Bristol City vs Luton Town FC (25th Apr 2021)

Report | Bristol City 2-3 Luton Town

Cornick's first of the season as Town come from 2-0 down again!

For the second time this season, the Hatters turned around a two-goal half-time deficit to run out 3-2 victors at Bristol City this afternoon - with Harry Cornick's first goal of the season proving the winner!

Manager Nathan Jones' half-time introduction of top scorer James Collins and Cornick changed the game, with Collins nodding in the first before Elijah Adebayo levelled and Cornick grabbed the most deserved goal of the season in the space of 15 second-half minutes.

The second-half flip, mirroring what happened in the home game against Sheffield Wednesday in February, and similar to the win at Wycombe in the last away game when the Hatters were one down at the break, lifted Town up to 11th in the Championship table.

Jones named an unchanged line-up from the 0-0 draw against Reading on Wednesday night, including Ryan Tunnicliffe, who was drafted in last minute after Luke Berry sustained an injury in the warm-up for that game.

Kazenga LuaLua started for the third match in a row, joined on the opposite flank by Jordan Clark, providing attacking support to lone striker Elijah Adebayo.

The Hatters had the game's first attempt on goal in the fifth minute, Adebayo driving past his man on the left side of the penalty box and hitting a left-footer that flew narrowly over Daniel Bentley's bar.

Referee John Busby deemed it had taken a deflection of the sliding defender's leg, and from the resulting corner the Hatters had the ball in the net, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's inswinger going over Bentley, but again the official had the final say, penalising Ryan Tunnicliffe for impeding the keeper on the goal-line when there appeared little contact.

City had the next attempt, Nahki Wells firing wide with 20 minutes on the clock, then Simon Sluga had to be quick off his line to fend off an attempted lob from the same player who had raced on to a lofted ball over the top, the Croatian keeper saving with his face and ref Busby waving away the hosts' appeals for a penalty.

Clark was soon stretching the City defence at the other end, taking a pass from James Bree inside the area and turning his man, only to see his shot flash across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post.

It was the Robins who took the lead just after the half-hour, however, when Adam Nagy drove forward from halfway and fed Wells to the right of the Town penalty area, with the former Huddersfield and Burnley striker firing across Sluga into the bottom corner.

It was two in the 38th minute when Nagy followed up after Sluga had initially saved Wells' header, the midfielder squeezing the ball under the Town keeper from a tight angle to double the City advantage.

The Hatters tried to hit back before the break, and Clark forced Bentley into a reaction save in injury time as Bree's volley into the ground from Naismith's deep cross found the wideman's head on the edge of the six-yard box.

Jones made his two changes at half-time, bringing on Collins for LuaLua and Cornick for Tunnicliffe, and it almost brought an immediate response, Collins having two headers at goal in the 48th minute.

The first, from a Cornick long throw on the right, saw Bentley push the ball towards Adebayo, who stabbed it back across the face of goal but Tomas Kalas managed to clear before Collins could finish.

The second, this time from a Cornick cross from the same flank, found Collins rising above Kalas but unable to keep his header down.

Town had started the half on the front foot, but City striker Tommy Conway fired a warning shot across the face of Sluga's goal before Collins made it third time lucky with a header that halved the deficit in the 59th minute.

Dewsbury-Hall whipped a corner in from the right and Collins stole a march on his marker to get to the near post and turn the ball past Bentley with the faintest of flicks for league goal number ten of the season, 13th in total including his Carabao Cup hat-trick against Norwich on the opening day.

The Town were on level terms in the 68th minute, Dewsbury-Hall again the architect with a left-wing cross into Adebayo, who opened the face of his right boot to steer his effort in off the far post from 12 yards.

It was the striker's fifth goal since signing in January from Walsall, where he had already netted ten times in League Two this term, making it 15 in total.

Things were to get even better on 74 minutes when Cornick, having gone the entire campaign without netting the goal his performances have deserved, had the ball land at his feet from Dewsbury-Hall's mis-hit shot in the middle of the penalty area.

The striker span and hit it left footed past Bentley and was joined in celebration by the whole team, bar Sluga, who knew exactly what it meant to the former Bournemouth man!

