Exeter City vs Luton Town FC (17th Oct 2017)

MATCH REPORT: EXETER CITY 1 LUTON TOWN 4

Hatters hit top spot in League Two with a fourth successive win

The Hatters moved to the top of Sky Bet League Two tonight with a fantastic 4-1 victory at fellow promotion chasers Exeter City.

Nathan Jones’ men made it eight games unbeaten, including seven wins, with a thrilling second-half display in Devon after James Collins’ first-half opener had been cancelled out by Jake Taylor.

Dan Potts marked his return from suspension with his second goal of the season just after half-time, before Danny Hylton netted his eighth and Harry Cornick bagged his first for the club as the Town made it four wins in a row – a run in which they have netted 16 times!

The victory took the Town above the Grecians, who were one place above them at kick-off, and leaders Notts County, who lost 2-0 at Crewe.

Jones made two changes to his starting line-up, with Alan Sheehan, who missed the 7-1 win over Stevenage on Saturday due to the birth of his first child, and Potts both returning to the Town back four.

The hosts came out of the blocks at lightning pace, former Hatters loanee Jayden Stockley rattling the woodwork with just ten seconds on the clock, Marek Stech saving the follow-up from Reuben Reid.

Taylor cut in from the left and fired a right-footed effort just wide of Stech’s right-hand post in the sixth minute, but the Hatters were in front with their first attack of note two minutes later.

Cornick did brilliantly to get to the right byline and cut the ball back for Collins, who was waiting inside the six-yard box to steer in his eighth goal of the season.

The Town looked to increase the lead a minute later when Sheehan sent in a free-kick that Potts met, but couldn’t keep his header down.

Exeter almost hit back in the 12th minute when Dean Moxey headed wide at the near post, before Lee Holmes hammered an effort over from the edge of the box.

Hylton had the Town’s next chance in the 20th minute when he picked a loose ball up on the right edge of the area and cut inside to unleash a left footed shot that Christy Pym turned away, but a minute later the Grecians were level.

Stockley rose to flick a long ball forward on, and left-winger Taylor pounced to bend a right-footed shot beyond Stech and into the top corner.

The Hatters survived another scare in the 28th minute when Troy Brown rose at the far post and headed back across goal, but neither Reid not Jordan Tillson could turn the ball home and Glen Rea hooked clear from almost on the line.

Taylor went close again on the half-hour with a 25-yard drive that flew just over Stech’s crossbar, before Jones switched formation to drop Rea into the heart of defence as part of a 3-5-2 system.

It enabled the Hatters to get more of a solid look about them, and going forward they looked a real threat, Jack Stacey – on his return to the club where he spent last season on loan – bursting into the box but finding his path blocked by a stumbling Craig Woodman.

Referee James Linington said no penalty, but Hylton was soon having another go, Olly Lee and Potts combining to play the striker in on the left, but his right-footed effort as he drifted across the edge of the 18-yard line flew just over the bar into the home fans.

The Town were playing much better, and after Troy Brown went into the book for a 38th minute foul on Luke Berry out on the Town left, Sheehan whipped in a free-kick that Potts met, but couldn’t keep his header down.

In the 42nd minute Collins flicked on for Cornick, whose shot on the turn was saved low by Pym, then Stockley should have done better when Holmes put a terrific ball in from the right in the 43rd minute, but the striker’s header from five yards out was off target.

As half-time approached, Olly Lee hit a stunning 35-yarder that Pym pushed away, then Potts met Sheehan’s corner with a towering header, but referee Linington saw an infringement and Exeter survived.

Rea soon became the first Town player to receive a yellow card for kicking the ball away, and Grecians right-back Pierce Sweeney volleyed inches wide from the resulting free-kick, but it remained all-square at the break.

It only stayed that way for just over a minute of the second half, as the Town regained the advantage. Exeter thought they had cleared a Sheehan corner, but first Olly Lee and then Cuthbert headed back in to the box, and as everyone waited for a penalty as Hylton appeared to be pulled to the ground, Potts lashed in from ten yards to make it 2-1.

