Luton Town FC vs Accrington Stanley (9th Apr 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:45 9th April 2016 Hatters slip to a home loss to high-flying Stanley

LUTON TOWN 0-2 ACCRINGTON STANLEY

The Hatters slipped to a third successive defeat as goals from Scott Brown and Terry Gornell gave Accrington all three points from their trip to Bedfordshire.

Brown tapped home from Josh Windass’ pull-back midway through the second period, before Gornell secured the game with a glanced header from Tariqe Fosu’s cross.

It was a third defeat in a row without scoring at Kenilworth Road, leaving a slim chance of the Hatters reaching the League 2 play-off places this season.

Nathan Jones made four changes from last week’s Stevenage defeat, drafting in Elliot Justham for Jonathan Mitchell, who returned to Derby during the week, while Scott Cuthbert had to sit out with injury.

Pelly Ruddock, Dan Potts and Josh McQuoid – in for just his second start under Jones – also took places in the starting XI, while Alan Sheehan took the captain's armband.

The Hatters started electrically at Kenilworth Road, playing with a sharpness missing from recent weeks as Jack Marriott went close twice in the first ten minutes.

The striker could only fire straight at Ross Etheridge from well inside the area, stinging the palms of the Accrington keeper with just eight minutes played. He repeated the dose two minutes later, but this time McQuoid was on hand to seemingly touch home, only for his five-yard shot to sail harmlessly over the bar.

But Stanley came back and showed their promotion credentials, testing Justham through Windass’ long-range strike which the Hatters stopper did well to push away from danger.

It was an entertaining end-to-end encounter for most of the half for a Town side continuing their diamond formation, operated by Cameron McGeehan behind the strikers.

And it was that man next to have a chance, hitting Jonathan Smith’s cutback first time but without meaningful contact as it trickled past the far post.

The pace quelled on the approach to half-time, bringing the visitors back into the game, first with Sam McConville’s zipping ball across the six-yard box, followed by Gornell nodding over the bar.

Yet despite the promise, both sides went to the break goalless, making it nine successive home games the Town have failed to score in before half-time.

And moments into the second half, the Hatters were behind. Windass was allowed to travel down the right flank, picking out Brown in the area who had a simple task to touch past Justham and send Accrington in to the lead.

Bidding for an immediate response, the Town regained some composure thanks to neat one-touch passing that came close to releasing Ruddock through on goal in the middle.

The Hatters were unable to create many clear-cut opportunities, with their chances dealt a blow when Marriott was forced to hobble off on the hour mark, but the introduction of Paul Benson gave the hosts an aerial dimension, as the striker met Potts’ right-side corner to head narrowly over Etheridge’s crossbar.

Ruddock’s pace remained a constant threat as the Town threw on Zane Banton for his first appearance of the season, still trailing by the Brown goal with 20 minutes remaining.

While the Hatters kept pushing, chances were not hugely forthcoming, despite Ruddock blasting purposefully high and wide from a narrow angle.

With Banton now on the pitch, the Town and the crowd responded to the teenager’s pace, posing questions of the Accrington defence within moments of coming on.

But the Hatters were dealt a sucker-punch six minutes from the end. Substitute Fosu jinked his way past O’Donnell, whipping in a cross which Gornell flicked beyond Justham and into the far corner.

Fosu almost made the scoresheet himself with an incredible run, ghosting past four Hatters players before firing past a rooted Justham but, thankfully for the Hatters, also the post.

Youth team captain Frankie Musonda received a warm welcome as he joined the action, but he couldn't prevent the Hatters from a tenth defeat at Kenilworth Road this season.

Hatters: Justham, O’Donnell, Sheehan, Rea, Potts, (sub Musonda 85) Smith (sub Banton 73), Lee, Ruddock, McGeehan, Marriott (sub Benson 62), McQuoid

Subs not used: King, Lawless, Justin, Pigott

Attendance: 7467, with 123 backing Accrington

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-luton-0-2-accrington-stanley-3050840.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6iGzpR7lfc

League Two: Luton Town 0 Accrington Stanley 2

The season can’t end soon enough for Luton Town after they fell to yet another home defeat, their 10th of a truly disastrous campaign at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Goals from Scott Brown and Terry Gornell sealed victory for the visitors, who looked every inch a side who are pushing for promotion, as this result saw them climb into the automatic spots.

Although Hatters did miss some great chances, Josh McQuoid’s early sitter the worst of the bunch, they never fully extended Stanley keeper Ross Etheridge, particularly in the second half, as they failed to score for the third home match running.

