Mad Hatter Jones hits out after being given real ref ride
FRUSTRATED Luton boss Nathan Jones hit out at Birmingham’s timewasting tactics after being forced to settle for a frustrating point.
The Welshman remonstrated with referee Graham Scott at both half and full time.
It came in a week where the EFL issued guidelines to officials to help keep the ball in play for longer.
Jones said: “I don’t know the rules of the game anymore. It’s baffling.
“If you kick a ball away now it is not a booking any more. That’s open to interpretation. As long as someone can get the ball back in the next week.
“It’s crazy, it’s mental. We try and play as purely and honestly is possible.
“I have no idea of the rules of the game and you can quote me on this.
“I don’t know what Birmingham’s tactics were.
“There seems to be different rules.
“Kicking the ball away is wasting time. I spoke to the ref at half-time and pointed out that the same player had kicked the ball away twice. We lacked sharpness but this was not a bad, bad result.”
John Eustace, in his first game in charge of Birmingham, said: “It’s maybe fair criticism but I’m not really bothered to be honest.”
The ex-QPR assistant was the far happier of the two bosses after a disjointed start to life at St Andrew’s, with a takeover still not completed.
And it was new signing John Ruddy who kept Luton at bay.
The former Norwich keeper, 35, was called into action early on as he saved well to keep out Luke Freeman’s shot.
Luton, last season’s defeated play-off semifinalists, looked the more likely although Maxime Colin and Przemysław Płacheta tested Ethan Horvath at the other end.
The Hatters had much of the ball but were frustrated in humid conditions as Freeman shot just wide from distance at the start of the second half.
At the other end Juninho Bacuna saw a low effort go just wide.
New Luton signing Carlton Morris was unfortunate when a fine left-footed curler just went wide of Ruddy’s post.
Another Luton new boy Cauley Woodrow also shot straight at the imposing Ruddy while sub Harry Cornick was a whisker away from a late winner.
In the end, the Blues could have stolen the points at Kenilworth Road when Jordan Graham’s corner was headed just over by Marc Roberts.
Eustace added: “We have been in the building three weeks and it has been hard work. You can see good signs. I was very proud of the defensive display.
“We have togetherness and that can be powerful.
“John was outstanding in goal. That’s why we brought him in. He’s been promoted a few times and worked in the Premier League and can only help.”
LUTON: Horvath 6; Osho 7, Bradley 7, Potts 7; Bree 6, Clark 6, Campbell 6, Freeman 7 (Woodrow (69) 6), Bell 6; Morris 7 (Cornick (70) 6), Adebayo 6 (Jerome (84) 6)
BIRMINGHAM: Ruddy 7; Sanderson 5, Roberts 6, Trusty 7; Colin 6, Bacuna 7, Woods 6, James 7, Placheta 6 (Graham (84) 6); Hogan 5, Deeney 5 (Jutkiewicz (78) 6).
STAR MAN: Luke Freeman. Promising debut for ex-Bristol City and QPR man with several exciting runs.
REF: G Scott 6