It was almost three in the 49th minute when Rea volleyed Sheehan’s cross goalwards, but Exeter managed to block. Their respite was brief.

A superb 52nd-minute move down the right saw Cornick cut the ball back for Hylton, who bided his time, checked back on his left foot and rifled into the roof of the net for his seventh goal in his last six games.

Three minutes later it was 4-1, and finally Cornick had the goal his recent performances have deserved, as Hylton and Collins combined brilliantly down the left for the latter to cross for the former Bournemouth man to head home.

The Town were rampant, and Hylton tried his luck again just after the hour, his shot from distance flying inches over the bar, before Saturday’s hat-trick man Berry drove at the Grecians’ defence and fired in a low shot that Pym got down well to save.

At the other end Cuthbert showed a clean pair of heels to outpace Liam McAlinden when the Exeter substitute looked to race clear on the right, then Rea made a great block from a Taylor shot and Stech was his usual solid self, coming to punch clear to relieve any danger.

Hylton, moments after driving down the left after a great turn in his own half from Collins, was sniffing again in the 71st minute when Berry nutmegged his man during a flowing move, before playing the striker into the area.

Hyton engineered space for himself to unleash another left-footed shot, but this time Pym was right behind it.

Sheehan picked out Potts with another pinpoint cross in the 78th minute, but Exeter managed to steer the ball away as Rea looked to get his head on it.

Jones brought James Justin on for Cornick, who left the pitch to a standing ovation from the 353 travelling Town fans, and the homegrown right-back was soon into the thick of the action, bravely heading clear on the edge of his own box and winning a free-kick to ease any kind of danger.

Stockley and McAlinden threatened briefly, but neither could find a way past Stech who saved both late efforts comfortably, and the Town moved a point clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crawley.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert (c), Sheehan, Potts, Rea, O Lee, Berry (Mpanzu 90+4), Cornick (Justin 83), Hylton, Collins (E Lee 89). Subs: Mullins, Cook, Gambin, Shea (GK)

Yellows: Rea, O Lee, Sheehan, Potts

Goals: Collins 8, Potts 46, Hylton 52, Cornick 55

EXETER: Pym, Sweeney, Woodman (Jay 61), James (c), Tillson, Holmes (Edwards 70), Stockley, Moxey, Taylor, Reid (McAlinden 61), Brown. Subs: Hamon (GK), Archibald-Henville, Harley, Wilson

Yellows: Brown, Moxey

Goals: Taylor 21

REFEREE: James Linington

ATTENDANCE: 4,209 (353 Hatters)

NATHAN JONES' VERDICT ON THE WIN AT EXETER CITY

Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted to see his side extend their unbeaten run to eight games as they toppled promotion chasing Exeter City 4-1 in their own back yard this evening.

James Collins gave his side in the opening ten minutes, before Jake Taylor equalised shortly after. Town had to weather a real bombardment from the Grecians as they looked to find Jayden Stockley and Reuben Reid and the Hatters were fortunate to go in level at the break.

The Hatters came out all guns blazing and shot into a 4-1 lead within ten minutes of the restart, with Dan Potts hammering in from close range before Danny Hylton fired home after cutting in from the right. Harry Cornick then rounded off the scoring after fantastic link-up on the left between Hylton and Collins, with the latter crossing in for the former Bournemouth man to head in from close range.

Jones said: "It was a game of two halves, we started quite badly, they hit the post in the opening minute. They could have been ahead comfortably at half-time. They were one dimensional but they were very direct in terms of getting it into Stockley, we hadn't seen that from them – they obviously worked on that.

"They hit diagonals and were trying to hit everything into our box. We had to weather a storm right up until half-time. We were very fortunate to go in at 1-1 at the break, so credit to Paul Tisdale's team.

"Then we came out and showed what we are about. We had a devastating ten-minute period, then the game is done. We can do that, we know that.

"We will learn from the first half, we couldn't handle the directness of Exeter and the real physicality of Jayden Stockley. We couldn't deal with it, we had to change shape. Tactically we were good and then second half, no problem.

