Brentford vs Luton Town FC (20th Jan 2021)

Match Report | Brentford 1-0 Luton Town

A strong second-half showing but Town are defeated on the road...

The Hatters were left frustrated as they fell to a narrow defeat against Brentford, despite a battling performance in the Sky Bet Championship this evening.

Saman Ghoddos scored the only goal of the game in the opening stages but Town will consider themselves unlucky not to have earned a result at the Brentford Community Stadium, who gave a good account of themselves against a side who have promotion ambitions this season.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change following victory against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, opting to start George Moncur ahead of Glen Rea.

The Bees – who were forced to postpone their last two league matches prior to this evening due to a COVID-19 outbreak – started well and had their eyes on an early opener.

Sergi Canos went closest for the home side, who took aim from distance and was denied by a superb one-handed save from Simon Sluga.

But the Croatian keeper was beaten in the 14th minute, as Ivan Toney put the ball on a plate for Saman Ghoddos, who headed home from six yards out.

Brentford were good value for the lead, but the Hatters saw a lot more of the ball after going behind, which led to a half-chance for Luke Berry – though his looping header from Moncur’s cross was easy to gather for David Raya.

Berry later produced a fantastic, last-ditch challenge to stop Toney after he found space in the box as Town went in behind at the break.

The Hatters were much improved in the second period but still found chances difficult to come by, as the gaffer made a triple substitution in the 65th minute.

Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jordan Clark and Kazenga LuaLua entered the fray and almost instantly, the latter crossed well for Harry Cornick, but his header was saved.

Fellow substitute Clark went close for the Hatters with 15 minutes remaining, latching onto James Bree’s ball forward but the number 18 missed the target.

Tunnicliffe then went close too moments later with an attempt that if successful, would have certainly been a nominee for goal of the season.

Kal Naismith crossed low for the midfielder, who produced a stunning backheel towards goal, but Raya was able to claim the looping effort.

Brentford should have scored a second in the dying embers as Mathias Jensen ran through on goal but his chipped effort went wide of the goal.

There was late drama as Tom Lockyer was shown a straight red card for an altercation with Toney, who was also given a second yellow card for his part in the tangle.

It left little time for another chance going forward as the Hatters, despite a hard fought performance, were on the wrong end of a one-nil scoreline.

Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard (C), Pinnock, Sorensen, Henry; Janelt, Jensen, Ghoddos (Zamburek 83); Canos (Forss 74), Mbeumo (Fosu 74), Toney

Subs not used: Daniels, Goode, Dervisoglu, Roerslev, Stevens, Gilbert

Goals: Ghoddos (14)

Yellows: Mbeumo, Toney

Red: Toney

Luton: Sluga, Bree, Lockyer, Bradley (C), Potts (Naismith 76); Mpanzu, Berry (Tunnicliffe 65), Dewsbury-Hall (Hylton 89); Moncur (Clark 65), Cornick, Collins (LuaLua 65).

Subs not used: Shea, Pearson, Hylton, Rea, Nombe.

Yellows: Bradley

Red: Lockyer

Referee: Stephen Martin

Nathan Jones' thoughts on defeat against Brentford

The gaffer spoke pitchside after the final whistle...

Manager Nathan Jones felt his side deserved something from this evening’s Sky Bet Championship match against Brentford after a narrow 1-0 defeat.

The gaffer was particularly pleased with the second half showing from the Hatters, who dominated possession and had the lion's share of chances, but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Speaking post-match, Nathan reflected those views and said: “We started slowly and we were a bit overawed by Brentford. Brentford came with aggression and we conceded. We weren’t brave and kept giving the ball away in the first 15 minutes, but I couldn’t have asked for more from them apart from a goal.

“We had so many chances, so many crosses and opportunities. We were intense, we were aggressive in our play and I’m really proud of that second half performance but we still need to score.

"When we are that dominant and putting that much pressure on, we need to score and that is what we didn’t do and that is what I’m disappointed with.

“We gave the ball away a few times and they showed one bit of real quality, but we put in balls in exactly the same as that, with no-one really on the end of it, and that is something we have to look at because I thought we were really good second half. We moved the ball well, were very aggressive and as I said, we should have got something out of that game.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aT9qOT-G3U& – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tLlWB5XqV8& - Nathan Jones interview

Hatters left to rue their inability to score on the road as they are beaten by Brentford

Championship: Brentford 1 Luton Town 0

Luton went down to a 1-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Brentford this evening, but can count themselves desperately unlucky to have left their first trip to the Bees' new stadium with nothing following an excellent second half display.

