Burton Albion vs Luton Town FC (27th Apr 2019)

BURTON ALBION 2 LUTON TOWN 1

Brewers hit back from a goal down to take all three points

The Hatters go into the final week of the season top of Sky Bet League One on goal difference from Barnsley after Burton Albion came from behind to win 2-1 at the Pi

James Collins had fired the Town ahead in the first half with his 25th goal of the season, but the Brewers hit back with a second-half double from joint top scorer Lucas Akins giving them all three points.

That sets up a final week of the season in which the Town could still be promoted without playing on Tuesday night, should Portsmouth and Sunderland's results from their games in hand against Peterborough and Fleetwood go in our favour, before a huge clash with Oxford at Kenilworth Road next Saturday.

Harford made just one change to his starting line-up, with James Shea returning in goal after missing the last two games through illness, and Marek Stech dropping to the bench.

The only other alteration to the teamsheet on the bench was with the return of Alan McCormack after six weeks out injured, the veteran midfielder replacing youth team defender Corey Panter.

With the wind wreaking havoc with any attempt to play the ball in the air, the Hatters soon settled into their usual rhythm and it was the trusty combination down the right – Shinnie to Stacey – that created the first opening in the tenth minute, but Berry’s far post header went wide.

The hosts were playing some good stuff too though, and it was Albion who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening quarter when Marcus Harness spun on the edge of the Town box and fired in a shot that Shea tipped onto the crossbar.

The opening goal came on the half-hour, and inevitably it was that man Collins, who was in the right place at the right time to profit after Lee had wriggled his way past John Brayford on the left of the Albion area, only to see his shot saved by Stephen Bywater.

After seeing the ball hit the back of the net for the 25th time this season, former Brewers loanee Collins raced to the Town bench to celebrate, before taking the acclaim of the 1,700-plus travelling Hatters at the other end of the ground.

The Hatters survived a huge penalty shout three minutes later when Scott Fraser went down, referee Peter Wright waving play on, before Shea had to dive to his right to keep out a Kyle McFadzean drive.

The Town keeper was alert to another Harness effort from distance three minutes before half-time, but Mpanzu relieved the pressure that was mounting by nicking the ball and bursting from the edge of the Town penalty area, getting the it back via LuaLua in the Albion area, and curling a 20-yarder over the bar.

With the wind at their backs, the Town started the second half well in the ascendancy and Bywater was almost caught out as Justin drilled a right-wing corner in to his near post, but thr Burton keeper fisted the ball

A series of corners followed, and from the third, Pearson had the ball in the back of the net with a far post volley, but referee Wright ruled it out for a foul in the six-yard box.

The hosts started to apply pressure at the other end, and they were level just after the hour when Lucas Akins turned the ball in from close range after Brayford headed Stephen Quinn's left-wing free-kick back across goal.

The Brewers were on top by this point, and midfielder Jamie Allen fired high and wide from 25 yards as the Town struggled to gain a grip on the game, before Harness had the freedom of the area but steered his shot wide of the upright.

Burton were ahead in the 73rd minute when Akins grabbed his second of the game, getting on the end of another ball flashed across the six-yard box by Brayford.

Harford, having already introduced George Moncur for the injured LuaLua, made a double substitution with just over ten minutes to go, bringing on forwards Harry Cornick and Jason Cummings for Lee and Berry.

Cummings was soon on the floor in the box after going down under a challenge from Kieran Wallace as he looked to get on the end of a cross from Mpanzu, but ref Wright was unmoved.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley ©, Justin, Mpanzu, Berry (Cummings 79), Shinnie, Lee (Cornick 78), Collins, LuaLua (Moncur 72). Subs: McCormack, Baptiste, Connolly, Stech.

Goals: Collins 30

ALBION: Bywater, Brayford ©, Allen, McFadzean, Fraser (Hutchinson 84), Akins, Fox (McCrory 88), Harness, Wallace, Quinn, Daniel. Subs: Hawkins, Bradley, Miller, Hutchinson, Campbell, Clarke.

Goals: Akins 62, 73

REFEREE: Peter Wright

ATT: 4,903 (1,721 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFNLb13g8Bw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Rlq0b7KQE

Hatters blow the chance to go up with Brewers defeat

League One: Burton Albion 2 Luton Town 1

Luton Town blew a massive chance to seal promotion to the Championship this afternoon, going down to a 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion.

With an hour gone, it had looked so, so much different for the Hatters, leading 1-0 through James Collins' 25th of the season and on their way up, as Barnsley were drawing at home to Blackpool, Sunderland all square with Portsmouth.

However, the visitors couldn't hold their nerve for the final 30 minutes, conceding two soft goals to the Brewers, Lucas Akins scoring both, to ensure a nerve-jangling weekend at home to Oxford United next weekend.

Luton boss Mick Harford made one change, recalling goalkeeper James Shea for Marek Stech, while on the bench, Alan McCormack was fit enough to return.

