Accrington Stanley vs Luton Town FC (20th Apr 2019)

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0 LUTON TOWN 3

The Hatters opened the five-point advantage at the top of Sky Bet League One this evening as James Collins and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu netted the goals in a 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

Collins put the Town ahead from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after Accrington goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov was sent off for a second yellow card, before Mpanzu sealed the victory with two goals after the break - the second an absolute cracker - as he turned in a man-of-the-match performance.

Harford was forced to make four changes to his starting line-up, with Marek Stech in for his first start since August replacing James Shea, who was ill overnight, and captain Alan Sheehan coming into the defence as a replacement for the suspended Andrew Shinnie.

James Collins returned from serving his one-match ban along with fellow forward Kazenga LuaLua, with George Moncur and Harry Cornick dropping to the bench.

The Town were presented with the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the third minute when Collins pounced on a poor touch from Stanley keeper Dimitar Evtimov as he looked to control a Mark Hughes backpass. Collins was brought down by the home stopper, who was shown a yellow card by referee Carl Boyeson, but then redeemed himslf by saving the league's top scorer's penalty.

Evtimov denied Collins again on 14 minutes when he sent a header straight at the keeper, after Bradley had headed Sheehan's first corner back across goal, then Accrington gave a reminder of the threat they carried, Jordan Clark cutting in from the right

The breakthrough did come after 25 minutes, and it was from the penalty spot. Evtimov came racing off his line as LuaLua's pace saw him reach a ball over the top first. The keeper collided with him, Boyeson pointed to the spot and then showed the Bulgarian his second yellow card.

Stanley boss John Coleman brought Jonny Maxted on for midfielder Scott Brown, and the sub keeper's first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net as Collins this time took the opportunity for his 23rd goal of the season.

The Town striker survived a penalty appeal at the other end as he appeared to push Billy Kee in the back, then Sean McConville fired over the bar from just outside the area.

On 33 minutes, Maxted pulled off a terrific double save from Stacey after quick free-kick by Berry put the Town right-back in on the right side of the area.

LuaLua then missed a great chance to make it two in the 39th minute, when his initial shot was blocked on the edge of the box by Hughes, who was then robbed of possession by the Town forward, who fired wide with just Maxted to beat.

Stacey had the first Town chance of the second half, bursting through a couple of challenges on the right and firing in a low shot that Maxted did well to turn away at his near post. Lee was next to have a go, cutting in from the left, before LuaLua fired similarly straight at Maxted from just outside the box.

Three golden opportunities came within seconds on 55 minutes, after Lee had been fouled 20 yards out. Moncur - just on for the injured Sheehan - curled his free-kick around the wall but Hughes retreated to the goal-line and blocked the shot, with Maxted beaten.

Collins was onto the loose ball, volleying it towards goal, but Hughes blocked again, straight into the path of Lee, whose header was brilliantly clawed away by Maxted.

The Accrington sub keeper was in the right place at the right time again just after the hour when LuaLua unleashed a bullet from the left side of the area, pushing the ball behind for a Town corner.

The Hatters were dominating possession, and a patient build-up from the centre-halves in the 66th minute eventually saw the ball worked up to Moncur 25 yards out, but his right-footed curler flew high into the 1,319 travelling Town fans behind the goal.

The second goal finally came in the 68th minute and it was Mpanzu who collected a nod down from Pearson, after a right-wing corner from Justin, ten yards out and swivelled to place it past Maxted and a host of defenders on the line.

Harry Cornick was introduced for Lee, who had picked up a knock, in the 72nd minute and the former Bournemouth man should have put the result beyond doubt in the 80th minute when Moncur crossed low from the left, but Maxted once more pulled off a fantastic save with his left leg before Ross Sykes cleared his follow-up off the line.

Mpanzu then put the gloss on a wonderful performance three minutes from time, when he picked up the ball on the left corner of the box and bent an absolute beauty around Maxted for his second of the game and fifth of the season.

