Doncaster Rovers vs Luton Town FC (18th Feb 2017)

PUBLISHED 18:11 18th February 2017 Cook on target again as Hatters held by Rovers

DONCASTER ROVERS 1 (May 80) LUTON TOWN 1 (Cook 54)

Att: 7,506 (1,619 Hatters)

The Hatters remain fourth in Sky Bet League Two after taking a deserved point from their visit to table-topping Doncaster Rovers, who had trailed for more than a quarter of the game following Jordan Cook’s fourth goal of the season early in the second half.

The Town had dug deep at times to keep the Yorkshiremen at bay, but Cook’s third goal in his last six matches had given them a lead they did not look like surrendering on an afternoon when chances were few and far between.

Ultimately, however, Ferguson’s Rovers maintained their unbeaten record at the Keepmoat Stadium thanks to substitute Alfie May’s contentious goal ten minutes from time, with Hatters boss Nathan Jones and Cook believing the midfielder was fouled in the build-up.

Jones made three changes from Tuesday night’s 3-0 win over Hartlepool, with captain Scott Cuthbert and midfielder Jonathan Smith, who were both rested in midweek, returning while Cook also came back into the side after missing the 3-0 win over the Monkey Hangers while recovering from the neck injury that led to him being carried off on a stretcher in last Saturday’s win over Crawley.

The hosts had the first chance with just two minutes on the clock when Matty Blair sent in a deep cross from the right, but Tommy Rowe couldn’t direct his far-post header on target.

Rowe was next to register his interest too, seconds after a promising Town break had broken down as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu tried to play Isaac Vassell into the box. Rovers broke swiftly and as the Hatters struggled to clear a dangerous ball in from the left, Rowe’s shot was deflected over the angle of post and bar for a corner.

Macey gathered Conor Grant’s set-piece under pressure low down on his goal-line as Andy Williams looked to pounce, then – soon after Rovers centre-half had been shown a yellow card for his second foul on Vassell as he turned on the halfway line – Sheehan had to clear a dangerous ball in from Rowe at full stretch.

The Hatters were growing into the game in on 18 minutes Danny Hylton and Mpanzu linked well to the left of the Rovers area, with the latter jinking his way to the byline and standing up a cross aimed for Vassell – as has become his trademark in recent games – but Doncaster defender Niall Mason headed clear.

An end to end game was developing, and a minute later it Donny captain James Coppinger fired one low past Macey’s left-hand post, then Cuthbert dived full length to head behind a right-wing cross from Blair, just ahead of Williams, who was soon heading another delivery from Grant just over.

Sheehan and Cuthbert were standing up strong to the early bombardment and after Hylton had danced through a pack of defenders to fire in a shot that was blocked, Cook hit a volleyed pass into the box for Vassell, who was always stretching to get any power in his effort as he lifted the ball over Rovers keeper Ian Lawlor, but wide of his goal as the half-hour approached.

As tackles flew in and Hylton fought a running battle with the home central defenders, the Town’s top scorer was alive to a clip over the top from Sheehan and floated a deep cross from the right byline, but Vassell – again having to stretch – couldn’t generate any power in his looping header.

With no changes made at the break, it was Doncaster who had the first attempt on goal in the second period with Coppinger teeing up Williams, whose curling 50th-minute shot flew wide of Macey’s left post.

The Hatters were giving as good as they got on the front foot too, and when Vassell controlled Jack Senior’s ball into the box, Hylton sent a volley goalwards, but Lawlor managed to punch clear over Smith, who was flagged offside.

The breakthrough came in the 54th minute, and Hylton – inevitably – was at the heart of it, winning the ball on the touchline in the left-back area level with the edge of his own penalty area and emerging with possession to run away from two men, despite being grounded initially.

The striker rolled the ball loosely into Vassell, who managed to regain control and play a great throughball to Cook on the right, who finished unerringly past Lawlor into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Rovers tried to respond immediately, but Rowe’s left foot shot from 25 yards was well wide, and Cuthbert again shepherded the ball away from danger when Williams looked to get in on the left, then his equally immense centre-half partner Sheehan cleared a low cross as Blair looked to probe down the right.

Mpanzu and O’Donnell took the threat to the hosts with long runs down the right, then Jones brought Palmer on to give the Town another dimension up front.

