Cheltenham Town vs Luton Town FC (1st Oct 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:46 1st October 2016 Robins hit back for a point after Hylton stunner

Cheltenham Town 1 (O’Shaugnessy 64)

Luton Town 1 (Hylton 52)

Att: 3,660 (923)

The Hatters made it three games unbeaten and took another point from the second long away trip of the week after Cheltenham hit back to cancel out Danny Hylton’s stunning sixth goal of the season.

Hylton walked the ball into the Cheltenham net after nut-megging a defender and rounding the keeper seven minutes into the second half at Whaddon Road.

But the hosts belied their lowly second-from-bottom position in the table to bombard the Town defence with some fine set-piece deliveries, and took a share of the spoils with Daniel O’Shaugnessy’s equaliser 12 minutes later.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 up at Hartlepool on Tuesday night, with captain Scott Cuthbert returning to the starting line-up seven days after being stretchered off with a worrying neck injury against Doncaster last Saturday, Jordan Cook coming back into midfield and Hylton returning from his one-match ban up front.

Cheltenham had the first sight of goal in the sixth minute when former Hatter Asa Hall created space for a shot just inside the area, but Alan Sheehan threw himself in the way of it and diverted the ball wide for a corner.

The hosts continued to probe in the early stages, and O’Shaughnessy saw a header drift wide of the far post before Christian Walton had to get his body behind an effort from the sliding Jack Munns.

The Town’s first chance came in the 19th minute when, after a patient build-up saw Cameron McGeehan feed the ball out to James Justin on the right-wing, the 18-year-old delivered a cross that was deflected to Hylton beyond the last defender, but the striker couldn’t direct his volley on target.

Hall soon created another opportunity for the Robins, but Danny Wright’s header from 12 yards out was wide and in general, the Town defence was having to hold strong, with Cuthbert, Sheehan and Potts heading crosses clear and keeper Walton commanding his area well.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fashioned a chance for himself on the edge of the box on 34 minutes, but the midfielder’s left-footed shot cleared the stand at the Prestbury Road end of the ground that is currently named after the Hatters’ main sponsor SsangYong!

Walton had to be at his best once more in the 38th minute when Hall let fly from 25 yards, the on-loan Brighton man flying across his goalline at full stretch to push the ball wide. Seconds later, he came out to collect another cross from the right wing, holding on despite being clattered by home striker Wright, who was spoken to by ref Trevor Kettle.

The big goalkeeper comfortably dealt with another long-range effort, this time from right-back Jack Barthram, as half-time approached and the sides went in level at the interval.

The Town took the lead with their first effort on target, and when it came, Hylton proved his class by almost walking the ball into the net after playing a major part in the build-up too.

The move started with Sheehan deep in his own half, spreading the ball to Cuthbert who carried it forward and fed Hylton down the inside right channel. The striker held the ball up and laid it back to Justin, who clipped a lovely ball back into Hylton’s path between the right touchline and penalty area.

The former Oxford striker nutmegged the covering Cheltenham defender and as Russell Griffiths came racing out, he waltzed around the keeper, took his time along the edge of the six-yard box and picked his spot in the home net as two defenders tried to cover the line.

It was almost two in the 57th minute when Cook’s low free-kick from the right was dummied by Jack Marriott and McGeehan, executing the training ground routine almost to perfection, fired millimetres wide of the near post with home keeper Griffiths rooted.

The hosts were level on 64 minutes, however, when Wright’s header from Munns’ corner was cleared off the line, but O’Shaugnessy followed up to ram the loose ball home.

Munns’ deliveries were proving dangerous as the pressure from the home side mounted, and from another left wing set-piece – this time a free-kick – Harry Pell flicked a header over the bar and the Town could breathe a sigh of relief.

With 15 minutes to go, Hall sent another long-distance effort just over Walton’s crossbar, moments before Aaron Downes was booked for hauling Hylton down at the other end.

McGeehan stepped up to arrow in the resulting 25-yard free-kick that skipped up off the greasy turf in front of Griffiths, forcing the keeper to spill the ball, but his defenders managed to smuggle it away.

Having already taken Jack Marriott off for Jonathan Smith, Jones then threw Alex Gilliead into the fray in place of Mpanzu.

Hall twice threatened to win it for the hosts in the closing stages, McGeehan throwing himself in the way of his 87th-minute shot on the edge of the box, seconds before Walton scrambled across his line to claw away the former Town midfielder’s deflected strike.

As the game entered four minutes of added time, Olly Lee fired a 25-yarder that Griffiths again fielded at the second attempt, before Hall cracked another effort in that the Town defence blocked well.

Up the other end, Justin delivered another great cross from the right that Hylton headed into Smith’s path, but the midfielder couldn’t keep his right-footed effort down and the Town were forced to settle for another hard-earned point on the road.

