Benson urges Hatters to show the mark of champions

Town bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 triumph over Dartford in the week, but it was the game at Wrexham the previous Friday, where Benson believes Luton needed to prove they can be considered champion material this term.

He said: “The gaffer could have made 11 changes after Friday, we were that bad.

“I don’t know why, if I did I’d probably be playing in the Premier League if I knew how to perform week in week out at a high level.

“It happens, but we’ve got to realise that even if you don’t play well you can still stick in and get a result, the best teams do that.

“Had we gone to Wrexham and played badly and got a 0-0, that’s what champions do and winners do.

“We’re not quite there yet, it was a good performance (against Dartford), let’s not mask it, a good performance.

“It wasn’t great, wasn’t perfect. We can be pleased as it was against one of those sides that were well up for it.

“You could hear in the tunnel, they were bang up for it, but we’ve managed to come away with three points.

“There’s still stuff to work on. When we were 1-0 up, they had a free header from about two yards and managed to put it wide.

“But apart from that and 10 minutes in the second half, where we were a bit sloppy, I thought we looked good.”

Midfielder Alex Lawless also believes that Elliot Bradbrook’s miss for the Darts could be a turning point as he said: “Since I’ve been here, they do go and score, so it was nice to see them miss and for us to take advantage of that.

“We kicked on and scored, so hopefully that will help us mentally. The tables will turn with that and hopefully we can do that more often.”

The pair combined for Hatters’ first and third goals in the week, as after Lawless’ inviting cross was turned home by Benson, the striker turned provider with a lovely touch for the Welshman to notch his first of the campaign.

Lawless said: “You might not have noticed Benno did a nice little flick on to me, which some people might perceive as the defender just got a nick, but he didn’t.

“It was well worked by Paul and he set me up for one, after I set him up, so it’s happy days.

“The minute I went through I only had thing on my mind to get it in the back of the net.

“The keeper came out quite quick and it made my mind up to go round him. The move just flowed and the adrenaline took over.

“Last year I chipped in with a few more than I had the season before and that was the aim to do that again. I’m just as happy to set the others lads up though as it’s a team game.”

On his role in Lawless’ goal, Benson added: “It’s easy to credit someone for doing that, but people have got to make the runs.

“Smudger (Jonathan Smith) with the ball in, he’s seen the pass, and the run (from Lawless) made the ball.

“If he hadn’t made the run, I have’t got a ball to play. It was a good team goal, he finished it well and it put a nice gloss on the scoreline.”

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