Boss Nathan Jones threatened changes following on from last weekend’s defeat to Stevenage and made four of them, although two were enforced with Jonathan Mitchell recalled by Derby and Scott Cuthbert injured.

Paddy McCourt and Joe Pigott missed out too, with Elliot Justham, Dan Potts, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and McQuoid coming in, with youngsters Zane Banton, Frankie Musonda and James Justin named on the bench.

An action-packed opening 10 minutes saw chances at both ends as the impressive Josh Windass and Cameron McGeehan sent shots wide from range.

Stanley were inches away from an opener with five minutes gone as Gornell just couldn’t get enough on Sean McConville’s low cross as it flashed wide of the post.

Jack Marriott then shrugged off the attentions of last man Brad Halliday, but couldn’t direct his effort either side of keeper Ross Etheridge, who blocked, while Luton wasted an even better opening to finally break their first half duck at home on 10 minutes.

Marriott’s clever turn and shot saw Etheridge fail to hang on, the rebound falling perfectly to McQuoid, who blasted woefully over the top from a matter of yards.

Justham was then called into his first meaningful action, performing his duties admirably to push aside Windass’ excellent angled volley as it bounced just prior to reaching him.

Hatters, already showing more hunger and desire than in the entire duration from the previous weekend, went close again after McGeehan foraged possession back.

Smith took up a good position on the right hand side of the box and from his pull back, McGeehan’s side-footer went agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Stanley then took the sting out the game impressively, with McConville’s low cross evading everyone bar Potts at the far post, Justham pouncing on his deflection goalwards.

Luton tried in vain for that opening period strike, but McGeehan couldn’t hook his shot on target at the far post, while once Gornell had nodded over, the whistle went, making it nine games and almost four months since Town have netted prior to the break at Kenilworth Road.

After the interval, Hatters were behind within the first two minutes as Windass powered past the labouring Olly Lee and his pull back was perfect for Brown to finish beyond Justham.

From there, Hatters never really exuded the confidence of a side who truly felt they could muster a fight back, Marriott going off for Paul Benson on the hour mark after a whack, with his replacement heading over.

Jones then stuck to his promise of giving youth their chance, as Zane Banton came on for his first appearance since November 9, 2013, in place of Smith, with the striker impressing during a lively cameo.

Hatters should have had a penalty with 17 minutes to go as the ever improving Ruddock Mpanzu was felled in the box by Tariqe Fosu, but nothing was given, a poor decision when taking into account the spotkick Luton had given away last weekend.

However, Stanley then had a crucial second on 84 minutes, when Fosu’s delicious cross saw Gornell cut across Glen Rea and glance a superb header past the despairing Justham.

Youth team captain Musonda was handed his home debut for the final five minutes, but Luton couldn’t even manage a consolation, McQuoid fluffing his lines once more at the far post.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts (Frankie Musonda 85), Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Jonathan Smith (Zane Banton 73), Olly Lee, Cameron McGeehan, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Josh McQuoid, Jack Marriott (Paul Benson 61).

Subs not used: Craig King, Alex Lawless, James Justin, Joe Pigott.

Stanley: Ross Etheridge, Matty Pearson, Tom Davies, Piero Mingoia, Josh Windass, Terry Gornell, Sean McConville (Tariqe Fosu 72), Scott Brown, Mark Hughes, Seamus Conneely (C), Brad Halliday.

Subs not used: Dean Winndard, Andrew Proctor, Andrew Little, Shay McCartan, Adam Buxton, Jason Mooney.

Attendance: 7,467 (Stanley 123).

Booked: McQuoid 20, Pearson 54, Hughes 72, Benson 90.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left frustrated with the way Town’s play-offs hopes have ended in such a tame fashion this season.

A 1-0 win at Leyton Orient just three weeks ago saw Luton give themselves a real chance of making the top seven, as they cut the gap to three points.

However, Hatters have since lost four of the last five games, including three successive home defeats, the latest against Accrington Stanley yesterday, to fall nine points adrift with just six matches left.

Jones said: “We had a brief spell where we won a few home games on the trot and three four games ago we said about a great opportunity to do something this year.

“We’ve fallen away with a whimper, that’s the disappointing thing that we’ve had a soft underbelly and those are the things that we have to change.

“I think that’s the kind of mode that we’re in at the minute though, we’re losing, coming to the end of the season, a couple might not believe that we could have done something and it’s proven that with a real soft showing.”

Once again, it was Town’s inadequacy in front of goal that cost them at the weekend, as they failed to score for the third home game running.

