Jones: Next three games will define Hatters' season

Luton Town are entering a season-defining period according to boss Nathan Jones.
Luton boss Nathan JonesLuton boss Nathan Jones
Luton boss Nathan Jones

With just eight games to go and Luton sitting eights points away from the play-off place, the Hatters have three successive matches at Kenilworth Road, starting with Stevenage this weekend.

Accrington Stanley and Dagenham & Redbridge will then make the trip to Bedfordshire in the next 10 days as Jones said: “We have three home games now that are really crucial to us, regardless of where we finish up, or what people are looking at, they’re three crucial games for us.

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“We want to put on a good performance, we are in good form, we are putting in performances that we’re reasonably happy with and we’re trying to move forward.

“So wherever we are after these three games will define the rest of the season, as there’s only five games left after that.

“It’s a real crucial time for us, an exciting time because I want the players to have that bit between their teeth as we want to see how we’re going to move forward and who we’re going to move forward with so it’s an important time.

“I’m looking forward to it as it’s a good test, I’m learning lots about my players, learning lots about me, learning lots about teams, and we have moved forward. I think we’ve made good steps going forward and it’s important we continue to do that.”

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Town’s home form has been a real stuttering block this season, with just five wins in front of their own fans from 18 attempts.

They have yet to net a first half goal in any of the last seven games as well, since Paul Benson’s effort against Northampton in December, but Jones would be more than happy with a repeat of the display from the 1-0 defeat to Crawley last time out, adding: “The home form since I’ve come in I think has been quite good, in terms of performance wise.

“We haven’t always quite got the results we would have wanted, but I couldn’t criticise the players for the Crawley performance, I couldn’t criticise them for the Morecambe performance or Hartlepool performance, those are games we’ve won two out of three.

“Even the defeats we’ve had against Crawley and Notts County, we’ve dominated both games.

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“The Crawley game was as dominant performance as I’ve seen at this level, so results have not always been what we would have liked, but that’s maybe credit to other teams as well who have come here and recognised we’re not a bad side at home.

“I don’t think I can turn round and hammer the players or criticise the players for the overall level of performance as it has been excellent.

“I’ll take the Crawley performance this Saturday 100 per cent. I would prefer the result to be different, but I feel if I get that level of performance once again there won’t be many games that we’ll lose.”