Trailing to Saman Ghoddos' 14th minute strike, the Hatters then dominated proceedings after the break going close on a number of occasions, but just couldn't take their chances as they went down to a incredibly harsh defeat.

Town boss Nathan Jones made just one change from Saturday's superb 1-0 win at Bournemouth, with George Moncur replacing Glen Rea, as Tom Lockyer was fit enough to play after the nasty cut he suffered at the Vitality Stadium, as the visitors revered to a four-man defence.

Rico Henry scuffed a volley wide from a corner as the hosts looked for an early goal which they would have had one on nine minutes, but for Simon Sluga excellently tipping over Sergis Canos's dipping 22-yarder.

The hosts were looking more and more dangerous every time they broke, Potts with a decent block, before the opener arrived on 14 minutes, Bryan Mbeumo's backheel allowing Ivan Toney to send over a glorious first time cross that Ghoddos buried with a downward header.

Canos tried his luck again, this time forcing Sluga into a far simpler save as the Bees looked like they were in the mood for racking up another big win against the Hatters, following last year's 7-0 success, Toney also flashing a snapshot off target.

Town finally had their first effort on target with 27 minutes gone, Moncur digging out a cross from the left and Luke Berry's flick header claimed underneath his bar by David Raya.

Home attacker Bryan Mbeumo was shown yellow for diving inside the area, which on replay was the correct decision, although Town were lucky Sonny Bradley's shove on Toney second earlier went unnoticed.

Luton had the odd opening now and again, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall powering forward before running into traffic, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu rifling over from outside the box.

Berry then redeemed himself from getting caught in possession with a perfectly-time sliding challenge as Toney prepared to pull the trigger when faced with Sluga.

After the break, Luton began to grow into the game even further, Mpanzu's dinked ball just out of the reach of James Collins, Raya out to smuggle away, with the striker also unable to connect with Moncur's outswinging delivery.

They carried on an impressive spell, finally taking the game to their opponents, who couldn't enjoy anywhere near the kind of dominance they had first half, barely featuring as an attacking force.

With a triple sub ready, Jones opted against making the changes to allow Luton to remain in the ascendancy, but Bees weathered the storm and made some opportunities of their own, Toney denied by Sluga and then Lockyer's well-timed tackle.

Midway through the half, Luton did make their alterations, Kazenga LuaLua, Jordan Clark and Ryan Tunnicliffe all on, with LuaLua almost having an instant impact, his cross glanced into Raya's gloves by Harry Cornick.

Sluga remained alert to gather Canos's tame effort, as Town continued to play with a real purpose, winning a number of corners and putting their hosts under increasing pressure.

The visitors had a real opening with 15 minutes to go, Bree picking out the run of Clark who on the angle, drilled his shot which eventually hit the corner flag.

Town's other substitute then came the closest of the lot, Tunnicliffe unleashing an audacious and quite brilliant backheeled volley from LuaLua's cross, Raya making a Superman-esque save to pluck it out of the sky.

Luton kept going and should have scored on 80 minutes, Bree, who caused real danger on the right flank, sending a low ball in that saw Cornick miss his kick from just eight yards out.

Cornick then raced away on the left flank, but the Bees got back to throw their bodies on the line as with Luton committing men forward, Mathias Jensen almost sealed the win, beating Sluga but missing the target.

In stoppage time the game then became a bad-tempered affair with Lockyer left in a heap from a challenge by Toney, the Town defender complaining an elbow had been thrown.

Still incensed, the centre half then tangled with the Bees striker as Sluga pumped the free kick forward, Lockyer shown a straight red, while Toney picked up a second yellow for his troubles.

That led to some angry exchanges between the two benches, with Lockyer protesting his innocence as he walked off, Toney joining him after taking an age to leave the field.

Luton gave it one last Hail Mary with Bradley upfront, but Bees cleared their lines for a final time, able to cling on for the victory as Town were left to rue their inability to score on the road, with a seventh blank of the season, netting just six goals from their 13 games away from Kenilworth Road.

