Hatters boss concedes being in a relegation battle on 45 points is 'hard to swallow'

The fact that Luton are still deep in a Championship relegation battle this term despite being on what would appear the relative safety of 45 points has made it tough to take for boss Nathan Jones.

In four of the last five seasons, Town’s current haul would have been enough to guarantee them survival going into the final two games, Nottingham Forest's tally of 51 in the 2016-17 campaign bucking that trend.

In fact of you look back further, it would be enough on seven occasions out of the last 10 years, with Barnsley needing 55 to be safe in 2012-13 and 48 enough in the 2009-10 season.

There’s every chance that it might need 50 to be sure this term, as even if Luton win at Hull City on Saturday, it could go down the final day clash with Blackburn Rovers.

When asked what that shows about the standard of the Championship this term, Jones said: “It’s better I think and it continues to get better, from teams coming down tho add to it.

“Tactically, it’s a wonderful league but it’s been so difficult, 44 points would’ve kept you in and we haven’t finished yet, so that’s hard to swallow.

“But we knew it was going to be more because of how things were.

"I looked at it a long, long time ago and you could see with people winning games that it was going to be more than that, so it’s just one of those things.

"Irony, I think they call that.”

Since the season resumed, Luton have been in the best form out of the bottom five teams, taking 10 points from a possible 21.

Basement side Barnsley are on nine, beaten 1-0 by leaders Leeds United last night, while Charlton have managed eight, Huddersfield six and Hull a measly four.

Mid-table Wigan, who are due a 12-point deduction for entering administration, which will see them drop to fourth bottom, are the exception to the rule, taking an incredible 16 points from their seven games.

With just one defeat to their name, that a hefty one to Reading too., Jones said: "We’re in a good place.

"I think we’ve been in relatively good form since lockdown, we had one hiccup, the Reading game, but in every other game we’ve picked up points, so we’re in a decent place.

"We’ve given ourselves a chance, which is all you can ask for really, considering where we were when we came into it.

"It’s going to be tight, it’s exciting, it’s nerves, but I don’t think there's many games in the Championship where it’s not going to be like that.

"From top to bottom, I don't think there's anyone playing at the weekend that doesn't have something to play for.”

Jones has masterminded Luton's attempts to stay up at short notice, having only taken over in late May after Graeme Jones was sacked the month before.

The boss been pleased with the reaction from the squad to his arrival, although admitted it hadn't surprised him either.

He continued: “The reaction from performances and results have been good, I knew I’d get a day-to-day reaction as they’re a good group, I know they’re a good group.

"It’s the nucleus of the ones that I had anyway, and there’s some good characters of those who have been brought to the club as well.

“Then it’s just about how you work and I’ve been very pleased with the response on a day-to-day basis which was expected.

"But then in terms of performance levels and what they’ve had to go through and how they’ve been results-wise, it’s been a realistic return."

Although Jones jumped straight into a relegation battle when agreeing to take over at Kenilworth Road once more, he was always ready for the fight, adding: "I do like a challenge, I was fully prepared for what I was coming back into.

"There were far easier missions that I could have taken on, but when I knew there was an opportunity to come back here, it was a big pull for me to come back.

"One for the club, the fans, but definitely the players as I had a good relationship with them, so it’s been good.

“Personally I feel in a good place, I’m enjoying the challenge.

"Yes it’s a big challenge, a different challenge, as since we’ve been here, it's always been about getting to the next level, now it’s about staying at this one.”