TOWN: Walton, Justin, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts, Lee, McGeehan, Mpanzu (Gilliead 82), Cook, Hylton, Marriott (Smith 76). Subs: O'Donnell, Gray, McQuoid, Famewo, King (GK)

Yellows: Cuthbert

CHELTENHAM: Griffiths, Barthram, Downes, Pell, Waters (Morgan-Smith 74), Wright, Munns (Dayton 81), Hall, Cranston, O'Shaughnessy, Dickie. Subs: Parslow, Kitscha (GK), Whitehead, Suliman, Smith.

Yellows: Waters, Downes, Pell

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-cheltenham-town-3340355.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgP2xT9ldQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puNBUxU28zA

Hatters boss Nathan Jones deemed it a point earned after his side drew 1-1 away at Cheltenham Town.

Danny Hylton gave the Town the lead through an excellent piece of skill, before O’Shaugnessy levelled from close range.

Speaking to the press after the game, Jones said: “I am a bit frustrated in terms of the way we played, but credit to Cheltenham.

“They stifled us and put us under pressure from any dead ball situation. We didn’t really get going, it is a difficult place to come. We started the second half better and got the goal, and then we are disappointed to concede from a set-piece.”

Cheltenham Town 1 Luton Town 1

Luton came away from Cheltenham with a point but a sense of frustration as, in a town more synonymous with the gee-gees, they just weren't at the races.

A masked and deadly, Danny Hylton gave the Robins the Dick Turpin treatment, with his wonderful 52nd minute solo effort. Highway robbery, as that was the Hatters' first shot on target. They managed just two more.

While that was a lesson in ruthlessness, it was not matched by the defence. Scott Cuthbert conceded a soft corner and the Robins were allowed two stabs at a leveller. First Danny Wright had an effort cleared off the line, but Daniel O'Shaughnessy – who'd had his blood twisted by Hylton for Luton's goal – redeemed himself to thump in the rebound.

It was a seventh straight game without the clean sheet that manager Nathan Jones had called for in the week.

That they only conceded the one, was the real success as they were outplayed and bombarded aerially throughout but found the Robins short of killer instinct in a case of the league table lying – with Luton beginning the day in second and the Robins second from bottom. At the end of it, the visitors slipped down to fourth in the League Two.

"[I'm] a little bit frustrated in terms of how we played, but credit to Cheltenham, they stifled us, they put us under pressure, especially from any dead ball situation," Jones said, adding: "We knew we had to be better in the second half, we got the goal and then we're disappointed to concede from a set play. We've earmarked that because 54 per cent of their goals have come from set plays. Now, that's probably slightly higher."

Hylton was one of three Hatters changes, returning from suspension, while Jordan Cook and Cuthbert were restored to the starting line-up after injury forced them off against Doncaster last weekend.

They found themselves on the back foot from the off and, barring the opener and the odd counter, there they stayed.

They had to wait until midway through the first period for a sniff and when James Justin's deflected cross looped up Hylton could only poke wide a difficult opportunity.

For all the hosts' height advantage, the Hatters had numerous let-offs. O'Shaughnessy should have put Cheltenham ahead early on but Luton as should Wright but both headers failed to hit the target.

Then, out of nothing, Hylton bagged his sixth of the season – and he need only slap himself on the back in praise. After a give-and-go with Justin the striker then turned O'Shaughnessy out wide, burst into the box, rounded keeper Russell Griffiths and then thumped into an empty net.

It could have been smash-and-grab with bells on had Cameron McGeehan been a couple of inches more precise, five minutes later, from a well-worked free-kick routine that saw Jack Marriott dummy Cook's set piece to set the midfielder up.

Instead, frustration loomed large when Cuthbert – excellent throughout in his repellence of Cheltenham – conceded a needless corner. O'Shaughnessy supplied the sickening blow.

There were a few nervous moments then as Cheltenham's Hall seemed determined to score against his old side, with one poked effort requiring ever measure of Christian Walton's 6ft 5ins frame to tip wide.

And though McGeehan and Olly Lee both hit the target in the closing stages, with Griffith fumbling the former, Luton never really threatened any late drama, which was emphasised when midfielder Jonathan Smith replaced Marriott to make his 150th appearance for the club and help shore things up for a point with 15 minutes to go.

There was no photo finish required, but this was hardly Gold Cup standard.

Cheltenham Town: Griffiths, Barthram, Downes, Pell, Waters (Morgan-Smith, 73), Wright, Munns (Dayton, 81), Hall, Cranston, O'Shaughnessy, Dickie

Unused subs: Parslow, Kitscha, Whitehead, Suliman, Smith

Luton Town: Walton, Potts, Cuthbert, McGeehan, Hylton, Cook, Marriott (Smith, 76), Mpanzu (Gilliead, 83), Lee, Justin, Sheehan

Unused subs: O'Donnell, Gray, McQuoid, King, Famewo

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Attendance: 3,660 (923)

Hatters boss Nathan Jones had mixed feelings over his side’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham yesterday afternoon.

