Collins: It's too early to say we're established in the Championship just yet

Striker James Collins thinks it’s still a bit too early to declare that he and the Hatters are established in the Championship just yet.

Town and their leading scorer are almost half-way through a second season at this level, having stayed up by the skin of their teeth last term.

With a campaign of second tier experience under their belt, it has led to a much improved start to this season, taking 26 points from their opening 18 games, a haul that took them 32 matches to reach under previous boss Graeme Jones.

After putting regular play-off contenders Preston North End to the sword 3-0 on Saturday, Collins himself bagging a hat-trick, it catapulted him to six goals in 15 league outings this term.

He also managed to score 14 last campaign, but, when asked if that meant both he and the club are now fully at home at this level, Collins said: “I wouldn’t speak too early.

“We were new to the Championship last year, there wasn’t much Championship experience, but this year we’ve kept a large group of the lads, brought in more Championship experience, young, hungry lads as well that want to do well and it’s a good mix.

“At the minute we’re competing at a good level, we’re coming up against good teams, we’re not looking out of place and we’re having a good go at it.

“I wouldn’t say we’re established yet, but if we keep doing what we’re doing we’ll be fine.”

Collins did agree that his side are showing dramatic signs of progress on the pitch this time though.

On their opening game back after the first lockdown in June, Town needed a late goal against Preston to earn a 1-1 draw and proved how much they have come on in just six months, with their best display of the season at the weekend.

Collins continued: “I think there’s progress everywhere at the club since that time last year.

“The fact that it was the first game back from lockdown played a big factor, but I think we’re evolving as a team and we were a million miles better than what we were against Preston last time we played them here.”

The manner in which Town went at their opponents on Saturday was a marked difference to last term, as 2-0 up by half time through Collins’ first half double they came out full of intent for the second period.

Determined to press their opponents high up the pitch wherever possible, it paid off with Harry Cornick winning the ball back from a hurried clearance and then finding Collins who applied a textbook finish from 18 yards for his treble.

The forward said: “That was the message at half time, we don’t just sit off now and just see it out for 2-0, we keep going and try to get the third as the next goal is massive.

“If they score the next then it’s game on, but I thought we saw the game out really well.

“The front three and the lads in midfield, we pressed them a lot and forced them into some mistakes.

“Harry did great there, won the ball back, slipped me in and I’m delighted to get a goal.

“That’s what you’re going to have to do in the Championship, you’re going to come up against some big sides, there’s no small teams in the Championship, they’re all in there for a reason.

“They’re all ex-Premier League teams and we’re coming up against good sides every week.

“That’s when you have to be at your best and if you’re not at your best you’re going to get found out, but I thought we were at our best and that’s why we got the win."

On scoring his treble, Collins was able to celebrate with 2,000 fans inside Kenilworth Road, as he added: "I wish it was 10,000, but whatever's going on in the world now, it’s lovely to have them back and that will only boost the lads.

"As we move forward the more fans come in, the lads will relish it more as they're like our 12th man.

"So hopefully more can be let in soon and we can keep producing performances like that."