Conway thought he had dragged City back level in the 88th minute, but the flag was up for offside and the Town ran out winners once again by the odd goal in five!

Town: Sluga; Bree, Pearson, Bradley (C), Naismith; Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe (Cornick 46), Dewsbury-Hall; Clark (Potts 86), LuaLua (Collins 46); Adebayo (Rea 86).

Substitutes: Shea, Cranie, Potts, Cornick, Moncur, Rea, Collins, Nombe, Morrell.

Goals: Collins 59, Adebayo 68, Cornick 74

Bristol City: Bentley; Sessegnon, Vyner, Kalas (C), Rowe (Hunt 71); Lansbury (Scott 71), Bakinson (Janneh 86), Massengo, Nagy (Baker 71), Conway; Wells (Semenyo 70).

Substitutes: O’Leary, Hunt, Mariappa, Baker, Scott, Palmer, Pearson, Semenyo, Janneh

Goals: Wells 31, Naby 38

Referee: John Busby

Nathan Jones' reaction to comeback victory against Bristol City!

The gaffer's take on three points at Ashton Gate...

Nathan Jones was pleased with the fight his team showed to comeback from two goals down to win against Bristol City!

The manager was disappointed with the manner in which his side conceded two goals, first to Nahki Wells and then shortly followed by Adam Nagy. But fortunately, the Hatters fought back and claimed three points, much due to the impact of James Collins and Harry Cornick, who both scored from the bench.

“We didn’t do the basis well first half,” the gaffer insisted. “That is what we can’t forget because we are a side that are built on doing the basics well, defending well, and if you don’t do that well at this level then you get punished and that is what happened.

“You go in at half-time and you think ‘where has that come from’, because we had chances but second half, we were more us. We were on the front foot, we were aggressive and we went after them.

“We got the goal, belief turned and we did the basics right. There was only ever going to be one winner second half, once we scored the first, we went after the second. Once we got the second, we went after the third and to be honest with you it could have been more.

“Collo had chances straight after half time, there were some scrappy ones that could have gone anywhere so on the balance of everything, it was thoroughly deserved."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc8Vdc1k69Q – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qdms3NcWac – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka6mbbMZvvY – reverse angle

Wonderful second half display sees Luton come from 2-0 down to beat Bristol City

Championship: Bristol City 2 Luton 3

A tremendous second half display saw Luton come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 for the second time this season with a marvellous comeback victory at Bristol City.

After a bitterly disappointing opening period which saw the Hatters fail to ever get going with a display miles away from the kind they had produced against Watford and Reading, Nathan Jones' side turned things around in the second period, thanks to three goals in 16 minutes from James Collins, Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick's long overdue first of the season.

The Hatters were unchanged for the contest from their goalless draw with Reading on Wednesday night, and had made the early running, Adebayo's fierce shot earning what looked like a generous with keeper Dan Bentley not looking like he got a touch.

True enough, referee John Busby then blew for an apparent infringement on the City stopper that only he saw when the set-piece was delivered by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and bundled into the net, the goal predictably chalked off.

A low quality beginning saw Nahki Wells drag his shot wide from 20 yards as both sides struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities, while the Robins striker was then denied by a brave save from Simon Sluga, who took his shot flush in the face after he raced on to Steven Sessegnon's ball over the top.

Town responded with their best moment in the opposition area, James Bree finding Jordan Clark, whose turn and shot flashed narrowly wide.

The opening goal then arrived, somewhat out of nothing on 32 minutes as after a lengthy spell of possession, a ball on the right saw Naismith rashly attempt to win it in front of his man.

Unable to, he was then caught out of position, leaving a vast gap in behind, allowing Adam Nagy to drive into the area, where he found Wells who clinically drilled an angled attempt past Sluga.

Wells then fluffed a great chance to make it 2-0, as with Luton caught square by a lofted ball over the top, he was picked out in the area, only to volley it back where it came from, complaining of a push by Sonny Bradley.

Town didn't heed the warning though, as on 38 minutes Henri Lansbury's free kick was met by Tomas Kala, who found the unmarked Wells.

