Luton Town FC vs Blackburn Rovers (21st Nov 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

The points are shared after Berry's goal is cancelled out by Gallagher

he Hatters contested an entertaining 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Luke Berry had given Town the lead in the 69th minute but Sam Gallagher quickly replied for the away side which meant the points were shared.

Manager Nathan Jones made two changes following the 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town prior to the international break, with Rhys Norrington-Davies and Elliot Lee returning to the starting line-up.

Town made a bright start and had two presentable chances fall their way inside the opening stages.

Norrington-Davies cut in the from the left-hand-side and fired a shot just past the post, before Lee was denied at close range from a corner, after Sonny Bradley’s cushioned header was directed into his path.

First his shot was blocked by a number of Blackburn bodies in the area, before his follow up shot came off Martin Cranie, and Rovers managed to clear.

The away side also had a couple of early opportunities, but neither Ben Brereton or Adam Armstrong could find a way past Simon Sluga – the latter whose effort was ruled out for offside.

The Hatters were on the front foot in the second half too and George Moncur was denied from close range with a fierce effort.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall then intercepted a pass in midfield and drove forward with intent. He got to the edge of the box before pulling the trigger, but the Leicester loanee fluffed his lines and Thomas Kaminski made a routine stop.

Nathan Jones turned to the subs bench just before the hour mark and brought on James Collins and James Bree, who linked up minutes later, but Bree’s cross was just too high for the Ireland international, as he nodded over the bar.

Soon after, the Hatters broke the deadlock through Berry after he met Collo’s shot and diverted it into the bottom corner.

Though joy was short-lived as substitute Gallagher equalised for the away side just three minutes later from close range.

The Hatters went close to taking the lead once more, but following Bree’s deep corner, Glen Rea’s header was well saved by Kaminski.

Sluga made a crucial block with minutes left to deny Joe Rothwell from close range and the Hatters settled for a point.

Town are back in action Tuesday evening as they take on Birmingham City at Kenilworth Road.

Town: Sluga; Cranie (Tunnicliffe 90), Pearson, Bradley (C), Norrington-Davies; Rea, Berry (Mpanzu 77), Dewsbury-Hall, Cornick (Bree 59), Moncur (LuaLua 77); Lee (Collins 59).

Subs not used: Shea, Lockyer, Clark, Nombe.

Goals: Berry (69)

Blackburn: Kaminski, Rankin-Costello (Nyambe 76), Lenihan (C), Wharton, Douglas; Johnson, Trybull (Gallagher 68), Rothwell, Elliott, Brereton, Armstrong.

Subs not used: Pears, Carter, Bell, Downing, Davenport, Buckley, Dolan.

Goals: Gallagher (72)

Yellows: Rothwell, Elliott, Brereton, Johnson

Referee: Gavin Ward

Nathan Jones' reaction to the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers

NJ's thoughts following the 1-1 draw against Blackburn...

Manager Nathan Jones felt elements of today’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers were very pleasing after extending Town’s unbeaten run to three matches.

Luke Berry had given the Hatters the lead in the 69th minute but Sam Gallagher replied for the away side shortly after, as Town remain 10th in the Sky Bet Championship.

Upon reflection on proceedings at Kenilworth Road, Nathan said: “It was a good game, I thought we were excellent first half and then we started first ten minutes of the second half superbly well.

“I was really pleased with the level of performance we had because we didn’t come here to contain Blackburn, we were on the front foot, I thought we were really brave in possession, especially first half and deservedly took the lead.

“I'm just disappointed with the goal. It’s a carbon copy of the goal we conceded here to make it 3-2 in the last game of the season, and that’s something we should have learned from.

"On the whole, I think it’s a fair result but I’m just delighted with the overall performance. We are competing and not just containing teams like this, because they are a good Championship side. Their ambitions are going up, budget, players, what they should do. They should be in the promotion shake-up, so for us, to be competing and to be doing as well as we are, I’m delighted with that.

“We’re not little old Luton, we’re finding our way with real ambition. They’re probably further down their journey than us, they've been a Championship side for three years and the group has been together for a lot longer.”

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/blackburn_bcd_e_programme_b550ea4317cce5 - Programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lFSGivzgnE – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYBTKp0WPa4 – Match highlights

Berry on target as Luton claim a point against Blackburn

Championship: Luton Town 1 Blackburn Rovers 1

Luton picked up an excellent point with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Kenilworth Road this afternoon to continue their lengthy unbeaten league run against the visitors.

