Shea: Hatters squad were fully prepared for a tough campaign in the Championship

James Shea celebrates beating Charlton 2-1 on Tuesday night

Luton’s players were fully prepared for the toughest of seasons in the Championship this term, according to keeper James Shea.

Since the 28-year-old signed from AFC Wimbledon in July 2017, he has been part of a squad where winning has become second nature.

The first campaign in League Two saw Luton pick up 25 victories, with eight defeats.

It got even better when a level up in League One last term, the Hatters securing 27 victories and losing just six times, none of those coming at home.

That made for an overall record of 52 successes and only 14 defeats, but the chance of repeating a similar ratio in the Championship was always wishful thinking.

It has proved the case too, in Luton’s opening 18 games of the campaign, they have already been beaten 11 times, the latest seeing Leeds United triumph 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, a fourth home setback for Town.

On the difference, Shea said: “I think that’s the biggest thing for us, the last couple of years, all we’ve done is pretty much win every other week.

“This year, we knew it wasn’t going to be like that and we weren’t going to win every single week, but it’s a tough league.

“You’ve got to expect you’re going to lose games, you just want to put in a good performance and hopefully get something.

“If you can get wins when you matter, you can climb up that table."

Team-mate James Collins was of a similar opinion, but believes the unity remains in the squad to make it successful season at Kenilworth Road.