Grimsby Town vs Luton Town FC (4th Feb 2017)

PUBLISHED 18:47 4th February 2017 Hatters held as 95th-minute penalty is saved

GRIMSBY TOWN 1 Clements 56

LUTON TOWN 1 Vassell 77

Att: 5,114 (468 Hatters)

The Hatters passed up another glorious opportunity to close the gap on the automatic promotion places in Sky Bet League Two when Danny Hylton saw a 95th-minute penalty saved – and subsequent goal from the rebound ruled out for a foul – as Grimsby held on for a point at Blundell Park.

Nathan Jones’ men had fallen behind to a 56th-minute header from Mariners’ debutant Chris Clements after a disappointing opening period of the game, but hit back strongly in the final half-hour and looked the most likely winners.

With 13 minutes to go, Isaac Vassell netted his third goal in as many matches to set up a grandstand finish with Jones having already thrown on former Grimsby loanee Ollie Palmer on for his debut as part of a three-man forward line in the immediate of the hosts’ goal.

The golden chance came when referee Mark Haywood penalised Grimsby defender Gavin Gunning for handball as Palmer looked to steal in front of him and get on the end of a cross from fellow sub Jack Marriott, but keeper James McKeown saved Hylton’s effort from 12 yards.

Then, as the striker rose to nod the rebound into the bottom corner from six yards out, Haywood awarded a free-kick, apparently for pushing, and the Cleethorpes-based side could breather a sign of relief.

Jones had made two changes from the team that started Tuesday's home defeat by Cheltenham as the Town sought revenge for the 3-1 loss Grimsby inflicted on the Hatters at Kenilworth Road earlier this season.

Into midfield in place of the injured Jonathan Smith came Jake Gray, while Hylton - for the first time not sporting the mask he has worn since fracturing his cheekbone against the Mariners in September - returned immediately from his two-game ban in place of Marriott up front.

Stuart Moore continued in goal after making his debut against Cheltenham a few hours after signing on loan until the end of the season from Reading, with fellow loan keeper Matt Macey – who also joined on deadline day from Arsenal, in the wake of Christian Walton’s recall by Brighton – on the bench.

In a hugely forgettable first half, the 22-year-old goalie had to be alert in the tenth minute to push a 35-yard free-kick from Danny Andrew around the post, when many were expecting the home left wing-back to chip it into the box.

The Hatters had started quite brightly, with Hylton’s near-post flick on from a Luke Gambin corner causing mayhem at the back stick as captain Scott Cuthbert looked to pounce, and Vassell breaking down the left and firing in a dangerous cross, but no-one was on the end of it.

Cuthbert and Glen Rea did well at the other end to repel a bombardment of Grimsby balls into the Town penalty area, and in the 17th minute Rea stepped out of the back four and fed Jordan Cook halfway inside the Grimsby half, but the midfielder’s shot ended up well wide.

Calum Dyson headed Grimsby’s best chance of the half over on 27 minutes, before Ben Davies and Jamey Osborne – who had scored twice against the Town for Solihull Moors earlier this season – sent shots just wide.

Jake Gray was off target with a 20-yarder at the end of the good spell of Town possession five minutes before half-time, but in truth, the half-time whistle was welcomed by all.

The war of midfield attrition continued for the first ten minutes of the second half, but Jones’ side had just had their best two chances – Hylton’s low shot cleared off the line by Pearson and Vassell set clear by Gray, but denied by the onrushing McKeown – when they fell behind on 56 minutes.

Grimsby looked to get a shot off several times in a spell of penalty box pinball, but the Town defended stoutly, until right-back Ben Davies stood up a lovely ball to the far post where Clements – signed on deadline day from Mansfield – was steaming in to head home.

Jones had been about to make the change anyway, but almost immediately Palmer came on for Gambin and centre-half Alan Sheehan for Gray, with Rea moving into a three-man midfield and the big man signed on loan from Leyton Orient in between Hylton and Vassell up top.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu started to drive at the home defence in a more advanced role and immediately won a free-kick on the right edge of the box, but Jack Senior and Cuthbert had to produce perfectly-timed challenged at the other end to keep the score down to one.

