Cardiff City vs Luton Town FC (28th Nov 2020)

Match Report | Cardiff City 4-0 Luton Town

A tough afternoon at the Cardiff City Stadium ends in defeat...

The Hatters endured a difficult afternoon as they fell to a disappointing defeat in South Wales.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change from Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City in midweek, bringing in Ryan Tunnicliffe in the place of Elliott Lee.

Three minutes in and Cardiff took an early lead through Sean Morrison. Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson’s in-swinging corner found Cardiff’s skipper as he tapped in from close range having lost his marker at the back-post.

Five minutes later and Cardiff doubled their advantage in disappointing fashion for the Hatters. Wilson’s fellow Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo turned provider this time, charging down the left flank and delivering into Mark Harris, who finished low to Simon Sluga’s right.

A difficult opening ten minutes for Luton as they found themselves with a mountain to climb early on.

Despite the score line, the Town responded well, coming close to halving the deficit within minutes of Cardiff’s second. Tuesday night’s man-of-the-match Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall released Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu beyond the Cardiff back-four, only for his left-footed effort to go just wide of Smithies’ right post.

Luton continued to respond well to the early setbacks, but it was Cardiff who almost added a third with successive chances before half-time.

Sluga slipped whilst receiving a back pass from Sonny Bradley allowing scorer Mark Harris to collect and cut-in on his right, but Town’s record signing stood strong to deny the Bluebirds a third, before also denying Keiffer Moore after he was released through on goal.

Nathan Jones made two changes before the half-time break, introducing summer signing Sam Nombe for his Luton debut alongside James Bree in place of Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu and Luke Berry, switching to a back three as the Hatters went in at half-time trailing by two goals.

The second-half started with both sides holding firm, however Cardiff continued to threaten from dead-ball situations. Joe Ralls headed wide following a long throw into the box, with Moore also missing the target from a corner shortly after. Fifteen minutes in and the Hatters were punished from a set-piece, once again failing to deal with a Wilson in-swinging corner allowing Welsh international Moore to head home for his fifth of the season.

The Bluebirds almost made it four after catching Luton out with a short free-kick down the right, but Ojo’s header from inside the six-yard box drifted over the bar.

Eight minutes from time and Ojo had his goal as the Hatters were once again punished from a Cardiff set-piece. Rea’s clearance only went as far as the on-loan Liverpool man on the edge of the box, who took a touch and fired low into the far corner past Sluga.

The Hatters almost found a late consolation after Joe Morrell drove forward and fired against the post from outside the box, whilst Glen Rea also fired over after great work from James Collins and Elliott Lee.

Luton are back in action on Wednesday night against league leaders Norwich and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing ninety minutes in South Wales.

Town: Sluga, Tunnicliffe (Lockyer 71), Bradley (C), Pearson, Cornick (Lee 60), Berry (Bree 42), Rea, Mpanzu (Nombe 42), Collins, Dewsbury-Hall (Morrell 71), Norrington-Davies

Subs not used: Shea, Cranie, Moncur, Clark

Cardiff City: Smithies, Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Vaulks, Ralls (Pack 67), Wilson (Whyte 76), Ojo (Murphy 85), Harris (Hoilett 76), Moore (Glatzel 67)

Subs not used: Phillips, Bamba, Bagan, Benkovic

Yellows: Nelson

Goals: Morrison (5), Harris (9), Moore (59), Ojo (82)

Nathan Jones' reaction to Cardiff defeat

Gaffer's thoughts on this afternoon's loss against Cardiff City...

Manager Nathan Jones was very disappointed following the Hatters’ 4-0 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City this afternoon.

The home side were two-nil up inside of 9 minutes and Cardiff scored a further two goals in the second period to condemn Town to a first defeat in five Sky Bet Championship matches.

“We lost to Reading last year but I understood that, we had a big week and it was one of those things. Two games in my life where I have been a little bit embarrassed and that is one of them. The other one came a year and a half ago in the FA Cup, but this was embarrassing to be honest with you.

“We knew what was coming, we thought just do the basics right and we build. We played not too differently to how we’ve been in recent weeks but when they put a ball to the back-stick and things happen that can’t happen. We were then done by a counter-attack, we didn’t work hard enough to stop it and then you’re nine minutes too late and you don’t know where it has come from because we started okay.

