Barnet vs Luton Town FC (12th Aug 2017)

MATCH REPORT: BARNET 1 LUTON TOWN 0

Last-gasp Bees winner inflicts first league defeat of the season on Town

The Hatters suffered their first defeat of the Sky Bet League Two season at The Hive as Barnet grabbed an injury-time winner to take all three points from a game of few chances this afternoon.

Home goalkeeper Jamie Stephens proved a key man in preventing Town left-back Dan Potts opening his account for the campaign when his first-half header was tipped onto the crossbar.

Then, after substitute Jack Taylor had curled in the 91st-minute goal that finally broke the deadlock, the home stopper proved equal to a header from Elliot Lee, acrobatically tipping the Town sub’s effort over the bar and into the travelling contingent of around 2,000 Hatters who made up more than half of the 3,555 crowd.

Manager Nathan Jones had gone with exactly the same starting XI that had beaten Yeovil 8-2 last Saturday, with the only change to the 18-man squad being new signing Harry Cornick coming onto the bench in place of Jack Senior.

Marek Stech was in goal with a back four of Jack Stacey, Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan and Potts, a midfield made up of Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Olly Lee - who scored the winner here last year against his old club - and Andrew Shinnie, with James Collins and Isaac Vassell as the front two.

Barnet started brightly, Jamal Campbell-Ryce tricking his way past Olly Lee to deliver a dangerous cross that Potts did well to head behind, but it was the Hatters who had the first sight of goal after a quarter-of-an-hour, McCormack picking up the loose ball in the centre circle and spreading it wide right to Vassell, who combined with Stacey to tee Mpanzu up for a 20-yard shot that went just wide.

Two minutes later and only a flying save from Stephens and the woodwork prevented the Town taking the lead, Potts meeting Sheehan’s left-wing corner with a firm header that the home stopper diverted onto the bar.

The Town were soon forced into a change, with skipper Cuthbert staying down injured after dealing with the threat of Shaquile Coulthirst trying to get onto a long ball over the top. Glen Rea came on at centre-half with Sheehan taking the armband.

The change didn’t seem to affect the growing control Jones’ side were exerting on the game, more good build-up play down the right ending with Shinnie’s left-foot shot flying well wide.

Sheehan had a free-kick deflected over just before the half-hour, after Mpanzu had been brought down right on edge of box, then the centre-half’s corner found its way to his fellow Irishman McCormack, whose shot from 20 yards went the wrong side of the post.

Barnet, who had already lost left wing-back Elliott Johnson in the opening five minutes to injury, then had to replace right-sided centre-half Harry Taylor with his brother, Jack, as the casualty list grew.

Save for a free-kick that Mauro Vilhete stood up to the far post, with Potts proving his worth in an aerial capacity once more by heading clear, the Hatters were still making all the running – Mpanzu to getting to the left byline just before half-time and curling a cross to Vassell, who couldn’t quite get the ball under control to get his shot away.

Goalless at the break, the hosts came out quickly again with Campbell-Ryce flashing a shot across the face of the Town goal that drew a gasp from the home crowd, but bounced off the corner flag for a goal-kick.

Potts then got his head on another corner, this time from Olly Lee, but his 49th-minute header looped wide of the post.

Stech had been a virtual spectator for most of the opening 55 minutes, but the Czech keeper had to be alert to keep out Campbell-Ryce’s low shot from the edge of the box, then get down low to gather Vilhete’s effort after the resulting corner was half-cleared.

A free-kick from wide on the left, delivered by Olly Lee, caused consternation in the Barnet box just before the hour when Shinnie’s flick went high in the air, but referee Kevin Johnson penalised Potts for his challenge on keeper Stephens as Rea lashed the loose ball over the bar.

McCormack started a sweeping 68th-minute move down the left that saw Potts send Collins racing into the penalty area, but the striker’s cross-shot flew through the six-yard box and out for a throw by the tunnel.

