Managers must 'respect and love' their clubs

Matt Bloomfield left his job at Wycombe to take the manager role at Luton

Luton Town's Matt Bloomfield says it is important that managers "respect and love" their surroundings, whichever club employs them, to have a chance of finding the right formula for success.

Bloomfield left a League One promotion race with Wycombe Wanderers in January to step up a division and take charge of The Hatters.

Luton have taken 15 points from the 15 matches Bloomfield has overseen, but they are only two points from safety with five to play.

"Every club is different, every job is different, and you have to respect and love your surroundings and give supporters a team they can resonate with, that they can feel really represents them. That's really important to know," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

Tightening up their defence was an immediate priority when Bloomfield was appointed, but Luton remain next to bottom ahead of Saturday's home game against Blackburn.

"The job we built over a number of transfer windows at my previous club, you were able to get it to a place where it was attack-minded first," he added.

"We looked at the numbers when we came in (here) and the goals against was too many and we felt there were improvements that just had to be made. To win games and get points, we needed to tighten up at the back.

"That had to be our main focus so we played a couple of different formations and tries to make them suit the players we have available, and try and play in a character and style of football and a philosophy that suits the club and the group."

Bloomfield confirmed that forward Elijah Adebayo had now had surgery on the ACL injury suffered in last weekend's draw with Leeds.

"It's the first step. I've done the (same) injury myself so I'm hoping I can really connect with him on that level, I've been through that process. It's a long road but what I do know about Eli is he's a really courageous young man and against Leeds he was unplayable at times."