Doncaster Rovers vs Luton Town FC (8th Sep 2018)

DONCASTER 2 LUTON TOWN 1

Elliot Lee on target for the third time this season, but Hatters are beaten by Donny

The Hatters tasted defeat for the first time in four league matches this afternoon as Doncaster edged a close encounter at the Keepmoat Stadium with early goals in each half.

The Yorkshire club took a sixth-minute lead through Matty Blair, before Elliot Lee nodded in a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

The Hatters had created several good chances both before the break and afterwards, but Ben Whiteman’s deflected strike 35 seconds into the second half proved decisive to secure all three points for Rovers, who moved level on points with the play-off places in seventh while the Town dropped to 11th.

Jones made two changes to his starting line-up from last week’s 1-1 draw at Wycombe, midfielder Jorge Grant and forward Harry Cornick coming back into the side, with James Justin and Andrew Shinnie missing out.

Leeds United loanee Eunan O'Kane was named among the substitutes, the injury that forced him off before half-time of the Checkatrade Trophy win over Brighton on Tuesday not hindering his involvement.

Goalkeeper Harry Isted - who made his first start for the club in midweek - was also included on a league teamsheet for the first time with Marek Stech requiring surgery on his hernia, while Aaron Jarvis was also one of Jones' game changers following his goal in the 2-1 win over the Seagulls.

The Hatters fell behind in the first half for the sixth time in seven matches this season when Matty Blair was allowed to run unchallenged from the right touchline and bend a 20-yard shot past Shea in the sixth minute.

Elliot Lee looked to get the Town back on terms immediately, turning smartly on a short corner from Grant, but his shot was blocked.

And after James Shea had saved a James Coppinger volley in the 12th minute, the Hatters started to create a series of good opportunities, Collins seeing a shot from left side of area, saved by Marko Marosi on 17 minutes before the Rovers keeper got down low by his left post to push Grant’s 25 yard free-kick away, after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu has been fouled.

Rovers left-back Danny Andrew ventured forward to fire a left-footed shot way over the bar in the 23rd minute, but there was little more to see of the hosts as an attacking threat as the Town took control.

Lee fed Collins into the box in the 25th minute, but his angled drive was straight at Marosi, then the Town striker played Potts to the left-byline to stand up a lovely cross to the far post, but Andrew did well to head out from under the bar as Lee looked to pounce.

Just after the half-hour it was Stacey’s turn to make headway down the right, but his low crossrom right edge of box, cross just too far in front of Grant sliding in the middle of the area and Rovers managed to clear behind.

Pearson had the ball in the net from the resulting corner, but was penalised for a foul on Marosi, then – in the final minute of the half – the centre-half played a key role in events that led to the equaliser.

First, the former Barnsley man found himself in unchartered territory on the right and blasted in a cross-shot that Marosi did well to fist away, only back as far as Pearson, who won a corner off Andrew’s legs.

From that set-piece on the right, Grant had a shot deflected behind off Blair’s head, then the midfielder went over to the left to deliver the corner – the Town’s ninth of the opening half – that Potts met with a firm header for Lee to nod in from close range.

It was a goal the Hatters deserved, but parity lasted just 35 seconds of the second half as they failed to clear a deep cross from Andrew on the left and Ben Whiteman lashed in a shot from the edge of the box that flew past Shea with the aid of a deflection.

Wilks went close to extending the Rovers lead on 52 minutes, curling a left-footed shot just wide of Shea’s right post, then Andrew bent one inches wide from the other side after Cornick had drawn a save from Marosi and Grant had fired well wide at the other end.

Doncaster centre-half Joe Wright went into referee Tom Nield’s notepad for a foul on Cornick to the right angle of the area, but Grant’s whipped in free-kick proved just too powerful for Potts as

Mpanzu tried to inject some urgency into proceedings in the 67th minute when he surged past two Rovers defenders and kept the ball from going out of play, but his driven cross-shot from a tight angle was somehow kept out and deflected behind for another corner.

Elliot Lee attempted a curler from distance after a good break from deep inside how own half by Cornick, but his effort – after receiving a pass from Collins – proved high and wide.

The Town survived another scare in the 71st minute when Marquis pounced on a loose ball from Grant and slip by Potts to feed sub Alfie May on the right, but Coppinger’s shot was off target.

