Luton Town FC vs Brentford (25th Feb 2020)

LUTON TOWN 2-1 BRENTFORD

Baptiste own goal and Cranie strike give the Hatters all three points

he Town made it three wins in four as they stunned a Brentford side pushing for promotion at Kenilworth Road this evening.

An own goal from Bees midfielder Shandon Baptiste and Martin Cranie’s thumping volley gave Luton a 2-0 lead, and although Ollie Watkins pulled one back for the visitors late on, Luton held firm to see out the win.

Graeme Jones made one change from the side that lost at Charlton at the weekend, with Cranie coming in for James Bree at right-back. Izzy Brown missed out once again through illness, alongside injured duo Kazenga LuaLua and Sonny Bradley.

Brentford took control of the game early on, but it was Luton who held firm and took the lead after just nine minutes. Luke Berry swung a wide free-kick in from the right flank, it missed everyone and was eventually turned in at the back post by Baptiste.

Brentford reacted well, working the ball out to Mads Roerslev on the right, who pulled it back to Said Benrahma, forcing Simon Sluga into a great save high to his right.

Brentford continued to create chances but Luton held firm, Sluga once again pulling off a fine save half-an-hour in. Josh Dasilva was given space on the edge of the box, and his shot was saved low by the Croatian keeper with the rebound scrambled away by Spurs loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.

However, the Town continued to create chances of their own. The lively Harry Cornick played Ryan Tunnicliffe in behind the Brentford defence, but his fizzed ball across the six-yard box just evaded the onrushing Collins.

Berry’s free-kicks continued to trouble Brentford, his deep delivery from the halfway line just going over the rising Dan Potts.

It was a Berry free-kick that doubled Luton’s lead in first-half stoppage time. Another out-swinger from the right-flank wasn’t cleared by Brentford, falling to Martin Cranie who unleashed a thunderous half-volley that nestled in the top right corner to give the Hatters a 2-0 half-time lead.

As expected, Brentford came flying out of the blocks. Roerslev once again found space down the right flank, his floated cross found Mbeumo at the front post but his header went straight into the hands of Sluga.

Brentford continued to pile on the pressure as the clock struck the hour mark, with Luton pinned back into their own penalty box, but once again they held firm.

After numerous blocked crosses and shots, Brentford again found space down the right-flank, but Dasilva’s powerful cross missed everyone.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Brentford threw on forwards Emiliano Marcondes and Tariqe Fosu on the hour mark, and Joel Valencia with 20 minutes to play, but Luton continued to stand firm and create chances of their own. Raya’s pass was intercepted by Berry on the right, who fed Cornick but his shot was saved low.

With eight minutes to play, the Brentford pressure told. Roerslev was played in down the right flank, he pulled it back to Watkins who finished low to Sluga’s right for his 22nd goal of the season, setting up a tense finish at Kenilworth Road.

Late on, Benrahma went close from the edge of the box, his curling shot scraping Sluga’s left post.

Brentford threw keeper Raya forward in the closing stages, as Valencia’s corner from the right was headed down and cleared off the line by Luton.

But Luton, buoyed by a raucous Kenilworth Road crowd, continued to press and harry Brentford, seeing out the four minutes of additional time and sealing a third win in four games, leaving them just four points from safety with 11 matches still to play.

TOWN: Sluga, Cranie, Carter-Vickers, Pearson, Potts, Rea, Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Berry, Cornick (Hylton 87), Collins (C). Subs not used: Stech, Bree, Bolton. Shinnie, Moncur, McManaman

Goals: Baptiste OG, Cranie

Yellows: Rea, Potts

BRENTFORD: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Roerslev, Dalsgaard (C), Nørgaard (Marcondes 62), Dasilva, Baptiste (Valenica 71), Mbuemo (Fosu 62), Benrahma, Watkins. Subs not used: Dervisoglu, Daniels, Zamburek, Racic

Goals: Watkins

Yellows: Nørgaard

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 10,008 (1,032 away)

GRAEME JONES ON VICTORY OVER BRENTFORD

The manager reflects on a vital three points against the Bees

Graeme Jones gave his players tremendous credit after the Hatters beat promotion-chasing Brentford 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

An own goal from Shandon Baptiste and a fantastic strike from Martin Cranie earned the Town all three points, despite Ollie Watkins scoring a consolation late on.

The result takes the Hatters off the bottom of the table and to within four points of safety, and the manager was unsurprisingly delighted with how the team played.

The 49-year-old said: “I think the level of performance has been there for a long time now, but we had to win in a different way tonight. We couldn’t take Brentford on and try and beat them with probably too many injuries.

"Off the ball I thought we were absolutely outstanding. Set pieces were important and the character of the players, the energy - the players need to take all the credit. They were to a man, exceptional.

