Graeme Jones said the electric atmosphere inside Kenilworth Road as his side Luton drew 3-3 with Middlesbrough to open their Championship campaign was the best he’s ever experienced.
It was his first competitive game as a manager and despite being involved in games in the World Cup with Belgium and the Premier League with Everton, the noise from the Hatters faithful was cacophonous throughout.
With frequent bursts of “Luton are back” ringing around the old stadium, it was clear that Town supporters – who bore the brunt of the club’s punishments for financial problems and subsequent relegations down the Football League and into the Conference – believe that returning to the Championship is where they should be, at the very least.
Jones said: “I enjoyed the environment. I thought the Luton Town fans were magnificent and long may that continue because we’re going to need everybody.
“I’ve been involved with some audiences through the years and the support and the noise, for me, with 10,000 people, it was the best I’ve been in. That was because of the Luton Town supporters. They generated that but we need that in every game because it’s essential.”
The sense of occasion was increased by the nature of the game. It was a televised thriller that ebbed and flowed, with Boro and Town exchanging the lead and spectacular strikes before James Collins bagged an 85th minute equaliser.
Jones, who was in jovial mood after the match, said: “That’s the definition of the Championship tonight. It’s great for the public, shocking for two managers.
“I enjoyed the honesty of the performance and I enjoyed the intelligence of the performance, so it’s a decent start but we’ve got lots of work to do.
“I was delighted with the goals because we want to attack, and we want to score goals. That’s the type of teams that I’m interested in, but when you analyse the three goals that we conceded, that’s a disappointment. You’re talking about a set-piece, a mistake and a worldie of a goal, so I think that’s where the work is, going forward. We need to be better. We need to sustain our possession for 90 minutes.
“In the first half I thought we tactically caused them problems, managed to get a switch and get Callum McManaman one-v-one on numerous occasions, but it was a very interesting night.
“Middlesbrough have got Premier League physical specimens and for 20-minute period that caught up with us. I thought when we made the substitutions (introducing Harry Cornick and George Moncur), we addressed that balance and we seemed to get back in the game. Lots to measure and lots to learn.”
