Nathan Jones hails Luton quality after Crewe win

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side showcased their promotion credentials to the full once more as they beat Crewe 3-1 to move a step closer to League One.

Goals from Danny Hylton, Elliot Lee and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu saw the hosts triumph, after Jordan Bowery had given Crewe the lead.

One win from their last three games will be enough to get the Hatters over the line.

Jones said: “I thought it was wonderful from start to finish.

“Their goal came against the run of play, as we were peppering their goal, it wasn’t living a charmed life but we were the ones that were creating most of the chances.

“They scored from a counter attack, but we showed some great character, once again, to come back.

“We scored at a great time and then a wonderful second. It didn’t change my team talk but made it slightly more positive.

“We said, ‘we need to come out and get the next goal’, and we did. To win 3-1 in such an important stage in the season, is brilliant.”

Crewe took the lead after 35 minutes when an error from Alan Sheehan saw Bowery race away and finish well.

Luton swiftly levelled just four minutes later as Alan McCormack rose highest to win a header from a corner and Hylton scored his 22nd of the season.

Hatters led in glorious style on the stroke of half time, Lee magnificently curling into the top corner from the edge of the area.

They led 3-1 after 51 minutes as Mpanzu blasted in the goal of the game, firing home from fully 30 yards for his first of the season as Luton moved within a point of leaders Accrington.

Crewe boss David Artell was left questioning referee Ben Toner’s display.

“We gave it a right good go against a good team, Luton are a good team and deserve the promotion that they get,” he said.

“Should we have got something out of the game? Probably. Possibly. The ball’s ricocheting around their box for most of the last 10 minutes and we can’t get quite a toe on the ball.

“It could have been a sending off when the lad’s stood on Ben Garratt’s head, but I’m not going to go to refs again.

“I never like losing games of football, but it’s no shame coming here and it took a great goal. Their lad scores a worldie, two worldies really, and that’s why they’re at the top.

“We know they dominated possession and controlled the tempo of the game but we made a change at half-time and had more of the ball.

“The lad’s hit a screamer, there was foul in the build-up, but I don’t want fans to think that I’m ref bashing as I’m not. That’s the state of the game, we gave it a right good go.”