Colchester United vs Luton Town FC (30th Mar 2018)

REPORT: COLCHESTER UTD 2 LUTON TOWN 1

The Hatters suffered defeat at Colchester for the second season in a row on a hugely disappointing afternoon, after Luke Berry suffered a serious ankle injury in the opening exchanges at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Danny Hylton’s late penalty halved the deficit and set up a grandstand finish, but ultimately Tom Eastman and Luke Prosser’s first-half goals soon after a 12-minute hold-up for Berry’s injury proved enough for Colchester to take the points.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones made one change to his starting line-up with Glen Rea back into the midfield holding role in place of Alan McCormack, while Luke Gambin and Flynn Downes returned from international duty to take their place on the bench.

The Hatters were dealt an horrendous blow with just a minute on the clock when Berry slid in to make a challenge. His trailing left leg appeared to get caught in the ground and his team-mates immediately signalled for a stretcher, the midfielder clearly in distress.

The other players went into the dressing room while Berry received treatment before being stretchered off to a waiting ambulance. Gambin came on in his place, with Colchester also making a substitution when the game resumed after a 12-minute hold-up, Tom Lapslie – the closest to the injury – going off to be replaced by Brandon Comley.

The hosts took the lead in what officially was the fourth minute, as referee Trevor Kettle had asked for the clock to be stopped while play was suspended, when Eastman met a right-wing cross with a thumping header into the roof of the net.

Their Colchester’s second came in the 15th minute, and this time it was the other centre-half, Prosser, who headed in Ben Stevenson’s left-wing corner after Brennan Dickenson’s 25-yard free-kick had deflected off the Hatters’ wall.

It took a while for the Hatters to get started, but after a James Collins shot had been blocked by Eastman and an Alan Sheehan free-kick had been headed clear, Hylton had the ball in the back of the net on 42 minutes – only for a linesman’s flag to rule it out.

The Town finished the first half the stronger of the two sides, with Olly Lee flashing a shot across the face of foal deep into injury-time, and they made all the running after the break too as the incessant rain started to sit on a heavy pitch.

Olly Lee went close in the 51st minute after a neat one-two with Andrew Shinnie, and just before the hour mark, Hylton glanced a header wide from a Sheehan free-kick on the left.

Jones soon introduced Elliot Lee and he livened things up in attack, getting to the left byline within seconds of his arrival to cross for Hylton, but the striker’s shot was deflected over the bar.

On 68 minutes Elliot Lee engineered a move by feeding Gambin on the right wing, and although Hylton once more met the Malta international’s cross, it was easy for Sam Walker to gather.

Colchester’s only real opportunity of the second half came in the 79th minute when Scott Cuthbert got his head in the way of Stevenson’s goalbound shot, and eight minutes later the Hatters were handed a lifeline when Cuthbert found Gambin to the left of the area, and Colchester defender Ryan Jackson brought the winger down.

Hylton stepped up to chip his penalty down the middle for his 19th goal of the season, and with Cuthbert playing as an emergency centre-forward, another opportunity presented itself two minutes into injury-time when Collins raced onto his captain’s flick, but the striker was denied the chance to shoot as a home defender got back to make the challenge.

The Hatters’ chance of mounting another fightback from 2-0 down had gone, and results elsewhere meant that the gap over fourth place is a healthy seven points, despite Accrington opening up a three-point advantage at the top with their win at Mansfield.

Thoughts, however, were with eight-goal midfielder Berry as his dislocated left ankle was being assessed at Ipswich hospital for possible fracture and ligament damage. Everyone at Kenilworth Road is right behind you Luke, wishing you a speedy recovery.