The visitors were never at their best against a towering home side, but moved in front early in the second half through Danny Hylton’s sixth of the season, a fine individual strike.

However, Town were pegged back just after the hour mark when Daniel O’Shaughnessy netted from a corner that wasn’t dealt with, as Jones said: “I’m a little bit frustrated in terms of how we played, and so on, but credit to Cheltenham, they stifled us, they put us under pressure, especially from any dead-ball situation, so at the end of it, I’m a little bit frustrated, but it’s not a bad point.

“We had a few hairy moments late on, but you’re going to get that when you come to this ground, and it’s not two dropped, it’s a decent point.

“We probably should have scored a lot more on Tuesday night (against Hartlepool) and if we’d have taken our chances, then this would have been an excellent result and a fantastic week, seven points.

“Because we didn’t take our chance it feels a little bit disappointing, but it’s not. Over the context of a season, points are points, they all add up and it’s important not to lose these games, important not to lose when we’re not at our best.

“Some at the top have lost games and some have good results, but over the context of the season these will be the important performances and important points.”

The main aspect that frustrated Jones was the manner in which his side conceded, after being given specific instructions about the manner in which Cheltenham have been scoring this season.

He continued: “We started better second half, got the goal, and then we’re disappointed to concede from a set-play, because we’ve earmarked that.

“Before today, 54 per cent of their goals have come from set-plays, now that’s probably slightly higher.

“They’ve not just got one aerial threat, they’ve got three centre halves who are six foot plus, two central midfielders who are six foot plus in six three and six four, they have a front man who is plus six foot and thrives on that.

“They’re a difficult side to play against, difficult for us to get any kind of fluency, and to be fair, they played well.

“We didn’t really get going and I’m not saying that because we played badly, saying credit to Cheltenham as it’s a difficult place to come, tight little pitch, with the way they play too,”

Luton dropped back to fourth in the table after the result, but remain only two points behind second place Doncaster Rovers who won at Portsmouth, as Jones added: “We’d love to win at home and win away, but the important thing is we keep picking up points and don’t fall behind, or are playing catch-up.

“We’re in a good position, it’s very tight, but we’ve had a few that we probably should have won.

“Today was probably a fair result on clear cut chances and these are a decent side, so we’re happy with that.

“On Tuesday night we were by far the better side and should have won, so I’m a little bit more disappointed with that, but if we can pick up points away from home, we’d like to pick up threes, because they’re vital. I’m not delighted with a point as I wanted to win but in terms of the context of the week and our performance levels then that’s not a bad point.”

League Two: Cheltenham Town 1 Luton Town 1

Luton Town stretched their unbeaten run to three games with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town this afternoon.

Although never quite at their best against a direct Robins side, whose tactic of going long to the likes of Danny Wright was evident all afternoon, Hatters had given themselves a great chance of victory, going ahead early in the second half through Danny Hylton’s sixth goal of the season.

But despite manager Nathan Jones warning his side about Cheltenham’s threat from set-plays, with over 50 per cent of their strikes coming from such a manner this term, they couldn’t deal with a dangerous corner, as Daniel O’Shaughnessy levelled midway through the second period, to earn what was a deserved point.

Boss Nathan Jones made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Hartlepool, with as expected, Hylton came back into the side following his one game ban, while defender Scott Cuthbert made a heroic return from being stretchered off in a neck brace the previous weekend against Doncaster to lead the Town back-line.

Jordan Cook was also recalled, as Akin Famewo, Alex Gilliead and Jake Gray all dropped to the bench.

The hosts came close early on when former Hatter Asa Hall fashioned a shooting chance inside the area, his effort deflecting off Dan Potts and behind

Cheltenham enjoyed the best of the early moments too, O’Shaughnessy glanced wide from a corner, while Jack Munns put his effort too close to Christian Walton.

The visitors finally created a decent opening, when after working the ball wide with some neat interchanges, James Justin’s cross deflected into the path of Hylton, who could only miscue his volley wide.

Town’s worrying habit of allowing Cheltenham too much space in which to deliver their numerous crosses, particularly from the right hand side, almost cost them as the towering Wright rose highest to direct a header narrowly off target.

On 37 minutes, they finally tested Walton, Hall taking aim from 25 yards and his rasping daisy cutter drew a fine stop from the keeper at full stretch.

After failing to even remotely test home stopper Russell Griffiths in the opening period, Luton were then ahead with their first effort on target after just seven minutes of the second half.