“It is reminiscent of the Millwall game if I’m honest, in terms of the set-up. They played 4-4-2 and they needed a result today. They worked hard for their manager which shows they are behind him but a little bit embarrassing for me and that has to stop.

“We talked about making eleven changes today to freshen things up but sometimes you can’t do that. I’m just a little bit embarrassed today to be honest.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0YCcmip3uw – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8yuvmJSTsE& - match highlights

Below par Hatters are hammered by Cardiff

Championship: Cardiff City 4 Luton Town 0

Luton Town produced one of their worst performances of the season as they were simply no match for Cardiff City this afternoon, falling to their worst defeat of the season.

The visitors, usually so defensively sound this term, found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes, a mountain they just couldn't climb, conceding twice more after the break, as their four game unbeaten run was convincingly ended.

Luton boss Nathan Jones made one change from the 1-1 draw with Birmingham in midweek, Ryan Tunnicliffe starting for the first time since the 1-0 defeat at Rotherham earlier this month, Elliot Lee dropping to the bench.

After being so hard to break down on their travels, especially since Jones returned as manager, Town were breached on five minutes as Luke Berry was felled just outside the box, but referee Josh Smith opted to play on.

When Luton's chance went begging, the hosts transferred play quickly up the other end, Kieffer Moore's shot excellently blocked by the covering Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

However, the danger wasn't over, as from the set-piece, Town were behind with a goal of incredibly simplicity, Harry Wilson's deep corner met by the completely unmarked Sean Morrison at the back post, who cleverly prodded into the net.

The second quickly arrived in just as alarmingly soft fashion with nine gone, Sheyi Ojo taking off on a run down the left hand side which wasn't stopped by Tunnicliffe, sending in a cross for Mark Harris to have the freedom of the area.

He took a touch and slotted into the corner, leaving Simon Sluga wrong-footed and Hatters already 2-0 behind.

A shell-shocked Luton almost had one back instantly when Dewsbury-Hall picked out the run of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who tried to beat Alex Smithies at his near post, the keeper touching behind.

Luton carried on looking open at the back, as when a corner of their own was cleared, Harris went for spectacular personal second, his ambitious volley taking a nick on its way behind.

Despite being two goals adrift, Town were still find some decent positions, with the feeling that the next strike was increasingly important.

However, defensively they were hanging by a thread at times, Joe Ralls sending James Collins' misplaced headed clearance wide and then the visitors almost sliced open again just before the half hour.

Sonny Bradley's attempts to find the top corner from 25 yards didn't come off, while Luton were almost 3-0 down on 33 minutes, Sluga slipping when attempting to clear his captain's backpass.

It was pounced upon by Harris, who went for goal, hammering a shot that Town's keeper managed to block with his shoulder from point blank range, the Croatian requiring treatment afterwards.

With five minutes to go until half time, Jones opted to make two changes, James Bree and Sam Nombe coming on, the latter for his Town and Championship debut, Mpanzu and Berry making way.

Nombe was almost involved in making it 2-1 before the break, Collins dragging wide from the edge of the box

Sluga ensured it remained just a two goal deficit using his feet well to repel a low Moore drive, as Jones resisted the temptation to change any more of his side during the interval.

The Hatters' intended fast start to the second period didn't ever materialise though, as in fact they should have fallen further behind on 53 minutes, Ralls directing his free header wide of the target.

Jones' men just couldn't handle the Bluebirds' menacing set-pieces throughout the afternoon though and it was no surprise when Moore got the goal he had been threatening, climbing above Bree to beat Sluga.

It should have been 4-0, Ojo somehow nodding over the bar from virtually on the line, as Jones rung all his changes as the game wore on, Lee, Tom Lockyer and Joe Morrell introduced.

Whatever he tried it didn't work though, Will Vaulks drilling into the stands, as Luton's miserable afternoon against set-pieces wasn't over yet Glen Rea only heading as far as Ojo, who made amends for his earlier miss by drilling into the bottom corner with seven minutes left.

The visitors almost had a consolation which was quite out of keeping with their efforts over the previous 90 minutes, Morrell driving forward and unleashing a brilliant strike that hit the inside of the post and bounced out.

Luton then showed more attacking intent in the final 60 seconds than at any time beforehand, Rea curling over on his left foot, but in all honesty, they were well and truly beaten.