TOWN: Shea, Justin, Cuthbert ©, Sheehan, Potts, Rea (Cornick 70), O Lee, Berry (Gambin 13), Shinnie (E Lee 66), Collins, Hylton. Subs: Stacey, Jervis, Downes, Stech (GK)

Goals: Hylton (pen) 88

Yellows: Potts, Sheehan, Cuthbert

COLCHESTER: Walker; Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Vincent-Young, Lapslie (Comley 13), Stevenson (Murray 83), Szmodics, Wright, Dickenson (Senior 46), Mandron. Subs: Barnes (GK), Kent, Mandeville, Ogedi-Uzokwe

Goals: Eastman 4, Prosser 15 [Confusion over goal times as some state 15 & 27 due to players leaving the field after injury]

Yellows: Jackson, Mandron, Wright

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle

NATHAN JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO COLCHESTER UNITED

Town boss Nathan Jones was gutted to see midfielder Luke Berry stretchered off with a serious ankle injury in the 2-1 defeat to Colchester United.

Just two minutes in Berry went down with what we have been informed is a dislocated ankle, with a suspected fracture and possible ankle ligament damage.

There was a long hold up in play before Tom Eastman headed in shortly after play resumed, before Luke Prosser scored in similar circumstances to double the hosts' lead just before the half hour mark.

Luke Gambin was brought down by Ryan Jackson in the penalty area which Danny Hylton converted from with two minutes of normal time to play, but the U's held out for the three points.

Jones said: "It's sad. He's gone over on it, we don't know how he's done it. There's a few little things I don't want to say because there were a few things we weren't happy with before the game. I don't know if that was contributing factor but we will see.

"It's a bad injury and one that will keep him out for a while, we don't know the full extent but it's a sad day really because he's been in great form, he's a great kid and he's a wonderful player for us and our best wishes go out to him, but we will make sure we will look after him and get him back as quick and as safe as we can.

"They [the players] came in and they were shocked and I had to try and lift them. They were down and they were shocked and one of our players were sick. It doesn't bode well.

"Best thing we could have done for him was to win the game and that's what we didn't do, we didn't recover from that and uncharacteristically we conceded two from set-plays. They were basic, it wasn't exactly a greatly worked thing, it's a lofted ball. It was just lazy defending and that's what cost us.

"I can’t remember them having a lot of chances. We weren't at it first half, we changed shape which we don't like doing, but we felt we had to do it and those two goals, the lapses of concentration is what cost us in the end."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBCA_K3O7qQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6KApbMlw6E

Berry injury overshadows Town's defeat at Colchester

League Two: Colchester United 2 Luton Town 1

An absolutely horrific injury to Luke Berry overshadowed the Hatters' 2-1 defeat at Colchester this afternoon.

With just two minutes gone, the midfielder slid in for an innocuous challenge, but appeared to get his studs caught in the turf in what was a truly sickening sight for those in attendance.

He signalled to the bench immediately, as did all the players around him all, clearly shocked and distraught at what they had witnessed.

Referee Trevor Kettle took both sets of players off as Berry underwent extensive treatment on the pitch, with a number of players from both sides leaving with their heads in their hands.

After the players came back out, Town, who had made one change, Glen Rea in for Alan McCormack, clearly still affected by what they had seen, went into a huddle, but understandably had noticeably subdued looked to it.

United replaced Tom Lapslie too for Brandon Comley, who was right by the incident and obviously unable to continue as the hosts then went ahead from virtually their first attack, Tom Eastman left unmarked to power his header past James Shea, with Luton's minds still clearly processing what had happened.

United pressed for a second, forcing successive corners, before they made it 2-0 on 27 minutes, when a corner was swung in Ben Stevenson and Luke Prosser arrived at the back post to nod beyond Shea via a deflection.

It was a depressing case of deja vu for the visitors, who trailed by the same margin at almost the same point last season courtesy of poor defending.

Finally, Luton started to warm to their task, as with conditions worsening, they fashioned half a chance when Luke Gambin, on for Berry, combined with James Collins, the striker's shot charged down.

Danny Hylton thought he had pulled one back just before the break, when he was set free by Olly Lee's pass to find the bottom corner, but the linesman's flag cut short his celebrations.

Town started to look a threat after the break, trying to come from 2-0 down for the second time in seven games, Shinnie rifling over from inside the box, while Lee had a sighter too, seeing his low shot go the wrong side of the post.

Sheehan sent over a free kick that Hylton nodded over, while home keeper Sam Walker saw yellow on the hour mark for time-wasting, as the hosts looked to see the game out.

