Chelsea vs Luton Town FC (24th Jan 2021)

Match Report | Chelsea 3-1 Luton Town

The Hatters bow out in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup...

The Hatters gave a strong account of themselves against top-flight opposition as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea began as expected, dominating possession as both sides got to grips with the snow laden south-west London pitch.

Having picked a strong team, Frank Lampard’s side created the first opportunity of the game, as Hakim Ziyech sent Tammy Abraham in behind with Hatters record signing Simon Sluga racing out to the edge of his box to intercept.

After a steady opening ten minutes, Chelsea took the lead after a quick throw down the right found Timo Werner, swiftly pulling back to Abraham who slotted home past Sluga. Luton’s protests were waved away by referee David Coote, despite there clearly being two balls on the pitch when the throw-in was taken.

Six minutes later and England international Abraham had his second of the game. This time it was fellow international Reece James who provided the assist, with Abraham rising highest on the edge of the six-yard box to meet James’ floated cross from the right.

As the clock struck thirty minutes, the Hatters began to grow into the game with a spell of possession in the Chelsea half that finished with James Bree receiving possession down the right, pulling back to Jordan Clark who fired in a low half-volley that was fumbled by Chelsea ‘Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Town continued to grow into the game as the half wore on, looking more comfortable in possession and denying their Premier League opponents any sight of goal. Luton went into the half-time break having halved the deficit and with everything to play for in the second half.

Nathan Jones made one change at the break, with Dan Potts replacing Glen Rea, moving Kal Naismith forward and Mpanzu higher up the pitch behind frontman Harry Cornick.

Chelsea started the second period brightly, creating the first opportunity of the half. The Blues once again found James overlapping down the right, who fired in a low cross that USA international Christian Pulisic fired straight at Sluga.

After an extended spell of Chelsea pressure, Arrizabalaga denied Cornick the opportunity to equalise. Substitute Dan Potts broke away down the left, with Mpanzu finding Cornick who’s 1v1 effort was saved by Chelsea’s stopper.

Nathan Jones introduced the trio of James Collins, Luke Berry and Kazenga LuaLua on the hour mark as the Hatters continued to more than match their top-flight opponents.

Chelsea substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi was causing problems for the Hatters down their right-flank, chipping a ball into Abraham who headed just wide.

Moments later and Chelsea restored their two-goal lead after great work down the left. Abraham tapped in from close range for his hattrick after sublime play from Hudson-Odoi and Billy Gilmour down the left flank.

As the time ticked down, Timo Werner was clipped in the box by Luton goal scorer Jordan Clark as Chelsea caught the Hatters out on the counter. The former Leipzig man’s subsequent penalty was saved brilliantly by Sluga, giving the Hatters a glimmer of hope going into the final minutes.

Despite being unable to pull a goal back in the closing stages, the Hatters performed admirably and will have plenty of positives to take into next weekend’s Championship clash with Blackburn.

Town: Sluga, Bree (LuaLua 60), Lockyer, Rea (Potts 45), Bradley (C), Naismith (Moncur 75), Dewsbury-Hall, Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe (Berry 60), Clark, Cornick (Collins 60)

Goals: Clark (30)

Yellows: Clark

Subs not used: Shea, Hylton, Lee, Nombe.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, James, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson, Mount (C) (Kovacic 84), Gilmour, Ziyech (Havertz 77), Werner, Pulisic (Hudson-Odoi 70), Abraham (Giroud 77)

Goals: Abraham (11,17,74)

Subs not used: Caballero, Rudiger, Jorginho, Chilwell, Azpilicueta.

Nathan Jones reacts to defeat against Chelsea

Listen to the gaffer's reaction following defeat in the fourth round...

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased his side were able to give a good account of themselves in this afternoon’s 3-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round.

Chelsea took an early two-goal lead but the Hatters fought back through Jordan Clark, and had further chances throughout the game. Tammy Abraham secured his hat-trick in the second half but Town can hold their heads high, as the gaffer insisted post-match.

“I’m proud of the group and how we went about our work, it shows we are in a decent place," said the Welshman. "We started not great, that was a lot to do with tactics, so I take blame for that in terms of I wanted us to be bold, on the front foot. I wanted us to win the ball back, I wanted us to have solutions so we can play.

“We didn’t quite implement that well enough, so we had to change. When we changed we were far more comfortable and that got us back in the game right before half-time. We had another chance on 60 minutes and look, we have competed here today.

"It has been a real, long, tough week as we said. Three away games on the trot, Bournemouth, Brentford and then Chelsea. They don’t get much harder than that as a Championship team and we have shown that we’ve grown as a team, grown as a club and it is a tough defeat to take, but we have to remember who we’re playing against – a top four Champions League side and we have come a long way.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cBO-HrlZY0 – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGk0arMv4qo – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPBzxync-Hw – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmS_GDURd0 – pitchside camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJrGVLH0KO8 – extended match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHHRaCCCyf4 – BBC match highlights

No FA Cup upset for the Hatters as Abraham's hat-trick sinks Luton at Stamford Bridge

FA Cup fourth round: Chelsea 3 Luton Town 1

Luton put up a brave display as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League champions and eight-time winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

The visitors looked like they could be on the end of a bit of a mauling at one stage, falling 2-0 behind inside the opening 20 minutes to Tammy Abraham's quickfire double.

