Forest Green Rovers vs Luton Town FC (24th Aug 2013)

The Town had to settle for a point in an encouraging display at title favourites Forest Green.

Showing two changes to the side that drew 1-1 last weekend – with Jonathan Smith and Mark Cullen replacing Dave Martin and Solomon Taiwo – the Town started the brighter of the two sides.

On six minutes a short free-kick routine involving Smith and Shaun Whalley saw the latter cross dangerously from the right but Rovers were alert to the danger to clear.

The hosts came close almost immediately when former Hatter Matthew Barnes-Homer headed wide at the back-post following James Norwood’s right-wing cross.

That chance came against the run of the play, however, and as the Town continued to pass the ball well, Luke Guttridge, the last-gasp saviour last Saturday, was denied his third goal in Luton colours when his first-time left-foot shot from 12 yards was kept out superbly by the reflexes of Sam Russell in the Rovers goal.

On 10 minutes Cullen ended a slick Town move by having a shot deflected over the crossbar after taking a square pass from Andre Gray and, a minute later, Cullen shot way, way over the crossbar.

Cullen was proving to be a right pest to the hosts’ defence and the striker test Russell with a low shot that the Rovers goalkeeper could only palm away. The loose ball fell to Jon Shaw, sliding in, but despite having every right to challenge for the ball, the centre-forward was shown a yellow card.

The Hatters were playing some attractive good football going forward and were looking solid at the back but Rovers engineered a rare chance on 25 minutes when Norwood sent a header high and wide at the back-post from a left-wing cross.

Chances were few and far between after a good start, with John Still ordering Gray and Whalley to swap flanks in an attempt to break the deadlock before the break.

Whalley almost fashioned a chance in the first minute of injury time when he burst down the left flank, only to be barged off of the ball by Al Bangura on the edge of the penalty. Bangura had already been booked but referee Brett Huxtable only issued a warning and the Town failed to take advantage from the resultant free-kick – and that was the end of the first half action.

Tyler made his first save of the game 35 seconds after the resumption of the second half when easily dealing with Marcus Kelly’s low 25-yarder after the midfielder had been gifted the ball by Whalley.

The Town made their first chance 11 minutes into the second half when Jake Howells replaced Shaw and the substitute almost made an immediate impact on 63 minute when he slalomed into the penalty area and laid off a pass for Alex Lacey but the defender’s neat finish was ruled out for offside.

A minute later, Gray – now in a central position – helped the ball goalwards for Cullen to chase but the striker could only thump a firm left-foot shot into the Hatters fans in the terrace behind the goal.

Clear-cut chances were at a real premium and hopeful Town penalty appeals were waved away by the referee with 14 minutes to play after he went down under a challenge in the box having taken Howells’ pass.

Rovers almost gave the Hatters defence a nervous moment on 78 minutes when substitute Yan Klukowski’s dangerous right-wing cross was hacked clear by Ronnie Henry inside his own six-yard box with a host of home attackers sensing a tap-in.

However, despite both sides going for victory in the final quarter-of-an-hour neither goalkeeper was called into any serious action and it ended in stalemate.

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Manager pleased with point

Town boss John Still believes his side’s display in the goalless draw at Forest Green was the best of the season so far.

The Town had a number of chances to win all three points on an afternoon where goalkeeper Mark Tyler barely had a save to make.

And the manager was pleased at winning a point at the home of one of the favourites for promotion.

“That was our best performance so far,” said Still afterwards. “I thought our organisation was first class. To be the away team and for Mark to make only one save shows how much we restricted them.

“I thought we were strong, solid and determined and there were a lot of good individual performances.

“All we needed was a bit more quality in the final third, but I think our game is coming together.

“The application and work-rate was good and there were passages of play in both halves where we played some good touch-pass football which delighted me. That’s something we’ll keep working on.

“The last time they played at home they scored eight so that put this result into context. It was a good level of performance which is drastically improved from the first three games.

“Am I happy with a point? Yes. Would I have taken a point before? Yes, but I always want us to win.”

Skrill** Premier: Forest Green Rovers 0 (0) Luton Town 0 (0)**

Hard-working Hatters showed plenty of grit and determination as they claimed a goalless draw at title favourites Forest Green Rovers this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

Town had the better of the few chances on the day with Luke Guttridge and Mark Cullen forcing decent stops from Sam Russell in the first half of game that never really came to live.

