Leyton Orient vs Luton Town FC (5th Mar 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:45 5th March 2016 Jack Marriott's impressive lob proves the difference at the Matchroom Stadium

LEYTON ORIENT 0-1 LUTON TOWN

Jack Marriott’s spectacular first-half lob proved the only goal of the game as the Hatters made it four consecutive League 2 wins with victory at Leyton Orient.

Marriott made the most of Craig Mackail-Smith’s flick-on to notch his 12th goal of the season, and a fourth in five outings.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing for a Town side under pressure for large periods of the second half, but a fantastic defensive display ensured the side held on for a fifth win in six, moving to 50 points and to 12th in the League 2 table.

Nathan Jones gave an immediate start to loan signing Jonathan Mitchell in place of Mark Tyler, while Jake Howells also missed out through injury to Dan Potts.

Mitchell encountered a quiet opening period, a sign of the game as a whole as Paddy McCourt attempted to replicate his weaving magic from Tuesday night against Morecambe.

The Northern Irishman implicated it to good effect, twice winning corners early on as the Hatters built up an early head of steam.

McCourt was also instrumental in the Town’s first opening, slipping in Stephen O’Donnell to put a teasing ball into the box. The delivery found Mackail-Smith, but neither he nor Marriott nor Cameron McGeehan could find a half yard to fire past Alex Cisak.

Orient were more limited in their opportunities, with top-scorer Jay Simpson having the best of those, cutting inside to strike high and wide as Mitchell watched on comfortably.

Mitchell then turned defence into attack just minutes later, finding Mackail-Smith with a long ball downfield, who in turn flicked on to Marriott. With work to do, the Hatters striker took the opportunity superbly, executing a sumptuous side-foot lob over Cisak from a tight angle just inside the area, completing a goal-scoring double over Orient this season.

It was richly deserved for a Town side looking assured at the back and threatening up front, although there were a few uncomfortable moments when Mitchell caught Shaun Brisley when looking to punch away a free-kick.

The Orient man was down for at least seven minutes, eventually stretchered off to be replaced by experienced midfielder Jobi McAnuff.

Inadvertently, the game grew more and more tetchy following that incident, with numerous stoppages in play as more O’s players than Hatters felt the detriment of an increased level of aggression.

When the game was being played, however, it was the hosts creating half opportunities. Ollie Palmer could only nod over Sammy Moore’s excellent cross before Jerome Binnom-Williams cut inside to draw an excellent save from Mitchell after the 20-yard effort had looked to be creeping in the far post.

The second half began in much the same niggly manner, with neither side creating too many chances as the Town looked to double their lead.

While the hosts upped it on the hour mark, opportunities for an equaliser proved limited despite a couple of communication lapses from the Hatters, who replaced McCourt with Pelly Ruddock in a bid for a potentially decisive second goal.

And the Hatters were inches away from doing so when Marriott played a neat reverse towards the fresh legs of Ruddock, who couldn’t quite take the ball in his grasp on the edge of the O’s area. The resultant ball fell nicely for Potts, who bent a shot narrowly wide of the far post with the ‘keeper beaten, as the left-back looked to mark his return to the side with a goal.

Orient undeniably had more of the ball as the game headed to the last 20 minutes, but seldom tested Mitchell as the Town debutant handled superbly despite the pouring east London rain.

That was in a large part down to captain Scott Cuthbert, putting in a solid display at the back exemplified by his brave last gasp header to deny a certain equaliser.

Still the hosts came, but the Town remained resolute despite the incessant pressure down both flanks, forcing Jones to throw on Magnus Okuonghae in place of Potts to try and sure up the back four.

And the Hatters held on to the obvious delight of Jones, saluting the crowd at the final whistle before shouting his way down the tunnel as his side moved to within three points of the play-off places.

Hatters: Mitchell, O’Donnell, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts (sub Okuonghae 86), Smith, Lee, McGeehan, McCourt (sub Ruddock 64), Marriott (sub Green 76), Mackail-Smith

Unused subs: Justham, Lawless, Benson, Pigott

Attendance: 5,684, with 1,402 shouting for the Hatters. Thank you for your excellent support!

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-orient-0-1-town-2990803.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTvjTfo8V6U

League Two: Leyton Orient 0 Luton Town 1

A superb defensive rearguard by Luton Town saw them make it four wins on the bounce with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Leyton Orient this afternoon.