Bluebirds: Alex Smithies, Joe Bennett, Sean Morrison ©, Will Vaulks, Leandro Bacuna, Joe Ralls (Marlon Pack 67), Kieffer Moore (Robert Glatzel 67), Curtis Nelson, Harry Wilson (Junior Hoilett 76), Sheyi Ojo (Josh Murphy 86), Mark Harris (Gavin Whyte 76).

Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Filip Benkovic, Sol Bamba, Joel Bagan.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Glen Rea, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Tom Lockyer 71), Ryan Tunnicliffe (Joe Morrell 71), Luke Berry (Sam Nombe 41), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (James Bree 41), Harry Cornick, James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Martin Cranie, George Moncur, Jordan Clark.

Booked: Nelson 4.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Jones left 'embarrassed' by the 'worst performance' of his two Luton spells

Town chief heavily critical of Hatters' display in Wales

An embarrassed Luton boss Nathan Jones declared today’s 4-0 defeat at Cardiff City as the ‘worst performance' of his two spells in charge of the club.

The Hatters never recovered from a terrible opening 10 minutes when they fell 2-0 down, Sean Morrison and Mark Harris both scoring.

Worse was to follow after the break, with Kieffer Moore and Sheyi Ojo on target to condemn Town to their biggest away defeat in the league since the 7-0 reverse at Brentford almost a year ago.

Prior to the game, the visitors looked to have a real chance of coming away with a positive result, with home manager Neil Harris under pressure from the Bluebirds fans following a disappointing start to the season, with just one victory recorded on home soil.

However, they easily doubled that record and might have won by further, as Jones said: “I’m a bit embarrassed if I’m honest, because of the level of performance, regardless of what we wanted to do and how we wanted to start, to be two down after nine minutes and the goals we gave away were a real, real embarrassment.

“We've got to be better than that as there was a little bit of a theme, exactly the same away at Millwall, it was identical.

"When you go 2-0 down after nine minutes, it’s very difficult to chase a game in the Championship.

“If you’re Bournemouth or Norwich maybe you can do that, with 60, 70, 80, 90 million pound budgets, you can do that, but we’re not in the position where we can go chasing games from 2-0 down.

“It was just not a good day at the office, third game in the week, real low energy we had, we didn't play well and we got punished for it.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, we were miles off it today.

"We were miles off it today, we were miles off the energy levels, the quality levels, we gave the ball away too easy, we were slow in our build up, we didn't stretch the play, we didn't turn them, we didn't win headers, we didn't win second balls, we got out-run, we got out-headed, if you need me to keep on, there was 100 things we didn't do well today.

“Cardiff were better than us, they fully deserved their win.

"For us, I'm a little bit embarrassed, I’m not saying it was an embarrassing performance, but I’m a little bit embarrassed, because that that was my worst performance since I've been Luton manager since 2016.”

The Bluebirds first goal came after referee Josh Smith had waved play on when Luke Berry was fouled just outside the hosts’ box, Cardiff winning the ball back and quickly transferring play up the other end to win a corner.

From the set-piece Sean Morrison escaped the attentions of Matty Pearson to score, as Jones wasn't about to blame the officials, rather criticise his own side’s defending as they looked woefully fragile every time Cardiff had a set-piece, three of the City goals coming from deadball situations.

He added: “I’ll have a look, I’d love to blame the referee, I'd love to say it was the referee’s fault, but it absolutely wasn’t.

“We were nowhere near the levels we need to be.

"Any time they put a ball in our box they looked dangerous and that’s the embarrassing thing for me.

“Whatever we tried to do in terms of shape and personnel it was futile as any time they put a ball in our box they actually got first contact and we’re usually good at that."

Looking back at the mistakes which led to the opening two goals, Harris left with time and space to beat Simon Sluga for the second, Jones added: “People didn't do their jobs it’s pure and simple.

“The first ball is right on Sonny Bradley’s head, somehow he feels he was fouled, he falls over, and Matty Pearson loses Sean Morrison, so I can’t analyse it any more, I can't show them any more videos, we can't show them more examples, we can't work on it any more.

“So just do your jobs, if they do their jobs they don't score the first goal.

"Then we concede to a counter attack on nine minutes where they didn't do their jobs, Cardiff will say it's well worked, for us it's horrific goals, real horrific goals.

“That’s why I’m a little bit embarrassed as 4-0 doesn't flatter Cardiff today.

"It's not like they scored four goals from four chances, Sluga actually made two or three very good saves, so that could have been five or six and that's the thing I'm little bit embarrassed about.”