Josh McQuoid and Jack Marriott both missed good opportunities early on, as Luton have now netted just twice in their last five matches.

Jones continued: “Performance wise we showed a vast, vast improvement from last week, I thought first half we were excellent, really excellent.

“We should have gone in ahead, because we had clear, clear cut chances, four yards out, just an open goal, we expect to score that.

“Jack Marriott is clean through, Cameron’s (McGeehan) had an opportunity, they’ve scored from an identical chance to what Cameron had,

“But I thought we were excellent, how we moved the ball, how we pressed, how we played, we had a real good performance.

“We’ve had more chances, more possession, but again we didn’t convert them, as we’ve created enough to win a game again, clear cut opportunities, that we haven’t scored from and then we just get hit from sucker punches and that’s what’s happened to us.”

Despite seeing his side find the net a mere 14 times in his 15 games in charge so far, including just four from his eight home matches, Jones is confident he can turn Hatters into a potent force once more.

The boss added: “We have a structure, we play, then people have to relax in those opportunities and find the net and that’s what we’re not doing at the minute.

“I think our general play at times was excellent, I think we created enough to have scored in that game, but the first goal is so so vital.

“Their second one was a header from 12 yards that was a great finish, that’s the type of form they’re in, the type of players they have.

“I felt we had enough clear cut chances to score in this game not a problem.

“We’ll keep working, keep finding a formula to get us goals, because I’m a positive coach, a positive manager and we work constantly on our structure to score, to finish, to defend well, so that’s all we have to do.”

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was critical of his side’s ‘soft underbelly’ as they slumped to yet another home defeat this afternoon, beaten 2-0 by promotion-chasing Accrington Stanley.

With the scores goalless at half time, Luton conceded moments after the restart, as they had at Barnet recently, when Scott Brown tucked home from Josh Windass’ low cross.

Although Hatters huffed and puffed in the second period, they never really looked like ending a run of almost two years since they triumphed after going behind in a game, as Terry Gornell’s late goal moved Stanley into the top three.

Jones said: “We’ve had a little bit of a soft underbelly in terms of conceding weak goals, we did it at Barnet twice, did it at Stevenage here with a soft penalty, and then done it today and I’m bitterly disappointed.

“It’s stuff we constantly preach on zones, on marking zones, on being in zones for chances.

“We tried to exploit those zones, tried to get players in those zones, but people go to sleep and that’s what I’m saying about the soft underbelly.

“We’re not doing the nitty gritty, the real hard, difficult things, really well and at times we look an excellent team, we really look fluent.

“But unless you finish off chances and have that real killer killer instinct, that killer edge, then you’re not going to win games and you’re always susceptible to the sucker punch which we’ve been done with on the last three games.

“It’s just defending your box and that’s what we didn’t do well. It’s that fundamental things that we’ve got to do better and if we don’t do them better then we will not win football matches and that’s what I have to change here.

“They’ve been used to at the minute this season, to losing games and to being lacklustre, but that will change, that has to change.

“Now we’ve tried to change the style of how they play, but there’s no point having a good style if we don’t defend well and it’s basic things that we’ve got to do better.”

Luton Town 0 Accrington Stanley 2

With the Grand National marking the country's biggest day for a flutter, you could bet the shirt off your back that Luton would fail to score in the first half at home and then capitulate if Accrington Stanley had the temerity to take the lead. They followed the form book to the letter.

For nine consecutive games and 405 long minutes at Kenilworth Road the Hatters faithful have had nothing to cheer before the break, but that pales in comparison to their lack of ability to turn things around after an opposition side has taken the lead. In under a fortnight's time it will be two full calendar years.

Scott Brown's opener, two minutes into the second period, was all to easy and came laden with an air of inevitability that this, for the umpteenth time, was not going to be Luton's day. Terry Gornell's 85th minute header merely rubber-stamped the point, while another was starkly exposed – Town just can't score goals.

That's none in the last three home games and a paltry 14 in the last 15 so it was perhaps no surprise that after ten minutes played that Josh McQuoid squandered their best gift, skying over the bar from close range after goalkeeper Ross Etheridge had pushed Jack Marriott's shot into the striker's path.

And again, like last week, they fluffed their lines in general when those they aspire to, higher up the League Two table, dropped points. Wycombe are realistically the only team that Town have the faintest hope of catching to make the play-offs – thought let's be honest, that's a mission marked 'miracle' – and they got a late equaliser at basement boys York. The gap to success has now stretched to an impenetrable nine points.

Mathematically at least, the Hatters can still break the top seven but after this display, on top of the Stevenage debacle, the only things they should be planning now is their summer holidays and next season's campaign.