The Hatters had never tasted defeat to their Lancashire opponents in 19 previous meetings and looked all set to register another win on that record when Luke Berry arrived to put the hosts in front on 69 minutes.

The advantage was to last just three minutes though, Town switching off defensively allowing Sam Gallagher to equalise, as they had to make do with a draw to extend their impressive sequence to a round 20.

A draw was a fair result on the whole though, as although the Hatters had the better of both the start of the first and second half, there was no doubting Rovers' attacking prowess, top scorers in the division and with Adam Armstong and Ben Brereton upfront, plus exciting Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliot pulling the strings, a;ways a threat from start to finish.

Town made two changes from the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield a fortnight ago, with Rhys Norrington-Davies and Elliot Lee back in the starting line-up for James Collins and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

The recalled Norrington-Davies was involved in two of the best early moments, with his low cross gathered by keeper Thomas Kaminski, who appeared to have a penchant for being well outside his box during the game, making him a definite candidate for a long-range chip.

He was almost picking the ball out of his net on five minutes, Norrington-Davies looking to have recaptured his early season form, cutting on to his right foot and only missing the bottom corner from 20 yards by inches.

It looked like Town had the lead from a well-worked corner moments later, Sonny Bradley heading back into the danger area when Lee connected from 10 yards, his blockbuster cannoning off a defender, the follow-up also smuggled away.

Moncur then went for goal himself as Luton made an excellent start to proceedings, before Rovers were quick showed their danger, Brereton forcing Simon Sluga into an excellent stop from his downward header, although unbeknown to the Croatian stopper, the whistle was about to go for a push by the striker.

Town's impressive opening began to be negated as Blackburn gained a foothold, Sluga again called into action on 20 minutes when Scott Wharton was left completely unmarked from a corner, Armstrong flagged offside as he tucked away the rebound.

The game then settled down into a very watchable and even affair, with Moncur's work-rate catching the eye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall starting to get on the ball and making things tick too, Matty Pearson unable to divert his corner on target.

Visiting midfielder Joe Rothwell had commented before the match that Town were a side Blackburn should 'expect to beat', but Tony Mowbray's men certainly weren't finding it that way during a testing opening 45 minutes.

Moments before the break, Blackburn threatened again, Harvey Elliot's free kick glancing off Pearson's head and on to the roof of the net, with the following corner nodded wide by Darragh Lenihan.

As they had in the first period, Town began the brighter after the interval, with a clever passing move seeing Dewsbury-Hall release Moncur on the left, his drilled effort drawing a big stop from Kaminski, who stood up strongly at his near post.

Dewsbury-Hall then went for goal himself, collecting a clearance and driving across the area, but falling backwards, his tame effort dribbled through to Kaminski.

Rovers though, as they had before half time, steadied the ship and had a fine chance of their own, Wharton in acres of space to smash wide from just outside the box.

Ahead of the hour mark, Jones made two of his allowed five substitutions after the EFL's rule change earlier in the week, with Collins and James Bree on for Lee and Cornick.

The game then started to become far more stretched affair as both sides sensed an opener, Rothwell's viciously swerving potshot bringing a brilliant stop from Sluga who not only changed direction quickly, prevented the effort rolling free too.

Town's subs then almost combined for the opener, with Dewsbury-Hall winning the ball back well and finding Bree whose dinked cross was nodded over at the back post by Collins.

Armstrong then put an inviting chance over as from his high standards, he would have expected to test Sluga, Town swiftly making them pay, taking the lead on 69 minutes.

Collins gained possession on the right, switching to his less favoured left foot, as a slipping in the act of shooting confused the visitors' defence, Berry gambling to slide and toepoke an effort beyond Kaminski.

Rather than consolidate their lead, Luton were pegged back three minutes later, conceding in almost the same fashion to as they had during last season's final day 3-2 win, a deep cross met by Armstrong who headed back across goal for sub Gallagher to stab into the net, just as he had done a few months previously.

Jones brought on Kazenga LuaLua and Mpanzu for goalscorer Berry and Moncur, LuaLua winning a corner which was delivered in for Rea to almost make it 2-1, his header excellently clawed away by Kaminski.

During the final stages, Rovers upped their tempo, dominating both possession and territory with Luton struggling to clear their lines at times.

They were almost left empty-handed, Sluga smothering Brereton's effort and then getting up quickly to make another brave stop to prevent that man Rothwell from sealing what would have been a cruel victory for the visitors.

