Forest Green Rovers vs Luton Town FC (16th Dec 2017)

REPORT: FOREST GREEN 0 LUTON TOWN 2

Sheehan and Hylton on target as Hatters open up a two-point lead at the top

A goal in each half from captain Alan Sheehan and leading scorer Danny Hylton secured the Hatters a 2-0 win at lowly Forest Green this afternoon, extending their unbeaten run to ten matches in all competitions despite having to play for over half-an-hour with ten men.

Jack Stacey’s 59th minute straight red card, for a high challenge on Rovers winger Dan Wishart, was the only scar on another excellent day for Nathan Jones side, who had to dig in for three big points despite not being at their free-flowing best.

It is six matches since they last suffered defeat in Sky Bet League Two, and this latest victory combined with Notts County being held to a goalless draw at home by Grimsby, means the Hatters now have a two-point cushion over the second-placed Magpies, and eight points over Wycombe in fourth.

With Sheehan's opener in first half stoppage time, the Irishman's second of the campaign, the Hatters also became the first side in the EFL to reach 50 league goals for 2017-18 - Hylton adding No.51 in midway through the second half with the 14th of his own.

Jones named an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in a row, ignoring the Checkatrade Trophy game against West Ham U21s when he changed the entire XI.

The hosts started playing in their usual expansive style, and they had the first opportunity in the sixth minute when they broke down the right after clearing a Sheehan corner, 17-year-old debutant Jordan Stevens latching onto Charlie Cooper’s lofted pass, but he was unable to beat Marek Stech, who saved with his legs at the near post.

The Czech had to be alert on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as well when Rovers’ top scorer Christian Doidge got on the end of his own flick-on to crack a 15-yard volley straight at the keeper.

Rovers had enjoyed much of the early possession, but the Hatters created a good chance from another Sheehan set-piece, this time a free-kick whipped in from the right, but the recently prolific Dan Potts couldn’t direct his near-post header on target.

The Town left-back and fellow defender Johnny Mullins were soon the first names into referee Lee Swabey’s notepad, for fouls on Keanu Marsh-Brown and Doidge respectively, but Potts was proving his side’s most likely source of a goal, again meeting a Sheehan corner with a towering header around the back in the 31st minute.

This one was on target, but blocked in the six-yard box, and Rovers were soon on the hunt at the other end again, Scott Laird firing a 30-yard free-kick straight down Stech’s throat on 33 minutes.

Town were having more of the ball, however, and Olly Lee and Shinnie – who was startgin to influence proceedings – combined to play Elliot Lee in on the right of the area, but the striker could only find the side-netting with his angled shot.

Hylton was next to have a go for the Town, rounding off a flowing move down the left between Berry and Potts by meeting the latter’s cross with a left-footed half-volley that Brad Collins did well to keep out.

A flurry of Town shots then rained in on the Rovers goal, Shinnie nicking ball from Marsh-Brown and playing Hylton in for a shot that flashed past the far post, before the Scottish midfielder pulled the trigger himself, only to find Collins equal to it.

Elliot Lee was next, seeing a 44th minute effort deflected wide, before a second corner in quick succession lead to the breakthrough a few seconds into added time at the end of the half.

Sheehan trudged over to the left to take it short to Hylton, and the pair’s routine that led to a penalty at Accrington in October, with Hylton going away from goal then back-heeling it into the skipper’s path, presented Sheehan with the opportunity to drive into the box and drill a low shot in off the far post, becoming the 11th different scorer of the Hatters’ last 11 goals.

It had been coming, and the Town kicked off the second half in search of a second, Elliot Lee cutting in from the left and attempting a right-footed curler from 20 yards, but Collins was equal to it.

With 55 minutes on the clock the Hatters had to call on Stech to preserve the lead, the Town goalkeeper flying across his line to keep out Doidge’s header after Reece Brown picked him out in the centre of the six-yard box.

Just before the hour the Town were reduced to ten men when Stacey went in with a high boot on Wishart as the Rovers wide man sprinted inside to meet a cross-field pass.

