Jones backs Pigott to win over the Luton fans

The on-loan Charlton front man had been booed on to the pitch by a small minority of supporters when he came on against Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek.

The reaction got worse after Pigott missed a hatful of chances, mainly from range, but also one late on when picked out by Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu as he has failed to score in any of his 10 games so far.

When asked about it, Jones said: “Fans are fans and they have an opinion on certain things.

“I’ve been booed when I’ve come on and been booed by my own fans enough in my time, but I think as long as fans see a real effort and real desire, then they’ll respond.

“People go through lack of form or dips in form if you like but as long as the work-rate and the effort and the desire to do well is there, that’s all the fans I think really want.

“Joe gives me that, sometimes he comes across as a bit of Rodney, Inbetweener type if you like, but he’s diligent, he wants to do things.

“I don’t want to make a big thing of it because he’s a player who’s done well at literally every level he’s gone.

“He did brilliant for me, scored 44 goals in a season (at Charlton), then when he went to Southend, he did really well too.”

The boss did admit that a much-needed goal would help the young forward too though, adding: “He’s got good pedigree, he’s just maybe going through a bit of a dip in form, but he’s the type of character we want here, quality and so on, so maybe just needs that goal.

“Joe came into play, to get us goals and give us quality. As it was he took some time to hit the ground running, but he sticks at it, has real quality in his finishing, I promise you, he shows us that regularly.

“He’s maybe lacking a little bit in terms of games, in terms of a bit of confidence at times, but he’s a player who I like, he’s a player I believe in, because I wouldn’t have brought him here otherwise.

“I’ve only brought in four players, all those I believe in because I know them, know what types they were and thought Joe was a lot better on Tuesday night.

“He had a dangerous edge about him, it’s just that he probably needs that first goal.

“At times he can come across as a bit slouchy and we’ve spoken about that, but he has real quality, I promise you that and I’m sure we’ll see that before the end of the season.”