Now seven games unbeaten in the Sky Bet Championship following the midweek victory against Norwich City, the boss is fully focused on maintaining that rich vein of form heading into the match against local rivals Watford.
“We’re in a good run of form, a very pleasing run of form but you have to maintain that,” the Welshman said during his pre-match press conference. “The Championship is a league that can bite you, you just have to be right at it and constantly.
“To go seven games unbeaten in the Championship no matter who you are, you have to do the basics right. In any league to go seven games unbeaten is very good and we would like to make that eight on Sunday. We know it is going to be a really tough game, a real big game but we’re looking forward to it.”
Providing a team news update ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Henri Lansbury, Elijah Adebayo and captain Sonny Bradley are all in contention after they started on the bench on Tuesday night.
“We have to use the squad and to have three games in a week, against three possession-dominate sides, three ex-Premier League sides, we’re going to need to use the squad.
“Henri (Lansbury) can’t do three games in a week. That is not to say he’s going to start but we were excited by our line-up the other day which meant we would have the option of playing Henri, whether he starts or not is another thing.
“Sonny (Bradley) has just come back from injury plus we wanted to be really proactive in terms of our wide centre-halves. They are all available, it’s just if selected.”
The game, however, may come too quickly for midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.
“He’s got real stiffness so we have to make sure he doesn’t play and is really aggressive on that because he plays aggressively, otherwise he will break down. It’s more of a precaution than anything.”
Ahead of the first derby match in front of supporters for 16 years, Jones insists that the players are well aware of the game’s significance.
“I think everyone realises how big a game it is. It is a lot easier to travel to Watford than it is to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea, or Burnley or Hull. It is a lot nicer journey, but I think the players know, if they don’t, they will.
“It is a big game but it’s another Championship game and we want to win it. With the greatest of respect to everyone at Luton, we want to win it for all the fans at Luton, but the biggest thing is getting three points in the Championship.”
To the sold-out away end joining the Hatters on Sunday, the boss said: “Enjoy the day. I hope that it’s a real fiercely contested derby, with athleticism, aggression and all the right things you want to see on a Football pitch.
“Then, hopefully, everyone has a safe journey there and back, and can enjoy the day, because that’s what football is about.
“It’s a big rivalry, but hopefully it doesn’t boil over into anything. I want them to enjoy the day and let’s show what a real wonderful club that we really are.”
