Birmingham City vs Luton Town FC (26th Oct 2019)

BIRMINGHAM CITY 2-1 LUTON TOWN

Cornick nets his fifth goal of the season but Town fall to defeat

The Hatters fell to a second narrow defeat in succession after losing 2-1 to Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.

Kristian Pedersen scored in added time at the end of the first half, before Town substitute Harry Cornick struck immediately after coming off the bench with just under 25 minutes to go.

Lukas Jutkiewicz secured all three points for the Blues in the 82nd minute as he bundled the ball in at the back post, as the Hatters were again left fustrated after a positive showing.

The Hatters maintain their 18th position, whilst the hosts extended the point gap between the two sides to eight, though remain in 11th place.

Blues went close to taking the lead after just two minutes, but James Shea brilliantly denied Jutkiewicz from a few yards out, as he powerfully directed Jude Bellingham’s cross towards goal.

Birmingham were on top during the first ten minutes and had two more chances to show for it. First Dan Crowley went close with a low-drive from the edge of the box, before defender Maxime Colin forced Shea into tipping his effort over.

Town grew into the game after a period of home pressure as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu stung the gloves of Lee Camp from range as he dived full length to push the midfielder's 20-yarder behind for a corner.

But Shea was called into action once again just before the half-hour mark to deny Jutkiewicz – as he did in the opening exchanges – this time producing a flying save from a deflected shot to keep the score level.

Jutkiewicz finally thought he got the better of Shea after finding the back of the net in the 37th minute, but the 30-year-old was judged to be offside following his touch on Crowley’s cross.

However, Birmingham did take the lead on the stroke of half-time courtesy of left-back Pedersen.

Crowley and Colin combined with a neat one-two over Town’s defence, the latter then crossed the ball for Pedersen to head home unmarked.

The Blues put plenty of early pressure on in the second half but somehow didn’t double their advantage as Jutkiewicz missed an open goal.

His forward partner Mrabti managed to keep the ball in-play – much to the surprise of the Town defenders – but as the ball rolled to Jutkiewicz, he put his guilt-edge chance wide of the goal.

Substitute James Collins then had the Town’s best moment, but his well-struck effort from 20 yards was saved onto the post by Camp.

Coming on moments after, Cornick was not to be denied by the goalframe, as he equalised for the Hatters in the 67th minute.

Brown crucially won a 50-50 challenge in midfield and set Cornick bearing down on goal from the right-hand-side, before he emphatically smashed his effort off the bar and into the back of the net to score his fifth goal of the season.

The Hatters were in the ascendancy after equalising and came close to finding a second fifteen minutes from time. Brown’s high cross to the back post had Collins stretching and because of that, his effort went just wide of the goal.

Against the run of play after a good spell of pressure, Birmingham regained the lead in the 82nd minute as Lukas Jutkiewicz headed in. Fran Villalba’s corner was met by captain Harlee Dean, who headed across the box for Jutkiewicz to bundle into the back of the net.

Sonny Bradley had a header cleared off the line minutes after going 2-1 behind, and Izzy Brown was denied a wonderful solo goal by a last ditch block in added time at the end.

Despite Town’s efforts, they couldn’t find a second equaliser as attention now switches to Nottingham Forest at Kenilworth Road next Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM: Camp, Colin, Dean, Roberts, Pedersen, Crowley (Maghoma 87), Sunjic, Bellingham (Davis 87), Villalba, Mrabti (Gimenez 77), Jutkiewicz. Subs not used: Trueman, Harding, Clarke-Salter, Bailey

Goals: Pedersen, (45+3) Jutkiewicz (82)

Yellows: Roberts

TOWN: Shea, Bolton (Butterfield 87), Pearson, Cranie, Bradley, Potts, Tunnicliffe (Cornick 66), Mpanzu, Brown, McManaman (Collins 60), LuaLua. Subs not used: Shinnie, Sluga, Bree, Jones.

