Crewe Alexandra vs Luton Town FC (25th Nov 2017)

MATCH REPORT: CREWE 1 LUTON TOWN 2

Hatters make it three wins in a week with goals from Hylton and Berry

The Hatters made it three wins in a week to maintain their grip on top spot in Sky Bet League Two with two goals in four second-half minutes enough to see off Crewe Alexandra in horrendous conditions at Gresty Road this afternoon.

After playing into driving rain and a gale in freezing temperatures during the first half, Danny Hylton fired the Town in front with his 12th goal of the season in the 63rd minute.

Luke Berry doubled the advantage on 67 minutes before the hosts pulled one back with just under ten to go, when the unfortunate, but outstanding, Johnny Mullins put through his own goal.

Just like last year, when the Town won 2-1 here after Alan Sheehan had been sent off early in the second half, Nathan Jones’ side showed their battling qualities to see the game through and beat their target of nine points for the month of November.

They have gathered that amount in the last eight days with a 7-0 win over Cambridge, a 3-0 midweek success against Carlisle that took them back to the top, and this ground out win that cemented their position at the summit, extending the unbeaten run on the road nine matches.

Jones made two changes to his starting line-up, with Olly Lee, the man who netted that stunning 70-yard strike against Cambridge last Saturday, returning from his one-match suspension, while striker Harry Cornick also returned after scoring as a sub in midweek Carlisle, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Andrew Shinnie dropping to the bench.

Hylton had the Town’s first attempt on goal with just a minute on the clock when the home defence struggled to clear an Alan Sheehan corner, then – in the seventh minute – Cornick fizzed a low cross into the six-yard box after sprinting down the right, only for Crewe to clear for a corner.

Hylton turned creator next, chipping a lovely ball into Elliot Lee’s path, but the ex-West Ham man couldn’t repeat last week’s exquisite volleyed finish as his right-footed effort on the stretch flew high over the bar.

The Hatters had a scare in the 12th minute when Alex midfielder Callum Ainley aimed a cross towards Chris Porter at the far post, and Sheehan attempted to chest the second ball back to Marek Stech in front of Chris Dagnall, eventually relieved to see it go safely out for a corner.

The captain soon had to deal with another dangerous ball into the Town six-yard box from George Cooper, but as usual, the Irishman did his job perfectly, lifting it over Porter with his outstretched right foot and out for a throw.

With 21 minutes gone, Luke Berry combined with Dan Potts on the left to play Elliot Lee in to the byline, and after robbing Sam Stubbs, his low cross intended for Berry was intercepted.

Cooper – looking threatening whenever in possession – then cut in from the Crewe left and let fly from 25 yards, but his effort was straight down Stech’s throat in the middle of his goal.

Town had the ball in the net in the 27th minute when Olly Lee raced onto a pass from Berry and stood a ball up to the far post for his brother, who was penalised for climbing on his marker as he headed firmly into the back of the Alex net.

Just before the half-hour Crewe saw another shot, this one from Ainley, fly through a thicket of legs in the Town box and safely wide of the far post, then Dagnall fired off target from 20 yards – only for ref Graham Salisbury to award a corner when no-one else in the ground had seen a deflection.

Five minutes before the break, Jack Stacey and Elliot Lee linked up well on the right for the latter to chip a cross to far post for Hylton, but Berry’s volley from the top scorer’s knock-down was deflected over the bar for the Town’s fifth corner of the half.

Although the Hatters had enjoyed plenty of possession, Crewe had sounded their share of warnings, and a minute before half-time Stech had to get down low again to keep out a Harry Pickering shot from the edge of the box after Conor Grant had done well to hook the ball back to him.

The hosts made a change at the break, bringing on striker Jordan Bowery for midfielder Ainley, with captain Dagnall dropping into a deeper role, but Town boss Jones waited until the hour mark – after a lull in the opening 15 minutes of the half – to make his first move.

The Welshman brought Shinnie on for Cornick, and within three minute the Town had their breakthrough.

Elliot Lee, who had been a livewire all afternoon, was the engineer with Hylton – who else? – applying the finishing touch. Lee picked up the ball wide on the left of the penalty area and for the umpteenth time went past Sam Stubbs to the byline, firing the ball across the six-yard box.

Crewe survived the initial delivery, but their stabbed clearance only fell as far as Hylton six yards out and the Hatters hitman lashed it in to the roof of the net for his 12th of the season.

Four minutes later it was two, and sub Shinnie was the man who created it, pressing Alex defender Pickering into conceding possession in the left-back area, then crossing low for Berry to fire home left-footed, all along the ground, for his fourth goal in a Luton shirt.

The result should have been put beyond doubt on 75 minutes when Elliot Lee turned Brad Walker inside his own half and raced towards goal, slipping Shinnie in to his right, but the Scot’s low shot was saved by Crewe keeper Dave Richards’ legs, and Hylton’s follow-up attempt blocked.