Jones made his second substitution with 20 minutes to go, bringing Jordan Cook on in place of Shinnie, but it was another midfielder – Mpanzu – who earned the visiting supporters’ applause for a surging run into the left corner five minutes later.

Rea went into ref Johnson’s notepad for a foul on Jack Taylor with just under ten minutes to go, then Potts produced a perfectly timed tackle in the box to prevent Vilhete as the Bees’ left-back prepared to pull the trigger after good work from Taylor on the left.

Elliot Lee was thrown on with a minute to go, Vassell the man replaced, but it was Barnet who got the vital breakthrough as we entered injury-time, Taylor picking up the loose ball after McCormack appeared to have been fouled, and curling around Stech from the edge of the box.

The Hatters attempted to find a way back, Potts seeing a shot blocked and Elliot Lee meeting Sheehan’s left-wing corner with the thumping header that Stephens turned over the bar.

But that proved the final opportunity as ref Johnson blew his whistle just as Mpanzu prepared to shoot when Sheehan’s next delivery was half-cleared, bringing a disappointing afternoon to a close for the Town.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert © (Rea 20), Sheehan, Potts, McCormack, Mpanzu, O Lee, Shinnie (Cook 70), Collins, Vassell (E Lee 89). Subs: Mullins, Cornick, Gambin, Shea

Yellow: Rea

BARNET: Stephens, Johnson (Clough 5), Santos, Nelson ©, Weston (70), Campbell-Ryce, Coulthirst, Tutonda, H Taylor (J Taylor 36), Vilhete, Akpa Akpro. Subs: Ross (GK), Akinola, Bover, Amaluzor

Yellows: J Taylor, Campbell-Ryce

GOAL: J Taylor 90+1

ATT: 3,555

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MeACQbAX-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX9WkFOIMAM

NATHAN JONES ON THE 1-0 DEFEAT TO BARNET

Town boss Nathan Jones was left frustrated with his side's performance as a late goal from Jack Taylor secured a 1-0 win for Barnet over the Hatters.

The Town failed to match the intensity they showed last week in the 8-2 beating of Yeovil Town, as Barnet did well to frustrate Jones' team throughout the 90 minutes.

The Hatters gaffer said: "We just didn't do the basics well enough. We didn't pass the ball well enough, we didn't cause them enough problems. We didn't win our headers, we didn't win the second balls. We didn't get a foothold in the game. We didn't do it, we absolutely didn't do it.

"The pitch didn't help, it's a real sticky pitch. It wasn't conducive for a fluent game. We didn't do the basics right. If we do the basics right, we get a draw.

"Pelly-Ruddock showed a lot of endeavour, running and was good in possession, but apart from that we had no real cutting edge, that was the sad thing today."

Hatters fall to first defeat as Barnet triumph in stoppage time

League Two: Barnet 1 Luton Town 0

They say a week's a long time in football, well that was certainly the case for the Hatters this afternoon.

Eight-two winners over Yeovil last Saturday, Nathan Jones's side were brought back down to earth with a nasty bump , as they found out, if they ever needed reminding, just how difficult achieving their promotion ambitions will be this season, falling to a last-gasp defeat at Barnet.

A game with precious little quality on offer was settled in the first minute of stoppage time when Jack Taylor took aim from 20 yards, curling his effort beyond Marek Stech and into the corner to ensure the points went to the Bees.

Although never coming remotely close to anywhere near the heights they managed last week, defeat was still harsh on the Hatters as they should have come away with a point.

But as it had last season, a loss of concentration in the final moments saw Town leaving empty-handed, and now without goal for the second game running too.

That was mainly due to the homework clearly done by Barnet head coach Rossie Eames, as Town's assist king Andrew Shinnie was closed down by one if not two home defenders, while Isaac Vassell got little or nothing out of the Bees' backline too.

The main news prior to kick off was that striker Vassell was well enough to return to the side after illness, with both Dan Potts and Alan McCormack back, as Luton reverted to the side who had hammered the Glovers seven days previously.

