Jones proud to achieve Luton's best points tally in the second tier since 1982

Hatters boss Nathan Jones spoke of his pride at achieving the club’s best points tally in the second tier for almost 40 years last night.

Town’s 0-0 draw with Rotherham United at Kenilworth Road took Luton on to 62 points for the campaign, one more than when they finished 10th in the 2005-06 season.

Although they can’t get near the mightily impressive haul of 88 secured when winning the then Division Two title back in 1982, the likes of Brian Stein and David Moss firing the Hatters to the top flight, Jones said: “Someone said it’s our best since 1982 or whatever, but that’s fantastic if we can do things like that.

“It shows that we are making progress and it’s a wonderful place this and next time we play here, in God’s will there will be a full house.

“I can’t wait for that as we’ve missed the fans and I think that will give us an edge.

“I’m delighted that it’s our best place finish, the most points, but that just comes with the work that we do and we’re pleased on every level.”

Although Luton are now guaranteed a top half finish, they could end up as high as 10th with a win over QPR on Saturday, if Middlesbrough lose at home to Wycombe Wanderers and Millwall fail to beat Coventry City.

The fact that whatever happens, the Hatters will finish above teams with recent Premier League experience under their belts wasn’t lost on Jones, as he continued: “If we can finish top 10, that’s a wonderful thing, but let's look at the sides below us and for one season we’ve been better than some very good historical sides.

“You look at the teams behind us and the teams that have struggled for whatever reasons, that’s a proud thing for us, because teams like us and Millwall are really punching above our weight in the top half.

“You do expect Bournemouth, Cardiff, Norwich to be in that and Barnsley have done fantastically well, while ourselves and Millwall in there have done fantastically well.

“Others like QPR have been Premier League side, so it's really, really difficult, then you look at some of the teams below us, it’s wonderful.

“To be higher than Preston, and Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, Bristol City, some big teams there, some perennial Championship sides.

"For us to be above those and rightly so, it’s been a big season.”

When asked how he felt to finish above the Potters who had sacked Jones last season, with Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies cutting short his loan spell at Luton to move to the Bet 365 Stadium in January for what he felt was a 'better stepping stone' to reach the top flight, the Town boss, referring to his own decision to make the switch two years ago, added: “People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask.”