Jones unfazed by Blues keeper's 'crystal ball' comments about Luton battling towards the bottom of the league this season

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was unfazed by the ‘crystal ball’ comments from Birmingham City keeper Neil Etheridge ahead of the two club's going head-to-head at Kenilworth Road tomorrow evening.

The visiting Blues have started the season in unremarkable form, with just three victories, beaten at home by both Wycombe Wanderers and Bournemouth recently.

They drew 0-0 at Coventry on Friday night, to stretch their winless run to three matches, sitting 17th in the table, seven places and four points below Luton.

Despite their lowly league position, speaking to the Birmingham Mail ahead of the game, Etheridge said: “We move on to Tuesday night, we know it is going to be another tough game against a team that will be battling probably towards the bottom of the league as well at the end of the season. It’s all on us again.”

Since Jones took over after lockdown, he has led Luton to nine wins and seven draws from his 21 games, taking 34 points, losing just five matches in total on his way to sealing the Great Escape last term, and now challenging in the top half of the table.

However, when asked if he thought Town weren't getting the respect they deserved, after Blackburn midfielder Joe Rothwell also stated last week that Luton were a team his side should 'expect to beat', Jones said: “We can’t affect that.

"If his crystal ball says that (Luton will battle at the bottom) then brilliant, all we can do is concentrate on what we do.

"We’ve been tarnished in the past, that we are this, or we are that, but it doesn’t matter.

"We know what we are, we are a fantastic football club with great fans, with players that love playing for the club, that have a desire to do well and want to push boundaries.

"We have staff that are aligned with that as well, so whatever people want to say about us they can."