Defender Mads Andersen believes the Hatters will look back on Friday night’s opening 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon as a key lesson in the League One season.

The Dane was match sponsor Capital Sky’s player of the match for helping keep the clean sheet in the EFL curtain raiser, settled by Ryan Johnson’s late own goal as the Dons defender headed Nahki Wells’ cross past his own keeper.

“It was a difficult match for us today, but I felt as we got more into the game we got better and better, we became more calm, did our job with the patters we have been working on,” said Mads.

“The first game of the season is going to be a bit tricky, and they were making it very tricky for us. They showed us what League One is going to be like, so I think it’s going to be a good learning when we look back on it.”

It was an evening when patience was required, with Johnson putting through his own net in the 85th minute to gift Town all three points.

Is playing the long game and biding our time going to be key this season?

“100 per cent, because they wanted us to play into their press, so we had to be a bit calm, look for the right opportunities, and when that one opened, we needed to take it,” added Mads.

“There are still a few things we need to work on, be a bit more confident in the last third but that will come. This is the first game of the season, we’ll get there.”

Getting the three points on the board was always going to be the main objective of a night in which the Town unveiled new striker Jerry Yates on the pitch just before kick-off.

Andersen said: “That’s how it’s going to be sometimes. We got a bit of luck today, and we need it. Where we want to be, you need a bit of luck sometimes and we’ve been very unfortunate the last couple of years, so maybe this is a sign of things turning around.”

The Dons win was just the 20th appearance of Mads’ Luton career since arriving two summers ago from Barnsley, and after an injury-ravaged couple of years, it was his first full 90 minutes since the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in February.

Asked how he was feeling after a full pre-season, he replied: “I feel much better, much more confident in myself and my body, so I am just going to keep grinding, keep working hard and enjoy playing football.

“You know, I haven’t been playing for a while so I was happy to be out there today.”