Colchester United vs Luton Town FC (25th Mar 2017)

PUBLISHED 18:12 25th March 2017 Vassell into double figures, but Hatters slip to defeat

COLCHESTER UNITED 2 (Porter 4, 31)

LUTON TOWN 1 (Vassell 90+3)

Att: 5,445 (1,775 Hatters)

Two first-half goals from Colchester striker Chris Porter put a dent in the Hatters’ hopes of chasing down the automatic promotion places this afternoon as the Essex side won 2-1 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Isaac Vassell scored deep into stoppage time at the end of a second half in which the Town looked much more like themselves following a hugely disappointing opening 45 minutes.

But ultimately the Cornishman’s tenth goal of the season proved too little, too late as Nathan Jones’ side went a fifth game without a win and dropped eight points off the top three, with next Saturday’s opponents Blackpool leapfrogging the Hatters into fifth place.

Jones made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 at Newport in midweek with striker Jack Marriott and midfielders Jake Gray and Lawson D'Ath coming into the team, and defender Johnny Mullins and top scorer Danny Hylton – who both went off with injuries at Rodney Parade – missing out along with Ollie Palmer.

Colchester bossed the opening exchanges and took the lead in the fourth minute when Porter rose to head Brennan Dickenson’s left-wing cross into the top corner.

There was a spell of pinball in the opposite area when Alan Sheehan’s first corner of the day found its way to D’Ath on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked and the hosts were soon looking to add to their lead, Town keeper Matt Macey at full stretch to keep out Drey Wright’s 25-yarder and a Dickenson header within seconds of each other.

Before a quarter-of-an-hour was up, United centre-half Tom Eastman had sent a close range header over from Richard Brindley’s cross, and it really should have been 2-0.

It took until the 26th minute for the Town to string a forward move of note together, Gray and Marriott combining to give D’Ath possession on the right, and the January signing from Northampton tricked his way past his man and stood a lovely cross up to the far post, where Eastman did well to divert the ball away from Vassell.

The ex-Truro man then created space for a shot in the box, which was blocked, before Jordan Cook played Stephen O’Donnell down the right, the Scot’s low cross just evaded the Hatters forwards sliding in at the near post.

As they had been threatening for most of the game, the U’s did double their lead just after the half-hour, and it was that man Porter again, connecting with another inviting cross from Brindley and steering it just over the line as Macey tried fruitlessly to claw it back.

Jones responded by making a substitution with seven minutes to go before half-time, James Justin coming on for Gray, the teenager slotting in at left wing-back with Sheehan moving inside to form a back three with Scott Cuthbert and Glen Rea.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu tried to change the Hatters’ fortunes but his 20-yard shot flew high over the bar, then Porter spurned a great chance for a first-half hat-trick for the hosts when his flick header on the end of a Sean Murray free-kick proved too high a minute before the break.

The Town needed an early response in the second half, and nine minutes in Sheehan decided to take matters into his own hands, surging forward from centre-half and slipping Justin in on the left, but the substitute’s low cross was hacked clear from inside the six-yard box.

Town were enjoying plenty of possession and were first onto more second balls, and D’Ath and Sheehan both tried their luck from distance, before D'Ath drove towards the right byline and crossed well, but Vassell couldn’t keep his near-post header down just after the hour.

This was more like it from Jones’ side, and with Palmer thrown into the fray, a flurry of chances soon came. First, on 63 minutes, Cook’s volley was blocked after Justin did well once again to dig out a cross from the left, initially directed towards Palmer.

Then, in a quickfire double chance, Sheehan had a right-footed shot parried by Sam Walker – the Colchester keeper’s first save of the game – before Justin’s follow-up was destined for the top corner, only for home defender George Elokobi to grow a couple of inches and head it over the bar from the goal-line.

Cook picked up an injury and had to be replaced, with Olly Lee coming on, but it was a much improved second-half performance from the Hatters, with D’Ath once more at the heart of the next opening on 78 minutes, the midfielder racing onto a good ball from Palmer down the left, but Vassell couldn’t quite spin on his low cross to the near post.