The hosts were forced into a change after just five minutes, Elliott Johnson pulling up, Charlie Clough an early replacement.

Town weathered the early pressure they found themselves under, and had a decent chance on 15 minutes, Vassell sprinting away on the right, rolling back to Jack Stacey and from his cross, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu side-footed tamely wide.

Dan Potts then came within inches of putting the visitors in front, meeting a corner firmly, only to see Jamie Stephens superbly tip on to his own bar, with the rebound scrambled away.

It was Luton who were calling for the substitutes bench on 20 minutes, captain Scott Cuthbert unable to continue after clearing the danger from Shaquile Coulthirst, Glen Rea on in his place.

Town then looked to have settled down, gaining a semblance of control to force some decent opportunities, Alan Sheehan's free kick deflected behind and Alan McCormack's half volley off target.

However, they could never fully test Stephens, who went on to have a far easier 90 minutes than he could ever have imagined ahead of the game against Luton's hotshots.

Barnet then had to make their second enforced change of the afternoon, Harry Taylor off with a nasty cut to his lip, after a coming together with James Collins, Jack Taylor on in his place.

The action didn't improve after the break either,.Jamal Campbell-Ryce whizzing an effort well wide, with the Bees, as they had in the first half, beginning with a spring in their step.

Stech was called upon twice, first parrying Campbell-Ryce's curler and then getting everything behind Mauro Vilhete's low drive.

Town only ever threatened sporadically, Collins's cross shot whistling through the area and Sheehan's free kick required punching clear by Stephens.

However, late on Taylor took centre stage to earn Barnet the points, as Town tried for a grandstand finish, but Elliot Lee's header was tipped over by Stephens, leaving the visitors scratching their heads as to just how so much can change in those seven days.

Barnet: Jamie Stephens, Elliott Johnson (Charlie Clough 6), Ricardo Almeida, Santos, Michael Nelson (C), Curtis Weston (Wesley Fonguck 70), Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Shaquile Coulthirst, David Tutonda, Harry Taylor (Jack Taylor 35), Mauro Vilhete, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Subs: Craig Ross, Simeon Akinola, Ruben Bover, Justin Amaluzor.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C Glen Rea 20), Alan Sheehan, Alan McCormack, Olly Lee, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie (Jordan Cook 70), Isaac Vassell (Elliot Lee 88), James Collins.

Subs: James Shea, Johnny Mullins, Harry Cornick, Luke Gambin, Elliot Lee.

Booked: Jack Taylor 52, Campbell-Ryce 81, Rea 83.

Referee: Kevin Johnson.

Attendance: 3,555.

Hatters MOM: Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Jones felt Luton got what they deserved in Bees loss

Hatters boss Nathan Jones admitted his side got what they deserved, falling to a first league defeat of the season late on at Barnet this afternoon.

The visitors headed into stoppage time looking like they were going to claim a goalless draw in a game low on quality throughout.

However, Jack Taylor stepped up to fire into the corner from 20 yards to sink Luton, leaving Jones hugely frustrated afterwards, as he said: “We didn’t deserve to win the game, didn’t deserve anything from the game really.

“I said before they were a surprise package, because they work hard, they work very, very yard, have a structure about them and fair play they deserved to win the game.”

When asked why his side produced a display that was such polar opposites to last weekend’s 8-2 battering of Yeovil, Jones continued: “That’s the worst thing that could have happened to us, we won that 8-2 and then suddenly we put in a performance like that.

“That’s the inconsistencies that sort of troubled us last year. We’ve tried to change that and I’m hoping it’s not going to creep in this year.

“We just didn’t do the basics, we didn’t pass the ball well enough to cause them a problem, we didn’t win our headers, didn’t get on second balls, we didn’t get a footing in the game.

“If we do all of those things you get in the game, we didn’t do them, absolutely no chance did we do that.

“The pitch didn’t help, it was a real, real sticky pitch from the sun, so it wasn’t conducive for a good game, that didn’t help the fluency.

