Nathan Jones hailed a “wonderful point” at table-toppers Leeds United as Luton edged closer to Championship safety courtesy of a Harry Cornick wonder strike and determined defending.
The Hatters substitute scored within five minutes of his half time introduction, finding the top corner for his ninth of the season and though Stuart Dallas equalised for the champions elect, Town held firm for more than 30 tense minutes.
Town have taken five points from three games against promotion-chasing side since football’s restart, which has slashed the gap to safety at the foot of the division from six points to just two, with six games remaining.
At an empty Elland Road, they had to yield to 76 per cent of Leeds possession, but they rarely were troubled in the first half and manager Jones said: “Defensively, I thought we were excellent.
“(Leeds are) the best side in the league and you know you’re going to have to defend well, have to ride your luck a little bit, but I thought we were excellent, I really, really did.
“(With) work-rate, desire to do well, they keep coming at you, they commit bodies forward, and they take chances, but they’re a good side, so it’s a wonderful performance and wonderful point.
“I would have loved to have been a bit more fluent, I would have loved to be a little bit more controlled in the game, but we have to respect the opposition and they gave me everything tonight.
“I thought, tactically, we got it right, I would have loved to have kept another clean sheet, that would have been superb, but I’ll take that point.”
On Cornick’s 50th minute worldie, Jones said: “We knew they would be open, so we knew we needed that pace.
(It was a) great ball from Tunny (Ryan Tunnicliffe), Harry got on to it like only Harry can and then a great, great finish.
“You need those moments of quality at Elland Road as these are undoubtedly the best side in the league.”
