Jones misses the 'rapport' and 'understanding' from Luton's fans with games back behind closed doors again

Luton boss Nathan Jones was frustrated that the club’s home games will go ahead without any supporters for the foreseeable future after news that Bedfordshire was placed in tier three restrictions last week.

That was then tightened even further to tier four during Saturday’s goalless draw with Bournemouth, played in front of an empty Kenilworth Road, which had housed 1,000 and 2,000 fans for the last two fixtures against Norwich City and Preston North End.

On the effect that it had on Town’s players when taking on the Cherries, Jones said: “We never know the gauge of what the fans do, but we love having fans here because they’re great fans and there’s such a rapport and an affiliation with this group of players and the fans.

“There’s not many clubs like it, Bournemouth might have it because they’ve had a real continuity together, but we’ve got such an affiliation from League Two, even before.

“Pelly (Mpanzu) was here from the Conference days and from League Two right through to the Championship.

“There’s a rapport, an understanding, there’s a respect between fans and players and not many clubs have got that.

“Some want instant success, but we get understanding, we get patience, we get an education for the fans and there’s a real closeness and that’s what we really miss and we look forward to.

“Everything has to happen safely but who knows when everything is going to happen safely because I’m not sure that the people who are making decisions in this country actually know what they’re doing.”

Town stopper James Shea didn't think the lack of supporters affected the players going into the, but wished they had been there to try and urge the Hatters to victory, adding: “I wouldn't say it was hard to get up for it as we’re playing Bournemouth, the best team in the league.

"If you can't get up for that, you shouldn't be playing football.

"But it would have been even better with the crowd in today, pushing you that little bit more.

"Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before they are back in again."