With four minutes left Vassell tricked his way to the left byline and crossed low once again, but Colchester sub Tom Wynter turned it behind for a corner, from which Lee, Mpanzu and Sheehan all had shots blocked as the ball ricocheted around the U’s penalty area.

The Hatters continued to press for a way back into the game, and Cuthbert – playing as an auxiliary striker – saw a shot on the turn blocked.

Then, three minutes into four added on, Vassell managed to squeeze an effort over the line to halve the deficit after Lee’s initial shot had been deflected away from goal, but it proved just a consolation as tenth-placed Colchester closed the gap on the play-off places to just two points.

TOWN: Macey, O'Donnell, Cuthbert (c), Rea, Sheehan, Mpanzu, Gray (Justin 38), D'Ath, Cook (Lee 68), Vassell, Marriott (Palmer 61). Subs: Smith, Bakinson, Famewo, Moore (GK)

COLCHESTER: Walker, Brindley, Lapslie, Wright, Porter (Bonne 88), Dickenson, Elokobi, Eastman, Murray, Pyke, James (Wynter 59). Subs: Brill, Briggs, Fosu, O'Sullivan, Kinsella

Yellows: Lapslie

PUBLISHED 19:36 25th March 2017 Jones was disappointed with his side's first half performance

Hatters boss Nathan Jones said his side’s second half performance in their 2-1 defeat to Colchester United gave him heart, after a lacklustre opening 45 minutes gave them a mountain to climb at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon.

A Chris Porter double gave the hosts a comfortable lead going in at the break, before Isaac Vassell’s late finish rewarded the Town for their endeavours in the second half.

The result sees the Hatters slip to sixth in Sky Bet League Two, with next weekend’s opponent’s Blackpool taking fifth spot.

The gaffer said: “First half we were nowhere near. It came out of the blue really, I didn’t anticipate a performance like that.

“We had no urgency, no real work rate, no aggression about us in the first half and then fundamentally we couldn’t defend crosses. They put three crosses in and should have scored from all three. They only scored from two of them praise the lord.

“We were way off first half. We asked for a bit more urgency and we were a different side in the second half. A totally different side.

“We could have salvaged something from the game, but when you’re 2-0 down it’s difficult to come back and get anything from the game.

“If we got the goal earlier, then maybe that one could have been the equaliser. From the first half performance we didn’t deserve anything. The second half gave me a little bit of heart, but we were way, way off today.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-league-two-colchester-united-3641811.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6_tXLkPEcg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMl5W2SOZXE

League Two: Colchester United 2 Luton Town 1

Luton Town saw their automatic promotion hopes all but ended this afternoon as they made it five games without a win, beaten 2-1 by Colchester United.

The damage was done for the Hatters in a first half where they just plain and simply didn't turn up, U's striker Chris Porter taking advantage of slack marking not once but twice, to put the hosts 2-0 in front.

Although the visitors did improve in the second period, with Colchester barely featuring as an attacking force, they couldn't mount a dramatic fight back, Isaac Vassell's goal when it came, in the final minute of stoppage time.

Results elsewhere saw third placed Portsmouth move eight points clear of Town, and with seven games to go, that advantage looks insurmountable, while Luton now facing a real battle on their hands to secure even a play-off spot, leading eighth-placed Carlisle by a single point.

Boss Nathan Jones made three changes from the 1-1 draw at Newport, with Lawson D'Ath in for his first start since the 3-0 win over Hartlepool on February 14, with Jake Gray involved too, after not featuring since the 4-0 triumph at Yeovil.

With top scorer Danny Hylton unable to recover from his tight hamstring, Jack Marriott began upfront alongside Isaac Vassell, Ollie Palmer dropping to the bench and Johnny Mullins out injured.

