Collins never let missed chances bother him as he bags yet another Town treble

James Collins is mobbed after completing his hat-trick against Preston

Hatters striker James Collins insisted he hadn’t ever let any of his missed chances affect him before putting Preston North End to the sword with a brilliant hat-trick on Saturday.

The 30-year-old had only scored twice in his last 13 appearances for the club after netting four in his first two games, including an opening day Carabao Cup treble against Norwich City.

However, he failed to convert some golden opportunities a striker of his standard would have usually gobbled up during that dry spell, with efforts against Watford and Birmingham City in particular standing out, the latter when keeper Neil Etheridge pulled off an unbelievable point blank save.

Collins, who has now been a pro for more than a decade though, netting over 170 goals in that time, wasn't about to let it bother him though, saying: “No, never, it’s football.

"I’ve done it my whole career, I’ve missed better chances than I have missed in the last three games, but you always go into the next game and you score and it’s forgotten about."

The only gripe that Collins had about his misses were the fact it prevented Town from picking up even more points that the impressive haul of 26 they already have to their name, which is way, way above where they were at this stage last season.

He continued: “The only disappointing thing is we’d have got more points, because we didn't win the games.

"If we’d have won those games it wouldn’t have mattered, but it never plays on my mind, that’s just football.

"I’m always honest, the last four or five games I should have had more goals.

"You look at the Birmingham game, I had a chance against Coventry as well, and one against Swansea, but that’s football.

"You’ve got to keep getting in there, keep working hard, keep practicing and eventually it will turn for you.

"If I had scored one in each of those games, they’ve all come today instead, so that’s just football.”

The only slight criticism levelled at Town in what has been a hugely promising start to the season was a lack of goals in recent weeks, managing just six in 10 games at one point.

That changed when they put three past Norwich at home at the start of the month and although Luton drew blanks at both Swansea and Coventry, another three at the weekend has boosted the goals for column quite considerably.

Collins added: “We always knew we had goals in the team, we always knew it was coming.

"Where it started from was being solid at the back and doing all the bits and the ugly stuff off the ball.

"That allows you to go forward and create chances and I thought we were excellent all over the pitch.

“They’re a good side, they’re a top Championship side, they’ve been together for a while and they’ve got good players.

"I know a few of their players who are internationals, they’re a really good side and what we did off the ball and on the ball, I thought we were the better team by quite far.”