Graeme Jones admitted he wasn’t thinking about Town’s long losing run on the road, as the Hatters beat Middlesbrough 1-0 to end an 11-game slump to avoid a worst record equalling twelfth league defeat.
Luton had not won on their Championship travels since despatching Blackburn on September 28, but having seen off Sheffield Wednesday at home on Wednesday, the manager made four changes to a winning side.
As the third game in a week, it proved a shrewd move as he brought in Tottenham loan ace Cameron Carter-Vickers to the centre of defence, while moving Matty Pearson out to right back in place of James Bree.
The influential Glen Rea and Izzy Brown were also dropped to the bench, having both recently returned for injuries, while Jones’ hand was forced of striker Harry Cornick, who picked up a slight hamstring injury.
Ryan Tunnicliffe netted the winner which saw Town claim back-to-back league wins for only the second time this term, but asked if only their second away-day victory was a monkey off the back, Jones said: “I don’t believe in all those hoodoos.
“I think if we are measuring (the game), I tried to go a little bit more solid with Matty Pearson – a centre-half – at right-back.
“Matty’s somebody I know can play three games a week, like Pelly-Ruddock, like Ryan Tunnicliffe. Sonny (Bradley) played two, Cam played two. Dan Potts was a bit of a gamble at three.
“I couldn’t risk Glen, couldn’t risk Izzy, so it’s getting the balance of your squad right. But it’s about people contributing. James Collins is robust.
“The satisfaction with the level of performance, effort and the mentality, is really satisfying today.”
Jones also praised his players’ never-say-die attitude, which has dragged Luton to within four points of safety.
He said: “We work hard in every single area and the boys have to carry that out. They have done for the vast majority of the season, learning and growing in this league but taking a battering and taking punches on the chin.
“Monday morning comes, they stand there and present themselves, ready to train, ready to learn and ready to go again.
“I said to them before the Sheffield Wednesday game, ‘if we don’t give the same level we did against Cardiff, how will we ever know if we’ve learned and improved?’
“We did. We’ve done it again and the game’s rewarded them.”
