Bournemouth vs Luton Town FC (25th Sep 2021)

Report | Bournemouth 2-1 Luton Town

Second half fightback not enough as Hatters fall to defeat...

The Hatters put in a battling performance at Bournemouth this afternoon but slipped to a 2-1 defeat against the still unbeaten Championship leaders.

An own goal from Lloyd Kelly midway through a second half the Hatters dominated looked like it might spark a comeback, but ultimately the last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists took another three points thanks to first half goals from Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change to the team that drew 3-3 at home with Swansea last Saturday, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu picking up an injury in training in midweek and Jordan Clark returning for his first start since being injured at West Brom in August.

Town started brightly, with Luke Berry breaking forward on the left and sending in a dangerous low cross that former England defender Gary Cahill had to slide in at the near post to get a touch back to his goalkeeper Mark Travers.

Bournemouth had the first attempt on goal in the ninth minute, Sluga comfortably saving from recent signing from Celtic, Ryan Christie, low by his near post.

Elijah Adebayo spurned a wonderful opportunity to put the Town in front with just under quarter of an hour played, James Bree releasing Cornick down the right and the ex-Bournemouth man'slow cross for his strike partner measured to perfecting, only for the joint top scorer to play the ball against his own ankle and see it go agonisingly over the bar.

A minute later the ex-Walsall striker almost profited from Travers dwelling on the ball on the edge of his six-yard box, charging down the keeper's clearance, but the ricochet landed back with the Bournemouth stopper rather than in the beck of their net.

By the 17th minute, the hosts were in front, Christie scooping a brilliant pass into Billing's path and the Danish midfielder made no mistake in volleying past Sluga into the corner.

Christie was the architect of the Cherries' second goal just after the half-hour, crossing from the left this time for Dominic Solanke to direct a header past the Croatian keeper.

Jefferson Lerma and Jaidon Anthony went close to extending the lead as the hosts dominated the remainder of the half, with Clark's volley, that was blocked by Cahill, the only real sight of goal the Town had, in the dying seconds of added time.

Jones introduced Amari'i Bell in place of Gabe Osho at the break, and his side went out on the front foot in search of a route back into the match, Adebayo sending a cross into the six-yard box that Cahill did well to repel, before Cornick, Bree and Lansbury all tried to make inroads, the latter being fouled by Ben Pearson, earning the Cherries' midfielder a yellow card.

Lansbury got up to deliver the free-kick from wide on the left and his inswinger flicked off home midfielder Adam Smith's head at the near post, calling Travers into action with a smart save.

The Bournemouth keeper was on his toes again in the 55th minute to turn Adebayo's fierce shot from a tight angle over his crossbar, as the Town's impressive start to the second period continued.

Adebayo was causing the home defence problems, although he lost his footing when in a good position to cross for Berry, then Berry picked Pearson's pocket in midfield, only for the Bournemouth man to do similar to Cornick as the Town forward looked to get his shot off on the edge of the hosts' penalty area.

By the 64th minute the pressure had paid off, Cornick and Lockyer heading the ball back into the box as Bournemouth struggled to clear a corner, then Berry sending a low cross towards Burke in the six-yard box, with Cherries centre-half Lloyd Kelly turning it into his own net.

Jones introduced Carlos Mendes Gomes and Cameron Jerome, for Berry and Cornick, and it was the former who had the Town's next attempt at goal, but his 20-yard shot as the Cherries struggled to clear another set piece was too high.

Lansbury arced another free-kick towards the far post in the 83rd minute, and although he lost his man to meet it on the volley, Naismith was at full stretch and couldn't generate the power to beat Travers.

Another chance presented itself with four minutes to go, when Clark picked out Adebayo, but his header was off target. Then more pressure mounted as Jerome looked to get on the end of a cross from Bree, with Bell recycling the ball on the left of the Bournemoutgh area to tee Naismith up for a shot that Travers held.

Goals:

Bournemouth: Billing 17, Solanke 31

Town: Kelly (OG) 64

Nathan Jones' reaction to Bournemouth defeat

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased his players were able to give a good account of themselves in the second period but ultimately disappointed as they fell to a first defeat in five matches.

Bournemouth took a two-goal lead into the break and despite a fightback in the second period which started immediately after the whistle, an equaliser proved elusive as the Hatters attempted yet another comeback.

