Luton boss thrilled that training ground move paid off for Town's opener against Preston

Town boss Nathan Jones pointed to the work done on the training ground which led to James Collins’ brilliant opening goal against Preston North End on Saturday.

With 20 minutes gone, midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu picked possession up after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall diverted Glen Rea’s pass into his path.

He took a touch, looked up and then delivered an exquisite lofted ball over the head of visiting centre half Paul Huntington for Collins, who had peeled away from his marker.

The Luton striker's chest control was sublime, as was his side-footed finish, giving advancing keeper Declan Rudd no chance at all, clinically picking out the bottom corner.

When watching the work being put into practice, Jones said: “It’s wonderful, it’s brilliant, it’s all you want.

"We did it yesterday (Friday), and Mick’s (Harford, assistant boss) worked with Collo in terms of movement as we want to be more productive in what we do.

"We could have scored one second half as well, but it’s very pleasing, as it shows that they’re taking stuff on board.

"Bear in mind, we used to score so many goals here, 100 a season, so the level of work we did in training came out, you could see that.

"For that to happen is very, very pleasing for a coach and a manager as that’s your body of work.”

Collins himself was thrilled to score such a goal too, his first one in open play since the 1-0 win at Barnsley on the opening day of the Championship season in early September.

As a typical striker though, he didn’t care how they went in, saying: “It was great because we’ve been working on that in the week.

"We've been working on that sort of movement and that sort of ball and for it to come off on a Saturday afternoon, it makes it that little bit more special.

“I think a goal’s a goal though no matter how it goes in, a set-play or from normal play, it doesn’t matter.

"As long as it goes in the net, we’ll take anything.”