Crawley Town vs Luton Town FC (21st Oct 2017)

CRAWLEY TOWN 0-0 LUTON TOWN

The Town remain top of the Sky Bet League Two table after they were held to a goalless draw at Crawley Town this afternoon.

The Hatters went into the game a point clear at the summit of the fourth tier after they defeated Exeter City 4-1 on Tuesday, knowing a win today would make it five consecutive wins and eight from their last nine.

They were unable to break down a physical Red Devils defence though, as James Collins and Elliot Lee both went close for Nathan Jones' side.

Town started the more dominant side and Collins had a decent opportunity to score against his old side after 15 minutes, but not only was his header wide from Glen Rea's right-wing cross, he was also offside.

Crawley were the first side to register a shot on target when captain Jimmy Smith let fly from 25 yards 17 minutes in, but his effort was straight at Marek Stech who had the simple job of crouching down to collect the strike.

Jordan Roberts was a good outlet for his side all afternoon and he went close to opening the scoring when he drifted in from the right before having a go on his left from just outside the Hatters' box after 27 minutes – his shot took a deflection and looked like it was heading for the top left corner, but Stech was there again to claim it in the air.

Ten minutes before the break the Hatters nearly made the breakthrough when Alan Sheehan went on a marauding run into the Crawley half before getting it into the feet of Luke Berry, whose well weighted through pass found Jack Stacey, but Glenn Morris was quick to get off his line and block the defender's strike from 10 yards.

Collins had another half decent chance to score two minutes before half-time as he met Sheehan's cross from a nearside corner, but the ball deflected off the forward's shoulder and agonisingly wide of the top left corner.

The striker was then guilty of missing a great opportunity for the visitors nine minutes into the second half, when Hylton picked out his fellow striker out on the far side of the Crawley penalty area. The ex-Red Devils man got the ball out of his feet and struck it looking for the bottom left corner, but it drifted wide.

Five minutes later the hosts fashioned a good opportunity when they had men over with the Hatters struggling to get back, but Josh Yorwerth's strike from the edge of the box was brilliantly blocked by Berry.

A minute after the hour mark Roberts left footed effort from 25 yards was denied emphatically by Stech, who dived to his right getting a strong hand on the ball before diving on it.

Glen Rea had three chances in the space of four minutes to give Jones' side the lead, first seeing his effort blocked out for a corner before his powerful header was straight at Morris. He then had another effort cleared behind for a corner, he then met Sheehan's cross from the right well but his headed effort was again right into the path of the Crawley keeper.

With 13 minutes to go Crawley were denied an almost certain goal as Cedric Evina's cross evaded everyone in the middle of the Town box with two of the Red Devils' players waiting at the back stick, but Potts got a vital clearance in to ensure the game stayed goalless.

Substitute Elliot Lee curled an effort wide of the far post with nine minutes to go, before Dannie Bulman put Roberts through but he was expertly denied by Stech from eight yards.

E Lee then created the best chance of the game when Sheehan sent the ball forward from inside his own half. The forward let the ball bounce over his shoulder before he half-volleyed it across the face of goal 18 yards out – but it hit the bottom of the far post before going out of play.

The point sees the Hatters retain first place in the league, whilst fellow promotion chasers Notts County drew at Carlisle and Exeter City were defeated 2-0 at home by Port Vale.

Crawley: Morris, McNerney, Connolly, Boldewijn, Smith, Roberts, Yorwerth, Evina, Bulman, Lelan, Camara.

Subs: Doherty, Payne, Mersin, Djalo, Clifford, Tajbakhsh, Lewis.

Yellow: Lelan

Hatters: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts, Rea, Berry, O Lee (Mpanzu 80), Cornick (Cook 90), Hylton (E Lee 73), Collins.

Subs: Justin, Mullins, Gambin, Shea.

Yellows: Berry, Stacey, Potts, Sheehan.

Attendance: 3,494

Away: 1,642

Referee: Trevor Kettle

NATHAN JONES ON THE 0-0 DRAW AT CRAWLEY TOWN

Town boss Nathan Jones was pleased with a point at Crawley Town this afternoon but in hindsight wished he had freshened up his starting XI.

The Hatters went into the game a point clear at the top of the league table and with Notts County drawing at Carlisle and Exeter City losing at home to Port Vale, Jones' side remained there.

James Collins and Elliot Lee went closest for the Hatters, but the Red Devils had equal opportunities to go in front.

Jones said: "I am really pleased with a point. In hindsight I would have freshened the team up. I have kept the same team for pretty much the duration of the month and they have given me absolutely everything.

"We have had some big, big games. They've been emotional games, physical games and we have been outstanding, we really have. Today was just one where we looked fatigued.

"Danny Hylton hasn't eaten for over a day. He was sick all of last night, we rolled him out though. Jack Stacey has put in big shifts and was tired today.

"We should have freshened up really, but I am delighted with a point. It keeps us top, it keeps us unbeaten. We had to show a resilient edge to us today. I didn't think we were fantastic, but we showed a different edge to us today and I am pleased."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUd7yigv-J8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwHBCuH3hoA

Hatters held to a goalless draw at Crawley

League Two: Crawley Town 0 Luton Town 0

Luton Town's four game winning run was ended this afternoon after they were held to a goalless draw by struggling Crawley Town.

The Red Devils, as they had when preventing a Hatters side making it five victories in a row, proved an obdurate opposition, stopping the visitors from scoring once more, although this time drew a blank themselves.

Going into the game, the hosts had been in terrible form at the Checkatrade Stadium, with six defeats from seven, but from the word go, they looked up for the challenge of blunting a free-scoring Hatters side, keeping them at arms bay for most of the first half.