“I thought we started brilliantly, Jones admitted. “I have accepted responsibility in there tactically and said if we started like we did second half then who knows, but for the first 20 minutes we were excellent. We moved the ball well, moved into good area, pressed well, had a glorious guilt-edge chance and you have to score them.

“If we score that, it is an entirely different game because we’re not chasing the game at two-nil down for a start. Then Elijah has another chance where he presses the keeper, then out of nothing they get two chances and take them. You can’t leave Solanke free from six yards out, he doesn’t miss those.

“Then Billing has drifted off the back of Gabe [Osho] who had a bit of a job to do on him today but that is the learning curve. We had far more chances, more territory but we just couldn’t get that goal. Can’t even see they defended better because we had the same amount of chances if not better ones, trouble is we didn’t take ours.”

Finally on the backing that he and his players received at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon from a sold-out away end, the manager said: “We gave them a performance to get behind in the second half but I feel sorry for them because we let them down first half. Moments of knowledge and knowhow, we have let them down, that is the thing I have to sort out.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZDXam3l3o4 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93FzixVQqaY – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPPvfTODaaY – Jordan Clark interview

Luton edged out by Cherries despite a valiant second half display

Championship: Bournemouth 2 Luton Town 1

A spirited second half performance from Luton failed to earn the visitors what would have been a deserved point at promotion favourites Bournemouth this afternoon.

The Hatters had trailed 2-0 going into the break against a home side who looked increasingly capable of adding to their tally when the teams swapped ends for the second period.

However, Town emerged from the interval a different team, taking the game to their hosts from the word go, pulling one back thanks to Lloyd Kelly's own goal midway through, but this time, couldn't quite find the equaliser, beaten for the first time in over a month.

The Hatters made one change for the clash, Jordan Clark in for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu who missed out due to an injury, while Sonny Bradley and Amari'i Bell were fit enough to return to the bench.

Bournemouth kept an unchanged side from their 1-0 win at Cardiff City, with former Hatter Jack Stacey only able to get a place on the bench.

For the first time in four games, there were no last-minute alteration for Town either in their starting line-up or on the bench, as they moved away from their five man defence, Kal Naismith out to left back and Gabe Osho in the holding role.

The visitors started well, Elijah Adebayo and Luke Berry both forcing the Cherries defence into vital clearances, while Bournemouth's only real opening saw Ryan Christie's tame effort easy for Simon Sluga.

Town then had a marvellous chance to open the scoring on 14 minutes, one they simply had to take, as Harry Cornick was played in on the right hand side, picking out Adebayo just three yards from goal.

With the whole ground waiting for the net to bulge, somehow the forward got it all wrong, not even remotely close to hitting the target, ending up shooting against his standing foot, slicing way over the bar.

He was unlucky moments later, charging down a clearance from keeper Mark Travers, only to see the ball fortunately spin back to the Cherries' stopper who was able to gather.

Typically, Bournemouth made Town pay almost immediately, as a delicate dinked cross into the box by Christie was tucked home on the volley by Philip Billing.

Boosted by the goal, the Cherries then started to take control of the encounter, although Luton did threaten a leveller with half an hour gone, Tom Lockyer meeting Henri Lansbury's cross and sending it well wide of the target.

Despite not creating a great deal, the hosts had a second with 32 gone, and another of sheer simplicity as well, a short corned worked back to the impressive Christie and he was the provider again, with a chipped cross nodded back past Sluga by top scorer Dominic Solanke.

The hosts almost had a third on 39 minutes, Sluga slipping when trying to clera Osho's backpass, the ball going straight to Jefferson Lerma, whose effort hit the covering midfielder and flew inches wide.

Jaidon Anthony was also off target, while Town finally won the ball back in enemy territory, but James Bree rushed his 25-yarder, skewing well wide of the target.

Town made one change at the break, Bell replacing Osho, as the Hatters began brightly, winning two corners, with Adebayo's fierce cross only just cleared away.

Luton almost halved the deficit on 50 minutes, when Henri Lansbury's dangerous free kick flicked off defender Adam Smith and would have flown in, but for a terrific reflex save by Travers who managed to stick out a glove and parry.

The Cherriers keeper then had to tip over another driven cross by Adebayo as the Hatters continued to dominate, winning a number of corners.

