MX23RW : Friday, January 24 17:28:00| >> :120:36676:36676:
[monks data]
Attendance: 10,292
Wigan logo
Championship | Gameweek 37
Mar 7, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Luton Town

0-0

FT

Graeme Jones: 'Luton deserved point at Wigan'

Graeme Jones: 'Luton deserved point at Wigan'
© Reuters
The result was enough to lift Luton off the foot of the table at the expense of Barnsley.

Luton boss Graeme Jones felt his side were full value for their 0-0 Sky Bet Championship draw on his return to Wigan.

Jones, a Wigan hero from his playing days and also as assistant manager to Roberto Martinez, prevented his in-form old club moving clear of the drop zone with a resolute display at the DW Stadium.

The home side had the better of the few chances in a relatively dour encounter, with Michael Jacobs being denied a stoppage-time winner by a fantastic save from Simon Sluga.

But Luton also felt they should have had a first-half penalty, when centre-back Sonny Bradley complained of being held as he tried to get his head to an attacking free-kick.

"It was a deserved point, we're satisfied with the point and the performance," said Jones, whose side move off the bottom of the table at the expense of Barnsley.

"Wigan have been unstoppable in their last eight games, and tactically we got it so right.

"The character got us through the first 15 minutes, then we got a real understanding of Wigan off the ball. Once we settled into the game we were fine, we were strong.

"I asked them at half-time to be better on the ball because I was disappointed with that first half. And we came out in the second half believing we could win the game.

"We had two or three chances to win it, which on another day Harry (Cornick) would have scored."

Of the penalty shout, Jones added: "We don't get penalties, you know that. This is Luton, you're never going to get those decisions.

"I've spoken about this to the boys and we have to be above the referee. The performance has to be so good we earn the win without relying on referees.

"I haven't seen it back, but they tell me it was a penalty."

Not surprisingly, opposite number Paul Cook – whose side won at Championship high-flyers West Brom last weekend – had a differing opinion.

"Was it a fair result? No, I thought we shaded it," he said.

"What little good chances created on the day came from us, and in terms of possession and intent we were the team trying to win the game.

"On that basis, I would suggest we deserved to win the game, given the form we're in – but they're also in form.

"They came with a game-plan to possibly frustrate us and grow into the game, and maybe seize an opportunity late on if we were going to be gung-ho in our pursuit of winning it.

"I'm sure both managers will have different views on that, but the reality is we both get a point. And we just keep going in pursuit of where we want to be and on to the next game.

"This is such a tough league – one minute you think you're doing something, the next someone else is and it changes.

"That's football, there's nine games to go, and with nine games to go – especially for the teams at the bottom – points are like gold-dust.

"You've got to grab them whenever you can and the challenge over the last nine games is to get enough that will see us safe."

ID:392202: cacheID:392202:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4494:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa pops a squat on February 15, 2020
Read Next:
Championship week 37 predictions including Leeds vs. Huddersfield
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds28178353193459
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd28186440182258
3Burnley28151123692756
4Sunderland28159440221854
5Middlesbrough28128846341244
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn28126103126542
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2891453324941
8Watford28125113939041
9Bristol City2891183533238
10Queens Park RangersQPR2891183235-338
11Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds28108104045-538
12Norwich CityNorwich2899104341236
13Coventry CityCoventry2898113737035
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2898113343-1035
15Swansea CitySwansea2897123135-434
16Preston North EndPreston2871383035-534
17Millwall27710102626031
18Portsmouth2778123546-1129
19Stoke CityStoke28610122636-1028
20Cardiff CityCardiff28610123143-1228
21Derby CountyDerby2876153138-727
22Hull City2868142738-1126
23Luton TownLuton2875162947-1826
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2849152560-3521


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!