Luton Town FC vs Bournemouth (19th Dec 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 0-0 Bournemouth

A battling performance earns NJ's side a valuable point...

In a game of few chances, the Hatters battled hard and deservedly gained a point against promotion hopefuls Bournemouth.

On a chilly afternoon at Kenilworth Road, Town produced another stellar home performance to nullify the Cherries – who have lost just twice in the Sky Bet Championship this season.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes to the starting line-up following the midweek defeat against Middlesbrough, including a first start for Danny Hylton since October.

Bournemouth made a bright start and controlled possession with plenty of neat, intricate passes but apart from Junior Stanislas’ free-kick that forced James Shea into a routine stop, there was little in terms of clear-cut chances.

The Hatters grew in confidence and put together some good moves of their own, also going closest with a free-kick. From a tight angle, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired his shot across goal but Asmir Begovic was equal to it.

Hylton had the most presentable chance of the first half, after Luke Berry slipped the ball into his path, but Begovic produced a superb save to deny the striker’s left-footed curler that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Town started the second period well and could have forged ahead before the hour mark. Dewsbury-Hall got down to the byline with good pace and strength, fizzed a low ball across the box but it went between Hylton and James Collins as a good opportunity went begging.

The Cherries had a good opportunity later in the half as Lloyd Kelly crossed deep for Dominic Solanke, but the ex-Liverpool forward couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

The majority of Town’s attacking threat came through Leicester loanee Dewsbury-Hall, who had his eyes set on a first Luton goal in the 80th minute, but his 20-yard strike whistled just over the crossbar.

Sam Nombe had a superb chance to win the game at the death just seconds after coming onto the pitch.

Berry played a well-timed ball through to the striker and his shirt was pulled just before shooting, as Begovic managed to foil his effort from close range.

There was almost even later drama as Jack Simpson almost turned Dewsbury-Hall’s cross into the back of his own net, but the resulting corner was cleared, and the referee blew for full-time.

The Hatters are back on the road Boxing Day when they travel to the Madejski Stadium to face eighth place Reading.

Town: Shea; Cranie, Lockyer, Bradley (C), Potts (Pearson 90), Norrington-Davies; Berry, Mpanzu, Dewsbury-Hall; Collins (Nombe 89), Hylton (Cornick 71).

Subs not used: Sluga, Tunnicliffe, Moncur, Clark, Galloway, Morrell.

Yellows: Dewsbury-Hall

Bournemouth: Begovic; Smith, Cook, Simpson, Kelly; Lerma, Cook, Billing (Rico 57); Brooks (Riquelme 69), Stanislas (Surridge 57); Solanke

Subs not used: Travers, Gosling, Kilkenny, Anthony, Zemura, Burchall

Yellows: Lerma

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Nathan Jones reflects on draw against Bournemouth

The gaffer spoke pitchside after a well-deserved point...

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased with his team’s performance in the 0-0 draw against Bournemouth this afternoon.

The Hatters successfully managed to shut-out the promotion chasers who have lost just twice in the Sky Bet Championship this season and arguably created enough to win the game too.

Upon reflection pitchside, the gaffer said: “I think that is the general consensus really, beforehand we know we come up against Bournemouth, it’s not about budget, it’s about the standard of players they have.

"Players that they had in the Premier League, free-flowing. We probably would have taken a draw before the game, but as the game went on, I probably wouldn’t have.

“We had better chances, better situations, real good situations which, in the first half we got in behind their back three, just couldn’t find the final ball.

“It was a great save from Danny Hylton, probably not a penalty (on Nombe) but he’s clean through and pulled back, it’s a sending off and a free-kick which would have given us an opportunity late on, so let’s not forget that because they are a fantastic side.

“They and Norwich will go up, barring something disastrous, because they have enough fire power, enough games to get promoted from this league. So for us, it’s a positive.

"We have kept a lot of clean sheets lately. We should have kept one midweek, we should have scored midweek, should have got something from the game. It doesn’t flatter us at the minute, we know we’re not their level but we’re on 27 points, we should have 33 minimum.

“We should be top six, we should be in and around that because of the level of performances. Forest here, should have won, Birmingham should have won and we should have got something midweek.”

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/bournemouth_e-programme - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BomlOHn9pEc – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69yZs7TKSUo – Match highlights

Hatters hold promotion-chasing Cherries to a stalemate

Championship: Luton Town 0 Bournemouth 0

Luton picked up excellent point against promotion-chasing Bournemouth at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, although were left to rue the fact it hadn't been all three.

The visitors came into the game in excellent form, having put five past Huddersfield and four into Barnsley's net recently, but they were kept largely at arm's length for the majority of the game by a well-drilled Town side, only managing two shots on target.

It wasn't a backs-to-the-wall effort by any means from the Hatters either, who showed plenty of class themselves to create without doubt the two best chances of the affair, only to see Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic make one excellent stop.

Although they couldn't quite make it three home wins in succession, it was still most definitely a point gained by Nathan Jones' side following what has been an exhausting pre-Christmas schedule.

The Town boss made three changes to the side after the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening, with Danny Hylton starting a game for the first time since the 3-0 defeat against Brentford in October, Martin Cranie also back in alongside Luke Berry.

Harry Cornick and Matty Pearson dropped to the bench, joined by a fit-again Simon Sluga, with Glen Rea suspended.

With no fans allowed in once more following Bedfordshire going to tier three restrictions last week, with news of a tier four switch imminent during the second period, the visitors looked like a side who will be challenging for the title in the early stages, with some classy moves, Junior Stanislas curling a free kick straight at James Shea.