Ref Swabey wasted little time in producing the red card while Wishart stayed down to have his head bandaged, the game held up for several minutes.

When play resumed in the 63rd minute, Jones made a double substitution, brining James Justin on at right-back and Harry Cornick up front, taking off the Lee brothers, and within five minutes the regrouped Hatters had doubled the lead.

It came in bizarre circumstances, with Hylton closing down keeper Brad Collins as he received a throw-in on the edge of his own six-yard box, nicking the ball after the Chelsea loanee kicked fresh air and rolling it into an empty net for his sixth goal in his last six matches.

Cornick almost added a third after Potts picked him out on the edge of the box at the end of an incisive move down the left, the substitute’s shot drifting just wide of Collins’ right post.

Rovers tried to respond, but Jack Fitzwater volleyed wide in the 72nd minute – as sub Toni Gomes got in the centre-half’s way – then Stech saved Gomes’ 25-yarder comfortably o

Marsh-Brown shot wide in the 82nd minute, just before being subbed, then Jordan Simpson had an effort deflected over before Stech made two good saves in a minute, palming Cooper’s left-wing corner away from the top corner before pushing Luke James’ 20-yard volley past the post.

The Town saw eight minutes of stoppage time out comfortably, however, with Mullins, Sheehan and Potts all putting in big shifts at the back while Cornick saw a great opening, after Luke Berry’s vision had picked him out on the counter-attack, wiped out by a perfectly timed challenge by Simpson.

It’s 12 games on the road unbeaten now for the Hatters in all competitions – and just one defeat in 21 anywhere – as Jones’ table-toppers prove they can grind out a win in difficult circumstances before heading back to Kenilworth Road for next week’s pre-Christmas clash with Grimsby.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Mullins, Sheehan ©, Potts, Rea, O Lee (Cornick 63), Berry, Shinnie (Collins 85), E Lee (Justin 63), Hylton. Subs: Mpanzu, Gambin, D’Ath, Shea (GK)

YELLOWS: Potts, Mullins

RED: Stacey 60

GOALS: Sheehan 45+1, Hylton 68

ROVERS: B Collins, Laird, L Collins ©, Fitzwater, Marsh-Brown (James 83), Simpson, Cooper, Stevens (Gomes 70), Wishart, Brown (Traore 58), Doidge. Subs: Pickering (GK), Bugiel, Roberts, Hendy

YELLOWS: Laird, Doidge

REFEREE: Lee Swabey

ATT: 2,546 (841 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaxDRJERfY8

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

TOWN BOSS NATHAN JONES ON THE 2-0 WIN OVER FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted with his side's performance in their 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers this afternoon, as the Hatters moved two points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two.

Alan Sheehan's low drive broke the deadlock just before half-time, before Jack Stacey saw red for a high boot a minute before the hour mark.

The Town went in search of a second and Danny Hylton pounced on an error by home goalkeeper Brad Collins, leaving the striker with a tap-in after he had pressed the keeper in his own area.

A goalless draw for Notts County against Grimsby Town sees the Hatters extend their lead at the summit of the fourth tier.

Jones said: "I am delighted with the result and especially after going down to ten men. If I am honest I didn't think we were anywhere our best. Forest Green started off really well. I thought we were poor in terms of our defensive responsibilities early on and they could have taken the lead.

"Second half they had one real good chance – Doidge, he normally puts those away. So we got slightly fortunate, but in terms of the goal we scored, we are delighted with both goals. The first one is well worked and the second one is one we actually earmarked.

"We weren't at our best today, these are a difficult side to play against, because they're very expansive, they take massive, massive chances. Sometimes with us it takes patience. Sometimes it takes us not to have an ego about certain things, and that's what it was today and I am delighted.

"I am delighted with a win and we showed a real resilience late on because I thought we saw the game out fantastically well."

Hatters show real resilience to defeat Rovers

League Two: Forest Green Rovers 0 Luton Town 2

Luton's title tilt gathered further pace with a gritty and determined 2-0 win at struggling Forest Green Rovers this afternoon.

