Leeds United vs Luton Town FC (30th Jun 2020)

MATCH REPORT | LEEDS UNITED 1-1 LUTON TOWN

Town produce a superb, resilient display to earn a point at league leaders Leeds.

The Hatters earned a fantastic point with a 1-1 draw against table-toppers Leeds United at Elland Road this evening.

Harry Cornick put Town ahead five minutes into the second half with a superb finish into the top corner, before Stuart Dallas levelled for the hosts 13 minutes later.

Leeds were pushing for a winner, but the Hatters were excellent defensively with Simon Sluga making a number of saves throughout the 90 minutes, frustrating the league leaders.

Nathan Jones made five changes to the side that beat Swansea City 1-0 at the weekend, with Danny Hylton, James Bree, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Callum McManaman all featuring from the start, as well as Martin Cranie, who was drafted into the team just before the game as Glen Rea suffered an injury during the warm-up.

Shortly after McManaman picked up a yellow card inside the first minute for a late challenge, Patrick Bamford found space in the area but saw his effort from a tight angle saved by Simon Sluga.

There was a big shout for a Hatters penalty in the 15th minute when McManaman tangled with substitute Gaetano Berardi in the area, but referee John Brooks waved away the claims.

Whilst Leeds had the lion’s share of possession, the Hatters came close to opening the scoring minutes later when James Bree’s floated corner was met by Sonny Bradley, but Illan Meslier was able to block and clear for the hosts.

Kalvin Phillips tested Sluga from distance seven minutes before half-time, but the Croatian keeper smartly turned it behind for a corner.

Cornick replaced McManaman at half-time and made an instant impact with a superb strike five minutes after the restart. Tunnicliffe played an inch perfect ball through to the forward, who faced up Ben White, before curling a wonderful effort into the top corner.

Leeds were looking for a quick response after going behind and Sluga was forced into two saves in quick succession from Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison.

Once more the keeper was tested, this time from Phillips’ free-kick and he recovered quickly to block Ezgjan Alioski’s rebound effort as well.

Despite his best efforts, Sluga was beaten in the 63rd minute when Dallas found the bottom corner to level proceedings.

Leeds were in the ascendancy after equalising and came close once more through Bamford, who hit the side netting with a first-time effort.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu produced a teasing low cross into the box, but it was missed by everyone and cleared by the hosts as the game entered six minutes of added time.

The Hatters withstood late pressure from Leeds and the point gained at Elland Road means the Town are now within two points of safety as they remain unbeaten under Nathan Jones, and six games in total.

LEEDS: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper (Berardi 12, Alioski 45), Dallas (Shackleton 90+4); Phillips, Klich (Hernandez 61); Harrison, Roberts, Costa; Bamford.

Subs not used: Miazek, Douglas, Struijk, Shackleton, Gotts, Poveda.

Goals: Dallas (63)

TOWN: Sluga, Bree, Pearson, Bradley (C), Carter-Vickers, Potts, Cranie (Collins 64), Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, McManaman (Cornick 45), Hylton (Bolton 64).

Subs not used: Shea, Lee, Shinnie, Moncur, Brown, Butterfield.

Yellows: McManaman, Carter-Vickers, Cornick, Potts, Collins

Goals: Cornick (50)

Referee: John Brooks

NATHAN JONES ON THE 1-1 DRAW AT LEEDS!

Watch the Hatters boss' post-match interview at Elland Road

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was delighted with his side's performance as they earned a valuable point against league leaders Leeds United.

Harry Cornick put the Town ahead in the 50th minute with a fantastic finish, his 9th goal of the season, before Stuart Dallas hit back for Leeds 13 minutes later.

The result moves the Hatters to within two points of safety in the Sky Bet Championship, as Jones expressed his delight at the performance when talking to BBC Three Counties Radio.

"It's a great point," said Jones. "I'd have liked to have been a little bit more penetrative, but I'd have taken that. This is the hardest place to come to in the league. These are the best side in the league for me. They come at you, they are relentless, they know what they are doing, they've got good players and structurally they are superb, they've been together for two years - and it's a great point.

"They had the majority of the game, but we knew we'd have moments when we'd have to take our chance. It was a great finish, but I thought they defended so well. The work-rate, the structure, and we knew we'd come under a bit of pressure, but it was just denying those opportunities, and then when we needed our keeper, he was there.

"We've had a good start. It was the toughest start. There's not many tougher starts than that. You go Swansea away, Leeds away - you've had Preston at home. That's three sides going for promotion. We've just come out of lockdown and you've got to take everything in context.

