Cardiff City vs Luton Town FC (10th Aug 2019)

CARDIFF CITY 2 LUTON TOWN 1

Former Hatter Vassell sinks the Town with last-gasp winner

The Hatters suffered injury-time heartache at Cardiff this afternoon as former Town striker Isaac Vassell headed in a last-gasp winner to inflict a first defeat of the season on Graeme Jones' side.

The Town had dominated possession and Matty Pearson deservedly headed them level in the 86th minute after Aden Flint had put the hosts in front soon into the second half.

But it was Vassell - signed from Birmingham City on transfer deadline day after being linked with a return to Kenilworth Road - who had the final say, rising to meet fellow substitute Junior Hoilett's 95th-minute cross and seal a first three points of the campaign for the side just relegated from the Premier League.

Manager Graeme Jones made two changes to the side that drew with Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship season opener last Friday.

Coming into midfield for his full debut after a substitute's appearance in the 3-3 thriller at Kenilworth Road was Jacob Butterfield, while George Moncur also started after impressing from the bench against Boro.

Andrew Shinnie and Elliot Lee are the two men who drop to the bench as a result, where they are joined by one of the three deadline day loan signings, James Bree, with Lloyd Jones the man to miss out.

So the Town started with a back four of Martin Cranie, Pearson, captain Sonny Bradley and Dan Potts in front of goalkeeper Simon Sluga, with Butterfield anchoring a midfield also containing Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Ryan Tunnicliffe, with Moncur, Callum McManaman and James Collins as the front three.

The hosts made a flying start, wideman Josh Murphy wasting three good openings in the first three minutes as the Town rode their luck in front of a buoyant home crowd.

The Hatters found their feet gradually, however, and after some terrific passing right from the back, McManaman had the first attempt on goal after Butterfield's eight-minute free-kick was headed clear, but the summer signing from Wigan couldn't keep his volley down from the edge of the box.

Sluga was at his best to prevent the Bluebirds taking the lead on 16 minutes when he tipped Sean Morrison's header onto the crossbar, then Murphy fizzed a low ball across the six-yard box that Gavin Whyte failed to convert with the goal at his mercy.

Murphy was soon the first name into referee Darren Bond's notepad as he went down too easily under challenge from Mpanzu.

Town were playing some lovely football when in possession, and another patient move from the back led to the first real sight of goal, with Moncur putting Potts clear on the left.

The full-back made ground towards the City box and his low cross was right into Mpanzu's path, but it was McManaman who got the final effort in, hooking the ball towards goal off the midfielder's touch, only for Alex Smithies to make a good save with his body.

The Hatters' openings were all falling McManaman's way, and the next came a minute before half-time when Moncur whipped an inviting cross in from the left touchline, but the forward couldn't keep his header down as he stole a march on his marker Joe Bennett.

Moncur had the first shot on goal of the second half, letting fly from 22 yards but the ball flew harmlessly over Smithies' bar again.

But within seconds the Town were behind as Murphy curled a free-kick into the six-yard box from deep on the Cardiff left, and centre-half Aden Flint stabbed it past Sluga at the far post.

Jones responded by putting Harry Cornick on in place of Moncur, but the hosts were in the ascendancy and from another high ball into the six-yard box, Collins had to deflect a goal-bound shot from Murphy for a corner, with Sluga out of his goal.

Cornick's pace threatened to bring the Town level just after the hour when he intercepted a ball in front of Bennett and raced to the byline, picking out McManaman with his cut-back, but the former West Brom man couldn't get his shot off and Cardiff smuggled the ball clear.

Collins then pulled a dangerous-looking cross back, which Mpanzu retrieved and sent a curling effort wide, before Cornick drove to the same byline once more and found last season's top scorer lurking on the edge of the six-yard box, but Collins' snap-shot found the side-netting.

There was a let-off for the Town in the 69th minute when Junior Hoilett, just on as a sub for Murphy, delivered a semingly inch-perfect cross for Robert Glatzel, but the German striker didn't connect with his header in front of goal.

James Bree was introduced for his debut in place of Cranie, then Luke Berry came on for Butterfield with just under ten minutes of normal time remaining as Jones searched for a way back into the game.

