Andy Munro watches Blues open the season with a goalless draw at Luton.
This was never going to be an easy opener against last year’s play-off contenders Luton, and it was a good point even if some of the more naive Bluenoses expected us to play like Barcelona (or Kidderminster!), with John Eustace only having been at the helm for a few weeks.
Although the Hatters had the better chances in numerical terms, there was nothing to choose from the teams both in chances created and possession percentages.
Despite his pre-season blooper, John Ruddy looks a very solid acquisition, while both Dion Sanderson and Auston Trusty looked impressive at times, making Marc Roberts look a bit agricultural in comparison.
There were certainly no complaints about the wing-backs, who both worked hard with Jordan James and Juninho Bacuna doing well to sacrifice their attacking potential in keeping Luton at bay. Ryan Woods again looked a bit lightweight and wasteful, so getting new acquisition Krystian Bielik matchfit can’t come soon enough.
Up front, after a bright pre-season Scott Hogan reverted to his ineffectual self and Troy Deeney battled as he always does but a lack of pace and penetration remains a problem that Blues need to solve.
Still, overall it was a decent point which most of us would have taken before the match started.