The hosts made the better start, looking by far the more dangerous early on, with Akins putting a header over the top.

Luton did finally create an opening, Andrew Shinnie finding his partner in crime Jack Stacey on the right, his cross nodded wide at the back post by Luke Berry.

With 19 minutes gone, the Hatters were indebted to the woodwork for keeping them level, as a clever free kick routine saw Marcus Harness hammer goalwards and Shea got just enough to deflect his shot on to the crossbar and away.

Kazenga LuaLua tried his luck from 25 yards, Stephen Bywater claiming easily, with Town severely hampered by the wind during the first period, any clearance from defence being swept straight back to them or out of play.

Despite barely threatening, Town then took the lead on the half hour when Elliot Lee did superbly to trick his way past John Brayford inside the area.

His low shot was saved by the legs of Bywater, but there was Collins lurking to fire home from close range and give Luton a crucial opener.

They were fortunate to remain in front when Scott Fraser went over Matty Pearson's challenge in the area, referee Peter Wright not awarding a penalty, while Shea was then at full stretch to claw away Kyle McFadzean's 30-yarder.

With Luton guilty of playing the ball around unnecessarily at the back at times with the elements against then, they gave possession away, Shea required to make a sprawling stop from range.

Town still had the odd moment, Mpanzu bursting from inside his own half to release Kazenga LuaLua on his left, the winger's cross blocked and Mpanzu picking up the rebound, only to slam over the top.

To get to the interval ahead was a major feather in the Hatters' cap, as they would have taken remaining on level terms such was the strength of the wind facing them.

It should have led to far easier second half with conditions finally in their favour, and Town did appear far more comfortable during the opening stages, Lee almost doubling the advantage, his effort blocked.

However, Burton were still looking positive, Colin Daniel's attempt straight at Shea who gathered well.

Town had the ball in the net on 57 minutes when the visitors won four corners in a row, the last seeing Matty Pearson bundle over the line, but the whistle had already gone for an apparent infringement.

Albion were level just after the hour when a silly free kick given away by Stacey led to the ball being swung in and headed back across goal for Akins to convert from on the line.

Buoyed by that goal, the Brewers hunted a second, Jamie Allen scuffing off target and them Harness putting a great opportunity wide as Luton couldn't clear their lines.

The occasion was appearing to get to the Hatters, second to every loose ball and lacking the urgency and desire to go for a second goal which could have sealed the deal.

Harford's men then found themselves behind on 73 minutes, as Brayford was given far too much time on the right hand side to send over a low cross that was tapped home by Akins.

Luton threw on Jason Cummings and Harry Cornick, but they created precious little in a hugely frustrating final 15 minutes, Mpanzu's wayward blast from the edge of the box the closest they came to ever beating Bywater for a second time.

The result means Town are now level on points with Barnsley at the top, with the Tykes defeating Blackpool 2-1.

However, Portsmouth's 1-1 draw at Sunderland means that the Hatters can still go up on Tuesday night, if Pompey lose at home to Peterborough and Sunderland fail to beat Fleetwood.

A draw for Portsmouth would still be enough on paper, due to Luton's superior goal difference, but it has suddenly become a lot more nervier than boss Harford would have wanted.

Brewers: Stephen Bywater, John Brayford (C), Jamie Allen, Kyle McFadzean, Scott Fraser (Reece Hutchinson 84), Lucas Akins, Ben Fox (Damien McCrory 88), Marcus Harness, Kieran Wallace, Stephen Wallace, Colin Daniel.

Subs not used: Callum Hawkins, Josh Clarke, Harry Campbell, Will Miller.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, Luke Berry (Jason Cummings 78), Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 78), James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua (George Moncur 72).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Alan McCormack, Alex Baptiste, Aaron Connolly.

Referee: Peter Wright.

Attendance: 4,903.

Harford: That was our worst performance so far

Luton boss Mick Harford slammed his side’s display in the 2-1 defeat at Burton this afternoon as the ‘worst’ he has seen since taking over the club back in January.

The Hatters had one foot in the Championship with an hour gone at the Pirelli Stadium, thanks to James Collins’ first half goal.

However, Lucas Akins’ second half double condemned Town to a second loss in four games, with the visitors not at the races after the interval, looking surprisingly lacklustre, despite the prize that was at stake

Harford said: “I’ve said to the players in there, we’ve got a chance, one last chance next week against Oxford.

“We didn’t perform today, ever since I was given the opportunity to manage the football club, that was probably our worst performance in terms of the way we played.

“I don’t mind getting beat and I think Burton thoroughly deserved the victory, I thought they played very well, their movement, they were very good and we couldn’t contain them at times.

“So you’ve got to give them a little bit of credit, but overall we’re very, very disappointed.

“We move on and I will not accept the way we played today in terms of the way we played, we went too long at times, we went too direct and it’s not what we’re about.

“Maybe the players, maybe ourselves, the staff, maybe we were a bit edgy, but we felt we didn’t really have any control in the game today and that’s the most disappointing factor.”