Bournemouth vs Luton Town FC (16th Jan 2021)

Match Report | AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Luton Town

Dewsbury-Hall's second-half strike gives Hatters victory on the South Coast!

The Hatters earned their fourth Sky Bet Championship away victory of the season with a battling performance against promotion hopefuls AFC Bournemouth.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored his second goal for the club as Town earned a huge three points – the first on their travels since victory against Rotherham United in November.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change and tweaked the formation for this afternoon’s match, with Luke Berry coming in for Kazenga LuaLua, and Glen Rea dropping between the centre-backs to create a defensive five.

The last time the two sides met at the Vitality Stadium, then named Dean Court, was in 2009 when the teams were 91st and 92nd respectively in the football pyramid.

Both have been on somewhat on a meteoric journey through the leagues since, but it was high-flying Bournemouth who had the first meaningful opportunity of this encounter.

Berry’s attempted header back to Simon Sluga was short enough for Josh King to latch onto it but in the end, it was a routine stop for the Croatian international.

The game changed course in the 25th minute as Jefferson Lerma was shown a straight red card after catching Tom Lockyer with his arm in an aerial challenge.

The Town centre-half was bandaged up but was forced off minutes later and replaced by Kal Naismith for his Hatters debut.

Nathan Jones’ side were rarely tested in the first period and came out for the second half in search for a goal against the ten-men of Bournemouth.

In a frantic two minute period, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall whipped a ball across the area which eluded everyone apart from Glen Rea at the far post, who powered a shot towards goal but it was blocked on the line by Steve Cook and deflected wide by Dominic Solanke.

The resulting corner led to Asmir Begovic making a remarkable double save, first thwarting Berry at close range and then Dewsbury-Hall’s curling effort from the edge of the box.

The action continued but it was the Cherries with the attacking intent as King played the ball through to Solanke, the latter fired low past Sluga but Dan Potts made a fantastic block in the nick of time to deny Bournemouth’s top scorer.

But much owed to their second half improvements, the Hatters took the lead with just over 20 minutes to play through Leicester loanee Dewsbury-Hall.

Cornick held the ball up brilliantly on the right-hand-side waiting for support and he found just that in the number 22.

Dewsbury-Hall opened up his body inside the area and curled a wonderful effort into the far corner.

Bournemouth were pushing forward in search of an equaliser and Sluga was alert to turn Rodrigo Riquelme’s shot away from goal with minutes to go.

But Town were resolute to reserve a fantastic clean sheet and three points to push them up into 12th position, heading into the midweek match against Brentford.

Town: Sluga; Bree (Pearson 87), Lockyer (Naismith 34), Bradley (C), Potts; Rea, Mpanzu, Berry, Dewsbury-Hall; Cornick (Clark 76), Collins (Hylton 87).

Subs not used: Shea, Moncur, LuaLua, Nombe, Morrell.

Goal: Dewsbury-Hall (67)

Yellows: Pearson, Hylton

Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith (Riquelme 82), Rico (Billing 71), S.Cook (C), Carter-Vickers, Stacey (Kelly 71) ; L.Cook, Lerma; King (Surridge 71) Brooks (Anthony 82); Solanke.

Subs not used: Dennis, Simpson, Mepham, Kilkenny.

Yellows: Billing

Red: Lerma

Referee: David Webb

Nathan Jones' reaction to Bournemouth victory!

Manager delighted following victory against promotion hopefuls...

Manager Nathan Jones was delighted with his sides’ terrific victory against high-flying Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal of the game against the ten-man Cherries in a performance that more than merited the outcome.

Speaking pitchside after the match, the gaffer said: “In hindsight, if you looked at the two games and said 'right you’re going to take three points from these next two games', you probably would have thought we would beat QPR and admirably lose to Bournemouth.

“We were really disappointed with our performance (on Tuesday), but it might have been understandable with the lay-off we’ve had.

“Today I thought we were excellent, I really do. Up until the sending off I thought we were very good. They are a wonderful side and for me in the top two of quality.

“They have been recruiting for the Premier League for the last eight, nine years, so the athleticism, quality, technique, calibre of player and pace that they have can punish any team, so we knew we had to play well today.

“We defended fantastically well, limited them to very little, keeper had one save to make, their keeper had more, albeit most of it when they went down to ten men.

“But I think the ten men will take the shine off a real good performance. Realistically I probably would have taken a point today, so to take three I’m delighted.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XduyczetiNE& - Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c2REMf9lsM – match highlights

Magnificent Hatters pick off the Cherries thanks to Dewsbury-Hall's winner

Championship: Bournemouth 0 Luton Town 1

Luton Town ended their winless run on the road in stunning fashion with wonderful 1-0 win at 10-man Bournemouth this afternoon courtesy of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's second half winner.

The Hatters went into the match on the back of a six game streak without a victory on their travels, with not many outside of Bedfordshire giving Nathan Jones' side a chance against a team that on paper was worth millions, and the highest scorers on home soil in the division this term.

However, a red card to the hosts' record signing Jefferson Lerma midway through the first half saw the Cherries down to 10 men, and Luton went on to take full advantage after the break, scoring the only goal of the game through Dewsbury-Hall.

It might have been that the on-loan Leicester midfielder was back at the King Power Stadium and preparing for a Premier League fixture rather than the Vitality Stadium after Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers admitted in the week he had considered recalling his player, only for the cut-off deadline to pass.

The Hatters will be forever grateful it did, as he used his wand of a left foot to curl in a second of the campaign, which was ultimately enough for Luton to claim all three points.

Jones made just the one change from their disappointing 2-0 defeat at QPR on Tuesday night, Luke Berry replacing Kazenga LuaLua who dropped to the bench.