Hylton had a go from close range, his shot deflecting over, while the striker met a cross from Gambin, heading straight at Walker.

With Town pressing and the rain now teeming down, making for a bog of a pitch, Dan Potts swung a right foot at an effort from 20 yards, dragging wide.

However, Luton couldn't get much change out of either of the home side's imposing centre halves, until a glimmer of hope with two minutes left when Ryan Jackson got under a long ball and after slipping over, cleaned out Gambin for a penalty.

Hylton dinked his effort down the middle and Luton who had thrown Cuthbert upfront as an emergency forward, looked to get out of jail once more.

They had a sniff in the closing stages, Collins going through but in trying to cut inside, was dispossessed, while Cuthbert then saw the ball drop to him inside the box, sliced wide of the target.

Results elsewhere were kind to Town, with Accrington winning at Mansfield, while Notts County held Wycombe Wanderers, meaning Town can go into Easter Monday's home match with the Stags, still seven points clear of fourth spot.

United: Sam Walker, Ryan Jackson, Tom Lapslie (Brandon Comley 14), Luke Prosser Drew Wright. Sammie Szmodics, Brennan Dickenson (Courtney Senior 46), Ben Stevenson (Sean Murray 82), Tom Eastman, Mikael Mandron, Kane Vincent-Young.

Subs not used: Dillon Barnes, Frankie Kent, Sean Murray, Liam Mandeville, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

Hatters: James Shea, James Justin, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea (Harry Cornick 71), Olly Lee, Luke Berry (Luke Gambin 14), Andrew Shinnie (Elliot Lee 66), James Collins, Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Jake Jervis, Flynn Downes.

Referee: Trevor Kettle. Booked: Potts 40, Jackson 53, Sheehan 53, Mandron 60, Walker 60, Cuthbert 90, Wright 90. Attendance: 5,461.

Déjà vu for Luton boss during U's defeat

An exasperated Luton chief Nathan Jones was left with a horrible feeling of déjà vu as his side went down to a 2-1 defeat at Colchester United yesterday afternoon.

With just 15 minutes of actual playing time on the clock, following a lengthy stoppage for Luke Berry’s horrendous injury, the Hatters found themselves 2-0 behind through goals from Tom Eastman and Luke Prosser.

Rewind almost 12 months to the day and Town had been in exactly the same position last term, trailing 2-0 on 31 minutes after Chris Porter’s double strike, both goals coming at exactly the same end too.

Speaking after the game, Jones, who has now seen his side fall behind in all three of their away matches, said: “We didn’t play well in those initial stages.

"We set our stall out, we do meetings beforehand, we lost the first header, we didn’t get on seconds, we lost about four or five second balls in the first two minutes before the injury.

“Then with the injury, we thought, right we’ll regroup and do certain things, and for about a 20 minutes period it was déjà vu from last year.

“It’s exactly the same, we were 2-0 down after about 20 minutes last year from pretty much nothing.

“We worked on stuff so we didn’t do that this year and it wasn’t to be.

“It’s another away game, we’ve had to give ourselves a massive game to chase and we can’t keep doing that as we’re a good side, but we’re not that good that we can keep coming from two down.”

The manner of both goals, from set-pieces, was a particular annoyance to Jones too, as he continued: “It’s very frustrating because it’s as if it doesn’t make a difference what you work on.

“When you go two behind it’s difficult and that’s what cost us, just a lack of discipline in terms of our marking and it’s basic errors, they really are.

“It’s not been great movement, it’s been people walking into positions and bang, ball landed on their head, because there’s been no-one anywhere near them and that’s the disappointing thing.

“We had to work really hard second half and we did create a number of chances.

"We should have got something from the game, but I can’t be here saying we should have done this, because when you concede two, you’re chasing the game.”

Although Town did up their performance noticeably in the second half, as they dominated proceedings, they could only manage a late Danny Hylton penalty to halve the deficit.

Jones was pleased with the display after the break, but knows his side mustn't keep finding themselves in such a position, as he said: “You can’t keep chasing games. If you keep a clean sheet, you win games as we know it takes a very good side to keep us down and to stop us from scoring.

