Jones felt his side should have beaten Wycombe by more

Town boss relieved that late Kaskhet strike ruled out for offside
Luke Berry looks to block a clearance against Wycombe this afternoonLuke Berry looks to block a clearance against Wycombe this afternoon
Luke Berry looks to block a clearance against Wycombe this afternoon

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side could and probably should have beaten Wycombe Wanderers by more this afternoon.

The Hatters went closest in an evenly-matched first period, Jordan Clark's header looping over keeper Ryan Allsop only to be cleared off the line.

Town were the more dominant force after the break though, taking the lead through Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's first goal of the season, a wonderful curling attempt from 22 yards.

Chances came and went for Luke Berry and James Collins, the latter somehow unable to beat midfielder Curtis Thompson from a matter of yards with Allsop out of position, until substitute Elliot Lee made it safe in the final minutes.

The hosts might have been left to rue their missed opportunities though, had Scott Kashket's effort not been ruled offside moments before Lee struck, as Jones said: "It could have been more, but it could have been something different as well if that wasn’t offside, which would have been a travesty because it should have been more.

“Once the game settled down, as it was very even early on, Wycombe come after you and they cause you problems.

“They’re a very difficult side to generate any momentum against and they’ve been very successful at it, and credit to them.

"Once the game opened up after about 30 minutes, we came into it and showed a little bit more quality and if we’d shown even more quality, I think we could have taken the lead before half time.

“But we came out very well, I thought we were excellent and then we finally got the goal, and then we should have scored two more, clear-cut chances, Luke Berry’s is a clear cut chance, Collins even more so.

Harry Cornick had half a chance, then we break with Elliot Lee, he squared it to Collo and it’s a tap-in, so all those things, if we just demonstrate a little bit more quality, we extend the lead.

“But Kazenga (LuaLua) laid it on a plate for Elliot and a great finish, so I'm happy with that.”

With the Wycombe bench and officials celebrating Kashket's goal, despite the flag being raised, Jones admitted his heart was in his mouth as referee Graham Scott discussed the call with his assistant before signalling for a Town free kick, rather than motioning towards the centre circle.

He added: "Yes totally as it would have been a travesty as we missed chances and that's what the Championship does.

“When you play Wycombe, they can get those opportunities, but luckily enough it was offside and then we went up the other end and made it comfortable.

“I wouldn't have wanted to sit here and think we've got a point, and were ruing missed chances as I think that would have been really harsh on us.

“They’re very difficult to play against, they’re a side that’s well regimented, Gareth (Ainsworth) has done unbelievably.

“They’re on a similar trajectory to us through the leagues and you know you’re up for a real, tough, tough test and we got that.

“You know you have to take your chances as you know that sooner or later they're going to get a chance.

"They go to 90 minutes, 90 plus 10 sometimes you know, so you know you're in for a tough game.

"I thought our centre halves were magnificent defending that aerial threat and that's why we bought them."