Harford: Luton need to improve in the final third

Assistant boss Mick Harford knows the Hatters must start to improve in the final third, particularly on the road this season.

Luton failed to score for the third match running on their travels last night, held to a goalless draw at Coventry City, meaning they have netted just four goals away from Kenilworth Road so far.

Town only had one shot on target, Harry Cornick’s hopeful effort from distance easy for home stopper Ben Wilson, while striker James Collins wasted the best chance, firing over from inside the box, as Luke Berry was also off target.

The Hatters have now drawn five blanks in nine away games, going five and a half hours without scoring, since George Moncur netted at Huddersfield Town on November 7.

Harford said: “We just need to improve in the final third in terms of creating chances and getting in better positions.

“There wasn’t a lot, James had a half volley in the first half where he never really got over the top of the ball and there were some great balls fizzed across the six yard line where no-one was on the end of it.

"It was just one of those nights where we got in good positions, but things just petered out, we give the ball away cheaply, not finished the action.

"But overall, to come away from home to what I believe is a Coventry City team that is evolving in the Championship, like ourselves, it is a tough game, so overall we’re delighted with a point.

Although Luton couldn’t trouble the scorers, the fact that the Sky Bues also didn’t was highlighted by Harford, Town claiming a fourth away clean sheet this term, only managing five last season.

He continued: “I thought over the 90 minutes there was some outstanding individual performances.

"As a team we got our head on the ball, when the ball went forward we squeezed up, we narrowed all the space, we closed all the gaps, we were compact, we were solid and the occasional long ball into the box which we defended well.

"Sheasy (James Shea) picked things up, made some good punches, but overall defensively I thought we were solid.

“We didn’t look like conceding, Mark’s (Robins) built a good team here and they’re hard to beat.

"I’ve watched them the last three or four games here and they’ve done exceptionally well, beat some good teams, it was a tough opposition and a well earned point for us.

"We just need to have a little bit more threat in the final third and a little bit more cleverness.”

One of Town’s best attacking threats on the night was the recalled Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who made on some typically powerful bursts forward, while also sending in a late cross that was was flicked narrowly wide by a home defender.

Harford added: “Pelly can break lines, he can break in between the centre forwards, get ahead of the strikers, so he showed a lot of energy.

"He had a couple of weeks off, hes looked fresh, looked energetic, he’s effervescent around the place, we love him around the place.

"At times his performance was good, breaking forward and trying to get on the end of things.”