He was joined among the replacements by latest addition Kal Naismith, who signed on a free transfer just yesterday, and Matty Pearson after he completed his period of self-isolation.

In the Cherries side was full back Jack Stacey, who starred for Town during his two years at Kenilworth Road, while defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, a big part of the Hatters' great escape from relegation last season, started in the league for the first time after recovering from injury.

Town looked happy to concede possession in the early stages, using a five man back-line to defend their box, although they nearly came a cropper from their own doing on six minutes.

Berry's ambitious and ill-advised back header from distance almost dropped perfectly for home forward Josh King, earning him a verbal volley from keeper Simon Sluga.

Lewis Cook then hammered a volley miles over the top, as Town grew into the game, looking to make the most of Bournemouth's desire to bring the ball out from the back.

Harry Cornick's speed was always a threat against his former club, the attacker having the beating of skipper Steve Cook for pace, but Luton were unable to make the most of their opportunity, the move breaking down.

The Cherries then found themselves reduced to 10 men on 26 minutes when Lerma went up for an aerial challenge with Tom Lockyer, catching the defender with what looked like a flailing arm.

It was deemed as intentional by official David Webb, who showed the £25m midfielder a straight red card, ensuring the hosts had to play over an hour with just 10 men.

Despite requiring treatment and being bandaged up, Lockyer couldn't continue for too long afterwards, Naismith on for his Hatters debut, going to left back, and Dan Potts moving inside.

Although a man light, Bournemouth didn't let it affect them, as they looked the more likely of the two teams, King testing Sluga's reactions with a near post volley from a corner, the closest they came ahead of the break.

Luton came out strongly after the interval and thought they had the lead in the opening moments, a free kick skimming to the unmarked Glen Rea.

He did everything right, taking a touch and then firing goalwards, only to see Asmir Begovic pull off a stunning fingertip save, the ball cannoning off a home defender and bouncing a fraction wide.

From the corner, Potts rose highest, with Berry swivelling from close range, his point blank volley excellent saved by the legs of the Bosnian who also clawed away Dewsbury-Hall's angled drive destined for the top corner.

Town weren't finished there either, Collins glancing a header off target from Cornick's cross as they were left wondering quite how the scores were still goalless.

An end-to-end game saw David Brooks put a header over, before Cherries looked certain to have moved in front when Dominic Solanke reached King's through ball and prodded past Sluga.

He hadn't reckoned on Potts though, the defender making a superb sliding intervention at full stretch to knock the ball behind and prevent the deadlock being broken.

Back came Luton again, Cornick against his former club having a wonderful chance to score a first of the season, only to wastefully lash over on his left foot from 10 yards.

The visitors did eventually have the goal their second half performance deserved with 67 minutes on the clock as a penetrating ball over the top by Mpanzu saw Cornick have the pace to catch it.

He waited for support and played in Dewsbury-Hall who took a touch in the area before bending a shot around his defender and away from the despairing dive of Begovic, who was finally beaten.

Town were indebted to their own international stopper with three minutes to go, who palmed away Rodrigo Riquelme's instinctive volley to keep the visitors in front.

Bradley's wonderful captain's display saw him get a vital clearance over his own bar in stoppage time as Luton held out to keep a clean sheet against their expensively-assembled opponents for the second time this season.

Cherries: Asmir Begovic, Steve Cook ©, David Brooks (Rodrigo Riquelme 82), Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke, Adam Smith (Jaidon Anhony 82), Lewis Cook, Jack Stacey (Lloyd Kelly 70), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Diego Rico (Phillip Billing 70), Josh King (Sam Surridge 70).

Subs not used: Will Dennis, Chris Mepham, Jack Simpson, Gavin Kilkenny.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree (Matty Pearson 87), Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer (Kal Naismith 34), Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Jordan Clark 77), James Collins (Danny Hylton 87).

Subs not used: James Shea, George Moncur, Joe Morrell, Sam Nombe, Kazenga LuaLua.

Bookings: L Cook 86, Pearson 90, Billing 90.

Sent off: Lerma 26.

Referee: David Webb.

Jones elated to beat Bournemouth and make it four points from six against the Cherries this season

Hatters chief on his side's 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium

Luton boss Nathan Jones lauded his side's performance after they picked up a 1-0 win at Bournemouth to make it four points out of six against the Cherries this season.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's strike on 67 minutes was enough to settle the game which had seen Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma shown a straight red midway through the first half after catching defender Tom Lockyer with a flailing arm.

Jones said: "Let's just lay the groundwork down, these are a fantastic side at this level.

"They’ve been recruiting for the Premier League and they've got wonderful players technically for this level, in terms of athleticism so we knew that we’d have to really do well to get something here.

"I actually thought that we contained them, we limited them to very little, they're a very good side and I just felt if we were a little bit braver, we might have caused them a few more problems.

"I think the sending off rocked us a little bit more than it did them and we had to get to half time, but once we got to half time I thought we showed real composure.

"We should have taken the lead earlier and it's a wonderful, wonderful win for us."

Dewsbury-Hall's goal came after Luton had made an excellent start to the second period, home keeper Asmir Begovic denying Glen Rea and Luke Berry with wonderful saves, also clawing away the on-loan Leicester midfielder's effort too.

Harry Cornick then fired over, before Dewsbury-Hall bent a delicious shot past the Bosnian and into the corner for his second goal of the season.

Jones added: "We were in the ascendancy then, we had some really good chances, clear-cut, Luke Berry had a great chance, Asmir (Begovic) made a wonderful save.

"He's a great keeper, we know that he's a top keeper and he kept them in it at our place, he made two great saves as if he hadn't, we probably would have won that game.

"So look, to take four points off Bournemouth in a season, however you've done it, is a wonderful, wonderful achievement for us."