Hatters boss Nathan Jones told the local and national media who descended on The Brache this lunchtime that his side won’t get carried away after Saturday’s record-breaking opening day win over Yeovil as they prepare to host Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich in the Carabao Cup first round tomorrow night.
The Town came from a goal down to rattle eight past the manager’s old club – the 8-2 scoreline becoming the club’s highest-ever opening day victory, while it was the first time any club in the Football League had hit so many goals in the first game since Wolves in 1962.
“It’s a pleasing result on the weekend,” said the Welshman, whose side face second-tier opposition in the competition for the third successive tie at Kenilworth Road tomorrow night after beating Aston Villa and losing narrowly to Leeds last season.
“It’s important we don’t get carried away with anything. We are very focussed on what we have to do. We knew we played very well, we knew we were stronger than we were last year and it showed. But it’s one result and we move on.”
The victory over Yeovil was the club’s biggest win in the EFL since 14th December 1997, when Crewe were beaten 6-0, and the first time a Luton side had hit eight in the League since 19th November 1955 when Sunderland went down to the same 8-2 scoreline.
Jones continued: “It’s a freakish result in terms of scoring eight. You don’t envisage doing that. We’ve created a similar amount of chances in other games and drew the game, so I think we showed a real clinical edge.
“We won’t get carried away and we aren’t under-playing it either. It was a fantastic performance and it was a clinical display of finishing, and we are pleased with that.
“But we realise that all games are different, we’ve got an even sterner test tomorrow night and what we can’t do is start believing the hype.”
While James Collins scored a hat-trick on his debut and he was joined on the scoresheet by fellow new signings Alan McCormack and Elliot Lee, it was a man who has been the subject of recent transfer speculation, Isaac Vassell, who took his tally for the club to 16 with a first-half brace after Olly Lee had initially brought the Town back on terms in the 12th minute.
“Isaac Vassell can go as far as he wants to go,” said Jones. “The thing about Isaac is that he has certain attributes that are different from other people, but he has a desire to do well and he knows there’s a lot going on.
“People speak about Isaac, but he’s only a year into his development and he’s come, without being disrespectful to anyone, from Truro, which is a million miles from where he is now – not only in geography.
“It’s difficult for him, but he’s the best lad you’ll ever meet. He looks me in the eye and I know what I’m going to get from him. We say he’s an animal, but he wants to get better and he deserves everything that he will get.
“But right now, he’s focussed on doing well for us and I love the kid. I absolutely love him because I know what I’m going to get from him.”
*If you are thinking of heading to Kenilworth Road for tomorrow night's game - 7.45pm kick-off - tickets are still on sale from the ticket office in person, via phone (01582 416976) or online by clicking here.
Prices are as follows:
- Adult £18
- Senior (65-plus) £13
- Golden Senior (75-plus) £10
- Young Adult (19-21) £13
- Under-19 £10
- Under-17 £6
- Under-10 (accompanied) £3
Reserved seating applies and all areas of the ground are open for home support other than the Oak Road.
Diamond season ticket holders can get their free cup ticket for this fixture, but it must be booked through the ticket office.
Cash turnstiles will be available tomorrow.