Given the lead on 26 minutes by striker Jack Marriott’s wonderfully impudent finish, his 12th of the season, Town then came under something of an aerial barrage after the break, put under severe pressure by the O’s, who took every opportunity to launch the ball into the box.

But the visitors, with new keeper Jonathan Mitchell impressing greatly on his Town debut and captain Scott Cuthbert producing a truly magnificent personal display, clearing everything that came his way, Luton hung on with what was a growing assuredness.

To single out those two would be unfair on the rest of the side too, as each gave a shift to be proud of as although boss Nathan Jones wants to build a team that dominates games, he will be just as proud to witness they can the ugly side of the game too and do it well.

The manager made two changes to the side that beat Morecambe 1-0 as Mitchell came in for Mark Tyler with Dan Potts replacing the injured Jake Howells, to play his first game since October 24.

Hatters looked to utilise Craig Mackail-Smith’s pace in the early moments, with the striker forcing O’s keeper Alex Cisak to race out of goal and head away.

The forward was then picked out by an inch-perfect Stephen O’Donnell cross, but after looking like he was shaping to volley, took a touch, only for he, Cameron McGeehan and Jack Marriott to all get in each other’s way as Orient cleared.

With 20 minutes on the clock, a short corner routine saw Marriott drag wide of the post despite having more time than he might have thought.

League Two’s leading scorer Jay Simpson wasn’t getting too much change out of Cuthbert and Alan Sheehan in the opening half hour, who marshalled him expertly, his one effort well wide of Mitchell’s goal.

The deadlock was then broken on 26 minutes, courtesy of another marvellous goal by the visitors as Mitchell’s long clearance was flicked on by Mackail-Smith and Marriott escaped the attentions of the home defence to loft a chip over the back-pedalling Cisak.

It was the striker’s fourth goal in five games and a 12th of an increasingly impressive season as he drew level with McGeehan as the club’s leading scorer.

The hosts were then dealt a blow as Mitchell came out to punch clear a cross only to clash heads with Shaun Brisley, who after a good five minutes of treatment, was eventually stretchered off.

That led to a tetchy passage of play as Potts earned a talking too, while McGeehan escaped a booking, with Luton’s modicum of control coming to with O’s coming to the fore, Ollie Palmer nodding over.

Mitchell was then extended fully, with Jerome Binnom-Williams dancing past two tame Jonathan Smith and Olly Lee challenges to shoot with the outside of the boot, the new keeper holding on well.

After the break, it was something a scrappy affair early on, but Hatters were doing well out of possession, something Jones has been striving for, keeping their hosts at arms length.

O’s brought on Armand Gnanduillet for Palmer as the hosts piled on their first real spell of prolonged pressure, Sheehan getting a crucial intervention to stop the sub from scoring.

Cuthbert made another crucial block, as Jones reacted to O’s pressure by bringing on Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu for Paddy McCourt.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Hatters almost had a second as a home clearance fell perfectly for Potts, whose right footer just didn’t have enough curl on it as it flew inches past the post.

O’s then came back strongly for the final 20 minutes, sending ball after ball into the Town area.

Chances were fleeing though, Nolan just unable to turn sub Calaum Jahraldo-Martin’s header in, while Mitchell showed fine handling to claim fellow replacement Armand Gnaduillet’s vicious attempt.

Hatters stood firm though, led by Cuthbert as it’s to their credit that Mitchell, bar a few crosses he confident came for, had very little to do in the final period.

At the final whistle, Jones went over to acclaim the 1,400 travelling fans, with another display of roar passion lapped up by the visiting faithful, who are now starting to believe that Town’s season might not be over as prematurely as first feared, as they now trail the top seven by just three points.

Hatters: Jonathan Mitchell, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts (Magnus Okuonghe 86), Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Jonathan Smith, Olly Lee, Cameron McGeehan, Paddy McCourt (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 66), Jack Marriott (Danny Green 76), Craig Mackail-Smith.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Paul Benson, Joe Pigott, Alex Lawless.

Os: Alex Cisak, Sean Clohessy, Mathieu Baudry (C), Ollie Palmer (Armand Gnanduillet 60), Sammy Moore (Calaum Jahraldo-Martin 67), Nigel Atangana, Shaun Brisley (Jobi McAnuff 37), Jerome Binnom-Williams, Jay Simpson, Nicky Hunt, Kevin Nolan.

