Jones hails a 'wonderful' point for his Hatters side at table-topping Leeds

Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled his side's battling 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Leeds United tonight as a 'wonderful point' in their quest to stay up this season.

Harry Cornick had put Town in front before a second half onslaught by Marcelo Bielsa's side led to Stuart Dallas equalising at the midway point, but despite having 76 per cent possession and 23 attempts, they couldn't find a winner, Hatters holding on superbly for a precious point.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "Defensively I thought we were excellent.

"They're the best side in the league and you know you’re going to have to defend well, have to ride your luck a little bit, but I thought we were excellent, I really, really did.

"Work-rate, desire to do well, they keep coming at you, they commit bodies forward, and they take chances, but they’re a good side, so it’s a wonderful performance and a wonderful point.

"I would have loved to have been a bit more fluent, I would have loved to be a little bit more controlled in the game, but we have to respect the opposition and they gave me everything tonight.

"I thought tactically we got it right, I would have loved to have kept another clean sheet, that would have been superb, but I’ll take that point."

Jones made five changes for the game, and felt one of them, Callum McManaman, could have had a penalty in the first period when he was bundled over inside the area.

He continued: "It's a definite penalty for me.

"They could have had a handball in the build-up, but once they haven't given the handball, it's a penalty, it's a foul.

"We're definitely not getting that at the full Elland Road, but you think you've got a better chance of getting that when it’s a Covid lockdown Elland Road.

"Let's talk about the positives though, I could be here preaching about we could have had this, could have that, but Leeds were relentless all night.

"We had to combat that and to come away with a point from Elland Road is wonderful."

Town then took the lead through a wonderful Cornick strike, the half time sub racing on to Ryan Tunnicliffe's pass and curling brilliantly into the top corner.

Jones added: "We spoke about moments in the game that we would have and we have to take them.

"We brought Harry on, Callum McManaman gave us everything, gave massive distances first half, was lacking that little bit of sharpness so that's why we brought Harry on.

"We always had that in mind, it was always going to be about 55, 60 minutes, but we thought 'let's get him on now, let's give Hylts (Danny Hylton), who was magnificent tonight, some support.'

"On the counter they commit so many bodies forward we knew they would be open, so we knew we needed that pace.

"A great ball from Tunny, Harry got on to it like only Harry can and then a great, great finish.

"You need those moments of quality at Elland Road as these are undoubtedly the best side in the league."