Luton boss labels Tykes win as 'magnificent' for his aggressive Hatters

A thrilled Luton boss Nathan Jones was fulsome in his praise of the Hatters' spirit and aggression after their 1-0 win at Barnsley this afternoon.

James Collins' clinical finish with just 18 minutes left was enough to separate the sides, ensuring Town began their Championship campaign with an opening day triumph.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "Apart from their chance, that’s probably as good an away performance as you’re likely to see.

"In terms of solidity, how we pressed, and these will be nowhere near where they were last season by the way, these are a good side and I think we just played very, very well today, I really do.

“We pressed really well, we were organised, we limited them to very little.

"We lacked just that little bit of quality in the final third, if we did then we would have had more chances, but when you’ve got a goalscorer like James Collins who gets an opportunity and puts it away, that’s what you need.

"No disrespect, we played these eight weeks ago, or whatever it was, and they were better than us.

"They pressed us and we had to contain them and even though we drew the game, they were a little bit more front-footed than us, but a total change today.

"We were front-footed, we pressed, we had energy, were aggressive, I thought they were excellent from start to finish and thoroughly deserved the win.

"It's a difficult place to come to as not many will win here, I’m telling you, they beat Forest last week, the aggression, the freedom they play with, but I’m so proud of my boys."

Collins' winner when it came saw both Kazenga LuaLua and Pelly-Ruddock win aerial challenges before the striker lashed beyond Jack Walton and into the top corner.

Jones continued: "It’s a little bit scrappy at times, but what we've done is win two headers before it, so all the basics, all the aggression that we wanted to show, we did.

"We knew, if you don’t show aggression against Barnsley, they are an aggressive side, we saw that in League One and we saw that in the Championship, and we did.

"We won two headers prior to it and then it’s a wonderful, wonderful finish, it really is."

Luton were almost pegged back immediately, Dominik Frieser putting a header wide from a matter of yards at the far post, leaving Jones relieved that the chance hadn't been taken.

He added: "We should have cleared it, if we had cleared it and done the basics they wouldn’t have had it, but that was the one chance and if we’d had drawn the game, I would have been really disappointed as I didn’t see us losing the game, I really didn’t.

“We didn't hang on, what they do at the end is, they threw literally everyone forward, I think the groundsman was in our box at the end of the game.

"What you have to do is win your headers, do your basics and we did.

"We limited them to one shot from 25 yards which if it goes in, fair play, but it didn't, so a magnificent away performance.

"But we’ve won the game, I’m delighted to get off to the start, three points, that’s all you can ask for.

"We’re sixth in the league, I know its only one game, but it’s nice, it’s nice to see us looking that way rather than the other and I’m really, really proud of how we’ve gone about it, I really am."