Back to Kenilworth Road now for AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, when the Town could seal promotion if results on Monday go our way.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Sheehan (c) (Moncur 52), Mpanzu, Berry, Justin, Lee (Cornick 72), Collins, LuaLua (Baptiste 84). Subs: Cummings, Read, Panter, Isted

Yellows: Berry

Goals: Collins (pen) 25, Mpanzu 68, 87

STANLEY: Evtimov, Johnson, Hughes, Donacien, Clark, Brown (Maxted 25), McConville, Sykes, Barlaser, Conneely (c), Kee (Armstrong 63). Subs: Maxted, Richards-Everton, Nolan, Zanzala, Sousa, Smyth.

Yellows: Evtimov

Red: Evtimov

REFEREE: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 3271 (1319)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akBEdUWhIYo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x-qGsdzyUg

Mpanzu at the double as Town ease past 10-man Accrington

League One: Accrington Stanley 0 Luton Town 3

Midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu capped a superb performance with a match-winning double as Luton put themselves back in the driving seat for promotion to the Championship with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

The club’s longest serving player was in inspired form throughout the 90 minutes, with a second half brace ensuring the Hatters reached 90 points and moved five in front of second-placed Barnsley once more.

There had been real pressure on the visitors going into the game, televised live on Sky, with Luton historically not doing well in front of the cameras, plus the chasing pack all winning on Good Friday to cut the gap.

But Town’s players didn’t demonstrate any sign of nerves for a second, taking the game to their hosts from minute one, by far the better team throughout.

It was a much changed 11 that took to the ploughed field of a playing surface as well, with Luton handing recalls to goalkeeper Marek Stech and club captain Alan Sheehan, the pair starting for the first time since the 3-1 defeat at Peterborough back in August.

Stech replaced an ill James Shea, while Sheehan’s selection saw James Justin move into midfield.

Boss Mick Harford made four changes in total, with top scorer James Collins back, partnered upfront by Kazenga LuaLua, meaning Harry Cornick missed out despite scoring at Charlton last weekend, joining George Moncur on the bench, with Andrew Shinnie suspended.

Injuries kept George Thorne and Aaron Connolly out too, as youth teamer Corey Panter and young midfielder Arthur Read made up the substitutes.

Town had a superb chance to move in front after just four minute, as keeper Dimitar Evtimov made a shocking error, dallying over a backpass, taking a heavy touch and then cleaning out Collins who had nipped in.

With referee Carl Boyeson obviously considering it a genuine attempt to win the ball, Evtimov only saw yellow and immediately redeemed himself to save Collins’ poor attempt down low to his right.

Justin almost made the most of his move upfield, found unmarked in the centre of the area, only to disappointingly completely miss his kick.

Collins headed at the keeper from a Sheehan corner that was nodded into his path by Sonny Bradley, as Stanley took 19 minutes to fashion anything of note, Jordan Clark’s tame 20-yarder dribbling well wide.

However, Town then had another opportunity from the spot on 24 minutes when Stanley, who had persisted with baffling attempts to play the ball around in defence on a pitch that wasn’t cut out for such a tactic, made another mistake, Ross Sykes misjudging his back header.

It didn’t have the legs and as Evtimov came out, LuaLua was there first, with Town’s attacker cleaned out for another penalty, this time, the Stanley keeper sent off for his second yellow.

That meant Jonny Maxted came on for Scott Brown, with Stanley down to 10 and this time Collins made no mistake, hammering past the replacement for his 23rd of the season.

Sean McConville fired over, while Stanley had shouts for a spotkick of their own as Bradley tangled with Billy Kee, only for Boyeson to wave away their appeals.

A quick free kick almost led to Town’s second just after the half hour, Jack Stacey found on the overlap, Maxted saving well with his legs, the rebound blocked away.

The keeper then should have been picking the ball out of the net in the 40th minute as LuaLua won the ball back twice from Mark Hughes’ poor clearance.

However, clean through and with all the time in the world, he somehow managed to sidefoot wide from close range in what was a massive let-off for the hosts.

In the second period, Luton went close once more, Stacey easily beating Jonai Donacien, his blast parried away by Maxted, the keeper then comfortably collecting attempts from both Elliot Lee and LuaLua.