Goals: Cornick (67)

Yellows: LuaLua, Collins, Cranie

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 21,799 (2,676 Town fans)

GRAEME JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO BIRMINGHAM

Graeme Jones has said that his side need to take advantage of when they’re in the ascendancy in games after today’s 2-1 defeat at Birmingham City.

Kristian Pedersen opened the scoring just before the break with a header from close range, before Harry Cornick finished emphatically in the second half to bring it level.

Lukas Jutkiewicz then nodded in to win the three points for the Blues, with the result leaving the Town in 18th in the second tier.

Jones said: “We are just getting to that stage of the season where being positive about performances is not enough. I’ve said that to the players, we have to take points, we have to take positive results, especially when we’re in the ascendancy. That was the plan, that’s why James and Harry didn’t start the game, we wanted to get some momentum towards the end of the game and if we could stay in it, which we did, but we then gave a stupid set-piece goal away which was arguably a foul and 82nd minute in the game, on Wednesday night I can hear myself speaking about recovery and sometimes those fine margins cost you.

“People don’t realise unless you’re involved at this level, how much 24 hours matters. We’ve got to help ourselves as well but that’s my disappointment. Let’s say today we get beat 3-0 and you’re not on the same pitch, the recovery has been the same and it’s an even playing field, you won’t get any complaints from me. I don’t think it has happened to us once this season, but it’s already difficult enough without making the two away trips and physically it’s even harder. The most important part of the game is recovery and to be mentally and physically fresh for every game, we’re at a disadvantage and it’s not right.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Nli-FqB3U – Graeme Jones Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpsGBVamZmE – Match Highlights

Luton undone by late Jutkiewicz header

Championship: Birmingham City 2 Luton Town 1

A late Lukas Jutkiewicz header saw Luton suffer back-to-back away defeats, going down to a 2-1 reverse at Birmingham this afternoon.

It had looked like the visitors would earn a point, Harry Cornick coming off the bench to draw them level midway through the second half, only for the towering Blues striker to head home the winner with eight minutes remaining.

Defeat was harsh for the visitors' second half performance, as they improved dramatically from a poor opening 45, but the Championship once again proved it is an unforgiving division.

Town boss Graeme Jones made three changes to his line-up, starting with the same 11 that finished Wednesday night's 3-2 defeat at Fulham, as Callum McManaman, Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Bolton came in for Cornick, top scorer James Collins and James Bree.

The hosts had the lion's share of territory and possession in the first period, but were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities, with Town's Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu having the only real sighter, his 20-yarder collected by Lee Camp.

City remained on top though and went close when Maxime Colin's deflected effort saw James Shea make a flying intervention to turn it over, while the Luton stopper then made an excellent instinctive stop from Jutkiewicz's header.

Jutkiewicz had a goal disallowed after the offside flag was raised, as he turned home Dan Crowley's right wing cross, while the hosts then came on strong in the closing stages of the first half.

The visitors then fell behind on the stroke of half time with a goal of their own doing, as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu wasted a glorious chance to clear the danger from a corner, trying to run the ball out of defence.

He lost possession and with Luton scrabbling back, Crowley's ingeniuous flick over Town's defence saw Colin pick out Kristian Pedersen for the simplest of headers.

Luton tried to start the second half positively, McManaman's curling cross-shot going wide, before the Blues were back on the front foot.

Kerim Mrabti tested Shea on the angle after Sonny Bradley was caught in possession outside his area, while Bolton was fortunate not to concede a penalty when catching Crowley inside the box, referee Dean Whitestone waving the appeals away.

The hosts should have been 2-0 in front on 50 minutes as with Town's defence caught out once more, Mrabti didn't give up a lost cause, beating Shea to the ball.

His cross rolled along the area and from three yards out, Jutkiewicz couldn't connect for what looked the most easiest of finishes, as Town somehow remained in the game.

Shea then flipped Jude Bellingham's cross over the top, before Jones replaced McManaman with Collins on the hour, in a bid to see Town finally become more of an attacking threat.

It almost paid off moments later too as the top scorer took aim from 25 yards and his effort was arrowing in, but for the fingertips of Camp and the woodwork.