However they rallied, thank to Jordan Clark's opportunistic strike on the half hour and were well in the game until 16 minutes from time when Abraham completed his hat-trick to finally kill off the visitors' hopes of causing an upset.

Simon Sluga then saved a late penalty to ensure the scoreline didn't have a harsher feel to it, as the Hatters could leave Stamford Bridge with their heads held high.

Boss Nathan Jones made four changes to his side, dropping leading scorer James Collins to the bench, with Kal Naismith in for his first start, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Glen Rea and Jordan Clark all included as well, Dan Potts, Luke Berry and George Moncur among the substitutes.

The hosts went strong for the clash, Frank Lampard going for a team that cost over £230m in transfer fees including Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, plus England internationals Mason Mount and Reece James, while they had an even more expensive bench, with some £260m plus of talent among the replacements.

As expected, Chelsea had the majority of the early possession, Abraham breaking the offside trap, with Sluga out quickly at his feet.

Mount saw his shot deflected over, with Kurt Zouma heading the resulting corner off target, but the Blues went in front on 11 minutes when Sluga's poor goal kick went straight out for a throw.

As Town switched off, play was quickly transferred down Chelsea's left, with Werner finding an unmarked Abraham to easily slot into the bottom corner, although Luton had cause for complaints with a second ball being on the pitch when the move had begun, which under the rules should have led to play being stopped.

Abraham then made it 2-0 just six minutes later, when James delivered an exquisite cross from the right and he rose above Town's defence, with Sluga unsure whether to come or stay at home, glancing a header into the net.

Luton responded well to the goal though, as a short corner routine saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall swing a ball over for Harry Cornick to head into the empty stands.

Chelsea always looked dangerous in attack though, one marvellous dummy by Werner releasing Christian Pulisic, his low shot deflected away by the feet of Sluga.

Out of nowhere, Luton were back in the game on the half hour as a good ball by Mpanzu released James Bree on the right and he picked out Clark whose close range attempt beat the weak efforts of Kepa, gifting Luton an unlikely lifeline.

Pulisic curled over the top after another incisive Blues move, who were not completely rattled, but certainly irked by the goal, with Werner unable to prod his volley on target.

The final action of the first period saw Bradley meet Dewsbury-Hall's free kick, but this time Kepa clung on.

Jones swapped Rea for Dan Potts at the break, as Luton were almost caught out on their left, James sending over a low cross that Pulisic met, only to see Sluga react well with his legs once more.

Abraham was a whisker away from connecting with another cross in as he hunted his treble, while Mount cracked over after being teed up outside the box.

Town then fashioned their best chance of the game on the hour when Potts got the better of James' poor touch and raced away on the left.

He found support in Mpanzu, who in turn fed Cornick, the Chelsea fan seeing Kepa finally show his credentials with a strong left hand to parry away.

That was the last action for Cornick though, part of a triple sub as James Collins came on for his 500th career appearance, Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry also introduced, Bree and Tunnicliffe making way.

Abraham's chip dropped wide of the target as the striker should have wrapped up his treble with 20 to go, placing a downward header wide.

He finally did reach the personal milestone he had been threatening all game, side-footing home from close range after Luton were sliced apart on their right by sub Callum Hudson-Odoi and Billy Gilmour's clever one-two.

Town sub George Moncur almost pulled one back immediately, his curler flying wide of the target from outside the box.

Blues boss Lampard increased his attacking options, bringing on £71m signing Kai Havertz and French international Olivier Giroud, the latter's chip collected by Sluga.

The Crotian was to keep the scores down again with five minutes remaining when the hosts won a penalty after Werner was fouled by Clark.

The German stepped up himself, but was denied by an excellent stop from Town's keeper who sprung to his left to parry.

Luton couldn't quite find another goal to make it a nervy finale for their illustrious opponents, as it was Chelsea who went on to face Barnsley in the next round.

Blues: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Andreas Christensen, Tammy Abraham (Olivier Giroud 76), Christian Pulisic (Callum Hudson-Odoi 70), Timo Werner, Kurt Zouma, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech (Kai Havertz 76), Billy Gilmour, Reece James, Emerson.

Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell, Cesar Azpilicueta.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree (Luke Berry 62), Kal Naismith, Tom Lockyer, Glen Rea (Dan Potts 46), Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Kazenga LuaLua 62), Jordan Clark, Harry Cornick (James Collins 62).

Subs not used: James Shea, Sam Nombe, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, Elliot Lee.

Bookings: Clark 85.

Referee: David Coote.

Jones: Chelsea defeat is a learning curve for all of us

Hatters chief felt he got things slightly wrong tactically early on at Stamford Bridge

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt this afternoon’s FA Cup 3-1 defeat at the hands of Premier League Chelsea was yet another learning curve for both himself and his players.