Crewe were handed a lifeline in the 81st minute when Walker’s cross from the right was turned into his own goal by Mullins, but Jones reacted by taking Elliot Lee off and bringing Mpanzu on to stiffen up the midfield.

The plan worked, with Mpanzu helping carry the ball forward to relieve pressure – along with the twinkle-toed Shinnie, who had made a real impact on the game.

Crewe threw balls into the box when they could, but Sheehan, Mullins, Potts and Stacey stood strong, the closest the hosts coming being a glancing 90th-minute header from Bowery that Stech had well covered as it drifted past the far post, ditto from Porter with four added minutes played.

The Hatters survived to make it make it one defeat in 17 in all competitions – one in 14 in the league – and maintain their grip on top spot, albeit on that mammoth plus-30 goal difference after Notts County’s late winner against Colchester, before heading into FA Cup and Checkatrade action.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Mullins, Sheehan ©, Potts, Rea, O Lee (Famewo 90+3), Berry, Cornick (Shinnie 60), Hylton, E Lee Mpanzu. Subs: Justin, Cook, Gambin, Shea (GK)

Yellow: Hylton

Goals: Hylton 63, Berry 67

CREWE: Richards, Ng, Walker, Porter, Dagnall ©, Cooper, Nolan, Ainley (Bowery 46), Pickering, Stubbs, Grant (Reilly 72). Subs: Garratt (GK), Kirk, Finney, Lundstram, Offord

Yellow: Ng

Goals: Mullins (OG) 81

REFEREE: Graham Salisbury

ATT: 4,571 (1,244 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftlDRrv05o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVB4PBPoBuA

NATHAN JONES ON THE 2-1 WIN OVER CREWE ALEXANDRA

Town boss Nathan Jones was pleased with his side's performance as they ran out 2-1 victors over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road this afternoon, ensuring the Hatters remain top of Sky Bet League Two.

Two quickfire goals from Danny Hylton and Luke Berry just after the hour mark put the Hatters in a strong position, but a Johnny Mullins own goal in the 81st minute setup a tense ending as the hosts went in search of a late equaliser, although their efforts were thwarted by a tight Town defence.

Jones said: "After the own goal it lifted their spirits slightly and they threw everything at us. We had to defend that out, but we should have been out of sight by then, we had enough chances.

"I am very, very pleased though. It's topped a wonderful week off – nine points, we remain top of the league, three different victories and performances, but I am so pleased.

"To be fair I thought we had the play first half. I think we won the game in the first half. It was horrific down there, it was blowing a gale and we were playing against it in the first half. So to carve out the amount of chances we did – not clear cut chances, we had a few, but with a little bit more quality we would have taken the lead.

"I thought we defended excellently, I thought we defended set plays well and the game was won. We just had to get out of the traps and get that first goal.

"We started the second half well, but they changed for us. They played a back five, then a diamond, then one up front – which shows the kind of respect they showed to us.

"But then when they changed I felt the space was opening up. We made a little change and went back to the diamond and I thought Andrew Shinnie coming on changed the game.

"We really showed quality, we scored one and then two straight away, and we could have had more, especially on the counter. Shinnie had a great chance after great hold up by Danny. But I am really pleased, I would have taken 2-1 any day of the week."

Hatters dig in to beat Railwaymen and stay top

League Two: Crewe Alexandra 1 Luton Town 2

Luton Town proved they can mix it up when required by completing the perfect week, making it nine points from nine with a battling 2-1 victory at Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.

After the previous two games had seen Hatters rack up 10 goals, running riot against Cambridge and then proving too strong for Carlisle, this time they showed they were prepared to roll their sleeves up and do the dirty work, in what were horrific conditions at times, particularly in the first half.

However, they weathered the storm, quite literally, while took the victory thanks to goals from Danny Hylton and Luke Berry in the second period, and then once Johnny Mullins put through his own net, displayed the resilience to keep their opponents at arms length late on.

Town chief Nathan Jones made two changes from the side that defeated Carlisle, with Harry Cornick and Olly Lee in for Andrew Shinnie and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

The visitors, roared on by a vocal 1,244 supporters, who were in fine voice from the word go, forced an early corner, and when the ball was headed back into the area, Hylton volleyed off target.

Cornick was lively in the opening stages, winning two corners with his direct running on the right hand side, while Elliot Lee had a great chance on 10 minutes, superbly picked out by Hylton's chip, but despite having time on his side, opted for the spectacular volley, which was wayward.

George Cooper was clearly the hosts' dangerman, arrowing a number of fine crosses into the box, while he also took aim from 25 yards, shooting straight at Marek Stech.