The visitors had to do so with 10 men for the final half an hour after what was a highly contentious decision from referee Lee Swabey to send off defender Jack Stacey for what he deemed a dangerous challenge on Daniel Wishart.

Town had been leading 1-0 at the time, but crucially they extended their advantage just eight minutes later after an absolute howler from home keeper Brad Collins saw Danny Hylton tap home from close range.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones opted to name the same side for a third league game running, but the visitors looked second best in the early stages, as Rovers belied their lowly position in the table.

They had the first real chance on seven minutes when a long ball forward caught out Luke Berry in the left back position, Jordan Stevens motoring into the box, his low shot blocked by the legs of Marek Stech.

Rovers' tactics of playing keep ball from goal kicks almost saw them come a cropper early on, Hylton close to dispossessing stopper Collins, but despite the warning, they continued to play with fire throughout the contest as Luton's forward sniffed blood.

Top scorer Christian Doidge had a marvellous chance on 15 minutes, as with Johnny Mullins expecting the ball to fly over his head, he let the striker jump unchallenged, Doidge volleying the second ball tamely at Stech from 10 yards.

Luton might have taken the lead moments later, with their prolific combination almost working wonders again, Dan Potts getting a rare header wrong from Alan Sheehan's set-piece, powering wide.

The visitors were finding Doidge hard to deal with at times, Rovers' striker with the knack of running into his opponents and falling over to win free kicks, official Swabey buying his theatrics, Mullins seeing yellow.

From one such incident, Scott Laird's 35-yard fee kick was straight at Stech, with Luton breaking with purpose, Elliot Lee working some space to rifle into the side-netting.

Hatters finally started to come into the game, producing a lovely team move with Sheehan and Berry combing to send Potts away on the left, his cross met by Hylton's controlled volley which Collins did superbly to keep out at full stretch.

Hylton then wasn't too far away from 20 yards, with Shinnie firing straight at Collins, as Luton stepped it up dramatically in the closing stages of the first half.

They reaped their rewards after forcing three corners, as from the third, Luton unveiled the same routine that had led to the penalty at Accrington, with Hylton backheeling to Sheehan.

This time the Irishman advanced himself and with very little on, opted to go for goal, blasting an effort from virtually the byline that cannoned off the far post and into the net.

Town continued their dominance in the second period, Elliot Lee cutting in from the left after another incisive passing move, his snapshot saved by Collins.

Despite appearing to have got Doidge under control, the Rovers striker was then denied an equaliser in mind boggling fashion by Stech, redeeming himself entirely for the error against Notts County last week.

Wishart's inviting cross from the left was thundered goalwards by the striker from eight yards, Town's stopper somehow staying big enough to deflect the header away when the home fans were pretty much celebrating the goal already.

Swabey then became the main attraction, as a ball out to the wing saw Stacey go in to try and win it with his foot raised, while Wishart ducked to head it.

Although there was contact, it was accidental at best, with no malicious intent from the right back, but Swabey was straight to the back pocket to dismiss the mystified defender, thus ending his 100 per record in the league for the Hatters.

Jones reacted by removing the Lee brothers, with James Justin and Harry Cornick on for the duo as Town's boss was left spitting feathers when Justin was clearly clipped by Wishart on the charge, nothing given by the increasingly underfire Swabey.

However, the changes worked wonders, Cornick in particular giving Luton a real outlet and they had their second on 68 minutes, after keeper Collins connected with fresh air in attempting to clear a throw-in under pressure from Hylton, who won't have an easier goal this season.

Cornick almost made it 3-0, not far away as if anything, Luton looked to have the man advantage, although Wishart, easily the hosts' most dangerous player, teased a cross over that Jack Fitzwater hooked wide.

Hatters' attacking intentions weren't in doubt either, Justin racing away on the wing, his cross flicked off target by Hylton, with Berry right behind him and ready to pounce.

Sub Toni Gomes had a go from range, Stech saving well, before Marsh-Brown flashed well wide with an ambitious effort.

