Luton Town boss Nathan Jones casts verdict over 'tough' and 'wonderful' Leeds United clash

Luton Town head coach Nathan Jones believes Elland Road is the toughest place to go in the Championship, adding it will be a 'wonderful test' for his side.

The Hatters make the trip to West Yorkshire on Tuesday evening with both sides entering the clash after weekend victories.

The game, though, will be without the usual raucous atmosphere in LS11 with the campaign continuing behind-closed-doors due to public safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The promotion-chasing Whites toppled Fulham on home soil on Saturday while relegation-threatened Luton secured a vital away win at Swansea City.

Leeds sit top of the division ahead of the showdown and are looking to boost their Premier League ambitions with a win as the run-in continues.

Town remain three points from safety but are unbeaten since the Championship restarted over a week ago as they look to avoid an immediate return to League One.

Jones says his side are under no illusions at the task ahead of them but admits it will be an honour for the club to take on Leeds - who he referred to as 'European champions', presumably in ode to the infamous 'WACCOE' chant.

“It’s far better when you’ve had a win to go to Elland Road,” he said.

“You go to Elland Road on the back of two negative results and suddenly the tiredness creeps in, suddenly the ball’s a little less round, suddenly Leeds become stronger.

“It’s not the case now. We’re in a good position, good shape. Leeds is the most difficult place to go in the Championship.

“I don’t know how they’ve got on today, I don’t know where they are or what people think, but, for me, they are the most difficult side to play against.

“It’s going to be a great test, but what a wonderful test. When I came here, 18th in League Two, with the board and everyone, we said we would be a Championship side.

“It was to go up against European champions Leeds United and that’s brilliant for us.”

Asked about his sides chances of survival this term with seven games to go, he added: "We need to get to a points total and that gives us an opportunity. We’ve got some big games coming up.

"It’s the toughest of starts, apart from Brentford, we’ve probably got the toughest of starts but we’ve embraced it, we haven’t cried about it, we haven’t been scared about it so we’re moving in the right direction.

"Four points in two games, I would have taken that all day long and now we go to Leeds trying to add to it.”