Doncaster were level, however, on 80 minutes when a sub of their own, May, latched onto a through ball from Grant and raced clear to slip his shot past the onrushing Macey.

The Hatters regrouped and Palmer, not for the first time, worked his way into the right side of the Rovers area and looked to get a shot off, winning a corner.

With five minutes of added time indicated, the Town continued to probe and after Luke Gambin – on as an 87th-minute sub for goalscorer Cook – crossed from the left, Smith laid the ball back for Rea to strike at goal from 18 yards, but his effort flew wide.

Rovers substitute Gary McSheffrey raced clear but fired well over the bar two minutes into injury time, then Macey comfortably held a shot from their other sub, Harry Middleton, moments later as the Town saw the game out to pick up a valuable point and make it four games unbeaten in the league.

Including the Checkatrade Trophy, it’s now one defeat in ten for the Town, who can take great heart from another game unbeaten against a side at the top of the table having beaten Donny at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season.

Next up it’s Plymouth – beaten 3-0 in Devon on the opening day but currently three points behind Doncaster in second – as Jones’ men look to close the gap on third-placed Carlisle, who are five points ahead after their 2-1 victory at Wycombe.

TOWN: Macey, O’Donnell, Cuthbert ©, Sheehan, Senior, Rea, Smith, Mpanzu, Cook (Gambin 87), Hylton, Vassell (Palmer 76). Subs: Marriott, Lee, D’Ath, Justin, Moore (GK)

Yellows: Rea

ROVERS: Lawlor, Alcock, Butler, Mason (McSheffrey 77), Blair, Houghton (Middleton 60), Grant, Rowe, Coppinger ©, Williams (May 72), Marquis. Subs: Wright, Keegan, Evina, Etheridge (GK)

Yellows: Butler

REFEREE: Darren Deadman

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-league-two-doncaster-rovers-3581696.aspx

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXLt1_GEYyI

PUBLISHED 18:29 18th February 2017 The Town manager felt his side should have won the game

Hatters boss Nathan Jones believed his side deserved to win at Doncaster this afternoon, despite having to settle for a 1-1 at the league leaders.

Town midfielder Jordan Cook gave the visitors the lead with a driven shot into the bottom left corner early in the second half, before Alfie May brought the game level ten minutes before the final whistle as he tucked the ball past Matt Macey.

The result leaves Jones’ team fourth, five points short of Carlisle who won away at Wycombe.

The Hatters gaffer said: “I am really proud of my team, I thought we were excellent. We came here with a game plan and I thought we were absolutely excellent.

“I thought we deserved to win the game, I didn’t envisage them scoring.

“I thought we looked really dangerous, we had the better chances. I am proud of my team.

“I said to them before, big players turn up in big games and we needed our big players to turn up – and they did.

“There were some outstanding performances. Glen Rea put in a performance in the middle of the park which was outstanding, and I thought Danny Hylton showed why he is the best in the league.”

League Two: Doncaster Rovers 1 Luton Town 1

Luton Town came within 10 minutes of ending Doncaster Rovers' lengthy unbeaten run at the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon as they had to settle for a point in this hard-fought but totally absorbing encounter.

It had looked like the visitors were going to make further inroads into the top three after Jordan Cook's classy angled finish on 53 minutes put them in front.

Hatters were then repelling most of what the hosts had to throw at them, until crucially switching off for a moment thinking they were to be awarded a free kick for a foul on Cook, only for referee Darren Deadman to way play on.

Rovers then moved the ball inside full back Stephen O'Donnell and sub Alfie May raced clear to slot through the legs of Matt Macey for the equaliser.

Results elsewhere saw Town slip five points behind third placed Carlisle who won at Wycombe, although next week's opponents Plymouth stayed eight points above, held on their travels at struggling Hartlepool.

Luton chief Nathan Jones made three changes to his side, as back in came the rested Jonathan Smith and Scott Cuthbert, with Cook fit enough to return, as Luke Gambin and Lawson D'Ath dropped to the bench, Johnny Mullins missing out completely.

A game which was short on clear-cut goalscoring chances, was nonetheless an engrossing encounter, with a number of subplots, none more so than Danny Hylton's running battle with the home defenders and supporters throughout.