The hosts were ahead with their first venture into the Luton box as winger Brennan Dickenson sent over a superb cross from the left and Porter beat Town's defence to loop his header over Matt Macey on four minutes.

Hatters were just nowhere near it during the opening 15 minutes in what was an error-strewn performance, caught on their heels at every turn, as Macey turned Drey Wright's 20-yarder behind, berating his defence for opening up far too easily.

From the corner, Rekeil Pyke nodded back for Dickenson, forcing Macey to flip over the top, while he should have been picking the ball out of the net on 15 minutes, when Tom Eastman sent his header at the back post over.

Luton did finally begin to look like they were capable of getting back into the contest, Vassell's shot blocked, as the visitors started to at least take up some advanced positions.

Any such optimism quickly evaporated though when Colchester made it 2-0 on 31 minutes with another goal of alarming simplicity, with Town undone from yet another cross.

It may have been from the right this time, but the outcome was the same, Porter prodding beyond Macey, who although getting a hand to the striker's shot, couldn't keep it out.

Clearly not happy with what he had witnessed, boss Jones hauled off Gray on 35 minutes for James Justin, going to three at the back, with Rea, Cuthbert and Sheehan the centre halves, O'Donnell and Justin as the wing backs.

It could and probably should have been 3-0 just before half time, as from a free kick whipped into the box ,Porter was free yet again to meet the delivery, but couldn't direct his effort on target.

When the whistle finally ended Luton's misery, Jones quickly turned on his heel and headed off down the tunnel, with the players trudging behind, expecting a real tongue-lashing.

After the break, nothing particularly improved from a visitors' perspective early on, although Alan Sheehan's skillful burst saw Justin's cross blocked, while the Irish defender also shot wide from range.

With an hour gone, and the hosts clearly settling for their two-goal advantage, Luton began dominating possession and territory, as Vassell headed over O'Donnell's cross, with Marriott replaced by Palmer

Somehow, Town weren't level on 62 minutes, Cook's volley blocked by Elokobi, with Sheehan's attempt parried by Sam Walker, and then Justin's wonderful side-footed attempt destined for the top corner, was somehow headed over the bar by Elokobi who was stationed on the line.

With that chance gone, so did it appear did Luton's belief that they were going to get anything from the match, and U's might have had a penalty on 69 minutes, when Porter was manhandled in the area by Cuthbert, but there was nothing doing from official Gavin Ward.

Hatters pushed everyone forward in the closing stages, even throwing Scott Cuthbert on as a makeshift striker and did create openings, although too often, crosses flashed across the box, or were cleared by home defenders.

Vassell did pinch the goal his all-round play deserved, nipping in to prod over the line in the final minute of stoppage time, however, there was no real chance of a late, late leveller with the U's easily seeing out the final 60 seconds to boost their own hopes of a play-off berth.

Colchester: Sam Walker, Richard Brindley, Tom Lapslie, Drey Wright, Chris Porter (Macauley Bonne 88), Brennan Dickenson, George Elokobi, Tom Eastman, Sean Murray, Rekeil Pyke (Tarique Fosu 66), Cameron James (Alex Wynter 59).

Subs not used: Dean Brill, Matt Briggs, Tommy O'Sullivan, Lewis Kinsella.

Hatters: Matt Macey, Stephen O'Donnell, Alan Sheehan, Scott Cuthbert, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Gray (James Justin 31), Lawson D'Ath, Jordan Cook (Olly Lee 68), Isaac Vassell, Jack Marriott (Ollie Palmer 61).

Subs not used: Stuart Moore, Tyreeq Bakinson, Akin Famewo, Jonathan Smith.

Booked: Lapslie 70.

Attendance: 5,445 (1,775 Luton).

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Hatters MOM: Isaac Vassell. Kept going out there.

Jones hadn't seen Luton's first half debacle coming

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left scratching his head as to just how his side had played quite so badly during their 2-1 defeat to Colchester United this afternoon.

