Luke Joyce looks ahead to the trip to Luton
We spoke to midfielder Luke Joyce ahead of training on Thursday morning as the lads prepare for the weekend trip to Luton.“I thought we started the game on Tuesday very well,” he said. “We had two or three great chances in the first 15 minutes but we didn’t take them. We conceded from a free kick, which we’re disappointed about, because we pride ourselves on our own set pieces, so to concede from one is disappointing.
“We didn’t really get going again until half time once they’d scored. We were two down at half time but fair play to the lads, we got it back to 2-2 and at that point we all believed we would go on and win the game.
“Their lad win it when he put it in the top corner from 20 yards. It was a great strike but we’re all disappointed we aren’t in the next round. We had the momentum after we’d got the equaliser and I thought we dominated the game in the second half. They didn’t really have any opportunities on goal apart from the shot into the top corner.
“We were thinking we’d at least take it to penalties, even if we couldn’t win it in the 90 minutes, but it wasn’t meant to be. We were disappointed after the game but we’re focused on Saturday now."
“The league is our main priority and we have to focus on that," he continued. "We’re out of the cup competitions so we’ve got no other distractions now. The league is the main focus and the main aim.
“We are where we are in the league because we deserve to be. There’s probably games where we haven’t picked up points where we should have done. We are where we are on merit and we’re looking to keep that position, if not move up a place."
Ahead of the trip to Luton, he said: “Saturday is a great game and it’s one we’re all looking forward to. Luton are doing well in the league and we’re right up there as well so it’s got all the makings of a real good encounter.
"We’ll go there knowing it will be a really tough game, but with the type of team we are and the players we’ve got we know we can get points. It’s the sort of game you want to be playing in.
“I enjoy playing at Luton, we had a great game down there last season. It’s a proper football ground with a good atmosphere and everyone will want to be in the starting 11. It’s got all the makings of a good top of the table clash."
Looking back to last year's thrilling encounter, he said: “Last year was a brilliant night. We were 3-1 down with an hour played and probably thinking the worst. We’ve got that kind of determination and team spirit to come back from results like that and get a victory. Hopefully it won’t take that this weekend but, whatever it does take, we’ll be ready and putting the effort in.
“It’s down to us as a squad to make sure we’re right week in, week out. We’ve got some good games coming through December. If we can make sure we’re right up there come the turn of the year we’ve got a great chance for the second half of the season.
“We bounced back after the Newport game with a great result against Exeter and we’ll be looking to do the same on the back of two defeats in the cups. We’ll be looking to put it right on Saturday.”
United PlayerHD subscribers can see an interview with Luke Joyce now. Click HERE to go to the PlayerHD platform. Follow the same link for more information on United PlayerHD, and to subscribe.
