James Bree is on the same level if not above for Luton favourite Jack Stacey, Boss Nathan Jones has claimed after he provided the assist for Elijah Adebayo’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Fulham.
The right back had endured a rotten time with his deliveries in the first half, but he dropped a free-kick right on the money for Town’s top scorer to nod home his 10th of the season.
As the celebrations tore the roof off Kenilworth Road, Bree turned around to one fan in the Main Stand that had been on his back and pointed to himself in defiance.
Afterward, boss Jones compared the right back to his League One predecessor, Stacey, saying: “We’re humans, I’ve had a nibble at a couple in some of the boxes over my years here, don’t worry about that, and it shows your passion.
“What we have to realise is as well, that we are bottom four budget, so when we are competing, and we ask them to be bold, we don’t just be passive and sit in, and say come in, now we’re bold and James Bree is a bold, brave player.
“So, yes, the fans pay their money, they can have a go at him, but get behind him as trust me, he’s on the same level if not above where Jack Stacey was and that’s what we do.
“Let’s not be negative, if he has a nibble (at a fan), he has a nibble. It shows he cares, shows his passion, but let’s behind him as we are punching above our weight.”
On the free-kick assist, Jones added: “It was world-class. We’d have been happy about that, but we ask him to do that, ask him to play on margins, ask him to do stuff, we don’t just ask him to dink stuff in and be passive.
“We ask to really go gung-ho with his delivery that, when it comes off, it’s a worldy ball and we score from it and that’s what happens.
“But he’s developing, he’ll get better, let’s concentrate today a wonderful performance going toe to toe with the best side in the league and I’m really proud of them.”