“There’s a long way to go when you score early against Brentford! Brentford are an outstanding football team. That was a higher level game tonight in terms of performance. If anyone gets anytime to have a look at the intelligence of our press - they’ve spent millions, they’ve got top quality individuals, and if they won tonight, they would have gone third in the league.

"We won the game with our character, our off the ball press and intelligence, our set pieces, and it was a different way of winning for us. I prefer to take people on with certain players if they were fit, and we had to find a different way tonight. It was so satisfying."

The Hatters are in the middle of another three-match week, and looking ahead to Stoke at home on Saturday, he added: "I think it’s always the third game that is the concern because obviously you accumulate fatigue as the week goes on.

"The good thing for us now is that we’ve got three days recovery, so we will have to use that wisely. I made one change because Martin has been getting there physically, I knew his experience would be vital tonight.

"He is a fantastic decision maker on the pitch. Benrahma’s a winger and all of a sudden, he is a number ten and Glen had to take him and deal with Rico Henry coming forward.

"I thought Martin was excellent. I'm just hoping I’m in a position where we can have players fit for the weekend and assess where we are physically and tactically, make sure we give the same level tonight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS1v10CrOsk& - Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rxOeA_ldqI – Match highlights

Revenge is sweet for Luton as they stun Brentford

Championship: Luton Town 2 Brentford 1

Luton must be wishing they could play every game under the Kenilworth Road lights as they claimed a truly magnificent 2-1 win, and with it a large slice of revenge, over Brentford this evening.

It was only just under three months ago that the Hatters players were trooping off the Griffin Park pitch with their tails well and truly between their legs, having had their pants pulled down and royally hammered 7-0.

This time though, they left to a hero's ovation from their home supporters, having produced a display teeming with grit and determination to avenge that quite horrible day in West London.

Up against the second top scorers in the division, plus the meanest defence, a Tuesday night match was perfect for Luton, having won three and drawn four of their midweek home Championship encounters this season.

Town made one change to the side that lost 3-1 at Charlton on Saturday, Martin Cranie replacing James Bree, still without unavailable trio Izzy Brown, Kazenga LuaLua and Sonny Bradley.

After not being out of their half during the opening exchanges, Hatters had the lead on nine minutes when Luke Berry's dangerous free kick from deep was diverted past his own keeper by Shandon Baptiste.

Luton might have snuck a quickfire second, as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu over-hit a pass to James Collins, allowing keeper David Raya to gather.

The visitors looked to level though, Ollie Watkins' shot too close to Simon Sluga after an incisive passing move, while Town's stopper then made a brilliant save to deny Said Benrahma, flying to his right to palm over the bar.

Town looked to get forward when possible, with the excellent Harry Cornick's direct running a real outlet, the attacker awkwardly scooping Cranie's low cross off target.

Brentford tried their luck from distance, Henrik Dalsgaard driving over from 25 yards, as did Town's James Collins after the hosts pinched possession back in and advanced area, also not troubling the goalkeeper.

Sluga again came to Town's rescue on the half hour, getting down well to parry Josh Dasilva's low attempt, the rebound nutmegging Watkins as Luton hacked clear.

Norgaard finally kept one effort down, but still wasn't able to test Sluga, dragging wide of the mark.

Luton, in full repel mode, almost had another opportunity from a Berry free kick again, but Dan Potts was unable to adjust in time, the ball flying behind.

However, Luton then had a bonus second goal on the stroke of half time as from another set-piece, Berry's delivery wasn't cleared, Cranie of all people, volleying into the top corner.

After the break, Bryan Mbeumo's header looped into Sluga's gloves, while Berry took aim from 20 yards, winning a corner.

The Bees upped the pressure immeasurably, camping in Hatters' territory as Town just couldn't get out for large parts of the second period, Sluga pushing Benrahma's 22-yarder away.

Town had the odd threat when they could get into enemy territory, the defence parting for Cornick, but he couldn't lift his attempt over Raya's legs, the Bees stopper keeping his side in the game.

Tunnicliffe was wide from 20 yards, but the Bees pressure was finally rewarded as they had the goal they had been threatening for pretty much the entire half, Watkins tapping home Mads Roerslev's right wing cross from close range with seven minutes to go.

However, Hatters didn't retreat into their shells though, as although Benrahama's effort whistled wide, they clung on to pick up an absolutely victory to move four points from safety, ahead of a massive game against Stoke on Saturday.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 88) James Collins (C).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Andrew Shinnie, James Bree, Luke Bolton, George Moncur, Callum McManaman.

Bees: David Raya, Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Christian Norgaard, Said Benrahma, Ollie Watkins, Josh Dasilva, Bryan Mbeumo (Tariqe Fosu 64), Henrik Dalsgaard C (Emiliano Marcondes 64), Shandon Baptiste (Joel Valencia 72), Mads Roerslev.

Subs not used: Halil Dervisoglu, Luke Daniels, Jan Zamburek, Luka Racic.

Booked: Norgaard 24, Rea 26, Potts 90.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 10,008 (1,032 Bees).

