pleasure for me to write
Previous Post: Back To The Training Ground
Next Post: Wembley Is Always The Dream