The Luton stopper was called into action once more, shovelling Luke James's volley behind as Town had to weather some pressure in the closing stages.

Mullins was fortunate to avoid becoming the second visitor to see red as after being clattered in the air by Doidge, he got up and pushed the striker over, boss Jones covering his head fearing the worst, but despite the Rovers forward seeing yellow, the centre back escaped further punishment.

Cornick almost clinched victory in the first moments of eight minutes of stoppage time, as found by sub James Collins, he was denied by a superb last ditch sliding challenge at full stretch from Jordan Simpson.

With Rovers finally adopting a more direct approach to launch crosses into the box, Luton stood firm to keep a 10th clean sheet of the season, with the only chances coming from range.

Results elsewhere went for Town too, Notts County held at home by next weekend's visitors to Kenilworth Road, Grimsby Town, to go two points clear of the Magpies, while the visitors also moved eight clear of fourth-placed Wycombe.

Rovers: Brad Collins, Scott Laird, Lee Collins (C), Keanu Marsh-Brown (Luke James 83), Christian Doidge, Reece Brown (Drissa Traore 58), Jordan Simpson , Charlie Cooper, Jack Fitzwater, Dan Wishart, Jordan Stevens (Toni Gomes 71).

Subs not used: Harry Pickering, Omar Bugiel, Mark Roberts, Samuel Hendy.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Alan Sheehan (C), Glen Rea, Olly Lee (James Justin 61), Luke Berry, Andrew Shinnie (James Collins 85), Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 61), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: James Shea, Lawson D'Ath, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Booked: Potts 19, Mullins 22, Laird 81, Doidge 90. Sent off: Stacey 60.

Referee: Lee Swabey.

Attendance: 2,546 (841 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Andrew Shinnie. Was always keeping things ticking over for Luton.

Jones relieved as Town pick up Rovers victory

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was a relieved man to come away with all three points after their 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers last weekend.

The Luton chief hadn’t been overly happy with how his side started the game and felt the struggling hosts could well have taken the lead in the early stages.

However, Town hit back, scoring at just the right time, with Alan Sheehan netting from a cleverly-worked set-piece routine on the stroke of half time, before having the better of the second period even though Jack Stacey was sent off on the hour mark.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Danny Hylton tapped in a second just eight minutes later to seal victory, as Jones said: “I am delighted with the result and especially after going down to 10 men.

“If I am honest I didn’t think we were anywhere our best, as Forest Green started off really well.

“It was poor play from us. I thought we were poor in terms of our defensive responsibilities early on and they could have taken the lead.

“Second half they had one real good chance – (Christian) Doidge, he normally scores them to be fair.

“So we got slightly fortunate in those instances, but in terms of the goals we scored, we are delighted with both goals.

“We weren’t at our best, but sometimes you’ve got to come away and these are a difficult side to play against, because they’re very, very expansive, they take massive, massive chances.

“With taking massive chances and risks, sometimes it takes patience, sometimes it takes us not to have an ego about certain things and that’s what it was and I am delighted.

“We showed a real resilience late on because I thought we saw the game out fantastically well.”

Although Forest Green dropped to the bottom of the table after the result, Jones knew they were in for a real battle throughout to retain top spot.

He added: “These are a real difficult side to play against as they really cause you problems. “We knew it would be a difficult one, on paper it wasn’t going to be because of the league positions, but they really cause teams problems with their structure and how they do stuff.

“We’ve really had to defend well, dig in.

“I’m delighted though as it extends our lead at the top, extends our lead to fourth, extends our goal difference, so it’s very good.”

The result saw Town increase their lead at the summit to two points, moving eight clear of fourth-placed Wycombe in the process.

Jones added: “All we want to do is concentrate on ourselves, try and keep winning football matches and then whatever others do, they do.

“We can’t affect that, all we can do is affect the ones that we play against and last week was a real important point against Notts County as it kept us at the top and kept us in good form.

“Then today we were nowhere near our best, but we showed that we can grind out a result. No-one will remember this performance at the end of the season, but hopefully people will remember the three points.”