Hatters chief explains why Luton players were late out for the second half during Blues cup clash

Luton boss Nathan Jones has explained the reasons why his side were late returning to the Stamford Bridge pitch for the beginning of the second half during their 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea yesterday.

The fourth round clash, shown live on the BBC, had already kicked off later than its allotted noon start time, was then delayed by a good few minutes as the Town players were slow in reappearing after the break, earning them an ear-bashing from referee David Coote.

Jones denied than he was trying to engage in any gamesmanship though, with Luton trailing 2-1 in the tie, revealing it was down to the Hatters being unable to use the away team dressing room due to Covid social distancing regulations.

He said: “It’s probably a 90-second, two minute walk (to the changing rooms), so when he blows for half time, it takes us two minutes to get back.

"By the time we have our staff meeting and go and talk, suddenly it comes, the bell rings, but we don’t know that there’s a bell because there’s no bell there, as we’re changing in a leisure centre.

"Then we have another two minutes to walk back, so it’s strange times, Covid times, we understand that.

"Instead of coming out and the bell going and being straight in the tunnel, we’re two minutes away, so it’s just because of the times.”