Luton made two changes from the side that scored a last-minute 1-1 draw against Macclesfield Town last weekend. Solomon Taiwo took part in the pre-match warm-up but was was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while winger David Martin dropped to the bench as Jonathan Smith and Cullen came into Town’s starting XI.

FGR, meanwhile, named former Hatters striker Matthew Barnes-Homer up front with Ed Asafu-Adjaye on the bench.

A clever Town free-kick released Shaun Whalley early on but Chris Stokes headed away his fine centre, before Jared Hodgkiss found room on seven minutes but Barnes-Homer could only head his cross wide.

But it was Town who had made the better start and almost took the lead moments later when two defenders got in each other’s way from Andre Gray’s cross and Guttridge’s rasping drive from the edge of the box drew a good save from Russell.

The Hatters continued to push and, after Gray had got clear of his man, his scuffed cross picked out Cullen whose first-time effort was deflected over.

A lovely passing move then almost saw the Town take the lead on 13 minutes as Guttridge, Shaw and Cullen all combined with the former Hull City man drawing a fine low stop from Russell.

However, the keeper couldn’t hold it and, as Shaw slid in for the loose ball he caught Russell in the process, drawing an angry response from the home players who all charged in to confront the striker. It took several minutes for referee Brett Huxtable to control the melee as Shaw was booked for his challenge and Chris Stokes for his overreaction.

Luton were looking to play some good stuff, with just the final ball lacking, while James Norwood was providing a real test for Scott Griffiths at the other end.

Al Bangura was booked on 28 minutes for a poor sliding challenge from behind on Guttridge, while young defender Alex Lacey needed some treatment just gone the half hour.

Skipper Ronnie Henry did well to clear when under pressure from a Danny Wright cross and right on the stroke of half time FGR were lucky to still have 11 men on the pitch.

Whalley and Cullen combined beautifully on the edge of the box and, as the winger looked to burst into the area, Bangura came straight across and body-checked him, but only a free-kick was forthcoming and not the second yellow card his challenge deserved.

Rovers had their first shot on target just 33 seconds into the second half when Whalley failed to clear properly and Marcus Kelly fired straight at Mark Tyler from range.

Steve McNulty was booked for a body-check on the halfway line moments later, which was no less blatant than Bangura’s at the end of the first half.

The introduction of Jake Howells for Shaw almost led to the breakthrough on 63 minutes. Lovely skill from the Welsh U21 saw him bulldoze his way into the box and when his ball ran to Alex Lacey the youngster swept home only to be flagged offside.

Cullen then fired over while Barnes-Homer got free at the other end but shanked his shot wide.

Nice interplay between Gray and Howells brought half-hearted appeals for a penalty on 76 minutes when Eddie Oshodi muscled Gray off the ball.

Henry then did superbly to cut out Yan Klukowski’s cross with Tyler sold before Andrew Parry was introduced for Cullen with 11 minutes to go.

Luton were happy to lie deep in the closing stages as they looked to hit FGR on the break.

However, too many balls forward by Luton were overhit, leaving Gray an impossible task to catch them as the game eventually fizzled out to a goalless draw.

Rovers (4-3-3): Sam Russell, Jared Hodgkiss, Chris Stokes, Al Bangura, Dale Bennett, James Norwood (Omar Koroma 90+2), Danny Wright (Yan Klukowski 55), Eddie Oshodi, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Magno Vieira 66), Anthony Barry (C), Marcus Kelly. Substitutes not used: Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Matt Bulman.

Hatters (4-3-3): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Jon Shaw (Jake Howells 56), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen (Andrew Parry 79), Luke Guttridge, Shaun Whalley, Ronnie Henry (C), Andre Gray, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Elliot Justham, David Martin, Matt Robinson.

Booked: Shaw 14; Stokes 15; Bangura 28; McNulty 47; Oshodi 85.

Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon). Assistant Referees: Christopher Husband and Neil Pratt.

Fourth Official: Thomas Harty.

Attendance: Luton 1,858 (653).

Star Hatter: Jonathan Smith. Could have been one of several, but put his foot in and worked tirelessly.