Gateshead vs Luton Town FC (3rd Dec 2017)

EMIRATES FA CUP MATCH REPORT: GATESHEAD 0-5 LUTON TOWN

The Hatters made it through to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup for the second successive season under Nathan Jones with a comfortable 5-0 win at Vanarama National League side Gateshead this afternoon.

Town had Olly Lee and his brother Elliot on target together again, either side of Dan Potts' sixth goal of the season, before Danny Hylton and Luke Berry added injury-time efforts as they turned in a thoroughly professional performance at the International Stadium.

Jones made one change from the team that started last week's game at Crewe, bringing midfielder Andrew Shinnie back into the starting XI after his impressive performance from the bench at Gresty Road, in place of Harry Cornick, who was suffering from a hamstring strain and wasn't risked.

The Town dominated possession for most of the opening exchanges, but had to wait until the 13th minute for their first sight of goal when Potts met Alan Sheehan's right-wing corner with a far-post header that home keeper Dan Hanford blocked at point-blank range.

Potts met the subsequent corner again, this time nodding back across goal for Glen Rea to head on target, then – on 15 minutes – Olly Lee crossed from the right for Berry, who couldn't keep his volley down from 12 yards.

Berry then turned provider, picking Shinnie out with an angled pass from the right side of the penalty box, but the Scot's low shot was kept out by a combination of Hanford and Heed captain Neill Byrne sliding in.

Marek Stech had been a virtual spectator for the opening 20 minutes, but the Czech keeper had to be off his line quickly to deny Danny Johnson as Gateshead's top scorer bundled his way into the Town box.

Johnson had the next effort on goal too, just after the half-hour, as a long ball forward from centre-half Fraser Kerr found him on the Hatters' 18-yard line. He fired that one high over the bar onto the athletics track behind Stech's goal, but his next shot on 36 minutes had the Town keeper scrambling across his line to ensure it fizzed just past his left-hand post.

Gateshead were enjoying a good spell, and Stech's handling was impeccable when Jordan Burrow met Luke Hannant's right-wing cross with a powerful header, but within seconds the Town had the lead.

There seemed little danger when Sheehan's ball into Berry was deflected back towards Hanford via a defender's head, but the Gateshead keeper collided with his own defender Scott Barrow and dropped the ball, only resulting in scooping it to the edge of the box straight to Olly Lee.

The Hatters midfielder made no mistake in curling his effort around the keeper and Barrow, who was lying on the ground, and past a defender on the line to make it 1-0.

There was a 15-minute hold-up as Barrow received treatment before being carried off on a stretcher and into an ambulance, with what was clearly a worrying injury.

As play resumed, the Hatters survived a scare when Johnson looked to turn a deep corner from Paddy McLaughlin in at the far post, but Potts was there to clear off the line.

The Town started the second half in the ascendancy, Stacey whipping a ball in from the right although Berry couldn't keep his 18-yard shot down, then Shinnie let fly with one from a bit further out, that Hanford was right behind.

Gateshead soon made a double substitution, and after McLaughlin saw a 25-yarder travel all the way along the ground to safety behind the goal, one of the subs – Jordan Preston – cut in from the left and drew a routine save from Stech with a powerful right-footed shot.

The Town doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when Shinnie skipped past Jamal Fyfield on the right-wing and stood up a lovely cross to the far post, where Potts – as has become the norm this season – rose highest to direct his header back past Farman and just inside the post.

It was three within four minutes, as Olly Lee pulled the trigger from the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked and fell invitingly into his brother's path 16 yards out. The 22-year-old made no mistake in dispatching it past Hanford for his sixth goal of the season.

Jones made an immediate double substitution, bringing the Lee brothers off and replacing them with Jordan Cook and Luke Gambin.

Then, after Stech had dealt comfortably with another Preston shot from distance, the Welshman introduced Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu for Rea.

The hosts didn't give up and they hit the woodwork twice in the space of 30 seconds in the 78th minute when Johnson rattled the cross bar and McLaughlin hit the foot of the post.

But the Town quickly countered and should have gone four to the good when Berry beat Hanford to the ball, latching onto a pass from Hylton as the Hatters broke from their own box, but found his shot blocked by a retreating defender.

Hylton did add a fourth, a minute into time added on, when Cook burst into the left side of the penalty area and sent a low ball across the six-yard box for Hylton to steer it home for his 13th goal of the campaign, and fifth in his last five matches.

Three minutes later Berry added a fifth - making it five in a Town shirt now for the former Cambridge man - after good work on the right by Mpanzu, who got to the byline and cut back for the midfielder to take a touch and curl into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

The Town were safely through to the third round with a comprehensive win, taking their recent goal tally to 17 in four straight wins, and extending the unbeaten sequence to six with just one defeat in their last 18 matches.

