Nathan Jones insists automatic promotion is ‘not dreaming’ as Luton go third

Luton manager Nathan Jones insists automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship is not a fanciful notion after the Hatters moved up to third with an excellent 3-1 victory at Hull.

Jones has this season worked minor miracles under a tight budget and amid recent injuries to key defenders.

But Luton are now just six points off the top two after an accomplished victory at the MKM Stadium.

Jones said: “To come away from home and put in such an emphatic performance was great.

“We took the lead early on and never looked back. We defended our box really well, scored a few good goals and could have scored more. The only tinge of disappointment is conceding that late goal.

“It (automatic promotion) is not dreaming – we know what we can achieve.

“We’ve got the resources to be in the bottom three but we don’t work with resources.

“We’re a good side that works hard. Bournemouth are a wonderful side. Fulham are a wonderful side.

“If we’re anywhere near them two at the end of the season we’ll be in a wonderful position.

“If we end up in the Premier League, that will be brilliant – we’ve got momentum.”

Luton deserved three points in East Yorkshire and flew out of the traps against their dazed rivals.

Elijah Adebayo opened the scoring after just nine minutes following a sustained spell of pressure on Hull’s right.

Matt Ingram might have done better to prevent Adebayo’s firm strike from going in, but the Hull goalkeeper could do nothing about Luton’s second after 56 minutes.

Defender Sean McLoughlin needlessly gave possession to Adebayo, whose wise pass inside the penalty area gifted Harry Cornick an unmissable chance from close range.

James Bree’s smart free-kick put the game out of sight at 72 minutes, with Tom Eaves’ tap-in with