Jones' side had a few slices of luck too, Norrington-Davies hauling back Armstrong, only to see nothing given, while Brereton was booked for a perceived dive by official Gavin Ward, Martin Cranie clearly looking like he had brought him down on the edge of the box with what was virtually the final kick of the game.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie (Ryan Tunnicliffe 90), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luke Berry (Kazenga LuaLua 77), George Moncur (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 77), Harry Cornick (James Bree 59), Elliot Lee (James Collins 59).

Subs not used: James Shea, Tom Lockyer, Jordan Clark, Sam Nombe.

Rovers: Thomas Kaminski, Bradley Johnson, Adam Armstrong, Joe Rothwell, Barry Douglas, Harvey Elliot, Tom Trybull (Sam Gallagher 68), Ben Brereton, Joe Rankin-Costello (Ryan Nambe 76), Darragh Lenihan ©, Scott Wharton.

Subs not used: Stewart Downing, Aynsley Pears, Amari'i Bell, Jacob Davenport, John Buckley, Hayden Carter, Tyrhys Dolan.

Booked: Rothwell 31, Johnson 70, Elliot 81, Brereton 90.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Luton chief disappointed with Blackburn's 'carbon copy' equaliser at Kenilworth Road

Hatters manager annoyed lessons weren't learned by his defence

Town boss Nathan Jones was left bitterly annoyed by the manner in which Blackburn Rovers levelled during their 1-1 draw on Saturday, labelling it a 'carbon copy' of their equaliser at Kenilworth Road last season.

He has a point too, with striker Sam Gallagher on the pitch for a matter of minutes, before stealing in between Matty Pearson and Sonny Bradley to turn in Barry Douglas’ header, after he had outjumped Martin Cranie, the goal coming shortly after Luke Berry had put Town 1-0 up.

Rewinds just four months and Gallagher had been on slightly longer in the final day decider, 14 minutes this time, once more escaping the attentions of Town's defence to turn in his side's second of the night and make it 3-2 with 15 minutes to go.

Luton eventually held on for the victory that ensured they stayed in the Championship, as although this time the hosts couldn’t grab a winner, just as importantly they didn’t concede again despite some late Rovers pressure, to pick up another important point and make it three games unbeaten.

Jones said: “It was a fair result in the end.

“I’m really pleased with the performance, I really am, especially the first 60 minutes, when I thought we were excellent.

“First half we were really good once we got to grips with the game, I thought some of our play was really brave.

“Even though we won the final game of the season (against Blackburn) they were different, they were chalk and cheese games.

“It was such a competitive game, played at real pace, with real quality and I’m really proud of the team.

“I’m really disappointed with the goal because it was a carbon copy of the second goal they scored here at the end of last season, and that’s the disappointing thing.

“The manner really killed, really, really disappoints me.

"We were 3-1 up here and absolutely cruising and then on 70 minutes, they just flip the ball in the box, someone's on the end of it and that’s the disappointing thing.

"We didn’t learn from that and that’s a learning curve from us, because from all their good play, it took something like that to break their deadlock, and that’s disappointing.

“But, apart from that, I’ve got a group here that’s giving me everything, a group that’s working hard and a group that’s growing.”

Midfielder Luke Berry was also frustrated with the manner of Blackburn's goal, as he said: "The gaffer said to us it’s quite similar to what they did last season, so it’s something we need to learn from.

"It’s an awkward ball, he’s won the ball, it’s bounced and it’s one of them where it’s just awkward.

"He got there in front and we did well to keep it 1-1 in the end."

The visitors had come into the match as the division’s leading scorers, also possessing the top marksman in Adam Armstrong, who barring a goal disallowed for offside, didn’t have many opportunities to test Simon Sluga as Luton defended valiantly throughout.

Jones felt the performance showed his side are now beginning to establish themselves at this level, as he added: "We’re not happy just to contain and to be sitting back, we’re evolving.

"I’ve seen real good signs again of us evolving and I’m really proud of the group.

“These are a free-scoring team and they can punish you, they can score threes and fours at will and you’ve seen that.

“For us to be competing and, at this point in time, above them in the league, shows that we’re in a good place.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we’re a Championship team.

"I knew we were a Championship team a little while ago, but we are a Championship team, we’re competing at Championship level.

“No-one comes here, or, if they do then they’re idiotic, if they think they’re going to have an easy game, or they’re going to turn Luton Town over, and that’s good.

“Now we have to keep that consistency, keep that solidity and then evolve slightly into a better Championship footballing side.

"Once we do that we’ll be in a wonderful place.”