Jones: Bees victory lays to rest the ghosts of Griffin Park debacle

Town's thrashing in West London erased by Kenilworth Road triumph

Luton chief Graeme Jones felt his side laid to rest the ghosts of Town’s 7-0 defeat at Brentford back in November by beating the Bees 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

On that miserable day at Griffin Park, the Hatters found themselves annihilated by their hosts, with Jones booed off by the travelling supporters afterwards.

This time, it was completely different, Shandon Baptiste’s own goal and Martin Cranie’s cracking on the stroke of half time, putting Town 2-0 in front.

Although Brentford dominated large parts of the second period, they only had Ollie Watkins’ late strike to show for their efforts, as this time the Town boss was given a superb ovation by the home fans.

Speaking to the press afterwards, an understandably elated Jones said: “I’m totally satisfied, that lays the ghosts of Griffin Park for me.

“I wouldn’t call it revenge, it was an embarrassing day for myself, my staff and the players who are honest as the day is long, but naïve in the Championship in a tough week where we played Leeds United, beat Charlton here (Kenilworth Road) and we just couldn’t go again.

“We got punished in every single area and then you measure it three months on and you see the level of performance tonight and that tells you we haven’t been sitting idle, doing nothing.

“We’ve all been working really hard because you can’t win a football match against that quality unless you can play as a team and that was really satisfying.”

Jones went with a side that contained six players who started at Griffin Park, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Harry Cornick and James Collins.

To win with such a similar 11 also gave the Luton manager extra joy, as he added: “It means everything to me, that’s where we are, because that was the worst day of my football career.

“Six players on the pitch that started tonight experienced that feeling of helplessness because you’re 5-0 down and then you go down to ten men and the referee has given two penalties against you.

“Obviously, I made all three substitutions and that was the most helpless I felt on a football pitch and I love to be competitive.

"My team was competitive tonight and I feel like we’ve erased that now.

“Believe me, I’ve done the analysis for this game and I know the level of this team.

"The game’s been managed well since Saturday night and getting beaten by Charlton, the boys were absolutely magnificent.

“Carrying out instructions and executing them down to a tee, that gives me great satisfaction."

Hatters chief hails Brentford triumph as the best of his career

Town manager heaps praise on his players after 2-1 victory

Luton chief Graeme Jones hailed last night’s brilliant 2-1 win over Brentford as the ‘best’ victory of his managerial career so far.

After being hammered 7-0 at Griffin Park earlier in the season, it was fair to say there was a certain amount of trepidation amongst home supporters about the prospect of facing the promotion-chasing Bees once more.

However, they saw their produce a magnificent defensive display, coupled with Shandon Baptiste’s own goal and a brilliant Martin Cranie strike, to seal a crucial triumph in their quest to stay up.

On where that ranked in his brief stint as a number one so far, Jones said: “For me, the best, because they’re a top team, right up there.

“I’ve looked at games this season and I remember analysing Fulham, Leicester and Leeds and you think, ‘this is another level here’.

“Analysing West Brom. Analysing Brentford is exactly the same feelings.

“I was analysing Brentford on the way home from Charlton on Saturday night because I knew we needed as much time as we could.

“The satisfaction with them carrying out that instruction, is so rewarding.”

When asked whether the players had extra motivation to win the clash after suffering such a humiliating 90 minutes in west London just a little under three months ago, Jones continued: “You'll have to ask them, I really don’t know.

"I made sure I reminded them of the feeling.

"I said before the game, 'remember when it was 10 men, remember when you're 5-0 down. Tonight we start 0-0 and its 11 v 11 so we have got an opportunity, we need to be ready to take it when it comes along.' We were, I'm totally satisfied.

With the Bees going into the game as the second top scorers in the Championship, possessing a front three on 43 goals between them, and Luton missing both Kazenga LuaLua and Izzy Brown, it had looked a tough, tough ask for Town.

Despite having just 31 per cent of the possession, they made it yet another superb night under the Kenilworth Road floodlights, with a fourth win from five home league midweek outings this term.

Jones continued: “They’ve (night games) certainly been good to us lately. The level of performance has been there for a long time now, but we had to win in a different way tonight.

“We couldn’t take Brentford on and try and beat them, we had probably too many injuries.

“Off the ball I thought we were absolutely outstanding, set-pieces were important, character of the players, energy and the players need to take all the credit.

"They were to a man, they were exceptional.

“Brentford are an outstanding football team, that was a high level game tonight in terms of off the ball, tactical performance from us.

“If anyone gets any time, have a look at the intelligence of our press, because they’ve spent millions, they’ve got top quality individuals.

“If they'd won tonight they’d have gone third in the league and we won the game with our character, our off the ball press and intelligence, set pieces and it was a different way of winning for us.

"I'd still prefer to take people on with certain players if they are fit, but we had to find a different way tonight and that was so satisfying.”