And it was Berry who helped provide the breakthrough the Hatters deserved when his right-wing corner found Pearson's head with four minute left, and the centre-half found the bottom corner with a thumping effort, sending the 2,000 travelling Town fans at that end of the ground into delirium.

Town still had some defending to do, Potts heading a Joe Ralls cross clear under pressure inside his own six-yard box, before Berry threw himself in the way of a follow-up shot from the edge of the area.

There was last-gasp heartache though, and it came in familiar form with ex-Hatter Isaac Vassell coming on as an injury-time sub and nodding in from close range for the 96th-minute winner.

TOWN: Sluga, Cranie (Bree 74), Pearson, Bradley (c), Potts, Butterfield (Berry 84), Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Moncur (Cornick 55), McManaman, Collins. Subs: Lee, Shinnie, Galloway, Shea.

Goal: Pearson 86

Yellows: Collins, Potts

CARDIFF: Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Morrison (c), Flint, Ralls, Glatzel (Vassell 90+1), Murphy (Hoilett 68), Paterson, Pack, Whyte (Vaulks 76). Subs: Day (GK), Bacuna, Nelson, Bogle.

Goal: Flint 52, Vassell 90+6

Yellows: Murphy, Paterson

REFEREE: Darren Bond

ATT: 24,724 (2,064 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MzTghu0RJ8 – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkwxdMRklLo – Graeme Jones interview

GRAEME JONES REFLECTS ON THE DEFEAT TO CARDIFF

Town boss Graeme Jones was left frustrated as his side conceded a late goal in a 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City.

After getting back on level terms through Matty Pearson’s header with 86 minutes gone – having fallen behind to Aden Flint’s back-stick finish at the beginning of the second half – former Town striker Isaac Vassell nodded in from close-range right at the death to ensure his side took all three points.

Jones said: “I think that’s the definition of the Championship and how ruthless it can be. That’s the level, that’s the league and we’ve had an experience of it today and we need to learn from it.

I am not thinking about who scored for them, I am thinking about stopping the cross, about punching the ball, about Luke Berry trying to have some composure in a real frantic moment for both teams. Isaac Vassell scoring, it’s a result of not stopping the cross and giving the ball away. It’s a big lesson.

“We’re slicing at things, putting it out for throw-ins, they’re fatigued, we’re fatigued, that’s the way they play, it’s not how we play, We need to think. We need to show composure in key moments, that’s when you really gain confidence. So I can easily come in here and talk about positives, because they were a Premier League club two months ago and for 94 minutes we competed, no question about it.

“But if you’re going to earn something in football, you have to earn it for the full period and we didn’t. We competed and we played really well for 94 minutes, but the game is 95 and we got what we deserved.”

Heartache for Hatters as Vassell wins it at the death for Bluebirds

Championship: Cardiff City 2 Luton Town 1

Former Hatter Isaac Vassell popped up with a stoppage time winner as Cardiff earned a late, late victory against Luton Town this afternoon.

It had looked like the visitors were going to leave Wales with a valiant point, Matty Pearson equalising with just five minutes to go.

But Vassell, who signed for the Bluebirds from Birmingham City on deadline day and had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds, rose highest to flick home Junior Hoilett's excellent cross at the death to nick it for Cardiff.

The manner of the defeat was harsh on Graeme Jones' side, who once more didn't look out of their depth throughout the 90 minutes, showing that they are more than capable of plying their trade at this level.

However, one moment of poor marking from a set-piece and then Vassell's header meant that they left empty-handed.

Jones made two changes to his side from the 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough, Jacob Butterfield handed his full Luton debut, while George Moncur also came in, Elliot Lee and Andrew Shinnie dropping to the bench.

Deadline day signing James Bree was on the bench, although Izzy Brown and Luke Bolton weren't included.

City were almost in front within 60 seconds as a long ball over the top was misjudged by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Robert Glatzel fed Josh Muprhy through on the left, his angled shot going wide, with Sonny Bradley managing to get out of the way of turning it into his own net.

Murphy went close moments later, as he was sprung through again with Town getting in a tangle clearing their lines, but on his right foot this time, fired into the side-netting.

Town looked to get to grips with proceedings, as Moncur and Dan Potts combined well for a free kick that was headed out as far as Callum McManaman, who volleyed over.