His header was well saved by Sluga, but Town's defence couldn't react quickly enough, Nagy first to the loose ball to slot home the second.

Hatters might have had a response on the stroke of half time, Naismith's cross met by Bree whose bouncing volley landed invitingly for Clark, his header drawing a fine reaction stop from Bentley.

Jones reacted to a well below par first half showing, bringing on Collins and Cornick for Tunnicliffe and LuaLua at the break and Luton looked a different side from the word go.

The alterations almost made an instant impact, Cornick's long causing danger, as both Collins and Adebayo couldn't turn it in, City just about hacking clear, before Collins put his header over the top.

City hunted a third though, Han-Noah Massengo getting his control all wrong inside the area, as Sluga fingertipped Tommy Conway's effort away.

Luton then had a way back into the game just before the hour mark as a corner from the right was speared in by Dewsbury-Hall as Collins escaped his marker to get the merest of touches and divert it into the net for his 13th of the season.

Town then levelled on 68 minutes when another cross from Dewsbury-Hall was met by an impudent sidefooted flick by Adebayo that hit the base of the post and dribbled over the line to make it 2-2.

Robins boss Nigel Pearson responded with a quadruple substitution in a bid to breathe new life into his side, but before any of the new players had a chance to make an impact, Luton had completed their turnaround, to move 3-2 in front on 74 minutes.

Dewabury Hall was involved again, his long range shot rebounding kindly for Cornick who was able to spin and beat Bentley on his left foot to end his long 45-game search for a goal, with his first of the season, and first since scoring at Leeds on June 30.

Massengo volleyed well over as a shell-shocked home side were now searching for an equaliser, a position that hadn't looked likely at half time.

Collins had a real chance to put the result beyond doubt with seven minutes left, but volleyed into the ground after Cornick's long throw flicked off a home defender's head.

The hosts thought they had rescued a point with two minutes left, Conway prodding the ball over the line from close range, only for a flag raised by the assistant referee to halt his celebrations.

With no further alarms in the final seconds, Town were able to leapfrog both Stoke City and Millwall to sit 11th in the able, with the top 10 position that Jones is hunting, now well within reach.

Robins: Dan Bentley, Adam Nagy (Nathan Baker 71), Henri Lansbury (Alex Scott 71), Nahki Wells (Antoine Semenyo 71), Tomas Kalas (C), Tommy Rowe (Jack Hunt 71), Zak Wyner, Tyreeq Bakinson (Saikou Janneh 86), Tommy Conway, Han-Noah Massengo, Steven Sessegnon.

Subs not used: Max O'Leary, Adrian Mariappa, Sam Pearson, Kasey Palmer.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Kal Naismith, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Harry Cornick 46), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark (Dan Potts 86), Kazenga LuaLua (James Collins 46), Elijah Adebayo (Glen Rea 86).

Subs not used: James Shea, Martin Cranie, George Moncur, Joe Morrell, Sam Nombe.

Referee: John Busby.

Jones felt Luton deserved Robins victory after excellent second half display

Town chief hails the impact of his substitutes at Ashton Gate

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side got their rewards for an excellent second half display as Town came from 2-0 down to beat Bristol City 3-2 at Ashton Gate this afternoon.

The visitors had looked like they were on their way to defeat at the break, Nahki Wells and Adam Nagy both profiting from defensive errors to put the Robins in the driving seat.

However, Jones brought on James Collins and Harry Cornick for the second period, with both on target either side of Eljah Adebayo’s clever finish, to score three times in 16 minutes and ensure the points went back to Bedfordshire.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “We didn’t do the basics right first half and that’s what we can’t forget as we’re a side that’s built on doing the basics well.

“Hard work, defending well and if you don’t do that at this level you’ll get punished, as Nahki Wells is a very good footballer.

"The second goal is a disgrace from our point of view, in terms of giving the ball back to them, we just go lazy and allow them to get the first header, we’ve got no numbers and it’s exactly like the Blackburn goal, that’s a disgrace for us, I’m really disappointed with that.

“You go in and think, ‘wow, where has that come from?’ As we had chances, we scored a perfectly good goal, which the referee felt he made an error from the corner, so what he did was he evens it up, which was wrong but that’s what happened.