Luton chief Nathan Jones kept the same side who had won 4-1 at Exeter, and although they looked the better team in the early exchanges, couldn't break through a stubborn and imposing home defence.

In fact, it was Crawley who came closest, Jimmy Smith testing Marek Stech from range on 15 minutes, Enzio Boldewijn flashing well wide too.

Despite Town having the better quality in possession, they couldn't send anything meaningful Glenn Morris's way, as Stech had to scramble across goal to deny Jordan Roberts' hopeful 30-yarder.

Luton finally made Morris work on 34 minutes, Luke Berry threading a pass through to Jack Stacey, with the home keeper out to smother at his feet.

Town's right back then gave the ball away just outside his area, relieved to see Panutche Camara's angled drive barely trouble Stech.

The hosts upped the pressure slightly, Cedric Evina brought down by Stacey and although the free kick was cleared, Dannie Bulman's hopeful volley was straight at Town's stopper.

Hatters did threaten from a corner just before half time, ex-Crawley striker James Collins appearing to head the ball against his own shoulder as it flew wide in what was easily the visitors' best chance.

In the second period, Alan Sheehan picked up an incredibly harsh early booking which sees him ruled out of the home clash with Coventry next week, before Hylton sent Collins away, his strike partner opting to take his shot early and watch it flash across goal.

The game then started to really open up and have a stretched feel to it, Stech keeping it goalless as he got down low to keep out Roberts' 25 yarder that was creeping into the bottom corner.

With Town starting to creak for the first time in the game, they upped their attacking efforts, managing to have two great chances of their own.

First, Glen Rea's shot was deflected behind and from the corner that was recycled back to Sheehan, he was left unmarked, only to put his downward header too close to Morris.

Rea then rose highest to reach another Sheehan deadball, nodding over the top, as Jones opted to withdraw an unusually subdued Hylton with 17 minutes to go, Elliot Lee introduced, the sub only denied an instant impact by Josh Lelan's excellent clearing header.

Crawley really should have broken the deadlock on 76 minutes, Evina's fine run and low cross missed by both Roberts and Jimmy Smith who were a matter of a yards out, Potts clearing the danger.

Elliot Lee's curler didn't quite have enough after a quickfire break by Town, while Collins then volleyed instinctively at Morris.

With 10 to go, Town stopper Stech made a big save, out quickly to deny Roberts with his legs, before Luton's goal led a charmed life, as a corner wasn't cleared and the ball somehow stayed out, Potts hacking clear once more.

Elliot Lee continued to prove a real livewire, as he took Sheehan's hopeful up and under on, unleashing a sizzling left footed volley which hit the base of the post.

Into the final five minutes and the otherwise excellent Rea had his pocket picked by Camara, who tried to lob the back-pedalling Stech, only to get too much on it.

A couple of errors from Stacey saw the defender clear for a corner, and then almost give away a penalty, but referee Trevor Kettle, who was increasingly jeered by the visiting supporters, waved the appeals away as the spoils were shared.

The result saw Town increase their unbeaten run to 10 games, as they stayed top of the table too, after Notts County were held at Carlisle, and Exeter lost to Port Vale.

Crawley: Glenn Morris, Joe McNerney, Mark Connolly, Enzio Boldewijn, Jimmy Smith (C), Jordan Roberts, Josh Yorwerth, Cedric Evina, Dannie Bulman, Josh Lelan, Panutche Camara.

Subs not used: Josh Doherty, Josh Payne, Yusuf Mersin, Kaby Djalo, Billy Clifford, Arjan Tajbakhsh, Dennon Lewis.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Olly Lee (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 80), Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Jordan Cook 90), Danny Hylton (Elliot Lee 73), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Johnny Mullins, Luke Gambin, James Justin.

Booked: Berry 33, Stacey 38, Sheehan 53, Potts 66, Lelan 83.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Attendance: 3,494 (1,642 from Luton).

Hatters MOM: Glen Rea. Defensive midfielder impressed throughout.

**Jones admits he should have made changes against Red Devils **

Hatters boss Nathan Jones admitted that with hindsight he might well have made changes for today’s goalless draw at Crawley Town.

The visitors went into the game on the back of a lengthy midweek trip to Exeter City on Tuesday night and Jones felt the exertions his players put into winning 4-1 and moving top of the table, eventually caught up with them at the Checkatrade Stadium.

He said: “I’ve got to be honest with you, in hindsight I would have freshened the team up because I’ve kept pretty much the same team for the duration of the month.

“They’ve given me absolutely everything, some big, big games, emotional games, physical games, and we’ve outstanding, we really have.

“Today was just one where a few were fatigued. Danny Hylton hasn’t eaten for over a day, he was sick all last night, but we rolled him out and people like Jack Stacey have put in big shifts and were tired today, maybe we should have freshened it up.

“Maybe that’s my fault, as we’ve got a second 11 waiting in the wings that if I replace any one of them, there’s no difference to the side, so maybe I should have done that.

“But that’s hindsight and we’ve been fabulous this month. I’m delighted with a point, this is another point that keeps us ticking over, that keeps us at the summit, and we’ve got a week now to dust them down, work with them and go again next week.”

“It keeps us top, keeps us unbeaten and we had to show a resilient edge to us today, I didn’t think we were fantastic, but we showed a different edge to us today and I’m pleased.

Meanwhile, captain Scott Cuthbert added: “I think people underestimate that it takes quite a lot of out the boys, long travel Monday, long day Tuesday, travelling back, again today, the traffic on the M25, so all in all we’re delighted with the seven points from nine games.

“When you’re doing so well and winning games in the manner which we’re winning them, it’s hard to change the team.

"I think a few of the lads were fairly drained, but that’s the Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday Tuesday over now. We can rest up Sunday, Monday now and have a good week in preparation for Coventry."