Town got to grips with their opponents and almost had some openings of their own, Berry's shot charged down, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu becoming more of an influence on proceedings, as the hosts' press started to pay dividends, beginning to win the ball back high up.

Collins won a free kick just outside the box on the angle after Sonny Bradley stepped in to keep Luton on the the front foot, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall seeing his attempt to catch out Begovic at his near post thwarted by the Bosnian.

Stanislas seemed intent on shooting from every free kick within range, slipping as he didn't get the direction right this time.

The Cherries always looked dangerous when they attacked with a front-line still contained a number of their Premier League squad from last season, Philip Billing, who scored twice against Luton in the FA Cup back in January, lifting an attempt over from inside the box.

It had looked like Hylton had finally ended his long wait for a goal and a first at Championship level with 35 minutes gone, as his firm and true left-footed daisycutter appeared destined for the bottom corner until Begovic stuck out a strong right hand to divert it away.

The keeper was called upon moments later again, although this time it was a more simple stop, comfortably gathering Bradley's header from a corner.

After the interval, Lewis Cook tried to break the deadlock from range, his skidding effort not troubling James Shea.

Luton were looking far more alert than they had at the Riverside in midweek, when a poor opening to the second period had proved crucial, Boro netting what turned out to be the winner.

The visitors created another decent opening when given too much space on the left to send over a cross that the ineffective Welsh international David Brooks put into the empty Kenilworth Road stand.

Bournemouth turned to their bench, introducing on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme, but still were unable to create anything clear-cut, Dominic Solanke not connecting properly from a hanging cross.

Town were looking more and more like good value for a point, having the sporadic attack of their own as well, Dewsbury-Hall's fizzing drive always rising.

It was the same for Jefferson Lerma, but he went one better than the on-loan Leicester man, clearing the actual stand from 20 yards.

Riquelme looked a tricky customer when in possession, as he had a crack from range, Shea gathering well down low, also putting his header wide from 10 yards.

Late on, Town might have won it though, when Sam Nombe, thrown on for Collins, was sent through by Berry's incisive pass.

Under pressure from Steve Cook, he couldn't beat the sprawling Begovic, with Town's bench screaming he had been impeded.

In stoppage time, Town pushed again, with Dewsbury-Hall's low cross slid just over his own bar by Jack Simpson.

Had it been a few inches lower, Luton would have been celebrating a wonderful victory, but as it was, the stalemate was still another welcome point to their tally.

Hatters: James Shea, Martin Cranie, Dan Potts (Matty Pearson 90), Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Danny Hylton (Harry Cornick 70), James Collins (Sam Nombe 89).

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Joe Morrell, Brendan Galloway, Jordan Clark, George Moncur.

Cherries: Asmir Begovic, Steve Cook (C), Lloyd Kelly, David Brooks (Rodrigo Riquelme 69), Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke, Adam Smith, Lewis Cook, Junior Stanislas (Sam Surridge 56), Jack Simspon, Phil Billing (Diego Rico 56).

Subs not used: Dan Gosling, Mark Travers, Gavin Kilkenny, Jaidon Anthony, Jordan Zemura, Ajani Burchall.

Bookings: Lerma 67, Dewsbury-Hall 82.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Luton boss 'a little disappointed' not to emerge victorious during goalless draw against Bournemouth

Town chief thought Hatters created the best chances on the day

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side deserved more than the point they picked up against title-challenging Bournemouth this afternoon.

Although the Hatters had less possession on the day, with just 40 per cent of the ball over the 90 minutes, it was they who created the best chances throughout.

Firstly, fit-again striker Danny Hylton was denied by an excellent save from Asmir Begovic in the first half, his left-footed attempt looking like it would nestle into the bottom corner until the Bosnian international and former Chelsea keeper stuck out a strong right hand.

Then with time running out in the second period, substitute Sam Nombe, who had only just come on, was released by Luke Berry’s through ball, with Jones screaming to referee Dean Whitestone that his forward was being impeded by Cherries captain Steve Cook before Begovic came out to deny him.

In stoppage time, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross was diverted inches over his own bar by defender Josh Simpson, as when asked afterwards if he was happy with a point, Jones said: “No, before the game probably given the calibre of the team that we came up against because they’re free-flowing, they’re very fluent, they have outstanding individuals for the level, they’re full of Premier League players, but at the end, no I’m a little bit disappointed we didn’t take all three.

“Asmir’s pulled off a great save first half, we’ve had so many situations as well where we’ve got in behind them and haven't quite shown that quality and that composure just to pick that right opportunity.

“We’ve had more shots, right at the end, the boy’s put one over his bar.

"Then it’s probably not a penalty, because he’s outside the box, but it's a sending off and a foul which would have given us a chance to have shot from 19 yards, so I'm very proud of the performance.

“Let's not be too disappointed, for us to be competing with a side like Bournemouth shows we’re in a decent place.

“We were excellent, we went pressing them, we didn't sit and say 'okay, let's take it on the chin.'

"We allowed them to play one pass and then we went after them with real aggression.

"I thought we were excellent, first to deny them the fluency and the amount of play they had shows we've played well because they are a fantastic side for the level.”

Going into more detail on Nombe’s chance, Jones continued: “He’s going through, he’s just grabbed him and thrown him off balance, so it’s a foul.

“If that goes to VAR, it’s a foul and a sending off and it's not a penalty, it’s a foul outside the box, but we had the better of the opportunities.”