Tommy Rowe put an early header over at the far post after some fine wing play from Matty Blair, who had got the better of Jack Senior.

Luton's threats were few and far between early on, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu wasting a marvellous break with an overhit pass, which was to be the only slight annoyance of Hatters' final third play.

Rowe's deflected effort only narrowly cleared the bar and from the resulting corner, Andy Butler stuck out a leg, with Matt Macey having to grab the loose ball on his line.

With Craig Alcock stopping another Town attack in its tracks, James Coppinger then went close on 19 minutes, dragging wide from 20 yards.

Rovers looked a threat whenever Blair had space on the wing and it needed a fine intervention from Cuthbert to prevent Andy Williams from turning in a dangerous delivery from the right.

Luton's best chance fell on 29 minutes as Cook volleyed Vassell into space on, but with the angle against him and Ian Lawlor rushing out, he couldn't steer his shot on target.

After the interval, Coppinger initiated a good break to find Williams, whose curler didn't have enough bend on it.

The deadlock was broken on 53 minutes, when a prostrate Hylton did magnificently well to win the ball back from deep inside his own half.

He tricked his way past two players and set off at pace, finding Vassell, who slid Cook through, the recalled midfielder spanking an angled drive beyond Lawlor for his third strike in six games, sending the 1,619 fans behind the goal into raptures.

Rowe tried for an instant response, volleying wide from 20 yards, as it looked like Hatters were doing more than enough to keep the hosts at arms length, Glen Rea sweeping up diligently in front of the back four, while both centre halves Cuthbert and Alan Sheehan were simply magnificent, especially aerially.

However, with 10 minutes to go, the visitors hesitated, waiting for Deadman's whistle and when it wasn't blown, May burst clear to level.

Luton created one last decent opening in stoppage time, Smith teeing up Rea who sliced wide, and the visitors might have unjustly won it as ex-Town attacker Gary McSheffrey fired waywardly wide, while Middleton's effort was gathered by Macey too.

Rovers: Ian Lawlor, Niall Mason (Gary McSheffrey 77), Andy Butler, Craig Alcock, Matty Blair, Jordan Houghton (Harry Middleton 60), Conor Grant, Tommy Rowe, James Coppinger (C), Andy Williams (Alfie May 70), John Marquis.

Subs not used: Ross Etheridge, Joe Wright, Paul Keegan, Gary McSheffrey, Cedric Evina.

Hatters: Matt Macey, Stephen O'Donnell, Jack Senior, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jonathan Smith, Jordan Cook (Luke Gambin 87), Isaac Vassell (Ollie Palmer 77), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Stuart Moore, Lawson D'Ath, Jack Marriott, Olly Lee, James Justin.

Booked: Butler 15, Rea 66.

Attendance: 7,506 (1,619 Luton).

Referee: Darren Deadman.

Hatters MOM: Scott Cuthbert. Skipper was simply outstanding once more.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt Doncaster Rovers’ equaliser shouldn’t have been allowed to stand this afternoon after what he felt was a clear foul on Jordan Cook in the build-up.

With just 10 minutes to go, and Luton 1-0 in front, referee Darren Deadman, whom Jones was full of praise for his handling of the game otherwise, didn’t whistle when ex-Hatter Gary McSheffrey looked to have illegally dispossessed Cook.

Conor Grant picked up the loose ball and sent sub Alfie May clear to finish through the legs of Matt Macey, as Jones said: “I thought we deserved to win the game but the referee has made one mistake all day and it was the goal because it’s a foul on Jordan Cook. It’s a foul.

“I didn’t envisage them scoring, I couldn’t see them scoring and I thought we were excellent.

“I thought our game plan worked, I thought we looked really dangerous, we had the better chances and I’m proud of my team.”

After the foul was not given, Luton were still slow to react, with a number stopping for the whistle, as Jones continued: “They’ve said that one or two switched off but I think it has gone into Jordan, it’s a foul, then we’re on the front foot to come out and then we got caught.

“It’s difficult to take from our point of view because we could have defended it better, but it’s a foul.

“That’s the only thing I’m disappointed about. But, if I’m honest, the referee was absolutely outstanding, I thought he had a great game.