Potts got in on the left side of the area with just under 20 minutes left, but Marosi was equal to his low shot, then – seconds after O’Kane had been introduced in place of Collins – Pearson headed a Grant free-kick back across goal, but Bradley couldn’t get a clear head on it and Marosi claimed the loose ball.

Jones threw Jarvis into the fray with five minutes left, but it was a corner from the first sub, O’Kane, that led to the Town’s best chance to level a minute into injury-time, only captain Glen Rea could only steer his near-post effort into the side-netting.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Rea (c), Mpanzu, Grant (Jarvis 85), Lee, Cornick, Collins (O'Kane 76). Subs: Justin, McCormack, Shinnie, Sheehan, Isted (GK)

Yellows: Collins

Goals: Lee 45+1

ROVERS: Marosi, Mason, Wright, Butler (c), Andrew, Kane (J Anderson 75), Blair, Whiteman, Wilks (May 62), Coppinger (Taylor 81), Marquis. Subs: Lawlor (GK), T Anderson, Beestin, Prior.

Yellows: Wright, Blair, Marosi

Goals: Blair 6, Whiteman 46

REFEREE: Tom Nield

ATT: 7,526 (1,013 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28QNQ56ZeOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu07FFOqJ5Q

NATHAN JONES ON THE 2-1 DEFEAT TO DONCASTER ROVERS

Town boss Nathan Jones was disappointed to see his side concede early on again as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in Sky Bet League One this afternoon.

Donny took the lead six minutes in as Matty Blair was allowed space to run at goal and curl an effort into the top left corner, before Elliot Lee headed in from close range to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

The hosts came out and restored their lead just 35 seconds after the restart, as Ben Whiteman's deflected effort beat James Shea.

The result sees the Hatters remain in the top half of the table, sitting in 11th with eight points after seven games.

Jones said: "We keep saying it. We're controlling games, we were pretty dominant first half. We started the second poorly. We work on starts, we work on what we have got to do, maybe we shouldn't, maybe we should just let them get on with it.

"After the goal I thought were excellent, chance after chance, opportunity after opportunity. We controlled the game. these are a very good footballing side, all our reports came back and we were watching games, they cause sides real, real problems.

"We caused all the problems, they changed their shape at half-time, we come in at half-time right after scoring, thinking all the momentum is with us. One ball into the box, it's not even a good ball into the box and our six-foot left-back who is very good in the air doesn't win his header, it drops, we don't get on the second, we don't get on the third. Then you've got another mountain to climb.

"We're having to show a lot of character lately, but the reason we're having to show a lot of character is because we are giving goals away and it's poor. Our structure going forward, the way we play and how we cause problems is very good, it's excellent.

"But at the moment we're not keeping clean sheets and if you don't keep clean sheets then you don't win games."

Hatters head home from Rovers empty-handed

League One: Doncaster Rovers 2 Luton Town 1

Luton saw their four game unbeaten run ended in hugely frustrating fashion as they went down 2-1 at Doncaster Rovers this afternoon, a game they should never have lost.

The stats alone tell a story, Luton with 14 corners to the hosts two, with 10 attempts on goal by the visitors as well, as they deserved a point at the very least from proceedings.

However, defensive lapses once again proved costly, Luton conceding early in both halves to ensure the Hatters remain without a win on their travels in League Two this term.

Town boss Nathan Jones made two changes to his side from the 1-1 draw at Wycombe last weekend, Harry Cornick in to partner James Collins upfront, while Jorge Grant was back, Andrew Shinnie and James Justin dropping to the bench.

There was also a place among the substitutes for Aaron Jarvis and Harry Isted for the first time this season after impressing during Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy win over Brighton U21s.

With the manager's words no doubt ringing in their ears about making a good start and not conceding first, the visitors then went and did the exact opposite, falling behind on six minutes.

Once again it was all their own doing, winger Matty Blair allowed the freedom of the Keepmoat Stadium to cut in from the right flank, run and run, and then send a left footer from 22 yards beyond James Shea, the sixth time in seven league games Town have trailed in the first half.

Luton tried to mount an instant response, winning two corners, Elliot Lee seeing a shot charged down, before James Coppinger tried to double the advantage, his effort easy for Shea.

James Collins went close when the ball ricocheted into his path as he went for the top corner when he could have advanced, angling a shot straight at Marko Marosi.

