Attacking substitutions pay off for Luton chief Jones as Town beat Lilywhites

Luton boss Nathan Jones hailed the impact of his substitutes as the Hatters picked up an excellent 1-0 win at Preston North End this afternoon.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Jones opted to bring on Tom Ince for Ryan Tunnicliffe, and then shortly afterwards, sent on James Collins and Sam Nombe for Harry Cornick and Elijah Adebayo to switch Town's forward options.

The changes worked a treat too, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu delivering a wonderful cross and after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was denied superbly by keeper Daniel Iversen, there was James Collins at the far post to follow up, the home stopper diverting over the line for an unfortunate own goal.

On making his attacking triple switch, Jones said: “I don’t put Tom Ince, Sam Nombe and James Collins on to see out the game.

“Tom was a positive change and a real attacking player, Ryan had put three massive shifts in this week, and I felt we just needed to freshen it up.

“I probably could have freshened it up a little bit earlier, but we got to a point where we felt we were quite secure in they game and we thought 'now was the time to go for it' and we did and we’re delighted with that.”

Although the goal has gone down as an Iversen error, robbing Collins of a first strike since early February and an 11th of the season, Jones felt it was the striker who should be credited, adding: “He’s not trying to claim it, of course he’s claiming it!

“He’s had the last touch, he put it in and the keeper couldn't keep it out, it’s clearly his goal.

“I’m delighted for him, a poacher’s goal, but James is arriving and that’s what he does, because he’s a goalscorer and we’re delighted with that.”