Subs not used: Charlie Grainger, Connor Essam, Jack Payne, Bradley Pritchard.

Attendance: 5,684 (1,402 Luton).

Booked: O’Donnell 30, Mackail-Smith 89, Mitchell 90.

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Hatters MOM: Scott Cuthbert. Defender produced a superb display as Luton handled Orient’s aerial bombardment.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones hailed young goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell after picking up a clean sheet on his Football League debut against Leyton Orient yesterday.

The 21-year-old had only signed on loan from Championship side Derby County the day before, but went straight into the Town side due to Mark Tyler’s pending move to Peterborough.

On Mitchell, who has only played once in the FA Cup for the Rams, he said: “That’s one hell of a debut. To come away, Leyton Orient, with the hostility, the amount that we put in, his decision-making, his presence there.

It’s only his debut, only one game, we’re not getting carried away, but that’s one hell of a debut, trust me on that.

“We believe he’s improved our 11 and without getting carried away, the kid was outstanding.”

Captain Scott Cuthbert echoed his manager’s glowing praise of the youngster, who hadn’t even had a training session with his new team-mates.

He continued: “He was different class, really, really good. He was commanding, came out for a lot of balls and helped us out, especially early on, so he had a great debut.

“When you’ve got a player of that quality, as long as we say before the game, be loud, be confident, be commanding, come for crosses if you need be, if we’re too deep tell us and he was. That’s exactly what it is and he fitted in brilliant, it showed from his performance.

“That was a little glimpse of how good he was, obviously the manager knows him and I thought he was really, really good.”

One feature of Mitchell’s performance was his willingness to come off his line when Orient went long, and one such moment of bravery saw a nasty clash of heads with Shaun Brisley, as the O’s player was eventually stretchered off.

Cuthbert said: “It takes the pressure right off you as a defender if your goalkeeper comes for crosses.

“He had a nasty head knock with the boy, the fans thought it was a fist, but it was actually his head on the boy’s head. So he’s done well to recover from that too.”

Meanwhile, the recalled Dan Potts also praised Mitchell, adding: “I didn’t know much about him, he literally rocked up at the hotel this morning.

“I was like all right, but credit to the lad, for his league debut as well, I thought he was different class.”

Hatters manager Nathan Jones has revealed that goalkeeper Mark Tyler is expected to join former side Peterborough next week.

The 38-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was the subject of an approach from the League One side on transfer deadline day, but a deal couldn’t be agreed.

Tyler was then missing from the starting line-up for Luton’s 1-0 win at Leyton Orient this afternoon as Luton announced the loan signing of 21-year-old Derby County stopper Jonathan Mitchell until the end of the season prior to kick off.

Explaining Tyler’s departure, Jones said: “I think with Tyles, it will probably come out, so I’ll be the one to say.

“He’s had a little bit of an approach from Peterborough in terms of going there and being a player goalkeeping coach if you like and I didn’t want to stand in his way.

“I spoke to him and Barry Fry over the last few weeks and we said when the right time comes to do it, we’ll let him do it because Tyles has been a great servant for Peterborough, been a great servant for Luton.

“He’s been a great servant in the time he was patient here when Elliot (Justham) got in and so on.

“There’s a lot of integrity in football and Peterborough have wanted Mark for a long time and we just wanted to give Mark the opporunity to prolong his career.

“He’ll probably become a number two there and then goalkeeper coach which adds longevity to his career.

“So we’re pleased to be able to do that for him and we felt it was only right that we don’t stand in his way. But what we had to do was be able to bring someone in with real quality and we think we’ve been able to do that.”

Taking Tyler’s place was Mitchell, who had only played once for the Rams in the FA Cup this season, but Jones was delighted with his impact against Orient and keeping a clean sheet on debut.

He continued: “We had to get the right one in, we inquired about Johnny and Darren Wassall (Derby boss) has been fantastic.

“He believes in what we do here, I know him, he knows how I work, it’s a similar philosophy to Derby when I was at Brighton and he knows we’re trying to bring that here.

“I’ve known about Johnny for a while and we feel he’s one of the best young keepers around, he’s on our radar.

“So they had no hesitation in letting us have him and I think as you’ve seen today, that’s one hell of a league debut, and I think he’s enhanced our group.”

