TONDERFUL FOR JONES

NATHAN JONES hailed his “best win” after hat-trick hero James Collins made sure the Luton boss marked his 200th game in charge of the club in style.

Collins scored twice in the opening half hour to give the home side a comfortable lead before adding his third — and claiming a second treble of the season — in the second half. And Jones heaped praise on his side for gifting him with his 100th win as Luton manager.

Jones said: “It’s just a real top performance. I’m really happy with the level, how we worked, and then to score three. We could have had more as well.

“The goalscoring was absolutely clinical. The first was a wonderful ball and we’ve worked on the movement all week. I’m so proud.

“This is the best win, I’ve thanked the players for their performance.”

After 20 minutes PellyRuddock Mpanzu’s chipped cross found Collins who chested the ball down before sliding his effort beyond Declan Rudd. And nine minutes later Collins headed in from close range after Glen Rea hooked over a half-volley.

Then Collins pounced on a loose ball to slam a low strike into the bottom corner to wrap up the win after the hour.

Preston were punished for failing to make their early pressure pay, with Jayden Stockley powering a header over after 11 minutes.

And Tom Barkhuizen could only strike a tame effort into keeper James Shea’s hands early on. Manager Alex Neil said: “Luton did everything better than us which is very disappointing.

“We got dominated in every department.”

Shea 7; Pearson 7, Lockyer 7, Rea 8, Bradley 8, D Potts 7; Mpanzu 9 (Tunnicliffe 80), Dewsbury-Hall 8 ( Berry 80), Moncur 8 ( Norrington- Davies 74, 6); Cornick 7 (Clark 74, 6), Collins 10 (Nombe 83).

Unused subs: Cranie, Isted, Morrell, LuaLua. PRESTON: Rudd 6; Fisher 5, Huntington 4 (Storey 45, 6), Davies 5, Hughes 4; Browne 6, Ledson 5 (Johnson 45, 6); Barkhuizen 6 (Maguire 57, 6), B Potts 6 (Bayliss 60, 6), Sinclair 5; Stockley 5 (Riis 57, 5).

Unused subs: Ripley Earl, Rafferty, Gallagher.

MAN OF THE MATCH: James Collins. The striker capped a dominant display with a masterful hat-trick. REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 6.

LUTON: