Jones won’t veer from campaign targets despite Luton’s play-off push potential

Luton will not be moving the goalposts over their ambitions this season, despite moving to within striking distance of the Championship play-offs, insists Nathan Jones. 

Nine points from their last 12 has left Town looking up the table, particularly as they have two games in hand on sixth-placed Huddersfield, who are six points ahead but with an inferior goal difference. 

Town have a tough test against second-placed Blackburn Rovers tomorrow, but they’ve taken four points off promotion hopefuls Fulham and Bournemouth already in their last five games. 

The goal at the start of the season was progression on last term’s 12th-placed finish and asked if Town would be tempted to reassess that ambition, Jones said: “Absolutely not. We set goals, realistic but very bold, ceiling-pushing targets every year because we want to do that and believe we can do that. 

“We have to be realistic. I don’t want everyone expecting, all of a sudden, for us to be a Bournemouth or a Fulham. 

“But, what we do know is that we can compete with big sides. To do it over 46 games, that’s what we’ve got to add. 

“Over a game or a small period of time, we compete with anyone and we’re a difficult side. I don’t think many enjoy playing against Luton. 

“No-one ever looks at us a thinks they’re an easy side, they’re a pushover, or that was comfortable. If they did, then I’d like to know.”

Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Bristol City showed that Luton can grind out victory when not playing particularly well. 

Jones said: “What we have to do is make sure we’re as consistent as a Fulham, a Bournemouth and keep the level of performances that we show over a 46-game period. 

“Sometimes that takes time because we haven’t got that many experienced at the level. So, a lot of them are new to the level. We are evolving into a really aggressive, front-footed side that, again, takes time, practice and mistakes. 

“So, we know we’re well on track to being what we want to be. But we don’t veer, we don’t reassess because, at the end of the day, we set bold, but getable targets.”