Burton Albion vs Luton Town FC (22nd Nov 2014)

Hatters defeat on first trip to Burton

The Hatters fell to their first defeat in 11 League 2 matches after losing narrowly at Burton Albion.

After dominating the first half, the Town fell behind two minutes into the second period when Albion defender Phil Edwards rose to plant a header into the top corner.

After going behind, the Hatters pushed the home side back but couldn’t find a way through the Brewers’ back-line and the Town’s misery was compounded in injury time when Luke Wilkinson was shown a straight red card for a professional foul.

The Town lined up with two changes to the side that beat Tranmere last weekend with Scott Griffiths and Shaun Whalley given starts. Fraser Franks and Mark Cullen both dropped to the bench.

Backed by a magnificent following of 2,000 supporters, the Hatters almost gave the travelling hordes an early goal to celebrate in the second minute. The ball sat up kindly for Luke Guttridge on the edge of the box and his left-foot volley flew goalwards. For a moment it looked as though the ball would sail home, only for the hands of home goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin to turn it over the crossbar.

And, in truth, that was as good as it got where chances were concerned in a first half that the Town dominated without being put under any serious pressure from the Brewers.

The Town were enjoying a lot of their success thanks to Whalley’s pace and trickery down the right flank. The winger thought he should have had a penalty on nine minutes when he tumbled in the box but referee Adcock waved away the midfielder’s claims.

The Hatters’ patient approach almost paid off on the quarter-hour when Guttridge, having taken a pass from Jake Howells, saw a firm drive from the edge of the box charged down by the Burton defence.

Mark Tyler, making his 250th appearance in Luton colours, made his first contribution of the game in the 18th minute when he slid to claim the loose ball after Adam McGurk’s shot from inside the penalty area was blocked by the Town defence. Tyler then hung in the air to pluck out a towering back-post header from Phil Edwards four minutes later.

As the half came to a close, the Town upped the ante. Whalley dropped a shoulder on 32 minutes to cut inside and fire a shot from the edge of the box that Shane Cansdell-Sherriff did well to get his body in the way of.

Just before the break Tyler was put under pressure by a short back-pass from Stephen McNulty but with the home attack bearing down on him, the keeper he was able to clear.

However, two minutes into the second half, with their first clear-cut chance, Burton took the lead. Scott Griffiths conceded a left-wing corner and from it defender Edwards rose to nod home into the top corner of the net.

Hurt from going behind the Hatters responded well. Whalley’s surging run down the right came to an end on the edge of the box, but no Town man could get on the end of Guttridge’s dangerous free-kick.

On 55 minutes John Still made his first change of the game, introducing Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu in place of Howells.

The change was followed eight minutes later by another as Luke Guttridge made way for Ricky Miller, the Town’s hero against Tranmere last week.

But the Hatters had a touch of fortune as Stuart Beavon picked out Alex MacDonald on 66 minutes and the home forward miskicked and Griffiths was able to clear the danger.

The Town continued to push Burton back though , with the home side only threatening on the counter-attack. With 20 minutes to go Still sent on Andy Drury as his third and final substitute, replacing Nathan Doyle.

With 15 minutes left and with the Town pushing forward, Burton spurned a great chance to double their lead when Beavon’s pass found MacDonald free inside the penalty area but he could only side-foot his shot across goal and inches past the post.

As time ticked down the Hatters came mighty close to finding an equaliser. Paul Benson's 12 year drive was denied by a fine save from McLaughlin with seven minutes remaining and 30 seconds later Griffiths was inches away from getting on the end of a right-wing cross when left unmarked in the penalty area.

A minute later Miller was gifted the ball in the Burton penalty area but off balance and on his right foot he could only swing his shot wide.

The Hatters continued to push forward in search of a late equaliser, and in five minutes of stoppage time McNulty saw a header claimed by McLaughlin.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time Wilkinson was then shown a straight red for hauling down Matty Palmer as the Town ended the game with 10 men but after over seven additional minutes the home side held out to record a win.

TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle (sub Drury 70), Smith, Guttridge (sub Miller 63); Howells (sub Ruddock Mpanzu 55), Whalley; Benson. Subs: Justham, Franks, Cullen, Rooney.

Attendance: 4,772, including 1,998 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-burton-1-0-town-2098324.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihSbvKijjak&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Burton Albion 1 Luton Town 0

Luton Town saw their proud 11-game League Two unbeaten run ended as they were knocked off top spot after a narrow defeat at Burton Albion, who leapfrogged them in the process.

The Hatters couldn’t recover from conceding a goal moments after half time from full back Phil Edwards, while they will now be without centre half Luke Wilkinson for three games as he was shown a straight red in the closing stages.