"It was good for Harry Cornick [to get the goal], because we get in that position normally – 15 times a game – but we don't always pick out the right man. It was quite an open first half. We still had chances, but they were the better side, I'll make no bones about that. But second half once we had tweaked stuff, we came out and that's what we are about – a real attacking threat.

"We have played teams around us [and beat them] – Accrington were above us, so were Exeter – Newport and Stevenage were in and around the play-off places, so to do that to another promotion hopeful is wonderful."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPJNXHduUj4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPdORMiqc2I

League Two: Exeter City 1 Luton Town 4

Luton Town sent the clearest message yet that they mean serious business this season, taking promotion rivals Exeter City to the cleaners on their own patch this evening and climbing to the League Two summit.

Few would have seen this coming at half time, with the Grecians easily having the better of the first period, as Hatters could consider themselves very fortunate to be on level terms.

However, once Dan Potts put Luton back in front just moments after the break, Town then absolutely tore their hosts apart with a truly rampant display of attacking football.

They scored three goals in just nine minutes as a beleagured Exeter completely wilted under the incessant pressure from the visitors, who played some glorious stuff at times.

Prior to the game, boss Nathan Jones made two changes, recalling the available Potts for James Justin, with Alan Sheehan replacing Johnny Mullins in the centre of defence.

City were inches away from a dramatic opener after just 10 seconds, former Hatter Jayden Stockley hammering against the underside of the bar, with Reuben Reid's follow up saved by Marek Stech.

Jake Taylor sent an effort wide, but with Exeter on top, Town then took the lead out of nothing after eight minutes.

Luke Berry sent a long ball over the top for Harry Cornick who did wonderfully to outmuscle Craig Woodman and reach the byline before crossing low for James Collins to tuck home his eighth goal of the campaign.

Still Exeter threatened though, Dean Moxey heading wide from Pierce Sweeney's corner and Stech bravely out at the feet of Brown, with Lee Holmes volleying over too.

With 20 gone, Hatters went close to a second, Danny Hylton's low shot parried by a wrong-footed Christy Pym, the rebound hacked clear.

However, City were deservedly level on 22 minutes as Stockley flicked on for Taylor who, although had time and space to pick his spot, did it superbly, curling beyond Stech.

The Grecians should have been in front on the half hour, Brown's header at the back post saw Reid somehow miss from close range, with Jordan Tillson unable to convert.

Taylor fired over from 25 yards as City stepped up the pressure, although Town had huge penalty shouts when Jack Stacey was sent flying by Woodman, but official James Linington gave nothing.

With Stockley enjoying an aerial dominance over the Luton back-line not witnessed during his brief loan spell at Kenilworth Road, Jones opted to revert to a 3-5-2 formation to counteract the hosts threat, Glen Rea dropping in as part of a three man defence, allowing Town some precious and much-needed cover.

It gave Town a modicum of control, Hylton skying over from range, while Potts should have done better after rising to meet Sheehan's free kick, as he couldn't keep his header down and Cornick spun and shot straight at Pym.

Stockley then missed a glorious chance on the stroke of half time, glancing off target from five yards, and Sweeney also fluffed his lines from close range.

Whatever Jones said at the interval clearly worked though, as immediately after the restart, Luton were back in front.

Sheehan's corner saw headers back in from Olly Lee and then Scott Cuthbert, while with Hylton appealing for a penalty, Potts took matters in his own hands to smash in.

Rather than sit on their lead, Town sensed blood and a truly magnificent team goal saw the visitors sumptuously work the ball down the right and into the area, where Hylton fashioned a shooting chance and his effort deflected past Pym on 52 minutes.

Three then became four just four minutes later with another truly glorious goal, as a searching crossfield ball was controlled perfectly by Hylton.

He sent Collins clear on the left and from his cross, Cornick's downward header flew in, netting his first Luton goal in the process.

Still Town pressed, Hylton and Luke Berry looking for a fifth, but they then went into cruise control for the final half an hour, happy to keep their hosts at arms length for the remainder, easing to a fourth straight victory.

