Jones left 'relieved, tired and drained' after leading Town to Championship safety

Luton boss Nathan Jones declared himself ‘relieved, tired and drained’ after masterminding the Hatters’ Championship survival by beating Blackburn Rovers 3-2 on a tension-filled evening at Kenilworth Road tonight.

Needing a win to stay up, Town fell behind in the first half, but then led 3-1 after an hour, courtesy of two own goals and James Collins’ penalty.

They they conceded again with 15 to go, but held on to get the victory they needed, eventually finishing in 19th place, two points clear of the drop, sending Hull, Charlton and Wigan down instead.

An elated Jones, who took over during lockdown with the club six points adrift of safety and the bookies favourite to go down, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Relieved, tired, drained, but absolutely delighted.

"What we’ve just done is a fantastic achievement.

“To come back from effectively seven points to get a two point buffer is a phenomenal achievement.

“This group have been written off, but we knew they were Championship players when we signed them in League Two and they just proved it and I’m so proud of them.

“I’m devastated that there’s not a full house here to see it because if there was it would’ve been one of the great, great nights at Kenilworth Road.

“It’s unbelievable. What a feeling. I’m so proud of them, so proud of the club, I’m so proud to be manager of the football club and that sums it up for me.”

When asked if it was the best moment of his career, Jones said: “Not at the minute, but it will be, I’m sure.

“We’ve been promoted, I’ve had good times as a player, I’m lucky enough to have had five promotions as a player and one-and-a-half (as manager) because I celebrated Luton’s promotion when they went up from League One in the Championship.

“We just have great times here.”