“Others have won games but they haven’t come up against the sides we have, without being disrespectful. That’s a good start, five points from nine is a wonderful start considering the opposition, two away games where we are unbeaten, we’ve only conceded two in three games, we look a unit now, we just have to make sure we have a little bit more cutting edge as well.

“We keep preaching and some squads, some teams don’t believe what we preach and what we say. It’s a squad game. Game changers, people are going to be relied on; are you ready? Are you preparing? And you can see that.

"We have had an impact on every sub we have made so far. Harry scores today, Callum scores in the first game, Izzy sets up the goal for Collo the other day.

"We’ve got to take a squad because it’s impossible to play the same team for the 90 minutes over nine games in such a short space of time. You’ve got to take a squad, a squad who buys into that, a squad that works harder, a squad that really is ready.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbBTlpCE9o – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f87k32tpDQ – match highlights

Cornick nets a stunner as battling Luton hold leaders Leeds at Elland Road

Championship: Leeds United 1 Luton Town 1

Luton produced a truly superb display packed with resilience and fight to earn a wonderful 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Leeds United this evening, breathing further life in their bid for Championship safety.

Up against a Whites side who appear destined for the top flight, Town never gave Marcelo Bielsa's side an inch, defending their area as if their lives depended on it.

Boss Nathan Jones might even be ever so slightly disappointed not to claim all three points, having taken the lead through Harry Cornick's second half goal, but not many come away from Elland Road with a victory, and the draw means Luton are now just two points from safety, having been six when the Championship resumed recently.

The Hatters made four changes for the clash, Danny Hylton making his first start since March 2019, while Callum McManaman, James Bree and Ryan Tunnicliffe all came in for James Collins, Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee, who dropped to the bench, while Jacob Butterfield missed out completely.

Another late change saw Glen Rea miss out with an injury in the warm-up, his place being taken by Martin Cranie as Town lined up with five at the back, although it didn't stop Patrick Bamford from testing Simon Sluga early on, the keeper out to save with his legs.

McManaman, on a booking inside 90 seconds, had appeals for a penalty turned down on 15 minutes, going down inside the area under pressure.

United upped the tempo, Tyler Roberts flashing over the bar from close range, as did Helder Costa, with Town's defending leaving a lot to be desired.

Town still created chances of their own, Sonny Bradley's header from a corner palmed away Illan Meslier, Matty Pearson's spectacular overhead attempt falling wide.

The visitors then settled into proceedings, proving hard to break down, keeping their easy on the eye hosts at arm's length, Sluga finger-tipping Phillips' dangerous cross behind.

He then had to gather a decent effort from Phillips after Leeds won a host of corners before the break, but crucially, Town kept them out.

Boss Nathan Jones introduced Cornick for McManaman at the interval and it paid instant dividends.

The attacker was found by Tunnicliffe's wonderful pass out of defence, but he still had so, so much to do.

He did it quite superbly too, picking his spot to find the top corner in some style, scoring the first goal Leeds had conceded at home since February.

United then ramped up the pressure immediately, Sluga forced into two sprawling stops, before producing some top drawer heroics moments later.

A free kick just outside the box, saw Luke Ayling's low effort draw one excellent low parry, as he somehow blocked the follow up from Ezgjan Alioski, with Costa's rebound dropping just wide.

Leeds weren't behind for long though, drawing level on 62 minutes when Alioski's incisive pass into the area saw Stuart Dallas take a touch and confidently slot into the bottom corner.

Jones reacted to the goal by bringing on top scorer Collins and Luke Bolton for Hylton and Cranie, as Leeds kept threatening, an unmarked Alioski heading wide at the back post.

Unsurprisingly, it was Leeds who were now looking the more likely, Bamford's flick brushing the side-netting, while he then fluffed his lines from Luke Ayling's excellent run and cross, falling over as the opportunity went begging.

Leeds thought they had a penalty when Bamford appeared to be pulled back by Pearson, with nothing given, while a late opportunity was deflected inches wide.

Town then almost snatched a winner when Cornick's low cross was just cut out, while Sluga held Ayling's snapshot.

In the dying seconds, Costa missed the target when completely unmarked as United thankfully couldn't break Luton's hearts for a second time this term with a stoppage time winner.

Whites: Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Ben White, Liam Cooper (C Gaetano Berardi 12, Ezgjan Alioski 46), Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts, Stuart Dallas (Jamie Shackleton 90), Helder Costa, Jack Harrison, Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich (Pablo Hernandez 60).

Subs not used: Kamil Miazek, Barry Douglas, Ian Poveda, Pascal Stuijk, Robbie Gotts.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Martin Cranie (Luke Bolton 64), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, James Bree, Callum McManaman (Harry Cornick 46), Danny Hylton (James Collins 64).