“Then second half we were just more us, we were on the front foot, we were aggressive, we went after them, we got a goal, belief returns, we do the basics, and there was only ever going to be one winner second half.

“Once we got first, we went after the second, once we got the second, we went after the third, to be honest with you we had quite a few chance.

“Collo’s had a chance right after half time, there was a lot of scrappy ones that bounced around that could have gone anywhere, so on balance of everything, thoroughly deserved.”

Jones knew at the break he had to alter his side, bringing off Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kazenga LuaLua to beef up Town’s attacking options.

He added: “You’ve got to go after the first goal, we made positive changes and we usually do, we had to do that against Sheffield Wednesday when we didn't do well first half and then when we step on to teams and do things well, we're aggressive, we’re a good side.

"We’re 11th in the league, with a game in hand that could take us up to 10th or ninth so we have to be doing something right.

“When they forget or when they go lightly, they've had to earn their way to get here, and they have to earn their right to be here and impact at this level, and then when we’re a different side.

“We got punished because first half even though we moved the ball really well and did certain things really, really well, we didn't do what we do well and that was the thing that disappointed me.

“But I’m delighted with the win, lets not have any negatives about it.

"It's a great way to win a game, Harry Cornick getting the winner, both your subs getting a goal, three strikers getting a goal and it couldn’t have been a better afternoon.

“Lessons to be learned, but absolutely delighted and really proud as Luton manager.”

Town boss didn't think there was any luck behind decision to disallow late City equaliser

Work on the training ground pays off for Hatters

Luton manager Nathan Jones didn’t feel there was a huge amount of luck involved in seeing a late goal disallowed for the second week running during Sunday’s 3-2 comeback win over Bristol City.

Following on from last weekend’s derby day 1-0 victory against Watford, which saw ex-Hatter Andre Gray’s stoppage time equaliser chalked off due to an assistant referee’s flag, it was the same at Ashton Gate yesterday.

This time, another corner was sent into the Town area where young forward Tommy Conway thought he had squeezed it over the line to make it 3-3 despite the intervention of Kal Naismith who was adamant it hadn't gone in, wheeling away to celebrate what would have been a first senior goal.

However, once again the flag was up for offside against the Robins striker, who noticed just before embarking on what looked a certain kneeslide celebration, as Luton avoided any further scares to emerge triumphant.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “It is the right decision, it’s offside.

“I keep saying it’s structure as we leave certain people unmarked and we squeeze so that anything headed back, he’s offside.

“Providing no-one goes to sleep it's kind of planned, it’s not luck, so we're delighted.

“Even a point here coming back from 2-0 down would have been a good one, but three is brilliant and takes us on nicely.”

However, Jones was less than pleased with his defence for their efforts during the first half which were anything but planned, allowing the hosts move 2-0 in front without having to do that much in which to score both times.

The first saw Naismith beaten over commit to a ball forward, and with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu unable to prevent Adam Nagy driving away, he found Nahki Wells to drill past Simon Sluga.

Then Naismith was outjumped from a deep free kick and after an unmarked Wells' header was parried by Sluga, Nagy converted the rebound.

Jones didn't mince his words when picking apart either goal, adding: "We stepped in and we missed a tackle, two of them did, we didn’t stop the play, then we got exposed and then they punished us.

"It's a great ball and Nahki Wells a great finish.

"The second goal is just sacrilege, we have a free kick, Nahki Wells went down and he only got kicked in the proverbials to be fair.

"Why we stopped the play I don’t know? It seemed like a friendly, 'ah we’ll do that', any ruthless team goes 'no, you’ll recover, we’ll go and attack'.

"Then from the free kick, we've given the ball back and switch off, someone ran off the back of Pelly, they overloaded and it's just sacrilege.

"We shouldn’t be doing that and that’s the thing really, so I can’t say we weren't at it, cant say we didn't do this, didn't do that, we just didn't do the basics right.

"If we come in at 0-0, we’ve got to just step it up, but it's a great way to win a game.

"Second half we stepped on to the game and we deservedly got three goals as I think we had enough chances to score three goals and then we managed to show a clinical edge."