On 15 minutes, Town keeper Simon Sluga produced a terrific stop when Sean Morrison headed Joe Ralls' free kick goalwards, flicking out a glove to turn the effort on to the bar, the rebound nodded over.

Joe Ralls then fluffed his lines after breaking into the box, while chief architect Murphy delivered a low cross that Gavin Whyte couldn't convert at the back post.

The heavily-involved Murphy was shown a yellow on 21 minutes though, going down in the box under minimal pressure from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, referee Darren Bond showing the £11m attacker a yellow for diving.

Town had their best chance of the half on 35 minutes, when Moncur sent Dan Potts away on the left and from his cut back, McManaman spun to shoot, the ball deflecting behind for a corner.

Cardiff tried to put some pressure on an increasingly assured looking visitors, Murphy trying his luck, only to find Bradley in the way once more.

Luton then had their best chance just before the break, as Moncur dug out an excellent cross from the left, McManaman unable to direct his header on target from eight yards out.

City then lead on 52 minutes when a deep free kick was poorly defended by the Hatters, no-one picking up their men and Aden Flint was left all alone to prod past the exposed Sluga and break the deadlock.

Murphy went close to making it 2-0, as Sluga couldn't collect a header across goal, with the winger's volley cannoning behind for a corner.

Just as Cardiff looked like extending their advantage, Town, who brought on Harry Cornick for Moncur, should have levelled.

The substitute was released on the right, picked his head up well and found McManaman in the area who dallied far too long and was tackled by the covering Flint.

Mpanzu curled over, before the Town fans though they were celebrating an equaliser on 65 minutes, Cornick again doing well, getting to the byline and finding Collins whose snapshot flashed inches wide of the post.

City brought off the dangerous Murphy, replacing him with Junior Hoilett, whose first action was to send over a cross that Glatzel completely missed when unmarked.

Town introduced Bree for his debut in place of Cranie for the final 15 minutes as they hunted for that leveller.

They had it with five to go as well, Luke Berry on and swinging over a corner that Pearson majestically headed past Alex Smithies after timing his run to perfection.

City then came back strong, Luton unable to clear their lines or stop the ball being pumped into their box, Vassell taking full advantage to win it for the hosts.

Bluebirds: Alex Smithies, Lee Peltier, Joe Bennett, Sean Morrison (C), Aden Flint, Joe Ralls, Robert Glatzel (Isaac Vassell 90), Josh Murphy (Junior Hoilett 68), Callum Paterson, Marlon Pack, Gavin Whyte (Will Vaulks 75).

Subs not used: Joe Day, Leandro Bacuna, Curtis Nelson, Omar Bogle.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie (James Bree 74), Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Jacob Butterfield (Luke Berry 85), Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, George Moncur (Harry Cornick 55), Callum McManaman, James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Brendan Galloway, Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee.

Booked: Murphy 21, Paterson 45, Collins 61, Potts 90.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Attendance: 24,724.

Jones: We must learn lesson from Cardiff defeat

Town boss Graeme Jones felt his side learned a big lesson from their last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City this afternoon.

Hatters had a point well within their grasp when Matty Pearson levelled with five minutes remaining, only to see ex-Luton attacker Isaac Vassell head home in stoppage time after the visitors were unable to clear their lines.

Jones, who was looking to sign Vassell in the transfer window, only to see the striker head to Wales, said: “That’s the Championship and how ruthless they can be.

“That’s the level, that’s the league and we’ve had an experience of it today and we need to learn from it.

“We’re slicing at things, putting things out for throw-ins, they’re fatigued, we’re fatigued, that’s the way they play, it’s not how we play.

“We need to think, we need to show composure in key moments, that’s when you really gain confidence.

“So I can easily come in here and talk about positives, because they were a Premier League club two months ago and for 94 minutes, we competed, no question about it.

“But if you’re going to earn something in football, you have to earn it for the full period and we competed and we played really well for 94 minutes, but the game is 95 and we got what we deserved.

“I’m not thinking about who scored, I’m thinking about stopping the cross, I’m thinking about punching the ball, I’m thinking about Luke Berry’s tried to have some composure for us in a real frantic moment for both teams.

“Isaac Vassell, that’s result of not stopping the cross and giving the ball away, not controlling the moment, and as I’ve said, it’s a big lesson.”