A good move out of defence saw Hylton played in wide on the right and he showed terrific feet to nutmeg Aaron Downes, then delightfully sidestep the onrushing Griffiths, and with the goal at his mercy, gleefully fire into the open net.

Luton almost had a second moments later as an inventive training ground free kick routine saw Jack Marriott dummy Cook’s low ball in, with McGeehan side-footing inches wide.

The Robins levelled on 63 minutes though, as Town’s long search for a clean sheet stretched to seven games, with a strike that came about from a corner needlessly conceded by Cuthbert, and after having two bites of the cherry, O’Shaughnessy fired in.

Hylton almost put Luton swiftly back in front, but didn’t quite have the pace to make the most of Downes’ weak back header, with Griffiths out to smother at his feet.

The Robins, with the likes of the towering Harry Pell and Wright, remained a constant threat whenever the ball was launched into the box, as Pell flipped a header over the top, while Cheltenham brought on another ex-Hatter in striker Amari Morgan-Smith.

Hall’s curling attempt from range was only narrowly over the top, as Hatters then brought on Jonathan Smith for his 150th appearance in a Luton shirt, replacing Marriott with 14 minutes to go.

Had the striker remained on the pitch, he may have been in the perfect position to pounce when McGeehan’s free kick was fumbled by Griffiths, but as it was, no visiting player was there to turn in the loose ball.

With time ticking away, Luton were continually under the pump aerially and Hall almost grabbed a late winner, denied by a crucial touch from the outstretched glove of Walton.

Olly Lee took it upon himself to try and grab the glory too, fizzing an effort that Griffiths fielded low down, while Smith had a sighter, his angled volley flying into the Town fans behind the goal.

The result saw Luton drop out of the top three once more, as they fell to fourth place, leapfrogged by Doncaster and Carlisle.

Robins: Russell Griffiths, Jack Barthram, Aaron Downes (C), Harry Pell, Billy Waters (Amari Morgan-Smith 74), Danny Wright, Jack Munns (James Dayton 81), Asa Hall, Jordan Cranston, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Rob Dickie.

Subs not used: Daniel Parslow, Calum Kitscha, Danny Whitehead, Easah Suliman, Jonny Smith.

Hatters: Christian Walton, James Justin, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan, Olly Lee, Jordan Cook, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Alex Gilliead 82), Cameron McGeehan, Danny Hylton, Jack Marriott (Jonathan Smith 76).

Subs not used: Craig King, Stephen O’Donnell, Josh McQuoid, Akin Famewo, Alex Gilliead, Jake Gray.

Bookings: Cuthbert 43, Waters 56, Downes 77, Pell 81.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Attendance: 3,660 (923 Luton).

Luton Town: ‘Not a bad point’ – Nathan Jones on Cheltenham draw

Manager Nathan Jones was accepting but not delighted with a point at Cheltenham, insisting that it is just important Luton do not fall behind the promotion pack.

Danny Hylton scored his sixth of the season in the 52nd minute at Whaddon Road after Luton were second best for large periods before the break. But Daniel O'Shaughnessy got the Robins back on terms, which saw the Hatters slip to fourth in League Two.

The result came after a point from the same scoreline at Hartlepool on Tuesday had lifted Town back into the top three.

"I'm not delighted with a point because I wanted to win, but in terms of the context of the week and our performances levels, that's not a bad point," said Jones.

"The important thing is that we keep picking up points and we don't fall behind or anything, or playing catch-up. We're in a good position at the minute, it's very tight, but we're in a good position.

"We've had a few [games] that we probably should have won. Today was a fair result in terms of clear-cut chances. These [Cheltenham] are a decent side, so we're happy with that.

"On Tuesday night we went away and were by far the better side and should have won, so I'm a little bit more frustrated with that, but if we can pick up points away from home, we'd like to pick up threes because they're vital.

"In the Stevenage game, we went away and tried to win it, but I'm a little more happy today than I was at the end of the Stevenage game, even though we created probably ten times the chances we did today."

Hylton's goal was a wonderful solo effort and came after a one-match suspension for a dismissal last week in which he threw a litter picker in frustration. Playing in a protective mask, after he cracked his cheekbone against Grimsby, the striker was once again involved in the rough stuff but he didn't react to fouls, particularly as his next caution will take him to five and result in another one-match.

Jones said: "I'm glad because it's something that he needs to avoid because he can't rack them up for silly little things. I'm glad for him because he's had a little bit of a rocket, but he's taken everything in the right way and he's got his goal and we're pleased."

Another player that returned was captain Scott Cuthbert, a week after he was stretchered off and rushed to hospital with a neck injury.

"He came back today, he led, he's our captain and it's fantastic," said Jones, adding: "We need him in these games because he's a dominant one. He wants to go and attack, he's aggressive and we need that because they [Cheltenham] had that kind of aggressive threat."