“Even at two down we had chances to have got something out of the game. We got the penalty, but before that, we had a number of chances, Danny had a few chances, even right at the end, we’ve had opportunities.

“We’ve broke on them well and we’ve had enough chances to have scored two goals but it still wouldn’t have won the game because of the lapses of concentration and the lack of discipline. That’s what’s cost us and that’s the frustrating thing.”

Despite the result, Luton remained second, seven points clear of fourth placed Notts County who were held by Wycombe in third, and eight ahead of Exeter, as the Grecians lost to Lincoln.

However, a rueful Jones added: “What a great opportunity again we’ve missed, but we keep saying it.

“The last game of the month and we said, it’s difficult to do, but if you keep a clean sheet then you win the game and we’ll be 10 points clear, but it’s all ifs and buts.”

Jones had concerns over Colchester pitch

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted he had raised concerns over the playing surface at Colchester United before yesterday's 2-1 defeat.

The Hatters chief, who saw midfielder Luke Berry suffer a serious dislocated ankle in the early stages when he got his studs caught in the turf, had no issue with the game going ahead, despite some standing water on some parts of the pitch, but when asked on what his issues were, he said: “What it was was there was huge holes in the pitch from where they verti drained it, and we weren’t happy with that before the game.

“Now I can’t say that was any kind of contributory factor for the injury for example, we don’t know how he did it, there’s a few little things and I don’t want to say too much on them, but there was big holes in the pitch.

“So that was the only thing that we weren’t really happy about.

“I don’t think it (rain) affected the pitch. I don’t think the ball stopped in puddles of anything and it got slightly worse obviously but at the start of the game, I don’t think there was any doubt of it going ahead.”

Giving an update on Berry’s injury after the game, Jones continued: “He’s been transferred to Ipswich, it’s a really tough one for him as he’s such a good kid as well.

"It’s a blow for us as a football club and for the player that he is, we wish him well and we know he’ll come back strong.”

United chief John McGreal was also quick offer his sympathy to Berry as well, telling the Daily Gazette: “We wish Luke Berry well – you could see it was bad from the reaction of both their players and ours.

"It's bitterly disappointing for him because he's been performing to a high standard for them.

"You don't like to see fellow professionals go down with an injury like that so we're hoping that he's OK."

Jones: Players were shocked by Berry injury

Hatters boss Nathan Jones admitted his players had been left understandably shocked by the severity of Luke Berry's awful injury at Colchester United this afternoon.

With just two minutes in, Berry caught his studs in the turf for what has since been confirmed as a dislocated ankle and possible fracture to his left leg.

On the incident, which clearly visibly disturbed all the players on the pitch, Jones said: “It’s sad. He’s gone over on it, we don’t know how he’s done it.

“It’s a bad injury and one that will keep him out for a while.

"We don’t know exactly the full extent but it’s a sad day really because he’s been in great form, he’s a great kid and he’s a wonderful player for us and our best wishes go out to him.

"But we will make sure we will look after him and get him back as quick and as safe as we can."

After Berry's injury, both sets of players went to the dressing room, before when the game resumed, Luton conceded immediately to Tom Eastman's close range header.

Luke Prosser made it 2-0 with another header from a set-piece, leaving Danny Hylton's late penalty as a consolation, with a frustrated Jones saying: “We did it last year with Cameron (McGeehan), he got a bad injury and it took us time to get over that, and lost to Portsmouth, this was kind of that.

“They (the players) came in and they were shocked and I had to try and lift them. They were down and they were shocked and one of our players were sick. It doesn’t bode well.

“The best thing we could have done for him was to win the game and that’s what we didn’t do, we didn’t recover from that and uncharacteristically we conceded two from set-plays.

“They were basic, it wasn’t exactly a greatly worked thing, it’s a lofted ball. It was just lazy defending and that’s what cost us.

“I can’t remember them having a lot of chances. We weren’t at it first half, we had changed shape which we don’t like doing, but we felt we had to do it and those two goals, the lapses of concentration is what cost us the game in the end.”