Subs not used: James Shea, Jacob Butterfield, Elliot Lee, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Izzy Brown.

Booked: McManaman 2, Cranie 56, Cornick 74, Potts 87, Collins 87.

Referee: John Brooks.

Jones hails a 'wonderful' point for his Hatters side at table-topping Leeds

Luton chief praises Town's defensive display at Elland Road

Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled his side's battling 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Leeds United tonight as a 'wonderful point' in their quest to stay up this season.

Harry Cornick had put Town in front before a second half onslaught by Marcelo Bielsa's side led to Stuart Dallas equalising at the midway point, but despite having 76 per cent possession and 23 attempts, they couldn't find a winner, Hatters holding on superbly for a precious point.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "Defensively I thought we were excellent.

"They're the best side in the league and you know you’re going to have to defend well, have to ride your luck a little bit, but I thought we were excellent, I really, really did.

"Work-rate, desire to do well, they keep coming at you, they commit bodies forward, and they take chances, but they’re a good side, so it’s a wonderful performance and a wonderful point.

"I would have loved to have been a bit more fluent, I would have loved to be a little bit more controlled in the game, but we have to respect the opposition and they gave me everything tonight.

"I thought tactically we got it right, I would have loved to have kept another clean sheet, that would have been superb, but I’ll take that point."

Jones made five changes for the game, and felt one of them, Callum McManaman, could have had a penalty in the first period when he was bundled over inside the area.

He continued: "It's a definite penalty for me.

"They could have had a handball in the build-up, but once they haven't given the handball, it's a penalty, it's a foul.

"We're definitely not getting that at the full Elland Road, but you think you've got a better chance of getting that when it’s a Covid lockdown Elland Road.

"Let's talk about the positives though, I could be here preaching about we could have had this, could have that, but Leeds were relentless all night.

"We had to combat that and to come away with a point from Elland Road is wonderful."

Town then took the lead through a wonderful Cornick strike, the half time sub racing on to Ryan Tunnicliffe's pass and curling brilliantly into the top corner.

Jones added: "We spoke about moments in the game that we would have and we have to take them.

"We brought Harry on, Callum McManaman gave us everything, gave massive distances first half, was lacking that little bit of sharpness so that's why we brought Harry on.

"We always had that in mind, it was always going to be about 55, 60 minutes, but we thought 'let's get him on now, let's give Hylts (Danny Hylton), who was magnificent tonight, some support.'

"On the counter they commit so many bodies forward we knew they would be open, so we knew we needed that pace.

"A great ball from Tunny, Harry got on to it like only Harry can and then a great, great finish.

"You need those moments of quality at Elland Road as these are undoubtedly the best side in the league."

No free wedding for Hatters keeper Sluga but Jones still quick to praise Croatian international during Leeds draw

Town stopper makes a superb double save in Elland Road draw

Although Luton boss Nathan Jones won’t be out of pocket paying for keeper Simon Sluga’s wedding now, he still labelled the keeper as ‘superb’ during last night’s 1-1 draw with Championship leaders Leeds United.

The Town chief had promised to pay for the Croatian international’s big day in the summer if he had followed up his shut out at Swansea on Saturday with a clean sheet at Elland Road on Tuesday evening.

It looked like Jones might have to foot the bill after Sluga made a superb double save from Kalvin Phillips' free-kick and then Ezgjan Alioski's follow up, but the 27-year-old will now have to cough up himself after Stuart Dallas slotted into the bottom corner with 63 minutes gone to cancel out Harry Cornick's opener.

However, on Sluga's confident display, the stopper putting his early season struggles well and truly behind him now, beaten just four times in his last six outings, Jones said: “He’s been wonderful since I’ve come in and he was superb today.

“The only one who’ll be delighted with that goal is my wife, but to be fair, he’s been superb and you need your keeper when you come to Elland Road.

"No-one comes here and keeps them shut out.

“There'll be Premier League clubs that will come here that will concede, I promise you that as they're a well drilled, excellent side with talent, so I'm delighted and proud of that performance.”

When the goal did come, it was a clever pass into the area from Alioski that beat the stretch Sonny Bradley for the unmarked Dallas to take a touch confidently beat Sluga.

Jones admitted a sense of real frustration over the manner of the leveller, adding: "It was ironic as we were just about to make a change to be a little more solid and deny them space in wide areas.

"We couldn't do the sub quick enough and then Alioski fed the ball in from the position we wanted to stop, so it was really, really disappointing as a minute there and they probably wouldn't have scored the goal.

"But it's undoubtedly a fair result, Leeds had the majority of the game, but I felt the commitment, the organisation, the desire to get a result was magnificent."