Harry Cornick was then introduced on 66 minutes and he did have the desired effect 60 seconds, a flick by Collins saw a City defender make a hash of his clearance.

It was pounced on by Brown who slid Cornick through, the forward once more going straight through, producing an even more emphatic finish that last weekend, fairly hammering it beyond Camp and in off the underside of the bar.

With Jutkiewicz leading the line, Blues were always dangerous in the air, Marc Roberts nodding a corner over, but Luton were also not without their aerial opportunities, Collins diverting Brown's corner into the stands.

The introduction of Collins and Cornick saw Brown far more involved than he had been before, with two players now to aim for, and he almost added another assist to his ever-increasing collection.

Found by Mpanzu's excellent pass, he looked up and unleashed a wonderful delivery for Collins, but stretching, he could only put it behind on his left foot.

However, Town's game management was called into question once more as this time LuaLua didn't get the ball away at the first time of asking, although looked to be fouled as it went into touch.

Blues went on to win a corner and it was that set-piece they had the lead with eight minutes to go, a deep delivery headed back across for Jutkiewicz, who nodded in, despite it looking like he was climbing all over his man.

Bradley's header was cleared away from near the line, before Brown took matters into his own hands, setting off on a wonderful run, taking on the whole defence, only denied a sensational equaliser by a desperate last-ditch challenge.

That was Luton's last real chance to salvage a point, and they almost fell further behind in stoppage time, Matty Pearson in the right place to head an effort away from danger, as the hosts took all three points.

Blues: Lee Camp, Kristian Pedersen, Marc Roberts, Maxime Colin, Dan Crowley (Jaques Maghoma 87), Lukas Jutkiewicz, Harlee Dean ©, Fran Vallalba, Kerim Mrabti (Álvaro Giménez 77), Jude Bellingham (David Davis 87), Ivan Sunjic.

Subs not used: Connal Trueman, Wes Harding, Jake Clarke-Salter, Odin Bailey.

Hatters: James Shea, Luke Bolton (Jacob Butterfield 87), Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Matty Pearson, Martin Cranie, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Harry Cornick 66), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kazenga LuaLua, Izzy Brown, Callum McManaman (James Collins 60).

Subs not used: Lloyd Jones, Andrew Shinnie, Simon Sluga, James Bree.

Booked: Roberts 11, LuaLua 45, Collins 70, Cranie 90.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 21,799 (2,676 Luton).

Jones questions whether late winner was a foul

Luton boss Graeme Jones felt that defender Matty Pearson had been fouled by Birmingham striker Lukas Jutkiewiecz for the striker’s winning goal this afternoon.

With eight minutes left, the Blues forward appeared to climb all over Town’s centre half to nod in from a corner, but official Dean Whitestone gave nothing, allowing City to triumph 2-1.

Jones said: “We’re in the ascendancy and there’s only one team winning the game.

“They tell me he’s got hands all over his back and he can’t jump, but if you were were talking about being Championship savvy, that’s what we’re talking about, that small detail there where you don’t get beat.”

There was also some controversy before the goal, with attacker Kazenga LuaLua appearing to be clipped as he went to clear the ball, with the hosts going on to win a corner from it.

Jones added: “I’ve heard it was a foul, but there was that much going on.

"If it’s a foul then it’s a dive so do something about it, you’re away from home, so we have to stand up for ourselves.”

Luton boss knows only points matter at this stage of the season

Town chief Graeme Jones knows full well that producing good performances aren’t enough for his side as they fell to a second defeat in a week at Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Hatters' 2-1 reverse was their sixth loss on the road already this season out of eight fixtures, the other two games ending in away wins at Barnsley and Blackburn.

In their defence, Luton have played pretty well on their travels, only ever beaten by more than one goal once, at Derby County, conceding a last-minute winner earlier in the campaign when beaten at Cardiff.

However, Jones is aware that won’t be enough this season, especially as Town now find themselves 19th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

He said: “We’re just getting to the stage of the season where being positive about performances is not enough.