Luton found themselves 2-0 down with just 30 minutes gone at the Weston Homes Community Stadium through Chris Porter's double strike, as the visitors were massively off the pace in the opening period, with Colchester completely dominant and might have led by more at the break.

Although the visitors improved in the second period, Isaac Vassell’s stoppage time strike was of scant consolation, as Jones admitted he had been shocked with what he had witnessed.

The Town chief said: “First half we were nowhere near. It came out of the blue really, I didn’t anticipate a performance like that.

“We had no urgency, no real work-rate, no desire, no aggression about us and then fundamentally we couldn’t defend crosses.

“They put three crosses in, should have scored from all three, scored from two of them, but we were way off it first half.

“Then we asked them for a little bit more urgency and we were a different side second half, a totally different side.

“We could have salvaged something from the game, but when you’re 2-0 down it’s difficult to come back and get anything from the game.

“If we had got the goal earlier then maybe that could have been the equaliser, but from the first half performance, we didn’t deserve anything.

“The second half gave me a bit of heart, but we were way, way off today.

“We hadn’t had a performance like that first half for a long time.

“At Newport the other day we didn’t really get going, but it was a difficult place to go surface-wise.

“Today, that was as poor as we’ve been, that was last year’s performance. I haven’t seen that all season this year, I really haven’t and I’m disappointed with that.

“They reacted well which gives us something to take into this week, but I’ve learnt a bit about a few players and and learnt things about what I must do.

“I’m learning as well, it wasn’t good enough first half, second half was much more like us, but at the end it was too little too late.”

The manner of the way Town conceded both goals was doubly frustrating for Jones as it was something he and his coaching staff had earmarked in the build-up before the game.

He continued: “Again, we can go with this week in week out.

“We identify it. He’s (Porter) the one. They don’t have anyone else who scores from crosses, he scores from crosses and we identify that.

“We also identify Brennan Dickenson as the one that puts balls in. So short of playing myself and pressing wide areas and then winning the headers as well, you can’t really do too much more. It’s up to them when they cross the line.

“We didn’t get on any second balls, didn’t compete, we looked lightweight all throughout, but that wasn’t why we conceded.

“As one we let a cross come in, two, we didn’t defend it well enough and it’s a looping header, not like it was point blank or anything.”

Hatters** boss accepts his side deserved to be booed off**

Hatters boss Nathan Jones accepted his side deserved to be booed off by their travelling supporters at half time during the 2-1 defeat at Colchester yesterday.

The 1,775 strong away fans let the Town players know exactly what they thought of a first half which had seen Luton second best by a long distance, trailing 2-0 to Chris Porter’s double strike.

An improved second period display, culminating in Isaac Vassell's stoppage time consolation, saw only a few jeers on the full time whistle, as when asked about the reception at the interval, Jones said: "Rightly so, as they’ve paid good money. I’m not going to apologise to the fans, I don’t want to make a big thing and be a cliched manager, look, we let them down first half and we know that, but that doesn’t happen often.

“We’ve got the best away defensive record, we pick up points away from home, they’ve got a team to be proud of, normally, for 45 minutes they weren’t.

“Second half we gave them something to get behind, it’s just a shame we couldn’t get the goal a little bit earlier.

“The fans, we let them down today but we don’t do it often, so bear with us as there’s still seven games to go and it’s a big, big seven games.

“No diversity now, we don’t need any divisions in the side, we need togetherness that sees us over the line.”

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath also felt the fans were right to voice their disappointment in the opening 45 minutes, as he added: “They booed us when we were coming off and to be honest with you, we deserved it.

“We’re 2-0 down and fighting for a promotion push, but second half, they were right behind us all the way through.

“You can’t fault them, we were going for it and they were getting right behind us, they were almost that 12th man and it nearly paid off.”

Gray was a 'victim of circumstance' after early substitution

Midfielder Jake Gray was a ‘victim of circumstance’ after he was substituted in the first half of yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Colchester United, according to boss Nathan Jones.