With 20 minutes to go Hylton looked to get on the end of a chip into the Grimsby area by James Justin and went down under a challenge, but referee Haywood gave a goal-kick.

Then Moore had to be alert once again as Dyson tried his luck from 20 yards on 74 minutes, but the on-loan keeper was looking assured behind the Town defence.

Within three minutes, Vassell had levelled things up. The ex-Truro City man’s initial right-wing cross flew right across the face of goal, but Mpanzu retrieved the ball on the left and skipped past Davies before teeing up a lovely cross for Vassell to power home a header for his sixth of the season.

The Town were well on top by this stage, and Vassell met a cross from Senior with another header that was blocked, then Cook fired over the bar after a Hylton shot ricocheted off a defender.

With three minutes of normal time to go Cook had a double effort saved first by McKeown, then his follow-up by a combination of the long-serving Grimsby keeper and centre-half Pearson, then – a minute later – the ex-Walsall man saw a thunderous left-footed volley blocked.

Then came the dramatic finale when Marriott tricked his way past his man on the right on crossed low for Palmer, whose first touch looked to take him past Gunning, but the home centre-half fell on the ball and stopped it with his hand.

Hylton stepped up right in front of 468 travelling Town fans who’d have put their mortgages on a 15th goal of the season for the Hatters’ top scorer.

Unfortunately McKeown pulled off yet another big save and even though Hylton met the rebound with a firm header into the bottom corner, ref Haywood had his whistle in his mouth to deny the Town an extra two points and kept them fifth, six points adrift of third-placed Carlisle.

TOWN: Moore, Justin, Cuthbert (c), Rea, Senior, Mpanzu, Gambin (Palmer 57), Gray (Sheehan 57), Cook, Hylton, Marriott. Subs: O'Donnell, Marriott, Lee, D'Ath, Macey (GK)

Yellows: Vassell, Hylton, Senior

GRIMSBY: McKeown, Davies, Pearson, Gunning, Collins, Andrew, Comley, Clements (Jones 83), Osborne, Dyson (Vernon 84), Yussuf (Asante 83). Subs: Disley, Vose, Mills, Boyce, Jones

Yellows: Collins, Pearson

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-grimsby-town-football-league-two-3554426.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzua0bk26sw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcTVnf1LfzU

PUBLISHED 18:48 4th February 2017 The Hatters stay in fifth after taking a point at Blundell Park

Town boss Nathan Jones was left frustrated after his side failed to take all three points away in a draw against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.

The hosts took the lead through a Chris Clements header after 56 minutes, before Isaac Vassell scored his third goal in as many games to draw the match level with 13 minutes of normal time to play.

The Hatters won a penalty in the 94th minute after Gavin Gunning handled in the Grimsby 18-yard area, but Town top scorer Danny Hylton’s effort from spot was saved by Mariners keeper James McKeown.

Speaking to lutontown.co.uk, Jones said: “After 95 minutes I am disappointed because obviously with a late penalty you think, well, ok you can win it.

“I think it was pretty much an even game, we were nowhere near where needed to be first half. The intensity levels we had were nowhere near, we didn’t put them under any real danger or anything.

“Second half we didn’t start particularly well, I was going to change stuff, but I couldn’t get the change on. Then they scored.

“We didn’t defend it properly, we didn’t defend the box well enough, and then we scored.

“There was only one team then who were going to go on and do anything.

“We got the goal, we were pushing. We had chance after chance to have won the game. Then obviously you think you’re winning it when you have the penalty, but we missed the penalty.

“Look, Danny has been brilliant for me, he has scored all his penalties. He has been absolutely outstanding, but that’s a missed opportunity for us today.”

League Two: Grimsby Town 1 Luton Town 1

Danny Hylton missed a stoppage time penalty as Luton Town were held to a 1-1 draw at Grimsby this afternoon.