Finally, Luton got the goal they deserved on 64 minutes, although there was a touch of fortune about it, Lockyer's flick setting Berry clear on the right.

His cross was missed by Reece Burke, who had stayed up, from a few yards, with Cherries defender Kelly unable to stop himself diverting it into the roof of the net.

Jones threw on Carlos Mendes Gomes and Cameron Jerome in a bid to beef up the visitors attacking outlets in the final 20 minutes, with the former sending a rising left footer over.

With nine remaining, the excellent Lansbury delivered another deep free kick from the right, Naismith meeting it only to see Travers gather low down.

Town then fashioned an even better opening, Clark picking out the unmarked Adebayo, whose wasteful afternoon continued, directing his header wide.

Naismith sent a swerving effort into the gloves of Travers, as the game went into stoppage time, with Town this time unable to repeat their heroics at Blackburn and Bristol City, and snatch a point.

Cherries: Mark Travers, Lloyd Kelly, Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke (Jamal Lowe 90), Ryan Christie (Chris Mepham 79), Adam Smith, Ben Pearson, Gary Cahill, Philip Billing, Jaidon Anthony (Morgan Rogers 73), Jordan Zemura.

Subs not used: Orjan Nyland, Jack Stacey, David Brooks, Emiliano Marcondes.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Kal Naismith (C), Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Gabe Osho (Amari'i Bell 46), Henri Lansbury, Jordan Clark, Luke Berry (Carlos Mendes Gomes 71), Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 75) Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: James Shea, Dion Pereira, Sonny Bradley, Glen Rea.

Bookings: Pearson 49.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Town chief left to rue missed opportunities against Bournemouth

Hatters** manager knows his side can't keep trying to come back from 2-0 down**

Luton boss Nathan Jones knows his side must start taking their chances following a 2-1 defeat against title favourites Bournemouth this afternoon.

With the scores goalless at the Vitality Stadium, the Hatters had a wonderful opportunity when Harry Cornick squared the ball across the box for Elijah Adebayo

However, with the goal at his mercy, Adebayo, who netted twice against Swansea last weekend, could only somehow send the ball against his standing foot and way, way over the bar, much to the delight of the home fans.

Moments later they were celebrating themselves, as rather than find themselves ahead, Luton were having to chase a game on the road again, Philip Billing showing how it should be done, volleying home Ryan Christie’s cross from close range.

Dominic Solanke then added a second just after the half hour to further rub salt in the wounds, as Jones said: “I thought we started brilliantly, I’ve accepted responsibility in there, tactically, but for 20 minutes we were excellent, we were outstanding.

"We moved the ball well, moved into good areas, we pressed well, we had a glorious chance, gilt-edged chance, you’ve got to score them in the Championship.

"If you score that then yes, it's an entirely different game as you’re not chasing the game at 2-0 down.

"Then Elijah has another chance when he presses the keeper and then out of nothing they really get two chances and take it.

"We leave Solanke free six, seven yards out, he doesn't miss those and Billing drifts off the back of Gabe (Osho) who had a bit of a job to do today and it’s a bit of a learning curve, because we had far more chances than them, better territory, just couldn't get that goal.

"They have quality and I can't say they defended better than us, because we probably had the same chances as them, if not better, but the trouble was we didn't take ours.”

After the break, the Hatters dominated proceedings, pulling one back through Lloyd Kelly’s own goal and might have had an equaliser, Adebayo heading wide late on, with keeper Mark Travis also saving from Kal Naismith twice.

A rueful Jones added “Our xG (expected goals) is top three, we should be top three if we take our chances, but we’re conceding every chance.

"Blackburn, two-nil away, the first two chances Blackburn had, until we went gung-ho, the only two chances they had and they’re 2-0 up.

"We can't keep doing that, in away games, home games, any games, and we’re having enough chances to win plenty of games.

"It's not like we’re nicking a goal and having to defend it, so maybe we’ll have to start doing that, start shutting up shop and trying to nick a goal.

"We were defensively disciplined, we pressed them well, won the ball, broke, had a great chance and if we don’t take that then that’s what happens.

"But second half I can't fault them.

"We came out, front-footed, penned them in, they weren't the fluent side they are in every game and we showed we can compete massively at this level.”