“But we’ve got to the basics right and if we do the basics right we get a draw minimum.”

There was an element of debate about the goal that won it for the Bees, with Alan McCormack claiming he was fouled prior to Taylor's strike.

Jones added: “We should have just cleared our lines. Maybe a foul in the build-up, but if you clear your lines you don’t get those problems.

“The ref played on and I’ll have to see it again before I comment and say it was definitely a foul, but Macca’s adamant it was.”

Hatters boss hopes Barnet shocker was a one-off

Luton chief Nathan Jones was left hoping that yesterday’s performance in their dismal 1-0 defeat at Barnet was just a one-off.

The visitors gave a display that was worlds apart from their efforts against Yeovil the previous weekend, falling to Jack Stephens’ excellent stoppage time winner.

A bemused Jones said: “We were just off it today and considerably off it, it’s a one-off we hope, because we’ve been at it in pre-season, so lets hope we can get that back.

“We were nowhere near the levels we were last week, absolutely nowhere near the levels.

“All credit to Barnet, they’re a very dangerous side in terms of counterattacking and they run, they work and they graft, and I didn’t think we were really at it today.

“We can’t have that, last year we drew too many games and conceded too many late errors, so we need to eradicate those.”

No Town player, barring Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu emerged from the game with a great deal of credit from the game either according to the boss, as he continued: “I don’t think anyone did, Pelly Ruddock showed a lot of endeavour in terms of his running and in possession, but apart from that we had no cutting edge or anything and that was a sad thing.

“That’s back down to earth with a real bump from last week.”

Although Dan Potts forced home keeper Jamie Stephens into a superb save from a corner in the first half, he was barely tested until tipping over Elliot Lee’s header.

Jones continued: “We had a few chances from set plays, which is not normally has massive strength of ours.

“We usually create a lot more, but we lacked a cutting edge, there was no fluency in our play and that sometimes happens.”

Defender Scott Cuthbert was forced to limp off after just 20 minutes, with Glen Rea on in his place and explaining the switch, Jones added: “He had a tight abductor yesterday, a tight glute and he did that.

“It was recurrence really, no problem yesterday but today it was.

“We went with Glen because he’s a little bit more up to speed, that’s the decision we made, but we’ve got a strong squad to be able to cope with that.”

Frustrated Luton go down to late Barnet winner

Barnet 1 Luton Town 0

A week may be a long time in politics, as the cliché goes, but it will be feeling even longer for Luton Town fans today.

Only seven days ago, they were celebrating one of the most remarkable results in the club's history with an 8-2 opening day hammering of Yeovil Town.

Travelling to a Barnet side tipped by many to struggle this season, the Hatters struggled all afternoon to break down a well-drilled, determined and resolute home side.

And just when it looked like a frustrrating afternoon would finish with honours even, the sucker punch arrived in injury time when Jack Taylor struck the winner for Barnet.

A lively and physical home side started the brighter but it was Luton who had first sight of goal when Dan Potts met a corner from the left with a textbook header, which home keeper Jamie Stephens pulled off a stunning point-blank save to tip away.

Soon after Luton were forced into their first change when centre-back and skipper Scott Cuthbert limped off to be replaced by Glen Rea, and the massed ranks of Hatters behind the goal thought they had a penalty at the other end when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was brought down on the edge of the area, but a free kick was awarded instead and Alan Sheehan's effort was deflected over.

Mpanzu was next to set his sights, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked and the game remained goalless at the break.

Chances remained few and far between after the break, with Alan McCormack making a vital interception after Barnet broke in numbers from a failed Luton attack, before Marek Stech was called on to make a couple of stops as the hosts looked to press.

When Luton did finally get a rare bit of space to work with, as James Collins worked his way clear on the left touchline, it summed up the afternoon's frustration as he choose to blast wastefully across the face of goal rather than pull it back for Vassell or Olly Lee.

