Boss Jones unhappy as Luton Town fail to learn from their lessons

Graeme Jones says he warned his Hatters about Bristol City’s crossing ability, but that all his preparations went out the window when Marley Watkins scored from a centre in the fourth minute of the Robins' 3-0 win over Luton Town.
Luton Town boss Graeme JonesLuton Town boss Graeme Jones
Luton Town boss Graeme Jones

It’s becoming an issue for the Hatters , and they were undone from wide balls into the box for Andreas Weimann’s third goal as well, just as they twice had been in the 3-3 Boxing Day draw against Fulham.

A Famara Diedhiou penalty on the stroke of half time, after Kazenga LuaLua tripped Jack Hunt, and Weimann’s improvised finish secured the points, but Town really had no answer to yet another poor start.

Jones said: “Since Fulham, all we have talked about is their crossing ability, stopping the cross.

Luton boss Graeme Jones dishes out the instructions at Ashton Gate (Picture: Liam Smith)Luton boss Graeme Jones dishes out the instructions at Ashton Gate (Picture: Liam Smith)
Luton boss Graeme Jones dishes out the instructions at Ashton Gate (Picture: Liam Smith)

"Defending with an extra number in the box and you need to show resilience and resistance to see out those moments, to stay in the game and to have a chance and we had a mountain to climb from minute one.

“I could see early on we weren’t going to cope – I had plan B and plan C in my head, like I have all season, but ultimately you need to show resilience and resistance.

"That was disappointing and we got off to a really difficult start.

“You have to feel like you’ll win a game of football and I think the senior boys, the men, with the greatest respect to the ones who are more mature, we all looked fatigued.

“I got the physical stats from Fulham, they were through the roof and we didn’t recover. I think the senior boys dig in and manage to give you a level, competitiveness.

“I am not saying we had the spark in the final third because we didn’t. but getting off to that sort of start, not making it difficult for the opposition, that was an area where we went wrong today.”

Luton are back in action on New Year's Day when they travel to Millwall (ko 12.45pm).