Luton Town manager Graeme Jones has stressed the importance of his side picking up points, after a 2-1 loss at Birmingham City in the Championship on Saturday.

The Hatters succumbed to back-to-back defeats at the weekend, after goals from Kristian Pedersen and Lukas Jutkiewicz gave the Blues a 2-1 win at St. Andrews.

It was Luton’s sixth defeat from eight away games this season and it leaves them 19th in the Championship - two points off Middlesbrough in 22nd.

Speaking on the defeat, Luton boss Graeme Jones said:

“We’re just getting to the stage of the season where being positive about performances is not enough.

“I’ve said to the players, we have to take points, we have to take positive results, especially when you’re in the ascendancy.”

Harry Cornick scored the only goal for Luton on Saturday, but he and top-scorer James Collins both started the game on the bench:

“That was the plan, that’s why James (Collins) and Harry (Cornick) didn’t start the game” explained Jones, “we wanted to get some momentum late in the game if we could stay in it.

“We did, and then gave a stupid set-piece goal away, which is arguably a foul in the 82nd minute of the game.”

It was Luton’s second away defeat in the space of three days, having lost 3-2 at Craven Cottage last week:

“On Wednesday night I can hear myself speaking about recovery and sometimes those fine margins cost you.

“I believe in the lads though, their characters are outstanding, and the pleasing aspect was the competitive nature of performance.

“Birmingham are competitive and the fact that we scored again, away from home, I think helps psychologically.”

Luton have now won just once in their last six games in the Championship.

They were many peoples dark horses for a play-off spot at the start of the season after their barnstorming League One title-winning campaign last season, but are slowly nearing towards the relegation zone in the Championship.

The verdict

Luton didn’t disgrace themselves at Birmingham on Saturday, and they rarely have this season.

They’ve shown their metal on the road with wins at Barnsley and Blackburn, but results like that have been too few and far between.

Jones’ side need to put together a run of results sooner rather than later, or they’ll quickly find themselves in a relegation battle in the Championship.

[freshpress-poll ]