The visitors, who had recovered from going a goal behind early in the second half thanks to Isaac Vassell's third strike in as many games, had a wonderful opportunity to win it, when Gavin Gunning was penalised for a handball inside the area.

Hylton stepped up with virtually the last kick, but saw his attempt blocked by the legs of James McKeown, who was only playing due to Manchester United recalling on-loan stopper Dean Henderson on Friday morning.

Although Hylton nodded home the rebound, official Mark Haywood disallowed the goal for a foul, meaning Luton had to make do with a draw that on the balance of play, was about all they really deserved.

Prior to kick off, Luton made two changes to the side, with a now mask-less Hylton straight back in after completing his two game ban for Jack Marriott, while Jake Gray replaced the injured Jonathan Smith.

Hatters weren't far away on five minutes, Hylton flicking on Luke Gambin's corner, with a home defender stabbing narrowly over the top, which was about as good as it got for the 468 travelling fans in the opening period.

Keeper Stuart Moore had a quieter start than his debut in midweek, having to shovel Danny Andrew's free kick behind for a corner.

With little quality on show in the first half, Grimsby created the best chance on 27 minutes, when Jack Senior panicked not once but twice from Glen Rea's square pass, although Calum Dyson could only head the resulting cross over.

The hosts then pressed again, with Moore stretching to tip a corner away and when the ball was played back in, Ben Davies' low attempt didn't miss by much.

A desperately poor first 45 saw Town's only chances of note never test McKeown, Jordan Cook scuffing well wide and then Gray lashing over, as Grimsby's Jamey Osborne, who had netted twice against Luton for Solihull in the FA Cup earlier this season, tried to make it third time lucky, shooting wide of the mark.

In the second period, Hatters made a brighter start, inches away from moving in front on 53 minutes when Grimsby gifted the ball back outside their own area, Hylton spinning to beat McKeown, only for Brandon Comley to clear off the line.

Town went close once more, Gray cleverly picking out the run of Vassell, who with the angle against him, forced McKeown into a decent stop at his near post.

However, despite Luton having their best spell, the hosts then took the lead on 56 minutes as a bout of pinball in the home defence saw the visitors fail to clear their lines more than once, as Ben Davies' cross was powered home by Chris Clements.

Hatters brought on Ollie Palmer for his Luton debut, plus Alan Sheehan, replacing the ineffective Luke Gambin and Gray, with Town changing to a front three and opting to go long to the striker whenever possible, which worked too, as they were back in the game with 13 minutes to go.

Mpanzu, who impressed once more, deserved great credit for not giving up a lost cause on the left hand side, and after reaching the byline, fired in a cross that the unmarked Vassell headed downwards and into the roof of the net for his third goal in many games.

The in-form striker almost had a second, denied by a brave block as Luton began to enjoy a monopoly on both possession and territory for the final knockings.

Cook saw numerous efforts charged down, flashing a half volley and forcing McKeown into a parry, with his second attempt repelled by a flying defender.

Jack Marriott was introduced for the final moments and looked to have won it for Town after his charge on the right brought about the late, late spotkick

However, McKeown came to the rescue as Luton saw the gap to the automatic promotion places lengthen to six points once more, as Carlisle enjoyed a 2-1 win at struggling Leyton Orient.

Mariners: James McKeown, Ben Davies, Danny Andrew, Shaun Pearson, Danny Collins, Brandon Comley, Adi Yussuf (Scott Vernon 84), Gavin Gunning, Calum Dyson (Akwasi Asante 84), Chris Clements (Sam Jones 84), Jamey Osborne.

Subs not used: Craig Disley, Dominic Vose, Zak Mills, Andrew Boyce.

Hatters: Stuart Moore, James Justin, Scott Cuthbert, Glen Rea, Jack Senior, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Gray (Alan Sheehan 57), Luke Gambin (Ollie Palmer 57), Jordan Cook, Isaac Vassell, Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Matt Macey, Stephen O'Donnell, Lawson D'Ath, Jack Marriott, Olly Lee.