A game of few clear-cut chances saw a high cross by Alan Sheehan fumbled under pressure from his own defender by keeper Dave Richards, Glen Rea's snapshot charged down.

With the skies darkening ominously around Gresty Road, the heavens then opened, as it appeared Armageddon was on its way.

Town thought they had the lead in that time too on 26 minutes, when Olly Lee dinked over a hanging cross that brother Elliot Lee showed great strength to outmuscle his marker and nod home.

However, official Graham Salisbury deemed the Town striker had been leaning on his man and chalked the goal off, much to the obvious chagrin of the younger Lee.

Callum Ainley dragged wide as the rain finally eased off, with blue skies even appearing, before Elliot Lee's cross headed back by Hylton and Berry's attempt deflected over the bar.

After the break, both teams cancelled each other out in the early stages, with Jack Stacey's cross patted away by Richards and Olly Lee's swivel volley into the stands.

Jones introduced Shinnie from the bench, which was to prove a masterstroke, the on-loan Birmingham City midfielder showing a touch of class in possession, full of flicks, spins and feints, that had been lacking prior to his arrival.

The visitors had the breakthrough on 63 minutes too when Elliot Lee did excellently to dance to the byline, his cross not properly cleared, Hylton slamming into the net off the underside of the bar for goal number 12 of the campaign.

With the deadlock broken, Luton went for the jugular, eager to kill off their struggling opponents and had a vital second just four minutes later, Shinnie winning the ball back twice, crossing low for Berry to slide his low shot beyond Richards.

Shinnie should have put the result out of sight with 15 minutes to go, as Elliot Lee beat his man on the half way and motored away, setting his team-mate away, but faced with Richards, he was denied by the keeper's trailing leg, Hylton's follow up blocked too.

Crewe then took advantage of the miss, as on 81 minutes, a cross from the right saw Mullins stick out a leg and divert past Stech into the corner of his own net.

Buoyed by the chance of gaining a precious point that had seemed unlikely, Crewe went direct into Chris Porter, causing some moments of minor consternation in the closing stages.

However, Dan Potts made a fine block, while Jordan Bowery glanced wide as Town comfortable held on for their third straight win this week, and remained at the summit on goal difference from Notts County, who grabbed a last-gasp winner against Colchester.

Alex: Dave Richards, Perry Ng, Brad Walker, Chris Porter, Chris Dagnall (C), George Cooper, Eddie Nolan, Callum Ainley (Jordan Bowery 46), Harry Pickering, Sam Stubbs, Conor Grant (Lewis Reilly 72).

Subs not used: Ben Garratt, Charlie Kirk, Oliver Finney, Josh Lundstram, Luke Offord.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Alan Sheehan (C), Glen Rea, Olly Lee (Akin Famewo 90), Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Andrew Shinnie 60), Elliot Lee (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 83), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: James Shea, James Justin, Jordan Cook, Luke Gambin.

Booked: Ng 47, Dagnall 83, Hylton 87.

Referee: Graham Salisbury. Attendance: 4,571 (1,244 Luton).

Jones: Game was won in the first half

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt his side’s dogged first half performance set them on the way to a 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.

Even the scores were goalless at the break, Town had the wind and rain against them in that opening period, but managed to keep a clean sheet and then took advantage after the interval.

Danny Hylton put the Hatters in front on 63 minutes, with Luke Berry doubling up just four minutes afterwards, as Luton held on despite a late own goal from Johnny Mullins.

Jones said: “To be fair I think we’ve underplayed the first half.

“I think we won the game in the first half, because conditions were horrific down there, it was blowing a gale and we were playing against the wind.

“So to carve out the amount of openings we did, they weren’t clear cut chances, we had a few, and a little bit more quality we would have taken the lead.

“I thought we defended excellently, I thought we defended set plays, anything that was whipped in, we defended it well and I thought that’s when game was won to be honest with you.

“We knew second half we just had to come out of the traps and get that first goal.

"After the own goal that lifted their spirits slightly then they threw everything at us and we had to defend that out.

“But we should have been out of sight before then, we had enough chances, but I’m very, very pleased.

“That’s topped a wonderful week off – nine points, we remain top of the league, and three really different victories and performances, but I am so pleased with them.”

On Luton’s dominance, in the second period, Jones felt they could have been even more comfortable victors, adding: “We started the second half well, but they changed for us. They played a back five, and a diamond, then one up front – which shows the kind of respect they showed to us.

"But then when they changed I felt the space was opening up. We made a little change and went back to the diamond and I thought Andrew Shinnie coming on changed the game.

"I thought they we really showed quality, we had a control of the game, we scored one and then the second one straight away, and we could have had more.

"We missed chances, especially on the counter. Shinnie had a great chance followed up by Dan, we had more chances too.

"But I am really pleased, I would have taken 2-1 any day of the week."