Jones put Mitchell into the side ahead of number two Elliot Justham, and on the decision, he added: “It’s a little bit harsh on Elliot as he’s trained really well.

“We asked for a reaction from him and he’s given it to us. But we believe when we bring a goalkeeper of his calibre in, you start him, because we believe he’s improved our 11 and without getting carried away, the kid was outstanding.”

Leyton Orient 0 Luton Town 1

This was the point Luton Town started to believe.

"Swing low," was the song – in honour of Jack Marriott's sublime 26th minute winner – but aim high is the message after his fourth goal in five games to put Town three points away from the League Two play-offs.

Four victories on the bounce have transformed Luton's fortunes and now all bets are on for an end of season run-in which has moved from mid-term Dullsville to a land of hope. And glory? We'll wait and see but they're very much back in the hunt for promotion.

At the full time whistle, boss Nathan Jones led his warriors back across the Brisbane Road pitch to the 1,402 delirious, travelling supporters, beating his chest, pumping his fists and bellowing out a roar which reverberated around east London and, quite possibly, all throughout League Two.

"Nathan Jones' barmy army" was the chant in response because now those fans are beginning to sense that there's something is happening. Something remarkable.

That was because against a Leyton Orient side, who began the day in the last play-off spot, six points ahead of the Hatters, this result felt hugely significant. Not least because they were forced to defend for the majority of the second half.

Before Christmas they would have crumbled when faced with the directness of Leyton Orient.

Scott Cuthbert, back on his old stomping ground, was immense; typified by a thou-shalt-not-pass diving header to deny Armand Gnanduillet 15 minutes from time.

The grit and the determination was not exclusive to the Scot though and Luton's laundry lady, Vera, will have a stubborn task on her hands to lift to dirt and grime off Luton's all-white kit after 1,001 glorious sliding tackles and bodies thrown courageously in the firing line.

And all of this meant that there was precious little to do for new loan goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, but when he was called upon, the 21-year-old Derby County stopper – signed until the end of the season – was commanding.

That was an encouraging sign as he was thrust straight into the action, having not trained, to take the place of Mark Tyler, who boss Jones confirmed is to leave Luton and return to his hometown club Peterborough United as a player-coach.

Mitchell also played a huge part in the decider with a colossal goal-kick that found its way to Marriott via the head of Craig Mackail-Smith. The finish – a side-foot lob over O's goalie Alex Cisak – was fit to win any football match. So too was the performance, or performances, as it was. There were two sides to them in the capital.

In the first period, Town were a threatening counter-attacking proposition and then, after the break, when placed under huge scrutiny by Orient, they showed resilience and would not buckle.

They deserved everything they got, particularly their half-time lead and goalscorer Marriott is now a man on flames, as the good folks on Twitter would say. The striker is now on level terms with Cameron McGeehan with 12 apiece to top Town's goalscoring charts.

While they possess such sting at the sharp end, there was also a bite about Luton with full-bloodied Town tackling, which Orient did not like, though it was an accidental collision with Mitchel which saw Shaun Brisley unfortunately stretchered off in the first half.

The goalie got down well to deny Jerome Binnon-Williams after he'd tricked his way past two Hatters, but other than that Orient opted for the agricultural approach and Luton dealt with it time and again.

Rarely out of their half in the second period, there was one moment when that changed and Dan Potts – in for his first start in five months – caressed a curler just the wrong side of the upright, before hobbling off with well-earned cramp.

Yet, in the face of a constant Orient barrage, the only time Town had to ride their luck was when the hosts' player-manager Kevin Nolan headed wide from close range.

As the O's got desperate, Gnanduillet went to ground when McGeehan flailed a leg at him in the penalty box. Referee Charles Breakspear was unmoved.

Luton, however, are only shooting in one direction and that's up.

