Jones hails Town's first half display as the best he's seen

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side produced their best performance under him in the Championship during the first half of their 2-1 win over Derby County this afternoon.

After an even start, the hosts wrested the initiative from a Rams side containing Wayne Rooney and new Polish international signing Kamil Jozwiak, to play some wonderful football, one such move almost leading to a superb team goal, as they carved their opponents open, a desperate clearance just keeping out James Collins.

Luke Berry did manage to put Town in front on 34 minutes, with an impudent finish from Elliot Lee's cross, but the Rams upped their game after the break, ex-Town striker Jack Marriott levelling seven minutes in.

However, Luton were unbowed, going again to snatch a late winner through Jordan Clark's close range header, as Jones said: "I’m really pleased overall with the win, first half we were excellent and it was as good a Championship performance as I think I've seen from us.

"I thought we were organised, we pressed, we were aggressive, we looked athletic, but for margins, we would have gone in further ahead.

“We were front-footed, pressed well, moved the ball and looked a real, real threat.

“I thought Harry (Cornick) was outstanding and but for something different happening, we could have been further ahead.

"I'm delighted with the goals, one a midfield player gets in the box, one a midfielder arrives back stick and these are good goals.

"These are stuff that we work on, stuff that we ask and demand from them and they carry it out, as we’re on the front foot at the minute and that's the good thing."

Jones was less happy with the second half display, as Derby were able to get on top and after equalising, had a spell of pressure where it looked like they might be the ones leaving with the points.

However, he wasn't too dispirited, thanks to Clark's header with three minutes to go, moving Luton up to second in the table, adding: "Second half I thought we took our foot off the gas, took a backward step, which I don't want us to do as you can’t do that at Championship level.

“We allowed Derby on to us, fair play to them, they've changed shape, tweaked certain things, with (Wayne) Rooney dropping deep and he can cause problems if you don’t get to him.

"I’m a little bit disappointed, it was probably a 20-25 minute period second half where we took a backward step and allowed them to do that.

"If you do allow players with the quality of Rooney and (Max) Bird to get in and around your box then you're going to get punished at this level and that's the learning curve for us.

"We did it against Norwich and we did it against Derby and we conceded.

"Luckily enough we came back and got the result, so that's the learning curve, we want a 90 minute performance.

"But I'm delighted, four wins out out four four, two wins in the league, it literally could not be any better."