Luton Town interim boss Alex Lawless has called on his players to show resilience and unity after a difficult run that has seen the Hatters lose seven of their last twelve matches in all competitions.
Lawless stepped into the dugout on Tuesday following Matt Bloomfield’s dismissal just 24 hours earlier, but his first game in charge ended in disappointment as a much-changed Cambridge United side deservedly claimed a 3-1 victory in the Vertu Trophy group stage at the Abbey Stadium. The result compounded a poor spell of form that has included defeats to Stevenage and Lincoln City, leaving supporters frustrated and searching for answers.
Nearly 600 travelling fans were in attendance among a crowd of around 1,800, many voicing their displeasure at full-time as the players once again approached the away end. While the atmosphere was calmer than the anger that followed Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Stevenage or the earlier 3-1 reverse against Lincoln, the discontent underlined just how far the club’s fortunes have fallen since competing in the Premier League two years ago.
Lawless Understands Pressure
Lawless, who played more than 200 games for Luton between 2010 and 2016, understands the pressures that come with representing the club. During his early years at Kenilworth Road, he faced similar criticism from supporters before eventually winning them over and helping the team climb back into the Football League.
Drawing on those experiences, the 39-year-old has urged his players to stay together and respond with character.
“I was in that position myself before and every player, every club, every team will have gone through something like that,” he said. “You’ve got to fight, you’ve got to fight for everything. You’ve got to fight against negativity that’s going to come your way, deserved or not. You have to do it personally, straight away as a player.
“It’s a team sport and at the end of the day you’ve got to do it individually to then come together,” he added. “That’s the critical part — that everyone stays as a group and works hard as a team to fight for those better moments.”
The sense of drift around Kenilworth Road has been amplified by recent managerial upheaval. Bloomfield’s departure earlier in the week came after a stretch of inconsistent results and visible frustration in the stands. Lawless was handed the reins on an interim basis while the board continues its search for a permanent successor, with early betting markets naming Jack Wilshere and Chris Coleman among the potential contenders.
Luton’s league form has left them 11th in League One ahead of their next fixture against Mansfield Town, a game that already feels significant in shaping the direction of their season. The club’s supporters, still adjusting to the sudden drop from the Premier League to the third tier, will expect a strong response at home following what many consider one of the lowest points of the campaign so far.
“I remember when people said we would never get out of the Conference,” Lawless recalled. “It does feel like that and I’m sure there’s that same type of feeling around now. But clearly, from evidence in the past, it doesn’t last forever and everybody will be doing everything possible to make sure that comes quicker rather than later.”
Writer’s View
Lawless’s comments strike a chord because they blend honesty with lived experience. He understands what it means to weather criticism at Luton and to come out stronger for it. The interim boss will know that words only go so far, but his message lands at a time when the club desperately needs a sense of togetherness.
With the managerial search ongoing and supporters demanding direction, Mansfield at home already feels like a turning-point fixture. Whether this becomes a brief caretaker spell or the start of something longer, Lawless has at least reminded everyone what resilience should look like at Kenilworth Road.
