Luton Town FC vs Brentford (31st Oct 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 0-3 Brentford

A tough afternoon at Kenilworth Road as Brentford are victorious...

The Hatters were condemned to a 3-0 defeat against Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon.

Rico Henry opened the scoring, whilst Ivan Toney got in on the act in the first half too, before Marcus Forss scored a third for the Bees in the second period.

Manager Nathan Jones made two changes for the visit of Brentford, with Danny Hylton leading the line once again and Jordan Clark back in the fold ahead of James Collins and Elliot Lee respectively.

Hylton was presented with a good opportunity early on from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s free-kick, but shot went wide of the target.

The visitors threatened on occasion before taking the lead in the 20th minute through Henry. Sergi Canos’ cross into the box was cleared only as far as Brentford’s left-back, who struck low into the far corner past Simon Sluga.

The Bees scored a second just before the half-hour mark as Toney scored his ninth goal of the campaign. Bryan Mbeumo drove into the box after good work from Josh Dasilva in midfield and picked out the striker, who simply tapped the ball into an empty net.

It was an uphill task for the Hatters who pushed to find a way back into the game with the assistance of two early changes – Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry – but struggled to create a clear-cut opening.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s effort may well have been heading goalwards if it wasn’t for Mads Bech Sorensen’s block and LuaLua later saw his shot saved, before the Bees put the game out of reach in the 76th minute.

Moments after entering the fray substitutes Mathias Jensen and Forss combined, the latter's delicate chip beat Sluga and gave the away side a three-goal advantage.

Dasilva missed a golden chance to make it four, shooting over the bar from close range and Sluga was on hand to make a fantastic save when the ball deflected off Martin Cranie in the latter stages.

The Hatters will hope to put a tough afternoon at Kenilworth Road behind them when they travel to Rotherham on Wednesday night for a 7:45pm kick-off.

Town: Sluga, Cranie, Pearson (LuaLua 37), Lockyer, Bradley (C), Norrington-Davies (Berry 45); Rea, Mpanzu, Dewsbury-Hall, Clark (Collins 75), Hylton.

Subs not used: Shea, Tunnicliffe, Lee, Morrell.

Yellows: Hylton

Brentford: Raya, Dalsgaard (C), Pinnock, Sorensen, Henry; Marcondes (Jensen 75), Dasilva, Janelt; Mbeumo (Fosu 82), Canos, Toney (Forss 75).

Subs not used: Daniels, Thompson, Ghoddos, Goode.

Goals: Henry (20), Toney (29), Forss (76)

Referee: Michael Salisbury

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/brentford-e-programme-final_f744fe78ac1408 - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3__P23KZ1w – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfXSssMY8Kc – match highlights

Nathan Jones' reaction following defeat against Brentford

The gaffer reflected on today's home loss against the Bees...

Nathan Jones was honest in his reflection following his sides 3-0 defeat to Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon.

The Bees struck twice in the first half through Rico Henry and striker Ivan Toney, before substitute Marcus Forss scored with his first touch in the second period.

After the game, the gaffer started by saying: “It was very difficult but we’re going to have difficult afternoons when you are in the Championship, because we know they are a wonderful footballing side with a way of playing and a way of recruiting.

“They sell, they get proper athletes and get them in and that costs a hell of a lot of money, which is something we haven’t got the luxury of doing.

"We competed until the first goal, structurally looked good and it’s just when we don’t quite do things right, we get punished and then it’s difficult to get back into the game against a team like that.

“If you do become open and take gambles, then they can hurt you. But today they were the better side, they’re a wonderful side and credit to Brentford and Thomas.

"They are a good group of players, well rehearsed in what they do. They’ve been doing it for a while and we’re just slightly behind them, but we’re competing.

“It is difficult when we’re at our maximum every game. The games are coming ridiculously quick, ridiculously fast, and it is difficult for us to compete.

"We compete, then get a bit of a rest, we compete again, but when we come up against top players, sometimes we struggle a little bit. But that's the level. It's relentless, it always is with the schedule, and with the pandemic it's even more so.

"So we just have to make sure that we dust ourselves down and we go again. We've got two games this week, and then we get a relative rest from there."

Hatters handed a lesson during home defeat to impressive Bees

Championship: Luton Town 0 Brentford 3

Luton Town were given something of a lesson by promotion-chasing Brentford at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, easily beaten 3-0.

The hosts simply couldn't lay a glove on their opponents for large chunks of the encounter as Thomas Frank's side showed just why they came so close to winning promotion to the Premier League last term, with a performance that oozed quality throughout.

It took Town until the 70th minute to get a shot of their own on target, as by that time they were already 2-0 down, conceding a third late on against a team who based on this impressive outing, will surely be making another concerted challenge to go up again this campaign.

Luton boss Nathan Jones made two changes to the team who drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening, Danny Hylton and Jordan Clark coming in for James Collins and Elliot Lee.

The visitors' leading scorer Ivan Toney went close early on, his header dropping just over the bar, before Town attacked on the right to force a corner, Sonny Bradley's fierce attempt charged down, the ball just not falling for the lurking Hylton.

Town's recalled attacker then couldn't quite divert Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's low free kick on target as the Bees began to take charge of proceedings, eager to manipulate possession where possible after keeping hold of it for long periods.

