JONES: FROM NOW ON WE’RE TOP HATTERS

NATHAN JONES says Luton have shown they “want to do something’’ this season after a win made on the training ground.

Jones returned in May for his second spell as Hatters boss, 16 months after quitting to take charge of Stoke.

The Welshman, sacked by the Potters last November, succeeded Graeme Jones at Kenilworth Road and went some way to making up for his walk-out as he kept Luton in the Championship last season against the odds.

Now, after the relegation nearmiss, Jones is looking up, not down. He said: “We don’t want to be anywhere near where we were last season, and this is a good start.

“We’ve got to build a foundation and not be scratching, and trying to climb and chase teams. We want to be in the mix and in a better position, so that teams are not coming to us thinking it’s easy.

“It’s such a great group of players. On Thursday, we had a practice match and the ‘Oranges’ were the team that wasn’t starting – and they were magnificent.

“They did exactly what we felt Barnsley were going to do. It was as competitive, if not more so, than what we were coming up against here.

“That stood us in good stead and it shows we have a great squad that wants to do something this year.’’

Striker James Collins’ thumping 71st-minute finish (above) – his fourth goal in two games after a Carabao Cup hat-trick – was decisive. Barnsley defender Jordan Williams said: “It was tough for us. Luton had a game plan and stuck to it. We’ll definitely bounce back.”

BARNSLEY: Walton 6, Sollbauer 6, Andersen 6, Williams 6, Ludewig 6, Mowatt 5, Styles 7, Ritzmaier 5 (Palmer 58, 5), Simoes 5 (Frieser 53, 5), Woodrow 6, Chaplin 5 (Schmidt 77, 5)

LUTON TOWN: Sluga 7, Cranie 6, Pearson 6, Bradley 6, NorringtonDavies 6, Berry 6, Mpanzu 6, Rea 5, Cornick 6 (Bree 81), Collins 7 (Hylton 90), Lee 5 (Lualua 62, 6)

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