They will be ball number 56 in Monday night's draw, which will be screened live on BBC2 and BT Sport at 7pm.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Mullins, Sheehan, Potts ©, Rea (Mpanzu 74), O Lee (Gambin 69), Berry, Shinnie, Hylton, E Lee (Cook 69). Subs: Justin, Senior, D'Ath, Shea (GK)

Yellows: Rea

Goals: O Lee 41, Potts 63, E Lee 67, Hylton 90+1, Berry 90+4

GATESHEAD: Hanford, Tinkler, Kerr, Byrne ©, Barrow (Fyfield 45+11), Hannant, Maxwell (Preston 53), McLaughlin, Johnson, Burrow, O'Donnell (Peniket 54).

Subs: Montgomery (GK), Vassell, York, Williams

REFEREE: Ben Toner

ATTENDANCE: 1,339 (381 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRkrM936XJA

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42215230

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5eWteCT_w0&list=PLH4hJ2GPUXQUMThtUvI7lqHiKLbJrHYnG&index=16

NATHAN JONES ON THE 5-0 WIN OVER GATESHEAD

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side were outstanding in the second half of the 5-0 win against Gateshead this afternoon that sees the Town comfortably through into the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Olly Lee broke the deadlock just before half-time, with strikes from Dan Potts, Elliot Lee, Danny Hylton and Luke Berry in the second half rounding off the scoring at the International Stadium.

Although the Hatters were convincing winners come the final whistle, the gaffer felt his side needed to get a stronger grip of the game after the first 45 minutes.

He said: "First half maybe not [we weren't the stronger side], it was a real contest. I thought we had the better of things. We had two real good chances in terms of Dan Potts' header and Luke Berry's chance and then we took the lead. Unfortunate circumstances for Gateshead – but we went in 1-0 up.

"Second half I thought we were outstanding. I thought we moved the ball well, I thought we upped the tempo, some of our play especially for the goals was outstanding.

"We are delighted with the win, we would have been delighted with any win, but to do it in the manner we did it in, we were very happy.

"We have got three games this week, in which everyone is going to play and get involved. We want to move forward in three competitions, three big, big games, so you go as strong as you can in the first one and then Tuesday we will make sure everyone gets game time, but some will double up.

"Then we've got a massive game on Saturday, we know we are going to have to utilise the squad and we did that today as well."

FA CUP: Hatters hit five past Heed to stroll into the third round

FA Cup, second round: Gateshead 0 Luton Town 5

Luton Town cantered into the third round of the FA Cup after a dominant second half showing saw them dismantle National League opponents Gateshead this afternoon.

It hadn't looked like such a scoreline was going to be on the cards during a first half in which although Luton's extra quality was apparent, they only led by an Olly Lee goal just before the interval.

However, Nathan Jones's side then ran riot in the second period, with Dan Potts and Elliot Lee making it 3-0, before Danny Hylton and Luke Berry added real gloss to the margin of victory in stoppage time.

The magnitude of the defeat was harsh on Heed who had threatened at times, denied by the woodwork twice, but Luton's class simply shone through on the day.

Prior to kick off, Town made one change, Andrew Shinnie replaced Harry Cornick, with Town reverting to their diamond formation they ended the 2-0 win at Crewe at last weekend, while the visitors included former Luton midfielder JJ O'Donnell in their line-up.

On a ground where they had only won once and scored once, that an own goal, in their history, Town dominated possession and territory in the early stages, but took a good 13 minutes to fashion a chance, Alan Sheehan's cross met at the back post by Potts, forcing a decent save from Dan Hanford.

The following set-piece was also met by Potts, who nodded back for Glen Rea to glance straight at Hanford, while Berry should have done better from 12 yards out, volleying over the top after losing his marker, Shinnie's shot also charged down.

Heed's first real opportunity saw leading scorer Danny Johnson bulldoze his way through a tame challenge, Marek Stech out quickly to grab the ball off his toes.

With very little goalmouth action in the opening half hour, Johnson fired an ambitious swivel volley over the top, the forward also missing with a low drive from 20 yards.

The Tynesiders continued to threaten sporadically, Luke Hannant's cross headed at Stech by Jordan Burrow, the keeper hanging on comfortably.

Town then had the lead five minutes before half time when a mix up at the back saw defender Scott Barrow collide with his own keeper, the ball slipping out of his grasp, with the Heed man out cold.

Olly Lee took advantage, slotting into the net, while the game was stopped for a good 15 minutes of treatment to Barrow, who was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Town might have moved further in front moments after the interval, Berry scooping over after a clearance fell into his path, with Shinnie's low 30-yarder easy for Hanford.

