After a goalless first half, James Collins rifled home against his old side, before Danny Hylton headed in from a Dan Potts cross. An own goal from former Hatter Matty Taylor made it 3-0, before substitutes Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee rounded off the scoring.

The result sees the Town remain top moving onto 51 points after 24 games, but with Notts County winning away at Morecambe, the gap between first and second remains at four points.

Jones said: "If we do what we are good at, you don't envisage us scoring five in the second half, but you envisage us winning the game. First half we were so deep, we were content not to be on the front foot, to allow our midfield to head the ball.

"As soon as our defence stepped up a yard we were able to get up the pitch slightly more and then we squeezed the pitch a little bit more and be on the front foot a little bit more, then we got a grip of the game. That's what we didn't do in the first half – we were still probably slightly the better side, we just weren't anywhere near enough on the front foot.

"The second half was absolutely wonderful, we showed what a good side we are. We stepped up more, we got on seconds and then in the final third, we have enough quality to hurt teams. The goal from James Collins was class, it really was.

"To be fair I think there were a few class finishes, the one from Harry Cornick was class, the finish from Elliot Lee was class and then the move and build-up for Hylts' goal was wonderful. It was reminiscent of the Exeter game where we came and blew them away, that's what kind of happened today."