Gone are the hopeful chest beating days at Leyton Orient and Plymouth Argyle. Here, for a second time this term, they were outplayed by Accrington Stanley. Who are they? Exactly – as the famous old TV commercial tagline went.

But the Lancastrians are a team who do the simple things well and with this three points they moved into the automatic promotion places. Boss Nathan Jones is still trying to find the same formula at Kenilworth Road.

The fans know it and that is why some of the biggest applause was reserved for the introductions of youth products Frankie Musonda and Zane Banton, the latter for his first appearance since November 9, 2013.

It was asking too much for them to have a massive influence on a dull and insipid second half display, but there's a strong case now that they should start on Tuesday when Dagenham & Redbridge come to town.

With little to play it wouldn't be a bad time to hand professional debuts to some more promising youngsters, with the highly-rated starlet Tyreeq Bakinson top of the list.

While that goalless first half record could reach double figures in midweek if former boss John Still returns to Kenilworth Road and frustrates his successor, Luton were at their liveliest in the opening 25 minutes.

Marriott was busy and saw one effort, while Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was comfortably Town's best player, constantly probing and trying to unlock Stanley.

Yet the visitors were not without their moments as a dangerous Sean McConville cross just evaded Gornell and Piero Mingoia, while Elliot Justham – back in goal after loan stopper Jonathan Mitchell was recalled by Derby – stooped low to paw away a dangerously curling Josh Windass volley.

When they did take the lead, Brown's goal was a carbon copy of a Cameron McGeehan first half miss, except the Stanley man tucked his in the bottom corner where Luton's joint top scorer dragged wide.

There began 43 long minutes of graft but no craft, from the hosts at least, bar a strong shout for a penalty when Ruddock Mpanzu was the meat in a Stanley sandwich.

There was still time for Accrington to fashion a fabulous second when Gornell rose high to glance in substitute Tarique Fosu's in-swinging cross.

This season there's one thing you can bet your bottom dollar on and that's late goals conceded at Kenilworth Road. Not that it mattered, Luton have already fallen long before the final furlong.

Luton Town: Justham, O'Donnell, Potts (Musonda, 85), Smith (Banton, 73), Rea, McGeehan, Marriott (Benson, 61), Ruddock Mpanzu, Lee, McQuoid, Sheehan

Unused subs: Lawless, King, Justin, Pigott

Accrington Stanley: Etheridge, Pearson, Davies, Mingoia, Windass, Gornell, McConville (Fosu, 72), Brown, Hughes, Conneely, Halliday

Unused subs: Winnard, Proctor, Little, McCartan, Buxton, Mooney

Referee: Peter Bankes

Attendance: 7,467 (123)

Nathan Jones admitted that his Luton side have fallen away "with a whimper" in their bid to force a late League Two play-off push after they slumped a 2-0 defeat to promotion-chasing Accrington Stanley.

It was only a fortnight ago that they won 1-0 at Plymouth Argyle and hope was high of charge for the top seven, but that momentum has been killed off with three defeats on the spin, in which they have failed to score in their last two.

They slipped nine points off the pace after Scott Brown and Terry Gornell goals saw them off and raised Accrington into the top three and while, mathematically, Town can still reach the play-offs, realistically, they are a long way off.

Jones said: "We had a brief spell where we won a few home games on the trot and three or four games ago we said [it was] a great opportunity to do something this year and we've just fallen away. We've fallen away with a whimper, that's the disappointing thing. We have a soft underbelly, but those are the things we have to change."

Brown's opener in the 47th minute was similar to a Luton chance Cameron McGeehan missed in the first half, but that was not there worst indiscretion as Josh McQuoid blasted over the bar from a few yards out. Their second half showing was just not up to scratch.

"We should have gone in [at half time] ahead because we had clear-cut chances, four yards out, open goal, we expect you to score that, but Josh has just come back into the team," said Jones, adding: "Jack Marriott was clean through, Cameron's had an opportunity. They've scored an identical chance from what Cameron had."

Luton have now only managed 14 goals in the last 15 games but, worryingly, have failed to score in the first half for the last nine home games.

Jones said: "At times we look an excellent team. At times we really look fluent, but unless you finish off chances, unless you have that real killer instinct, that killer edge, then you're not going to win games. We're always susceptible to the sucker punch, which we've done with on the last three games.

"They been used to, this season, losing games and being lacklustre, but that will change. That has to change. We've tried to change the style of how they play but there's no point having a good style if we don't defend well. It's basic things which we've got to do better."