Jones labels Luton’s defending as ‘catastrophic’ as Town are crushed by Reading

Nathan Jones watches on from the sidelines as his Luton side were thrashed by Reading this afternoon

Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled his side’s defending as ‘catastrophic’ as the Hatters were battered 5-0 by Reading at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

After an excellent return of five points from their opening three games since the Championship resumed, hopes were high that Town could take advantage of the fixture list, giving them four out of the final six games at Kenilworth Road, starting with the out of form Royals.

Hopes were even higher considering the miserly manner in which Town kept a clean sheet at Swansea last weekend, and then held league leaders Leeds United to a 1-1 draw in midweek.

However, that was to prove a false dawn, as the alarm bells were ringing early on, when full back Dan Potts had to clear off his line from attacker Yakou Meite.

The Ivory Coast international wasn’t to be denied again though, scoring four times as an abject Luton were simply ripped apart, a shadow of the side who had done so well in Wales and at Elland Road.

Jones said afterwards: “Today wasn’t good enough in any way.

“Our defending was catastrophic at times, we got carved open far too easily and that was against the grain.

“Some of the defending was something I haven’t seen from those players, since I was here in my first spell, as I haven’t conceded five as a Luton manager, ever.

“A lot of them came out of nothing.

“It wasn’t like we were penned in and if we’d conceded five on Tuesday (against Leeds), you’d have had a bit more understanding, but today was totally out of character and that surprises me.”

Town were in the game for the first 15 minutes, as James COllins hit the bar with a header, while Matty Person had penalty claims turned down after looking like he was tugged back in the box.

But Reading, and Meite in particular, then simply ran riot, condemning the hosts to an unwanted record, as they equalled the margin of defeat suffered on home soil in the Football League.

Jones admitted he couldn’t be too harsh on his players after their third game in the space of seven days though, adding: “I can moan about Collo not putting that in, moan about the penalty decision, but defensively we weren’t sharp today.

“It was ironic as Leeds had far more of the game and we defend superbly well, we limit a Leeds side half the chances that these had today, but the intensity in our press and intensity in our defending in and around the box was nowhere near.

“The errors for the goal, we’re losing headers, which we haven’t done, it was one of those days.

“There was so much wrong today, that it was just one of those games too far.

“We did say the games came thick and fast, all you’re doing is maintaining, recovering and then just trying to play, and it’s disappointing.

“But I can’t be too critical of them as they’ve given me everything in the last three games, it’s just today they looked like a team that really lacked that sharpness and energy.”