The 21-year-old was back in the side for his first action since the 4-0 win over Yeovil Town four games ago, but was visibly frustrated about being withdrawn on just 38 minutes for James Justin, after Luton had fallen 2-0 behind to Chris Porter’s double strike.

On the decision to take Gray off, Jones said: “He was a victim of circumstance. We couldn’t get close enough to press and stop the cross, and when the cross came in, we didn’t defend it.

“So we needed to change shape, which was against what we wanted to do and what we had been speaking about all week.

“He wasn’t impacting the game, but no-one else was, so it could have been any single one of the 11 out there.

“But to change the shape and to get me what I needed, there had to be one victim. I’d like to say I’m sorry, but if I hadn’t done it, could have lost by more.”

Midfielder Lawson D’Ath, also back in the starting line-up for over a month, felt for his team-mate, but thought the change in style to three at the back, with Justin and Stephen O’Donnell to wingbacks benefited the visitors.

He continued: “No-one was really setting the world alight in the first half, and it could have been anyone of us.

“Unfortunately for Jake it was him. It could have been me, could have been Cookie (Jordan Cook), could have been anyone, but I think the change helped us tactically with their formation.

“I think it proved really that it wasn’t the change, it was the formation, that helped us to get back in the game.”

Luton did look more comfortable after the switch and went on to dominate large parts of the second period, with Alan Sheehan denied by keeper Sam Walker and Justin’s effort destined for the top corner, wonderfully cleared off the line by George Elokobi.

Jones continued: “The second half we were more like us, were urgent, created enough, got in final third, got in great positions, flashed the ball across the box, scored.

“It’s a great control and technique from James to get it there and then we’ve had another kicked off the line, and a load of blocks, so credit to them, because they defended that.

“We’ve had enough situations to have nicked something from the game as our first half performance didn’t deserve anything, but it gives us a little bit of heart the second half.

“It’s just a pity we couldn’t do that for 90 instead of 45, but we have to build on that because we’ve got some big games coming up.”

Colchester United 2–1 Luton Town

Luton Town's automatic promotion hopes look dead in the water following today's 2-1 defeat at Colchester United.

Many more performances like Nathan Jones' men put in during the first half, and Hatters fans will be more concerned about their side holding onto to one of the play-off spots.

The shock news for the travelling fans before kick off was the absence of top scorer Danny Hylton from both the starting line up and the subs bench. The striker had come off during the midweek draw at Newport, but manager Jones had declared him fit to play.

In came Jack Marriott to partner Isaac Vassell up front, while Lawson D'Ath was handed his first league start since February in the middle of the park, and teenagers Tyreeq Bakinson and Akin Famewo were included on the bench.

It took Colchester just three minutes to take the lead, when Brennan Dickenson whipped in a devlish cross from the left which was met at he far post by Chris Porter, who headed past Matt Macey. The Hatters keeper had been battling with the sun in his eyes from the word go, but will still be disappointed at being beaten so early on.

He more than made up for it though by getting down well to keep out a rasping lomg distance drive from Drey Wright, before brilliantly tipping over Dickenson's header from the resulting corner.

Luton were riding their luck at this point with defender Tom Eastman missing with a point blank header from the hosts, and they finally broke through again on the half hour mark when Porter got the last touch to a cross from the right which Macey scooped away in a panic, but not before the ball had crossed the line.

Five minutes later, Jones had seen enough and threw caution the rather significant wind swirling around the stadium, bringing on James Justin for Jake Gray and going three at the back, with Justin and Scott O'Donnell playing at flying full-backs.

Luton came out for the second half on the front foot and Vassell thought he had won a spot kick 10 minutes in, but the offside flag went up moments before he was chopped down in the area, while Alan Sheehan was just off target with a decent effort from 30 yards out.

Vassell then headed over from a neat O'Donnell cross, which was followed by a second throw of the dice from Jones, as he threw on Ollie Palmer in place of Marriott, who had enjoyed little fortune up top.