Lively Heed sub Jordan Preston looked the most likely source of a way back for the hosts, testing Stech with a low shot from range.

Luton looked to have put the game beyond doubt on 63 minutes though when Shinnie cleverly beat Jamal Fyfield and dinked over a cross from the right where Dan Potts sent a towering header past Hanford for his sixth of the season and four in five games.

If that looked like game over, it definitely was just that five minutes later, Olly Lee's shot rebounding into the path of brother Elliot, who clinically made no mistake from close range.

It was the duo's last action of the afternoon, replaced by Jordan Cook and Luke Gambin, while Stech held Preston's angled effort as Gateshead tried for the most unlikely of comebacks.

With 12 minutes to go, Heed were denied twice by the woodwork in the space of 30 seconds, Johnson smashing against the bar, with Paddy McLaughlin's effort also striking the base of the post.

Hatters then counter attacked at pace, Hylton going over the box, earning himself a booking for diving from official Ben Toner.

However, the striker had the last laugh in stoppage time as Cook escaped on the left and his ball across the face was tucked home at the back post by Town's leading marksman for his 13th of the season.

Richard Peniket shanked wide, before the icing was well and truly put on the cake, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu picking out the run of Berry who took a touch before slamming into the net, making it a mightily impressive 17 goals in just four games for Nathan Jones' side, who will now hope to be paired with one of the Premier League big boys in tomorrow night's third round draw.

Heed: Dan Hanford, Robbie Tinkler, Fraser Kerr, Neill Byrne (C), Scott Barrow (Jamal Fyfield 46), Luke Maxwell (Jordan Preston 55), Paddy McLaughlin, Danny Johnson, Luke Hannant, JJ O'Donnell (Richard Peniket 55), Jordan Burrow.

Subs not used: James Montgomery, Theo Vassell, Wes York, Callum Williams.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Alan Sheehan (C), Glen Rea (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 74), Olly Lee (Luke Gambin 68), Luke Berry, Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (Jordan Cook 68), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: James Shea, James Justin, Jack Senior, Lawson D'Ath.

Booked: Fyfield 53, Rea 59, Hylton 78.

Referee: Ben Toner.

Attendance: 1,339 (381 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Luke Berry. Dominated proceedings in the middle of the park.

Jones left purring by ‘outstanding’ second half display

Luton boss Nathan Jones described his side’s second half display as ‘outstanding’ as they thumped Gateshead 5-0 in the FA Cup yesterday.

The Hatters led 1-0 on the stroke of half time courtesy of Olly Lee’s goal, the midfielder stroking home when Scott Barrow had been left poleaxed by a collision with keeper Dan Hanford.

However, Town then ran riot in the second period, netting four more times to put their opponents to the sword and motor into tonight’s third round draw.

Jones said: “The first half was a real contest, I thought we had the better of things and we had two real good chances in terms of Dan Potts’s header and Luke Berry’s chance, and then we took the lead in unfortunate circumstances for Gateshead.

“But we went in 1-0 up and second half I thought we were outstanding, we really, really were.

“We moved the ball well, we upped the tempo, some of our play at times, especially for the goals was outstanding and we’re delighted with the win.

“We’d have been delighted with any win, but to do it in the manner we did, we’ve very happy.

“We were not really at our best first half, but credit to Gateshead for that as they were able to negate us, they dropped off, denied us space so we couldn’t play.

“We needed to up the tempo slightly, we did that second half and once we got the second goal then we knew they’d have to come out a little bit and then we took the game away from them.

“So we’re very, very pleased, tactically I thought we were good in terms of what we did and some of our goals in the second half were outstanding.

“Some of the movement and the passing, we really did control the game and we took the sting right out of the game.

“Fair play to Gateshead, they had a few half chances late on, really did, trying to get a goal, but the fourth and fifth killed it really.”

Town’s five goal haul makes it 17 strikes in their previous four outings, while they have netted 59 times in just 25 matches so far this season.

On another impressive display from the side going forward, Jones added: “I wouldn’t say it flattered us, it was a bit harsh on Gateshead because I wouldn’t say that we didn’t have enough chances to score five, we just showed a clinical edge late on.

“Fair play to Jordan (Cook), he was excellent in the build up (for the fourth goal), great movement, he was unlucky not to get a goal himself and then the move for the fifth goal was exceptional.

“Sometimes when the team is a little bit demoralised and we’re hunting because we have had a real hunger for goals this year it’s hard for them.

“When games have been won, we haven’t rested on our laurels and sat back and kept the ball, we’ve gone for more and that’s why we’ve got seven on two occasions, eight on the first day of the season and then to get another five now.

“It seems like that’s kind of routine in some people’s eyes, we’re very proud of it.”