Nathan Jones accepts that Luton are the most inexperienced Championship but believes his side are “desperate” to do all they can to stay in the division.
Town’s rise to the second tier of English football has been rapid after back-to-back promotions, but they find themselves bottom of the league and looking at a quick return back to League One.
They travel to fellow relegation rivals Huddersfield tonight, effectively six points from safety, due to the worst goal difference in the division, and needing to win to give them hope of a great escape.
“By hook or by crook we have to try to get the points,” said Jones.
“We knew it was going to be difficult task. It was a difficult task when we first came into the division because of everything.
“It’s a similar squad that we had in League Two which shows, one, good recruitment, so we knew we’d have a competitive team in the Championship, but also shows how well the team has done in the last two years to get there. But it also shows it’s a difficult task.
“There’s no other side that’s come from League Two to the Championship in two years, that’s currently in the Championship.
“It’s been more like sides that are established, come down from the Premier League, or those that have been promoted are ones that have been in the Championship before and have come down from that.
“So, we’re probably the most inexperienced Championship side here, but we’ve got a group desperate for this opportunity. We know it’s tough but we’re still in the fight and that’s the main thing.”
Jones has targeted at least three wins from Luton’s remaining four matches of the season and to still be in the survival mix on the final day of the season, to give them a chance.
They have been as close as two points from safety but results elsewhere, a 5-0 defeat to Reading on Saturday and Tuesday’s late draw against second-from-bottom Barnsley mean they’re effectively just one point better off that before the restart.
Jones said: “It’s a difficult task whatever, to effectively get seven points more than three other teams, to stay in the division is difficult.
“It’s difficult anyway to win three out of four, which you have to do to stay up, is difficult regardless of who you are, even Leeds, West Brom and Brentford. That’s a tall order for all, especially in the Championship.
“We have to take each game as they come. We have to try and get some momentum. It can be to nick a win, get some fluency or whatever.”
