Jones ready for tough opening day clash at Home Park

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones is fully aware his side have been handed a tough start to their League Two campaign with a trip to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, August 6.
Jack Marriott scores against Plymouth last seasonJack Marriott scores against Plymouth last season
Jack Marriott scores against Plymouth last season

The Pilgrims, who have reached the play-offs for the last two seasons, were the first game for Town when the fixtures were announced last Wednesday.

Home Park has been a happy hunting ground for the Hatters since their return to the Football League, recording back-to-back 1-0 wins, as Jones said: “It’s a difficult start in terms of Plymouth away after the two seasons they’ve had, they’ve been play off contenders for two seasons now.

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“They narrowly missed out on promotion, taking small steps themselves. It’s a difficult opening fixture, but we’ve got to pay them some time.

“If you go down to Home Park on a nice summers day, with a good pitch, then it’s not a bad fixture.”

Last season’s match-winner Jack Marriott, who slotted home after Paddy McCourt’s wonderful pass, said: “It will be a long one, but hopefully we’ll be coming away with the same result and first game of the season anything can happen.”

Meanwhile, new signing Johnny Mullins added: “It’s all about gearing up through pre-season for the Plymouth game.

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“I know Luton beat them last year so hopefully we can do that again.”

Town’s first home game is against manager Jones’ old side Yeovil Town on Saturday, August 13, while they host relegated Colchester United on Boxing Day, with a trip to Portsmouth kicking off 2017 on January 2.

For the second year running, Luton will visit Carlisle United on a Tuesday night, while Jones’ side also face midweek trips to both Hartlepool United and Newport County.

The boss added: “We’ve got a few tough away tests on a Tuesday nights, big journeys and people have got to come to us on a Tuesday too.

“That’s the beauty of the English league and you have to do that, so you can catch teams at different times.

“But at the end of it, you have to play everyone twice.”