Hatters boss Graeme Jones was pleased with his group of players as they drew 3-3 with Middlesbrough this evening in the opening Championship game of the new season.
Ashley Fletcher opened the scoring with a header after seven minutes, before Sonny Bradley equalised with a fantastic half volley five minutes later.
The hosts took the lead when Martin Cranie headed in, before Britt Assombalonga’s low drive beat Simon Sluga at his near-post.
Middlesbrough went back in front as Lewis Wing’s phenomenal strike from the edge of the box found the top corner, but James Collins equalised late on as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Jones said: “You realise you have to be level-headed and you have to control emotion, because if you don’t, nobody else will. Overall I am pleased with the group, pleased with some of the quality as well first half, both technically and tactically.
“I just think second half we had to dig in, we lost our way a little bit and then managed to rally with the character that’s in the dressing room. I spoke to them before the game about contribution and the subs came on and contributed, I think the boys that started contributed. I think Dan Potts went back on with a shoulder out of place and that’s contribution, that’s how you get football results. We will take the positives from it.
“We managed to stay in the game and the penalty miss helped, but I think we should have had a penalty at the other end of the pitch with Dan Potts. Some you win, some you lose, but I think if you give it everything you’ve got, I think it tends to be a fair game and that’s what the result was tonight.
“I thought Simon Sluga was excellent apart from one moment, he just didn’t move his feet and get down – the life of a goalkeeper, I don’t know anything about it! Overall I was delighted with him, obviously just that one moment, that as a Croatian international, he is big and bold enough to get over it and move forward.”