With Notts County losing to Crewe, it meant Town went top of the table with their seventh win in eight games, the four goals netted making it 16 in four matches as well, ahead of a trip to Crawley Town this weekend.

City: Christy Pym, Pierce Sweeney, Craig Woodman (Matt Jay 61), Lloyd James (C), Jordan Tillson, Lee Holmes (Kyle Edwards 71), Jayden Stockley, Dean Moxey, Jake Taylor, Reuben Reid (Liam McAlinden 61), Troy Brown.

Subs not used: James Hamon, Troy Archibald-Henville, Ryan Harley, Kane Wilson.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Johnny Mullins, Glen Rea, Olly Lee, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (James Justin 83), Danny Hylton, James Collins (Elliot Lee 89).

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

Booked: Brown 37, Rea 45, Olly Lee 61, Moxey 74, Sheehan 75, Potts 80.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 4,209 (353 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Harry Cornick - livewire display and his first goal too.

Jones: ‘Devastating’ Hatters got out of jail during first half

Hatters boss Nathan hailed his side’s ‘devastating’ second half display during the 4-1 win at Exeter last night, although admitted the visitors had got out of jail with their performance in the opening 45 minutes.

Although Town took an early lead through James Collins, the hosts created a number of chances, with Jayden Stockley striking the woodwork and missing a sitter, Reuben Reid fluffing his lines from close range and Pierce Sweeney firing off target too.

Jake Taylor did manage to restore parity midway through, with Town changing ends on level terms, a scoreline Jones felt the visitors were fortunate to achieve.

He said: “It was a game of two halves. We started badly, they hit the post within minutes, they should have been ahead comfortably by half time.

“They were very direct, a bit one dimensional, but they were very direct, in terms of they were into Stockley.

“I haven’t seen that from them, but they obviously worked on that.

“They just hit diagonals and tried to get in our box and we had to weather a real storm right up until half time.

“We were very fortunate to go in 1-1 and I’ll say that, so credit to Paul Tisdale’s team and then we came out and showed what we’re about.

“In a devastating 10 minute period, the game’s done.

“We can do that, we know that, but we’ll learn from the first half.

“We couldn’t handle the directness of Exeter and the real physicality of Jayden Stockley, which surprised me.

“We had to change shape, we did, tactically we were good and then second half no problem.”

Seeing Town struggling to cope with Stockley, who looked a different player to the one that scored three times in 13 games for Luton during a loan spell in the 2014-15 campaign, Jones acted swiftly.

He opted to swap from the 4-3-3 formation that has brought them so much joy in recent weeks, to a 3-5-2, Glen Rea moving from midfield to make it a back three.

It helped nullify the threat of Stockley, although the striker still should have scored moments before the interval, and on why he made the change, Jones said: “Basically because we couldn’t handle them.

“We were losing every first ball, so when we were losing the first ball, it was landing in our box and then it was a lottery.

“What we wanted to do was let another centre half compete with it and another centre half to clean that stuff up.

“We got to half time at 1-1 which was a real blessing as we couldn’t handle their directness.

“They didn’t play through us and surprised us a little bit because I haven’t seen them be that direct for a while.

“We couldn’t handle it and fair play to them, they really, really did put us on the back foot, we had to change shape and we were a lot better after that.”

After the break though, Hatters were a completely different side, scoring three times in just nine minutes through Dan Potts, Danny Hylton and Harry Cornick as they went goal crazy, to leave the Grecians completely and utterly shell-shocked.

When asked what he had said to his players, Jones added: “At Mansfield, I ranted and raved, it wasn’t really a rant and rave, I think they knew how bad they were as we got a little bit out of jail in that first half.

“We came out and we were more ourselves. We started the second half like they started the first, had a chance straight away, a corner, scored straight away and then we were just simply devastating.

“On the counter attack we could have had more second half, but I’m very, very pleased as it’s a tough place to come to.

“They were second going into the game, so we’ve had all teams in and around us, if not above us.

“Accrington were above us when we played them, so were Exeter, the others, Newport, Stevenage, in and around the play-off places, so to do that to another promotion hopeful team is wonderful.”