Luton’s first clean sheet of the campaign is a sign of progress, insisted boss Graeme Jones after the 3-0 Carabao Cup second round victory over Cardiff last night.
Town have scored in all but one of their games this term, hitting the net three times in four of their seven games, including their last two outings. But after claiming their first Championship victory this term at the weekend, a clean sheet was another major milestone with which to measure the team’s improving performances.
Jones said: “I think we’ve shown we can score goals, so if you can keep clean sheets you’ve got a chance to win football matches. I just see tonight as another step in our progress.
“The centre halves took pride in that. I think we did as a group.
“I think we’ve been better off the ball as a team. The Sheffield Wednesday game was our best off the ball performance, pressing from the front as a unit and it’s a reward for everyone really, but I’m delighted to get that first clean sheet.
“It’s what we want. Ideally, we want to score three goals every week and keep a clean sheet. Football’s not like that. Sometimes the opposition scores for whatever reason and you have to react.
“Since the season started, there’s nothing really that I could throw at the boys in any way. I think we’ve responded at times. We’ve come from goals behind and Middlesbrough and Cardiff, we’ve got back in the games and showed character.
“We played differently on Saturday to how we played tonight, so I like the different faces that we’ve got, but a clean sheet is essential.”