Hatters boss brandishes Blackburn midfielder's pre-match comments as 'idiotic'

Town manager has his say after Rothwell declares Rovers should be beating Luton

Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled Blackburn midfielder Joe Rothwell’s pre-match comments that Rovers should ‘expect to beat’ a side like Luton as ‘idiotic’ after both teams played out a 1-1 draw this afternoon.

In the build up to the contest, Rothwell, speaking to iFollow Rovers stated: "No disrespect to Luton at all here, but they’re a team that we expect to beat," despite the visitors never having won at Kenilworth Road in the league during 19 previous attempts, and Town also doing the double over them last term.

It had looked like the former Manchester United youngster's quotes would come back to haunt him, Luke Berry putting Town 1-0 ahead on 69 minutes with his second goal of the campaign.

However, substitute Sam Gallagher rescued a point moments later, as when asked if he had taken note of Rothwell's words in the build-up, Jones said: “Yeah, we’ve seen that.

"There’s probably a lot with that mentality, it’s an idiotic comment.

“If he was my player there would’ve been a lot I would’ve done because you don’t give teams motivation like that.

“He might expect to beat us, but expecting and doing it is two different things.

“We’ve got a humble group here and back in the day he might’ve had a different treatment, but you can’t do that any more.

“If I’m honest, if people want to comment about us then good, because it just means they underestimate us.

"If we get underestimated then it’s a great advantage for us, but we’re in a good place.

“We don’t worry about anything anyone says about us.

"We know the work we’ve got, we know the atmosphere we’ve got, we know how we’re recruiting, we know the way we do our business and we’re a proud club.

"So anyone that wants to try and pierce that, come and try.”

Meanwhile, goalscorer Berry admitted the comments only boosted Town’s desire to claim all three points, adding: “It’s something that motivates us as a team and as a club.

"I feel that we deserve to be here, we’re in a good position in the league and it’s something that we thrive on really.

"We deserve to be in this league, we’re pushing up this league, so he can say what he wants.”

Calf injury keeps Hylton out as Jones admits Morrell was 'unfortunate' to miss Rovers clash

Town boss explains his selections against Blackburn

Town chief Nathan Jones revealed striker Danny Hylton missed the 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Kenilworth Road yesterday due to a niggling calf injury.

The 31-year-old has made seven appearances in the Championship, four of them starts, but when asked why he wasn't on the bench for Luton's first game back after the international break, Jones said: "Danny has a bit of a calf thing.

"He’s had it before, he did it in the Brentford game, he missed the Rotherham because of it, he came back and was still feeling it.

"So with the strength of squad we’ve got, there’s no need to rush and push because there’s a 12-game block and we’re one game down, so no point rushing anyone really."

Midfielder Joe Morrell also wasn't included among the nine substitutes allowed once more after winning three more caps for Wales last week, including starting the final two Nations League clashes.

On his absence, Jones continued: "Joe’s really unfortunate.

"We had a decision to make on the bench and he’s played two 90 minutes.

"Ideally in a perfect world, (Dan) Potts is back training and Potts would be fit, so I might not have played Rhys (Norrington-Davies) today as I would have freshened up the team with everything, and that allows us to do that.

"Tuesday's a different game, Saturday exactly the same, so Rhys is the only one who had to go through the mire again and he’s putting in great shifts he really is."

Jones did throw a few surprises in his starting line-up, leading scorer James Collins dropped to the bench, coming on in the second half to play a big part in Luke Berry's opening goal, the midfielder turning in his team-mate's left-footed shot.

Town's boss said: "He started for Ireland, has been away, didn't train Thursday, we've had eight days of really structural training, so we've been happy with that.

"It’s just decisions really and maybe we'd have been better starting Collo and bringing Harry (Cornick) on, but those are the decisions I get paid for."

Jones made all five of his alterations on the day, with Collins, James Bree, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kazenga LuaLua and Ryan Tunnicliffe all coming during the second period.

Speaking about the EFL's decision to change the rules for the remainder of the season, he added: "Today it won't quite be (a help), but it will be on Tuesday and next Saturday and next Wednesday and next Saturday and next Tuesday and next Saturday and next Tuesday and next Wednesday, so it will be then, because its a sensible thing.

"It's a crazy, crazy fixture schedule, so to be able to do that and to freshen stuff up means it's a sensible decision.

"I understand people don't want to change the rules, but everything's changed, the world has changed.

"So for football to not move with the times would be silly and a lot of people will see that people are at full stretch at times.

"So to be at full stretch and then to persevere, something would break, so I think you night see a little bit less and I don't think there's much more they can do."