Attendance: 5,114 (468 Luton).

Booked: Vassell 36, Hylton 62, Collins 64, Senior 75, Pearson 90.

Referee: Mark Haywood.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left to rue a missed opportunity after Danny Hylton saw his injury time penalty saved at Grimsby Town this afternoon.

With the game almost up, home defender Gavin Gunning conceded a spotkick for handball inside the area, giving Hylton the chance to win it.

However, his effort was parried by keeper James McKeown ensuring the game finished 1-1, as Jones said: “After 95 minutes I’m disappointed if I’m honest because with the late penalty you think we can win it.

“It was pretty much an even game, we were nowhere near where we needed to be first half with intensity levels, but never looked under any danger or anything.

“Second half, we didn’t start particularly well and I was going to change stuff, I just couldn’t get the change on, until they scored.

“We didn’t defend properly, didn’t defend our box well enough, and then we scored and there was only one team going to go on and win it.

“We got the goal, we’re pushing, had chance after chance to win the game and then obviously think you’re going to win it when you have the penalty, but we missed the penalty,

“Danny’s been brilliant for me, scored all his penalties, been absolutely understanding, but that’s a missed opportunity for us.”

Although the penalty was repelled by McKeown, Hylton nodded the rebound into the net, only for the goal to be disallowed by official Mark Haywood for an apparent push by Ollie Palmer on Mariners' centre half Danny Collins.

When asked for his view on the incident, Jones continued: “It’s soft, but you can see why and after he’s given such a late one, he wouldn’t want to miss another one like that.

“But he gave us our opportunity to win the game and we should have won the game.

“A penalty you expect to score and that would have given us a wonderful thing. As second half we were a lot more at it, we pressed a lot more and there was only side ever going to win that game.”

However, Palmer felt that he was wrongly adjudged to have fouled his man in the race the rebound, saying: “Apparently there was a push in his back, but I don’t get that, I’ve never seen one of them given before.

“Personally I don’t think the ref had the best game today, as he (Hylton) got there, headed it in.

“I can’t really comment too much on the ref, but he had one of those days where I don’t think he made all the right decisions, he wasn’t consistent enough but we’ve come away with a draw.”

New keeper Stuart Moore couldn’t see why the goal wasn’t allowed to stand either, adding: “It’s very frustrating, their keeper’s saved it, we’ve hit in the rebound, I'm not sure what it was given for, but it’s a chance late on to finish the game and we couldn’t take it.

“We take the point and go again though.”

However, Palmer backed Hylton, who has netted 14 goals for Luton this term, along with both of his last two penalties, to quickly get over his miss.

He added: “Danny Hylton has been fantastic for Luton this season, and people do miss penalties. He’s got a fantastic return for the club this season, it's just one of those things and I'm sure he’ll dust himself down and kick on against Yeovil and Crawley on Saturday."

Grimsby Town 1 Luton Town 1

DANNY Hylton squandered a last-gasp chance to steal three points from the penalty spot and then saw his converted rebound chalked off at Grimsby as Luton looked another gift horse in the mouth.

Coming after a shock defeat to struggling Cheltenham on Tuesday, the Hatters must now know with odontological precision just how many teeth that gee-gee has.

The omens continue to point towards a finish outside League Two's sought after top three, because they began the week with a chance to move to within one point of the automatic promotion places and they finish it six points adrift.

After Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy quarter final against Yeovil, Luton face two back-to-back homes league games Jones said: "[They're] really, really important. We need to not miss opportunities. We can't really miss too many more.

"We're in decent form, in terms of where we are. Others have dropped points so it's not an unbridgeable gap, but we keep missing opportunities.

"There's an onus now, so I'm going to put pressure on them. We can't miss opportunities because it's too important. We're a real vital stage of the season."