“I’ve said to that players, we have to take points, we have to take positive results, especially when you’re in the ascendancy.

“That was the plan, that’s why James (Collins) and Harry (Cornick) didn’t start the game, we wanted to get some momentum late in the game if we could stay in it.

“We did, and then gave a stupid set-piece goal away, which is arguably a foul in the 82nd minute of the game.

“On Wednesday night I can hear myself speaking about recovery and sometimes those fine margins cost you.

“I believe in the lads though, their characters are outstanding, and the pleasing aspect was the competitive nature of performance.

“Birmingham are competitive and the fact that we scored again, away from home, I think helps psychologically.

“We can come to places like Fulham, like Birmingham and we’re going to score goals.”

Goalscorer Harry Cornick echoed his manager’s sentiments, adding: “The bottom line at the end of the season is you look back on it and see Fulham away, Birmingham away, zero points.

“No-one’s going to look back and say ‘we played well, or we did well in this game.’

“At the end of the day it’s no points and we need to build on that.”

Hatters boss scathing of 'unfair' fixture list as Luton fall to Blues defeat

Luton boss Graeme Jones blasted the Football League after making his side play at Birmingham City this afternoon, just two days on from their trip to Fulham on Wednesday night.

The hosts, with an extra 24 hours recovery under their belt due to a game on Tuesday evening, triumphed late on, winning 2-1, leaving Jones bitterly disappointed when speaking to the press afterwards.

He said: "We’ve been competing in every single game, we are not, we are not going to get treated that way.

"It’s not right, it’s not right by whoever organises the fixtures, it’s not right by certain aspects of how the officiating has gone the last few games, it's unfair.

“We need a level playing field, that’s all we’re asking for here.

"We need to make our voices heard as we’re not going to put up with it, all we're asking for is a level playing field with every other team in this league and today we haven’t had that.

"People don’t realise unless you’re involved at this level, unless you’re professional, how much 24 hours matter.

"We’ve got to help ourselves as well, but that’s our disappointment.

“Let's say we get beat today 3-0 and you’re not on the same pitch and the recovery has been the same and it’s been an even playing field, then you wont get any complaints from me, 'okay, they’re a better side.'

“I don't think it's happened to us once this season, but it’s already difficult enough without making the two away trips and the physical side is even harder.

“The most important part of the game is recovery and being able to be mentally and physically fresh for every game, but we’re at a disadvantage and it isn’t right.

"I know Charlton got a last-minute equaliser and well-done to them, but when you see things happen late in the game, there’s physical aspect to it.

“Luton and Charlton don’t need anymore disadvantages, we’ve already got the two worst budgets in the league.

"If anything, the authorities, the EFL, or whoever it is, need to help Luton and Charlton. How can that happen? How can we be the only two teams? How?

“Is that really that difficult, to look at a fixture list and think, ‘c’mon, give people a chance’.

“We’re the only two teams that played away from home Wednesday and Saturday.

“We played Derby before the last international break. They played Wednesday, we played Wednesday and there were no problems at all. None.

“Luton and Charlton, the disadvantages are already big enough. If you get beaten 2-1 and we finished on Tuesday night, fair enough, but it’s not right.

“You can’t measure our performance the same way, it’s not fair. That’s my disappointment today.”

Asked if he would make a complaint the EFL, Jones said: “I don’t know.

"My focus from Wednesday night just immediately went on the Birmingham game because there’s nothing I’m going to do at that point is going to change anything. I will look into that.

“The 82nd minute as well, that hurts. It leaves you with it because it’s late in the game and that’s when fatigue kicks in.”

On whether the solution would have been to play the game on Sunday, Jones said: “That would be perfect.

"No problem, we’re playing Sunday. Just give us a chance. Just give us an even playing field. I’ve got no problems with that.

“That extra day doesn’t count as much then. It’s a minimum 48 hours recovery. I don’t know what Birmingham have had - 72, 84? We’ve had 60.

“I know, because I’ve been a player, it makes a massive difference. Massive.”