Experience of fighting relegation with Wigan means Graeme Jones won’t indulge in the blame game or lose his head over Luton’s battle as the manager says his men must focus on accumulating points and not their current Championship position.
Town slumped a 3-0 defeat at Bristol City on Sunday as they missed the opportunity to bounce out of the drop zone at the first attempt, dropping a place on goal difference, to 23rd.
They’re now level on points with Barnsley and Stoke, but the gap to Huddersfield in 20th is seven points.
Jones said: “I never look at the table, I really don’t, because I’ve been in this situation for four years at Wigan. I know what a relegation fight is like. Everybody loses their head, I won’t, because it’s easy to start blaming people and I’m not doing it.
“It’s about the points total. There are 21 games left and it’s about where we finish, not where we are now. We need to narrow that down. It’s about accumulating points. I’ve spoken to the lads about that.
“We couldn’t do it (against Bristol), we have to do it against Millwall. That’s the next one. Can we accumulate points? Then we have the (FA) Cup (against Bournemouth), then can we do it against Birmingham? Then can we do it against Nottingham Forest? It’s not easy.
“Then can we get some players fit? Can we get some players in? All these things will help reenergise the group. We’ve got to go again with the same group of players.”
Town travel to face Millwall on New Year’s Day, which will be their fourth game in 11 days.
Asked if fatigue played a part at Ashton Gate, Jones said: “I know it does because I’ve been a player. It depends on your position but three games in six days is impossible, not for them to play, but to perform at the same level they did against Fulham.
“That’s what we’ve got at the club. If we play once a week, we can reproduce that, maybe not away from home, we haven’t found that formula, I don’t think, yet. The boys will have to dig really deep on Wednesday and I’ll make sure they do.”
