Hatters captain: It's a tremendous effort for Luton to secure a top half finish

Defender hails effort from the whole club this season
Sonny Bradley heads away during the goalless draw with Rotherham UnitedSonny Bradley heads away during the goalless draw with Rotherham United
Sonny Bradley heads away during the goalless draw with Rotherham United

Town skipper Sonny Bradley hailed the ‘tremendous effort’ from his side to confirm a top half finish in the Championship this season following on directly from a campaign spent battling against relegation.

The 29-year-old was part of a Hatters side who looked odds-on to go down from the second tier last term, as they spent the majority of the second half of the season in the bottom two before a remarkable great escape under returning manager Nathan Jones saw them retain their status on the final day.

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Town have been mathematically safe from the drop ever since mid-April, but have pushed on in recent weeks, with a six game unbeaten run ensuring they go into the final day clash at QPR with a finish of anywhere between ninth and 12th a possibility.

Speaking following last night’s goalless draw with Rotherham United, Bradley said: “This football club to finish in the top half of the Championship table, especially from where we were last season is a tremendous effort.

“That’s not just from the players, the players have obviously played their part, it’s from the staff as well, everyone at this football club plays their part.

“The gaffer said a couple of weeks ago, at this club we don’t carry passengers, we simply can’t afford to, no passengers at this club this season and that’s allowed us to progress.

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“I wasn’t here in League Two, but the jump from League Two to League One was a big step up and winning a League One title obviously that was amazing.

"To stay up in the Championship, another big step up, but for me, from where we were last season to where we are this season, it’s the biggest step up.

“To climb the amount of places we have this season has been amazing by everyone at the football club.

“We’re guaranteed to finish in the top half now, we want to finish strong, we wanted to win the game today, go and beat QPR as well, all right it’s a draw, we’ll take it and move on.”

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Although the stakes were incredibly for the Hatters’ final home match of the season in front of the Sky cameras last night, it was the visitors under the microscope this time, as they needed a win to keep safety in their own hands ahead of the weekend finale.

Rewind to Town's last clash of the 2019-20 campaign at Kenilworth Road and it was Luton who had to win against Blackburn Roveers to avoid the drop, which they did thanks to a 3-2 victory, courtesy of two own goals and a James Collins penalty.

Bradley remembered the feeling well, as he continued; “The step up it’s hard to put into words right now.

"In the short space of time how much the step up is from where we were last season to the top half finish this season, it’s huge, it really is huge.

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"The feelings are different as well, it was amazing to stay up on the last day, we were in the changing room dancing on tables, whereas this season it’s a bit more chilled out, a bit more relaxed.

"But we still recognise how much of an achievement it is and hopefully over the next couple of seasons, this football club keeps moving in the right direction and hopefully for the right reasons, we’ll be dancing on tables again next season, let’s hope.”

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