The hosts, on a bad run of form in the league, showed they meant business from the start, manager Frank Lampard selecting a team worth almost £250m of talent, while three England internationals Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Reece James all started.

The extra class came shining through early on, Abraham scoring twice as the Blues led 2-0 inside 20 minutes, as Jones admitted he didn't get his system quite right for the tie.

Once he altered things though, Jordan Clark make it 2-1 with half an hour gone, and had Harry Cornick levelled the scores in the second period, it might have been a different game, only for Abraham to complete his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go.

Jones said: “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and I accept a little bit of responsibility for that as I wanted to be bold in terms of our shape, in terms of what we did, so we could get a little bit more possession in the game as I didn't just want to defend.

“Maybe we got things tactically wrong, or not quite there in the first 15 minutes, but after we made the change, I thought we were excellent throughout.

“We were disciplined, we had a goal threat, we scored, could have scored on the edge of half time, but we’re playing against a wonderful side here who overall deserved to win.

“It's a great test for us so I'm very proud of the group for that and it's a learning curve for all of us.

“A learning curve for me as a manager, learning curve for the players, but this week will give us great belief ironically as we only won one in the three games, but as a Championship team, it was probably the hardest week you can have near enough.

“Going away to Bournemouth, away to Brentford, away to Chelsea and in all three games we've been good.

“We were excellent at Bournemouth, we were excellent for 60-65 minutes against Brentford, we just couldn't quite get the goal and today we've shown we have no fear of a top for Champions League team.

“They’re a fantastic side and congratulations to Frank for the win, but they're a wonderful side with some outstanding players and we can't compete at this level at this point.”

Luton boss Jones hits out at a lack of 'respect' shown to him by officials during Chelsea defeat

Boss angry that opening Blues strike was allowed to stand

Luton boss Nathan Jones hit out at referee David Coote for showing him a lack of respect during Town’s 3-1 FA Cup fourth round defeat at Chelsea this afternoon.

The Hatters chief was left bitterly annoyed with the opening goal of the contest on 11 minutes after the Blues didn’t use the same ball that Luton keeper Simon Sluga had cleared into touch from his goal kick, despite a multi-ball system not being in place.

To make matters worse, as the hosts took the throw-in, there were then briefly two balls on the pitch, the second being kicked out of play by a Chelsea defender, but it should be seen play stopped by the officials.

It wasn’t the case though, Tammy Abraham taking advantage to score the first goal of his hat-trick, as disappointed Jones said: “The rules have changed apparently, so I don’t know when but the rules have changed.

“First of all, we asked the fourth official is it multi-ball? He said ‘no’, so you have to use the same ball.

“The reason the ball’s are on the sidelines is because if they go into the top of the stand, there’s no crowd there to throw it back, so you use another ball, but there’s no multi-ball.

“I asked the referee if it was multi-ball and he just kept quoting the rule book to me, so I have no idea, I couldn't get clarification.

“I waited 30 minutes and he actually got changed and has gone, so I’m baffled, I don’t know what's going on as I did not know.

“I’ve been a professional footballer for 29 years, I've been a manager and a coach for nine, and in all that time when a second ball comes on the pitch, play stops, but apparently not today, so I don’t know.

“If the rules have changed and I don't know about it then fine, so one, we think it shouldn't have stood, but two, if the rules have changed then fine.

“When I went to speak to the referee, he literally couldn't make eye contact with me, he treated me with the biggest amount of disrespect I've ever been treated with and just kept quoting a rule book about something I wasn't actually asking him, so it puzzled me.

“I’m supposed to be wearing a badge today that says ‘respect’ on, it's got to be two ways.

“Who am I supposed to have respect for? I have respect for everyone I come up against, but today we were shown very little from the referee and that saddens me.”

Hatters chief explains why Luton players were late out for the second half during Blues cup clash

Town's changing room location the reason for delayed appearance

Luton boss Nathan Jones has explained the reasons behind why his side were late returning to the Stamford Bridge pitch for the beginning of the second half during their 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea yesterday.

The fourth round clash, shown live on the BBC, had already kicked off later than its allotted noon start time, was then delayed by a good few minutes as the Town players were slow in reappearing after the break, earning them an ear-bashing from referee David Coote.

Jones denied than he was trying to engage in any gamesmanship though, with Luton trailing 2-1 in the tie, revealing it was down to the Hatters being unable to use the away team dressing room due to Covid social distancing regulations.

He said: “It’s probably a 90-second, two minute walk (to the changing rooms), so when he blows for half time, it takes us two minutes to get back.

"By the time we have our staff meeting and go and talk, suddenly it comes, the bell rings, but we don’t know that there’s a bell because there’s no bell there, as we’re changing in a leisure centre.

"Then we have another two minutes to walk back, so it’s strange times, Covid times, we understand that.

"Instead of coming out and the bell going and being straight in the tunnel, we’re two minutes away, so it’s just because of the times.”