“He was calm, he was assured in everything he did, so credit to him.

“But he’s made one error that has cost us, in my opinion. But, in terms of his all-round performance, I thought he was excellent.”

Cook himself, who had put Hatters in front with a fine angled drive into the bottom corner on 53 minutes, was bemused the decision wasn't given in his favour, saying: “If you look at the changing room, everyone can see that we’re disappointed.

“I think 1-1, a lot of fans would have taken that, but we were coming into the game wanting to take all three points.

“To concede that kind of goal, especially when I thought it was a foul on myself and I’ve looked at it back and it definitely is a foul, I can’t believe he hasn’t blew up on it.

“But we take a lot of positives from it. We’ve played top of the league and to me we battered them, we deserved all three points and I'm just gutted we didn’t take them back home.”

Meanwhile, skipper Scott Cuthbert, who alongside Alan Sheehan was immense all afternoon, felt that foul or not, Town should have played to the whistle, adding: "We’re disappointed to have conceded that goal. I think it was a bit naive to be honest to stop, whether we thought it was a foul or not, we should have been switched on as the boy’s got through and scored.

“So we’re disappointed with that. I’m not sure whether it’s a foul or lot, I’ve not seen it back, but it’s one of those things.”

Hatters** chief had hoped to make even more of a statement at Rovers**

Hatters boss Nathan Jones couldn’t hide his slight disappointment that Luton weren’t able to make quite the statement he had hoped for at league leaders Doncaster Rovers yesterday.

The Hatters had moved ahead early in the second period through Jordan Cook’s strike, and looked like becoming the first visiting side to win at the Keepmoat in the league this term.

However, Rovers levelled with 10 minutes to go through sub Alfie May, with Town appealing in vain for a free kick, as they had to ultimately make do with a point.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “These (Rovers) are top of the league and have got the accolade of being the best in the league but I loved how my team went about our work.

“We were brave. I felt we could have come here and been comfortable if we matched them and went man-for-man all over, but we didn’t.

“We came here, we were brave and we were excellent. I’m really disappointed because three points would have been a big statement here and we deserved the three points.

“They’re a good side, an excellent side. They’re top of the league for a reason, but we fancy ourselves.

“We think we’re the best side, but we have to back that up and we thought this was going to be a statement.

“I’m slightly disappointed with the goal but immensely proud of my team and my squad.”

After beating both Crawley and Hartlepool last week, Jones knew it would be a far greater test against the table-toppers, but was delighted with the manner his side went about the game.

He continued: “I’m really proud of my team. I thought we were excellent. We came here with a gameplan and I thought we were absolutely excellent.

“It was an away performance, disciplined as we didn’t want to come out, go gung-ho and press them everywhere because we’ve had big exertions this week.

“We’ve had six points so we’ve had seven points from nine this week. It has been a wonderful, wonderful haul for us against two tricky home ties, which, in the past we’ve tripped up.

“Then we come to the league leaders and have been excellent. It has been a wonderful week for the football club and we’re delighted with that. At times it won’t always be free-flowing but we’re delighted.”

Hatters were roared on by 1,619 visiting fans throughout the game, with the visiting faithful creating a wonderful atmosphere in the away end, culminating in some superb scenes greeting Cook’s third goal in six matches.

Jones said: “I think we should all be proud of our club today. That’s a fantastic following, 1,600. They were the most vocal, far more vocal than the Doncaster ones.

“Doncaster, all they did was appeal for half-hearted efforts, that’s the only time I heard them.

“Our fans were absolutely wonderful and we gave them a performance to get behind. They should be proud of their club. They are proud of their club because they follow it, they sing and they’re magnificent fans, absolutely magnificent.

“It’s a good day for the football club but it could have been better.”

Meanwhile, club captain Scott Cuthbert, who was superb all afternoon, added: “They were outstanding. We travel unbelievably well, anywhere we go.

“Two and a half, three hours up the motorway to get here and they’ve all travelled up, paid good money.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t give them three points but I’m sure they’ll all be really proud of the boys as they’ve seen how much this means to us, this league, how much we want to get promoted and finish as high as we can.

“I think they’ve brought into the way the manager wants to play and the way we want to play, it’s just excellent. They travel in their numbers and they were superb.”