Town were then dealt a blow when Sheehan’s afternoon was ended early, the skipper rolling his ankle on Stanley’s awful surface, replaced by Moncur with Justin reverting to left back.

Moncur’s first action was to almost double the visitors lead from a free kick, curling an effort which was heading in, saw the hosts, clearly having done their homework, drop Hughes back on the line to repel his set-piece.

The danger remained though, Collins’ follow up blocked by Hughes again and then Maxted somehow clawing away Lee’s point blank header in what was a truly magnificent stop.

Berry slashed wide from the following corner, while Maxted then had an easier stop, getting two strong hands to LuaLua’s blast.

With Maxted looking like he was to prove Town’s nemesis, the keeper was finally powerless to prevent the visitors going 2-0 in front on 68 minutes.

A corner was headed back by Pearson for Mpanzu to take a touch, swivel and fire home his fourth of the campaign to give Luton some deserved and much needed daylight.

Now taking advantage of their extra man and with spaces opening up, Luton kept on hunting a third, and they should have had it with 10 to go, as Moncur set off on a fabulous run from inside his own half.

He kept going and going, looking up to deliver a perfect cross for Harry Cornick, on for the injured Lee, who shot straight at Maxted’s legs, the striker’s rebound hacked off the line too.

Alex Baptiste came on for his Town debut in place of LuaLua, while Town had the third their dominance utterly deserved in stunning fashion with three minutes to go.

Another quick break saw the ball played out to Mpanzu on the left hand side of the area, and he took a touch before unleashing a wonderful blast beyond Maxted and into the net.

The midfielder almost had his first Luton hat-trick, just unable to reach Cornick’s header at the far post from Stacey’s cross.

It mattered not though as Town now go into Tuesday’s home clash with AFC Wimbledon with an outside of sealing promotion if results elsewhere go their way on Monday.

Stanley: Dimitar Evtimov, Callum Johnson, Mark Hughes, Janoi Donacien, Jordan Clark, Scott Brown (Jonny Maxted 24), Sean McConville, Ross Sykes, Dan Barlaser (Liam Nolan 85), Seamus Conneely (C), Billy Kee (Luke Armstrong 63).

Subs not used: Ben Richards-Everton, Offrande Zanzala, Erico Sousa, Paul Smyth.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Alan Sheehan (C George Moncur 51), Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Justin, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 72), James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua (Alex Baptiste 84).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Corey Panter, Arthur Read, Jason Cummings.

Booked: Evtimov 4, Berry 17, Conneely 32.

Sent off: Evtimov 22.

Referee: Carl Boyeson.

Attendance: 3,271 (1,319 Luton).

Harford**: Pressure was on Luton after Good Friday results**

Hatters boss Mick Harford felt this evening’s 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley was an even bigger victory for his side after the pressure was ratcheted up on the outcome following Good Friday’s League One action.

Town were on the coach to the Wham Stadium when they saw Barnsley, Portsmouth and Sunderland all triumph, cutting the gap at the top to just two points.

However, James Collins’ first half penalty and a brace from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in the second period saw Town ease home, restoring their five point lead with just three matches left.

Harford said: “It was a real, real tricky game, one of the main reasons why it was a tricky game was because of the results from yesterday.

“That put a little bit of pressure on us, as the teams that won yesterday are good teams, good outfits and they were applying pressure.

“So that made the game a little bit more difficult. We started the game very well, obviously the sending off had a bearing on the game, the missed penalty, then we got another penalty and he’s (referee Carl Boyeson) sent the boy (Dimitar Evtimov) off, that had a bearing on the game.

“But Accrington Stanley with the 10 men, I thought they made it very difficult for us, especially in the first half, up until half time, the shape of their team was good, they got on to second balls and that’s commendable for John (Coleman) and his coaching staff.

“Overall, we’re absolutely thrilled with the result and we did a real professional job today in terms of we had to scrap, we had to fight and Accrington Stanley made it very, very hard for us.

“But second half I thought some of the football and the way we moved the ball around the pitch, on a very, very difficult pitch, was at times very, very good and at a really good level.

“It was a thoroughly deserved victory and I’m just thrilled for the players and once again the fans, who were magnificent.”