Graeme Jones admitted he doesn’t like talking about budgets, but that Fulham compared to his Luton side is ‘riches and rags’ – and that’s why he felt proud of a 3-3 draw against the Cottagers.
The Londoners left it late to take a point with Bobby Decordova-Reid equalising in the 94th minute after the Hatters had three times taken the lead, the last time through Harry Cornick six minutes from normal time.
Luton led for 63 minutes of the match at Kenilworth Road, with Kazenga LuaLua scoring in the fifth minute and James Collins restoring their lead just before the half hour mark.
They held that lead until the Championship’s top scorer Aleksander Mitrovic headed home on 77 minutes before a rollercoaster final ten minutes, including injury time.
Jones said: “You have to take into consideration that 18 months ago we were in League Two and they were getting promoted to the Premier League. I mean, it is just night and day. It’s riches and rags. The gulf, financially is huge.
“I know what some players are earning at Fulham. It’s just staggering, the difference. We just drew 3-3 to a last-minute equaliser for Fulham. I’m really proud of them.”
Back in October, Town were handed a masterclass in ruthless finishing by Mitrovic and despite the 3-2 scoreline at Craven Cottage, Luton were outclassed.
Yesterday’s game marked the start of the second half of the season and Jones said: “I think you have to measure progress in this mad industry of results that we’re all in because I want to give supporters results.
“We’ve given them a result, we haven’t given them a win but we’ve given them a result, but the progress is something that we should all be proud of because it has been really, really tough for everybody. Really tough.
“This has been a winning football club through the Conference, League Two, League One. We were in the Conference five years ago.
“These (Fulham) spent £120million last year. We have to talk about it. I don’t like going on about it because ultimately, it’s man against man, but the man against man today – and I did narrow it down to that, tactically – to a man, we were fantastic.
“It wasn’t just about effort, it was about quality as well. I’m really satisfied.
“I feel as satisfied as I’ve done as any point in this job because, again I repeat myself, the gulf, financially, is incredible.
“We are the underdog and to give a level of performance like we did today, I feel really, really proud.”