Leyton Orient: Cisak, Cohessy, Baudry, Palmer (Gnanduillet, 61), Moore (Jahraldo-Martin, 68), Atangana, Brisley (McAnuff, 37), Binnon-Williams, Simpson, Hunt, Nolan

Unused subs: Grainger, Essam, Payne, Pritchard

Luton Town: Mitchell, O'Donnell, Potts (Okuonghae, 86), Smith, Cuthbert, McGeehan, Marriott (Green, 77), McCourt (Ruddock Mpanzu, 65), Lee, Mackail-Smith, Sheehan

Unused subs: Justham, Lawless, Benson, Pigott

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 5,684 (1,402)

Luton Town: Jon Mitchell had ‘one hell of a debut,’ says Nathan Jones

By LutonOnSunday | Posted: March 07, 2016

By James Cunliffe

Gareth Owen LT511JonMitchell

Jon Mitchell impressed after being thrust straight into the action at Leyton Orient

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Boss Nathan Jones hailed goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell as "outstanding" after the loan signing kept a clean sheet and put in a commanding debutant performance in Luton's 1-0 win over Leyton Orient.

The Derby County custodian was drafted in until the end of the season on the morning of Saturday's League Two clash but was thrust straight into action for his Football League debut with Mark Tyler injured (back) and set to return to former club Peterborough United as a player-coach.

Mitchell dominated his 18-yard area, which was peppered with crosses from Orient, and the clean sheet and Jack Marriott's 26th minute winner confirmed a fourth win on the spin, moving the Hatters to within three points of the play-offs.

"It's only his debut, only one game, we're not getting carried away, but that's one hell of a debut, trust me on that," said Jones of the 21-year-old goalie.

"We believe he's improved our 11 and, without getting carried away, the kid was outstanding."

Town skipper Scott Cuthbert was also exemplary in the centre of defence on his first return to Orient since leaving in the summer and he too was pleased with Mitchell's bow.

He said: "He was different class, really, really good. He was commanding, came out for a lot of balls and helped us out, especially early on, so he had a great debut.

"We said before the game, 'be loud, be confident, be commanding, come for crosses if need be and if we're too deep tell us'. That's exactly what it is and he fitted in brilliantly, it showed from his performance.

"That was a little glimpse of how good he was, obviously the manager knows him and I thought he was really, really good."

Cuthbert even revealed that Mitchell survived a head clash with O's striker Shaun Brisley who was knocked unconscious and stretchered off as the keeper came successful off his line for one of many crosses.

"It takes the pressure right off you as a defender if your goalkeeper comes for crosses," Cuthbert said, adding: "He had a nasty head knock with the boy, the fans thought it was a fist, but it was actually his head on the boy's head. So he's done well to recover from that too."

Defender Dan Potts made his first start since October and also praised Mitchell, saying: "I didn't know much about him, he literally rocked up at the hotel this morning. Credit to the lad, for his league debut as well, I thought he was different class."

Mark Tyler is expected to join Peterborough United after Luton brought in Derby County keeper Jonathan Mitchell on loan until the end of the season.

The Hatters will now discuss terms with Posh but it is a situation which has been rumbling on since transfer deadline day when Tyler – who has made 297 appearances for Town – revealed that the club had refused to let him return to London Road where he played 486 times.

The 38-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, has a back injury anyway so Mitchell was thrown straight into the team as the Hatters beat Leyton Orient 1-0, which moved the Hatters to within three points of the League Two play-offs.

Speaking after the game, manager Nathan Jones said: "I've known Jonny for a long while and we feel he's one of the best young keepers around, so he was on our radar.

"The thing is, with Tyles is, it'll probably come out, so I'll be the one to say, he's had a little bit of an approach from Peterborough, in terms of going there and being player-goalkeeping coach.

"I didn't want to stand in his way, so I spoke to him and Barry Fry [Peterborough Director of Football] over the last few weeks and we said that when the right time comes to do it then we'll let him do it.

"Tyles has been a great servant for Peterborough, he's been a great servant for Luton. He's been a great servant in the time he was patient here and Elliot [Justham] got in [ahead of him].

"He's a fantastic professional so we felt it was only right that we didn't stand in his way, but in order to do that we had to get the right one in."

Mitchell, 21, didn't disappoint with a commanding performance on his fantastic Football League debut, even providing the ball which found its way to Jack Marriott for the winner.

"When we bring a goalkeeper of his calibre in, you start them because we believe he's improved our 11. Without getting carried away, the kid was outstanding," Jones said.

"We enquired about Jonny. Darren Wassall [Derby manager] has been fantastic. He believes in what we do here. I know him, he knows how I work and we had similar philosophies to Derby, when I was at Brighton.

"Now we're trying to bring that here, so they had no hesitation in letting us have him and I think, as you've seen, that was one hell of a league debut."