ABC News Today

Today’s clash with Sunderland marks Nathan Jones’ 300th game as manager of Luton Town Football Club.

Simon Pitts writes in this afternoon’s program of the day:

It all started with the 0-0 draw against Cambridge United on the 16th^th January 2016 (the first of only 23 games to finish goalless!) and the record now stands at 140 wins, 81 draws and 78 losses, with 456 goals scored and 327 conceded.

Only David Pleat, 609 games (over two spells) and Dally Duncan 514 games have managed the Hatters for more competitive games than Nathan.

His first spell in charge saw Nathan take charge of 139 League games, with a win percentage of 51.1%, the highest of any permanent Luton manager, and an average of 1.82 points per party, again the highest.

These League games included promotion to League Two in 2017/18 and the start of back-to-back promotions in 2018/19 by winning League One, as well as a 3-1 League Cup win against Championship Aston Villa at Kenilworth Road. , when Luton were in League Two.

The start of the 2017/18 campaign saw a record opening day win as new signing James Collins scored a hat-trick on his debut as Yeovil Town were beaten 8-2, with wins by 7- 1 and 7-0 to follow against Stevenage and Cambridge United before December!

After his return for the final nine games of the 2019/20 season, Nathan oversaw four wins, four draws and just one loss to complete the ‘great break’ as the Hatters survived the Championship with a final day win over Blackburn Rovers, who are coincidentally winless in 22 League games at Kenilworth Road, a run which was extended by a 2-0 win at Luton last month.

The current second period includes 117 League games, of which the winning ratio is 41% and 1.51 points per game, which is 6.^th generally for the permanent spell of a Luton manager in charge.

Combining the two spells gives a win percentage of 46.5% and 1.68 points per game, which would result in 77 points in a League season.

Of these 256 League games, the most common score is 1-1, on 39 occasions, with 32 occasions in which the Hatters have won 1-0.

There have been 88 different opponents for the gaffer over the previous 299 matches, with Wycombe the most frequent opposition as the Hatters have played them 9 times, with six wins, two draws and just one loss.

Of those opponents, the best record is against Hull City, four games and four wins, while Nathan are unbeaten against a total of 40 opponents, with six games against Cambridge, Exeter and Yeovil their longest unbeaten run.

A total of 69 different players have been announced as signings, either on loan or permanent, while Nathan Jones has been in charge, starting with current first team manager Alan Sheehan in January 2016.

Sunderland were last here at Kenilworth Road in August 2018 when the sides drew 1-1 thanks to Matty Pearson’s equaliser, and there are still eight players at the Club who were in the staff of the day four years ago.

Congratulations on a brilliant achievement, gaffer!