Almost immediately Luton looked more of a threat, with Jordan Cook having a shot blocked, Alan Walker making a fine save from Sheehan and Justin having an effort cleared off the line – all in the space of a manic minute.

Cook was replaced by Ollie Lee soon after, but as the minutes ticked away, the feeling grew that Luton had missed their chance to get back into the game, and their luck was summed up when Vassell got his feet in a tangle trying to connect with a cross following neat play from D'Ath.

Colchester were still a threat though, and Scott Cuthbert did well to block as sub Tarique Fosu threatened, while at the other end, D'Ath came agonisingly close to getting on the end of a cross from a few yards out.

Vassell showed good skills in trying to wriggle through late on but was stopped by weight of bodies, and Luton were unlucky not to pull one back in a bout of ping-pong from the resulting corner.

Cuthbert had a shot blocked as Luton threw everything they had forward in injury time, while a Glen Rea effort was meat and drink for Walker, but Luton finally got the breakthrough when a Vassell shot snuck in with half of the added four minutes remaining. It was, however, too little too late.

LUTON: Macey, O'Donnell, Cuthbert, Gray, Cook, Marriott, Rea, Mpanzu, Vassell, D'Ath, Sheehan. Subs: Moore, Smith, Lee, Bakinson, Palmer, Justin, Famewo.

ATTENDANCE: 5,445 (1,775 away fans)

Nathan Jones admits Luton's performance at Colchester reminded him of last season

Nathan Jones likened Saturday's first half performance against Colchester to one from the dark days of last season.

His Luton Town side put in an insipid first 45 minutes at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and were lucky to be just 2-0 down at the break.

Although the second half saw a much improved Hatters side take to the pitch, it wasn't enough to prevent a damaging defeat.

The manager said: "First half we were nowhere near really, and it came out of the blue. I didn't really anticipate a performance that like with no work-rate, no urgency, no desire and no aggression.

"We didn't compete and didn't get to any second balls. Fundamentally, we couldn't score from crosses, whereas they put three in and scored from two of them.

"I asked them for a bit more urgency and we were a different side second half, but when you're 2-0 down it's difficult to get back and get anything from the game.

"If we had got a goal back earlier, that could have been the equaliser, but based on the first half performance we didn't deserve anything.

"The second half gave me a bit of heart as we were more on the front foot, created stuff and got in good positions.

"It was just a pity we couldn't do it for 90 minutes instead of 45. We've not had a half like that in a long time, and it was poor as we've been. That was a performance from last year, I haven't seen that all season.

"I'm disappointed with that, but we reacted, so that gives me something to take into this week. I learnt some things about a few players too, learnt a few things about what I must do."

Defiant Luton boss believes top three is still within reach

Nathan Jones has refused to write off Luton Town's automatic promotion hopes, despite today's shattering 2-1 defeat at Colchester United.

The Hatters are now eight points off the top three with seven games remaining, and Jones' men have now not won any of their last five.

But the Luton boss remained defiant, although he fully understood his side being booed off at half time following an insipid first 45 minutes.

He said: "It was a better second half performances after the worst first half we've had, but (they were booed of) rightly so as the fans have paid good money.

"Look, I'm not going to apologise to the fans. I'm not going to make a big thing of it and be a cliched manager. We let them down first half, we know that, but it doesn't happen very often.

"We've got the best away defensive record and we pick up points away from home. We have a team to be proud of normally, but for the first 45 minutes they weren't.

"Second half we gave them something to get behind, and it was just a shame we couldn't get the goal back a bit earlier.

"But bear with us as there's still seven games to go, and they're seven big games. We don't need divisions in the side, we need togetherness to see us over the line

"Of course we can still make the to three, but not in the form we're in. Third place is still in touching distance – it's a big arm we need to touch it, but it's there.

"We have to change, something has to change. We need to comcentrate on us and get the points we need, because if we don't, it doesn't matter what anyone else does."