Andrew Shinnine – creator of four goals last week, and whose impact had led to so many superlatives – cut perhaps the most frustrated figure of all, with very little coming off for him before he was replaced by Jordan Cook with 20 minutes left.

It desperately needed a game-changer, and it looked like being Mpanzu as the midfielder burst down the left, leaving three Barnet men in his wake with a combination of sheer strength and speed to win a corner after eventually being stopped, but sadly the set piece came to nothing.

Sub Rea round found himself fortunate to stay on the pitch when he took out a Barnet player with a nasty-looking challenge with 10 minutes left, but got away with a booking as the home fans bayed for a red card.

With time running out, Potts made an important clearance – not for this first time either – as David Tutonda bore down on goal for Barnet, before Luton made their final throw of the dice as Elliot Lee came on for Vassell.

Just when the game looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate, however, there was a final sting in the tail for the Hatters as Taylor curled the ball beyond Stech and into the bottom corner for the breakthrough.

There was still time left for Luton to drag something out of the game as Olly Lee got his head to Sheehan's last-gasp corner, but Stephens, who had made that point-blank first half stop from Potts, repeated the trick by tipping over superbly.

HATTERS: Stech, Stacey, Sheehan, Cuthbert (Rea), Potts, McCormack, Mpanzu, Lee. O, Shinnie (Cook), Collins, Vassell (Lee. E). Subs not used: Shea, Mullins, Cornick, Gambin.

Angry Luton boss delivers warning following Barnet defeat

An angry Nathan Jones has warned his Luton Town players not to let last season's inconsistencies creep back into their game.

Too many draws and dropped points cost the Hatters last season as they missed out on promotion from League Two, despite having the least defeats and second-most clean sheets.

It looked like a return to the bad old days this afternoon as Jones' men were frustrated at every turn by a well-drilled Barnet side, who inflicted a first league defeat of the season on them.

Jones said: "We didn't deserve to win the game and we didn't deserve anything from the game. I said they (Barnet) would be a surprise package as they work very hard and have a structure about them.

"Probably the worst thing that could have happened to us is we win 8-2 and then go and put in a performance like that. They're the sort of inconsistencies which troubeld us last year – we've tried to change that and I'm hoping it won't creep in this year.

"We didn't do the basics well enough and we didn't pass the ball well enough to cause them problems. We didn't win our headers, we didn't win the second balls we didn't get a foot in the game. You do all those things you get a foot in the game, but we didn't.

"We were nowhere near the levels we were last week. We had no cutting edge today and no fluency in our play. Last year we drew too many games and made too many late errors, and we need to eradicate those things.

"We were just off it today. We hope it will be a one off as we've been at it in pre-season, and hopefully we'll be back on it. All credit to Barnet though, they're a dangerous side in terms of their counter-attacking – they run, they work and they graft."

Pitch less than perfect, says Luton boss following Barnet defeat

While not blaming it for his side's defeat yesterday, Nathan Jones claims the pitch at The Hive didn't help the game as a spectacle.

Jones' Luton Town side went down to a late Jack Taylor winner for Barnet, following a clash in which they were frustrated at every turn by a home side up for the battle.

Barnet had to make two subs early on while Luton had to bring off Scott Cuthbert, and Jones believes the surface played a part.

"The pitch didn't help," he said. "It was a really sticky pitch from the sun and so on. It wasn't conducive to a good game and I think their boy got injured because of it. It didn't help a fluent game but we didn't do the basics right."

Cuthbert was replaced by Glen Rea rather than Johnny Mullins, and Jones revealed his skipper had felt another twinge in his upper thigh.

"He had a tight adductor yesterday and it was just a recurrence of that really," said Jones. "It wasn't a problem yesterday but it was today. We went with Glen as he's a little bit more up to speed."

One of the few bright spots for Luton was the performance of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu – often guilty of fading in games but who tried to take this one by the scruff of the neck.

"Pelly showed a real good lot of endeavour in terms of his possession and his running," Jones added. "But apart from that we had no real cutting edge, and that was the sad thing today."