Town chief John Still made two changes to the side that beat Tranmere Rovers last Saturday as Shaun Whalley came in for only second start of the campaign, while Scott Griffiths also returned at left back.

Leading scorer Mark Cullen dropped to the bench after suffering a knock in training as did Fraser Franks, with goalkeeper Mark Tyler making his 250th appearance for the club.

The Luton boss had spoken about being wary of the razzmatazz surrounding new Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s appointment, but there as little of that on display in a first half where both sides cancelled each other out.

Town almost made the best of starts as Michael Harriman’s long ball forward was flicked on by Paul Benson and Luke Guttridge’s instinctive left footed volley was tipped over the bar by the back-pedalling Jon McLaughlin.

Tyler had his first real work on 23 minutes, claiming Edwards’ looping header as he was a virtual spectator in the first 45 minutes.

The recalled Whalley looked impressive on his return too, dropping a shoulder to see a shot charged down by the covering Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, while Hatters saw penalty shouts from both Whalley and Wilkinson waved away.

Luton then came close through Jonathan Smith as he just failed to connect at the back post with Guttridge’s inswinging corner.

After an opening period devoid of any real goalmouth action, the Brewers took the lead immediately after the break when Edwards was left unmarked to head home from a corner.

The goal was the first time Luton had trailed in the league for 12 games since Plymouth on September 6 as Griffiths was given a severe tongue-lashing from captain Steve McNulty after the goal.

Hatters boss Still reacted by swapping Jake Howells and Guttridge for Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Ricky Miller, but Smith wasted a good break forward, firing waywardly off target with Whalley well placed to his right.

Burton had a great chance to seal the points on 75 minutes as Stuart Beavon found Alex MacDonald racing through, but he slid agonisingly wide of the post with just Tyler to beat.

Town then won a cheap corner and after the ball was met by Wilkinson, Smith’s snapshot was blocked behind, while Griffiths was within inches of meeting the second delivery with his head.

Miller then picked a pocket in the area but took his snapshot early and could only flash wide on his right foot, while once McNulty’s header was pounced on by the impressive McLaughlin, Hatters’ chances were gone.

Town’s afternoon then ended on a low point as Wilkinson received his marching orders after tugging back Matty Palmer who was through on goal.

The result saw Hatters drop to third in the table, as Wycombe reclaimed top spot after a thumping 4-1 win at Cheltenham Town.

Brewers: Jon McLaughlin, Phil Edwards, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, John Mousinho (C), George Taft, Robbie Weir, Stuart Beavon, Alex MacDonald, Damien McCrory, Adam McGurk (Bryn Morris 73), Matty Palmer (Liam Slade 88).

Subs not used: Chris Weale, Lee Bell, Jacob Blyth, Joe Doyle, Marcus Harness.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Scott Griffiths, Shaun Whalley, Jonathan Smith, Luke Doyle (Andy Drury 70), Jake Howells (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 55), Luke Guttridge (Ricky Miller 63), Paul Benson.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Fraser Franks, Mark Cullen, Luke Rooney.

Booked: Weir 58. Sent off: Wilkinson 90.

Attendance: 4,772.

Referee: James Adcock.

Hatters MOM: Shaun Whalley. Looked a constant menace on his return to the side.

Still has no complaints over Hatters defeat

Hatters boss John Still had no complaints after his side saw their 11 game unbeaten run in the league ended by Burton Albion yesterday.

Town’s first trip to the Pirelli Stadium finished in disappointment, as the Brewers, with new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink taking charge at home for the first time, ran out 1-0 winners.

Still said: “I was pleased with our performance, for the away team against a good side with a little bit of hype because a new manager has come, I thought we controlled large parts of the first half.

“We silenced the crowd, we kept the ball very, very well, played some reasonable football and Mark (Tyler) hasn’t really had anything to do.

“Second half, take the goal away, Mark hasn’t had anything to do and I thought the ascendancy was with us.

“But they’re a good side, they’ve won, good luck to them, I’m not disappointed with my team, in fact if I looked at the game, I think I would be more happy with my team than perhaps Jimmy would be with his team and that’s how I see, I’m not talking for him.

“But I’m pleased with how we played, the intensity, we kept going, everyone tried as hard as they can, we were just waiting for that opportunity to come, but it didn’t.

“Sometimes it’s not your day, but its been our day for quite a few times hasn’t it, so we’ll roll on again.”

The one disappointment Still did have was with how Town were eventually beaten, as unmarked full back Phil Edwards headed home from a corner just seconds after half time.

He added: “We conceded a goal from a corner which we don’t do.

“To be fair to Jonathan Smith, he’s put his hands up as he just lost the runner, other than that, we’ve done everything we can to win the game.

“I’m really pleased with the application. I’m disappointed with the result, but I’ll be disappointed sometime in the season I’m sure.”