Bees: David Raya, Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Sergi Canos (Marcus Forss 73), Mathias Jensen, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbuemo (Tarique Fosu 74), Saman Ghoddos (Jan Zamburek 83), Henrick Dalsgaard, Vitaly Janelt, Mads Bech Sorensen.

Subs not used: Luke Daniels, Charlie Goode, Halil Dervisoglu, Mads Roerslev, Fin Stevens, Alex Gilbert.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts (Kal Naismith 76), Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Danny Hylton 90), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Ryan Tunnicliffe 64), George Moncur (Jordan Clark 64), Harry Cornick, James Collins (Kazenga LuaLua 64).

Subs not used: James Shea, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea, Sam Nombe.

Bookings: Mbeumo 32, Bradley 39, Toney 81.

Sent off: Toney 90, Lockyer 90.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Jones: We have to take our chances

Hatters boss frustrated to draw a blank during Brentford loss

Hatters boss Nathan Jones knows his side have to start converting their chances after falling to a 1-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Brentford this evening.

After falling behind on 14 minutes, Town then grew into the contest and had by far the better of the second half, Harry Cornick missing the best chance, failing to connect with James Bree’s cross from eight yards out.

Jordan Clark also thrashed wide, with Ryan Tunnicliffe’s effort saved by David Raya, as the Hatters got into some great positions but couldn’t make the most of them, with Jones saying: “The performance definitely did deserve something, we started slowly and that’s the thing.

“We were a bit overawed by Brentford I think and Brentford came with aggression and then we conceded and we weren't brave.

"We kept giving the ball away in the first 15 minutes and that’s the thing that cost us really, but I couldn't have asked for more from them apart from a goal really.

“We had so many chances, so many crosses, we had opportunities, we were intense in our play and I’m really proud of that second half performance.

“But we still need to score, when we’re dominant and putting on that press, we still need to score and that's what we didn't do and that’s what I’m disappointed with.

“We gave the ball away a few times and they showed one bit of real quality but we put balls in exactly the same as that and had no-one on the end of that, and that’s something we need to have a look at, because I thought we were really, really good second half, we moved the ball well and we should have something out of the game.

“The build-up play and the quality of our delivery, but then you just need someone on the end of if and that’s what we didn’t have.

"That’s disappointing as the quality that we had and the shots and the possession in and around, we have to finish the action a little bit more.

"But quality costs a lot of,money, we know that, we have to keep working and do that, but in terms of a performance, I couldn’t ask for more.

"And bear in mind, we played them last season and lost 7-0, and then earlier in the season and they comfortably beat is, so we've showed we’ve come a long way.”

Hatters confirms Town will appeal Lockyer's red card

Town boss disappointed with Toney's actions

Luton boss Nathan Jones has confirmed the club will definitely appeal the red card shown to defender Tom Lockyer during this evening’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford.

In stoppage time, the Town centre half clashed when going up for an aerial challenge with Ivan Toney, Lockyer believing the striker had connected with an elbow.

Then when Simon Sluga sent the free kick forward, Toney went to ground, with Lockyer shown a straight red and the Bees striker collecting a second yellow as they both headed down the tunnel.

An angry Lockyer was incensed with the decision, protesting his innocence, with Jones saying afterwards: “I’ve seen it, I can tell you it’s not a red card, it’s categorically not a red card.

“The foolish thing is he puts himself in a position to give him a decision, the linesman has seen it, so I don’t know what he’s seen, but it’s easy to give that.

“We’ll appeal that as Jefferson Lerma has got off with one on the weekend and our player has four stitches across the eye and was bleeding profusely so we expect that continuity is upheld.

“It’s getting into the game, I'm sure that if the boy has an element of honesty about himself then he'll look at it and thought ‘I've probably let myself down there’ as he's got sent off himself.

“So he’ll cost his team, but he's got ours sent off and it didn't look good in any way shape or form, I'd be embarrassed if I was him, but we'll see.”

Defender James Bree also added: “We've just been speaking about it and Locks is adamant he's not touched him and I've actually seen it and there's no way that he's got anywhere near him.

“I don't know what they’re both doing, I think Toney has made a big meal of it to be far, we’ll have a look at that and I think it’s going to get turned over a thousand per cent.”