The keeper was back in action on 20 minutes, scrambling across to parry Grant's accurate free kick that was destined for the bottom corner, Dan Potts heading Lee's dinked cross from the rebound over.

Jones' side went on to enjoy a period of dominance for the remainder of the half, Collins fed by Lee, his low attempt fielded by Marosi.

The visitors fashioned plenty of overlaps on the right hand side throughout the first period, but time and time again, they just couldn't pick out a team-mate in the box.

Jack Stacey's delivery was just beyond the sliding Grant, while Andrew nodded Potts' cross from the other side away in the nick of time.

Matty Pearson went for the direct route, firing in a cross that Marosi fisted away unconvincingly, Grant's drive seeing Luton win a ninth corner of the first half with most left.

Finally a set-piece paid off, Potts rising highest to meet Grant's delivery, Lee left unmarked to nod over the line from close range for his third of the season.

With Town all set to go and look for the three points in the second period, all the hard work to get back on level terms was criminally wasted just 35 seconds in.

Once again it was a goal of sheer simplicity too, a deep cross wasn't cleared by Potts, the loose ball falling to the unmarked Ben Whiteman, his shot deflecting past Shea to make it 2-1.

Mallik Wilks was off target, as was Andrew, while Luton attempted to restore parity yet again, Cornick's sidefooter blocked, Grant scuffing the rebound well wide.

The superb Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was then agonisingly away from a leveller, doing brilliantly to win the ball at the byline, his low effort flashing across goal.

Rovers somehow didn't have a third on 70 minutes to surely kill Luton's challenge off, John Marquis charging forward and sending sub Alfie May away, his cross put wide by Coppinger.

Luton pressed again, Potts' striking too close to Marosi, while Sonny Bradley just couldn't get on the end of Pearson's header from another Grant free kick.

Rea went even closer than most in the final minute of normal time, his sidefooter from replacement Eunan O'Kane's low corner into the side-netting, meaning try as they might, Town just couldn't fashion that equaliser.

Rovers: Marko Marosi, Niall Mason, Danny Andrew, Joe Wright, Andy Butler (C), Mallik Wilks (Alfie May 62), Ben Whiteman, John Marquis, Herbie Kane (Jermaine Anderson 75), Matty Blair, James Coppinger (Paul Taylor 81).

Subs not used: Ian Lawlor, Tom Anderson, Alfie Beestin, Cody Prior.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Dan Potts, Glen Rea (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant (Aaron Jarvis 85), Elliot Lee, Harry Cornick, James Collins (Eunan O'Kane 76).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Alan McCormack, Alan Sheehan, James Justin, Andrew Shinnie, Aaron Jarvis.

Booked: Collins 35, Wright 55, Blair 61, Marosi 90.

Referee: Tom Nield.

Attendance: 7,526 (1,013 Luton).

Jones left demoralised by Doncaster loss

Hatters boss Nathan Jones labelled Town's 2-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers this afternoon as ‘demoralising’.

The Town chief saw his side concede within the opening six minutes of the first half, to fall behind for the sixth time in seven league games this term.

Elliot Lee levelled on the stroke of half time, setting up a huge opportunity for the Hatters to register an opening away victory, only for the visitors to concede even earlier this time, just 35 seconds passing before Ben Whiteman netted what proved to be the winner.

A disappointed Jones said: “We keep saying it, we’re controlling games, we’re pretty dominant first half, but we started really poorly.

“We work on starts, we work on what we’ve got to do, maybe we shouldn’t work on starts, maybe we should just let them get on with it. Then after the goal I thought we were excellent, I really did.

“We had chance after chance, opportunity after opportunity, controlled the game, these are a very good footballing side, they cause sides real, real problems, but all the problems we’ve caused.

“They changed their shape at half time and after scoring right on half time and thinking the momentum is with us, one ball into the box and it’s not even a good ball into the box.

"Our six foot one left back, who’s very good in the air, doesn’t win his header, it drops in the box, we don’t get on the second one, don’t get on the third one and then we’re 2-1.

“Then you’re having another mountain to climb and it’s demoralising.

"We’re having to show a lot of character lately, the reason we’re having to show a lot of character is we’ve giving goals away, and it’s poor.

“Our structure going forward and how we play and how we cause problems is very good in fact, but at the minute we’re not keeping clean sheets and if we don’t clean sheets then we’re not going to win games.”