The positives were a third goal in three games for striker Isaac Vassell and, with the transfer deadline day loan signing of 6ft 5ins Ollie Palmer from Leyton Orient, the emergence of a plan B. When 1-0 down and up against it, Luton hit it long and they bossed the final 30 minutes after an extremely forgettable first hour that Jones labelled "bang, bang average".

And after they drew level in the 77th minute they looked the only side likely to nick it. They should have nicked it.

Superstitious Hylton may wish he hadn't chosen this game – his return from a two-game suspension – to ditch his face mask as he blasted a 94th minute spot-kick straight down the middle and Mariners stopper James McKeown guessed right. But the save only sent the ball into the air and the Hatters hitman headed in only for referee Mark Haywood to rule it out for an apparent push. It looked soft.

Defeat, arguably, would have been harsh on Grimsby, but that's the sort of ruthlessness that Luton need to show if they are to meet their ambitions. They can't afford too many more slip-ups.

Hylton was one of two Town changes, along with Jake Gray, and the striker was quickly into the action, winning a corner, flicking on and almost setting up Scott Cuthbert but a home defender turned it over the bar.

Vassell was then thwarted by a sprawling save from McKeown and just as it looked like Luton might wrestle the initiative Grimsby took the lead in the 56th minute. The visitors failed to clear their lines, Ben Davies dug out a deep cross to the back post and debutant Chris Clements headed home.

A double Hatters substitution quickly followed as Alan Sheehan and Palmer – making his debut – replaced Luke Gambin and Gray. The tactics switched to long ball and it worked.

The visitors suddenly looked a different proposition and played more football in the final third, though it was a solitary moment of quality that saw them equalise.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu burst along the byline and dinked to Vassell who powered a header in.

Jordan

Four minutes into a five added on, Gavin Gunning then threw a hand illegally in the way of Palmer and the ball. The smash-and-grab looked on but Hylton wasted it.

They can't keep doing it because, as Jones said, "Time, eventually, will run out."

Grimsby: McKeown, Davies, Andrew, Pearson, Collins, Comley, Yussuf (Asante, 84), Gunning, Dyson (Vernon, 84), Clements (Jones, 84), Osbourne Unused subs: Disley, Vose, Mills, Boyce

Luton: Moore, Cuthbert, Gray (Sheehan, 57), Hylton, Cook, Rea, Mpanzu, Vassell (Vassell, 88), Senior, Gambin (Palmer, 57), Justin Unused subs: O'Donnell, Macey, Lee, D'Ath

Referee: Mark Haywood

Attendance: 5,114 (468)

Luton boss Nathan Jones was left to rue a "missed opportunity" as Danny Hylton saw a 94th minute penalty saved at Grimsby and then had his headed rebound ruled out for a foul as they drew 1-1 at Blundell Park.

The Hatters were poor in the first half and then fell behind in the 56th minute to a Chris Clements header, but they rallied for the last half an hour once new loan signing Ollie Palmer was sent on and they changed to more direct tactics.

Isaac Vassell levelled with his third in three matches before the substitute won the spot-kick in the penultimate minute of five added on, but Hylton – back after a two-game suspension – could not take advantage.

Jones said: "We missed the penalty. Danny has been brilliant for me, he's scored all his penalties and been absolutely outstanding, but that's a missed opportunity for us."

Referee Mark Haywood chalked off Hylton's follow-up and Jones added: "It's soft. You can see why and after he's given a late one, he wouldn't want to miss another thing, but he gave us our opportunity to win the game and we should have won the game.

"[With] a penalty, you expect to score and that would have given us a wonderful win."

The draw saw Town slip six points adrift of the League Two top three, and Jones was also left to regret having to chase the game.

"In the second half we were a lot more at it and there was only one side going to win that game," the manager said, adding: "That's what I'm disappointed with because we had to wait until we got sucker punched.

"Once we did get going, we showed what a good side we are, but we can't keep doing that because others around us [in the league] are not waiting to get sucker punched and then react. They're taking opportunities.

"We say how good we are, now we've got to prove it.