Luton 'showing people you don't have to spend £500m to compete'

Luton boss Rob Edwards believes the club showed "real intelligence" in their recruitment before their debut Premier League season.

The Hatters beat Newcastle 1-0 on Saturday with summer additions Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend combining for the goal.

"I fully believe in the group that we've got and we assembled," Edwards said before Boxing Day's meeting with fellow promoted side Sheffield United.

"We have 13 new players in total with Andros coming in a little bit later - we believe in every single of them.

"Some have come to the fore more than others but others will get their time and their opportunity going forward as well. I really like the way that the group is looking."

Saturday's victory moved Luton within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and having played a game fewer and Edwards is thrilled his team has not compromised their style upon promotion.

"We have to do it our way and we're not going to change the way we do things," he said. "I was absolutely, completely fine with that going into the summer.

"I think we've shown a real intelligence in the window and how we go about things and maybe showing people you don't have to spend £500m to compete.

"We haven't got the results and the points yet to start shouting off about that. It's down to us to get those points - but we have showed that we can."