Bryan Mbeumo saw his low effort deflected behind, before the Bees did go in front on 20 minutes, Town committing men to their press and when their midfield was bypassed, the hosts couldn't clear their lines, Rico Henry gathering the loose ball to rifle into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

With the deadlock broken, the Bees just wouldn't give Luton the ball back at times, keeping it like a playground bull among their back four, transferring it through the lines when Luton attempted to win it back.

Having been hammered 7-0 at Griffin Park last season, there would have been alarm bells ringing on the half hour this time, when Brentford had their second.

A long ball over the top was met by the run of Mbeumo who honed in on goal, Rhys Norrington-Davies unable to bring the attacker down and his cross-shot was stabbed home by Toney for a ninth goal of the season already, Luton calling in vain for an offside flag that never materialised.

In a bid to try and get his side a foothold in the encounter, Jones made the bold call to take defender Matty Pearson off, moving to a back four, with Kazenga LuaLua on in his place.

Jones then altered things again at the break, Luke Berry replacing Norrington-Davies, as Martin Cranie went to left back, Tom Lockyer to right and Glen Rea dropping into the centre of defence alongside Sonny Bradley.

Luton started to look a bit more balanced with the changes, and fashioned their best opportunity with a sparkling move on the right.

Clark found the run of Lockyer, whose cross was blasted goalwards by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, only to hit the head of Mads Bech Sørensen and fly into the stands.

Still the Bees were always a threat, Sergi Canos breaking from deep midway through the half, rounding Rea with ease before dragging wide from 18 yards.

Some wonderful full back play by Henry almost led to a clinching third, his cross just behind Toney, as Luton finally had a shot on target with 20 minutes to go, LuaLua drilling straight at David Raya from range.

Emiliano Marcondes should have put the game beyond any semblance of doubt moments later, his downward header grabbed by Simon Sluga.

It was 3-0 on 77 minutes though, Bees sub Marcus Forss on and with pretty much his first touch, he was slipped through on the right, confidently dinking an effort over Sluga.

Three should have been four with nine minutes remaining, Josh Dasilva skying his close-range prod over the bar when left totally unmarked.

Hatters keeper Sluga looked certain to be picking the ball out of the net yet again moments later, Henrik Dalsgaard's near post header destined for the net, only for the Croatian to react superbly, somehow sticking out a left glove to tip the ball behind.

Mpanzu's low cross was too close to Raya as Luton just never looked they ever had it in them to get back into the game, seeing their winless run on home soil stretched to three games now.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies (Luke Berry 46), Matty Pearson (Kazenga LuaLua 37), Sonny Bradley ©, Tom Lockyer, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jordan Clark (James Collins 74), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Joe Morrell, Elliot Lee.

Bees: David Raya, Rico Henry, Ethan Pinnock, Sergi Canos, Emiliano Marcondes, Josh Dasilva, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Henrik Dalsgaard (C), Vitaly Janelt, Mads Bech Sorensen.

Subs not used: Dominic Thompson, Charlie Goode, Mathias Jensen, Marcus Forss, Saman Ghoddos, Tariqe Fosu, Luke Daniels.

Booked: Hylton 55, Janelt 90.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Luton boss has no complaints about comprehensive Brentford loss

Jones felt the better team won on the day

Hatters chief Nathan Jones had no complaints about his side’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford this afternoon, admitting the better team won on the day.

Goals from Rico Henry and Ivan Toney put the Bees 2-0 up inside 30 minutes of the contest at Kenilworth Road, with sub Marcus Forss adding a third late in the second half.

Town tried manfully to get back into the contest, but could only test Bees keeper David Raya once, that a hopeful Kazenga LuaLua effort from range with 20 minutes to go.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “We tried every single thing possible, changes, tweaks here and there, but they were better than us today, I’ll make no bones about it.

“We have to remember that three years ago we were a League Two side, so we’re getting to that level, but we’re going to have days like this.

“I could go in, go mental, rant and rave, but we’re going to have days like this because we’re not quite at the level yet.

“Some, in the Premier League, that when they get beaten by Man United or Leicester, they hold their hands up.

“We have game plans and we tried to make it work and if everything goes to plan, we’ll have a good game against Brentford, but when it doesn’t we’ll get punished.

“So, we have to accept that at times.

"We’re in a decent position at the minute, we’re just above mid-table in the Championship.

"If we’re still there after ten games, that’s probably a fair position we’re in, and we’re competing well.

“These (Brentford) are years down the line of their structure, we’re not, so we’re having to get to grips with that.

“We’ve got no time to work because they haven’t trained Thursday or Friday, so it’s a difficult scenario we’re in, coupled with the fact that you can’t make many substitutions, so there’s no freshness.

“It’s just watering down the quality, but we’ve been beaten by a better side today and they’re a very good side and credit to them.

“But, that’s a learning curve for us and where we aspire to be.”

Jones made an early change during the fixture, bringing on LuaLua for centre half Matty Pearson eight minutes before the half time interval.

On why he made the switch, the manager said: We had a game-plan, letting them have one or two passes and then press, but then we had too many people behind the ball, so they were able to get it into those little pockets.

"When one of the centre halves didn’t step in and go and do that, then we had to change it and give them an extra midfield player so they could go and do that.

"It was just a tactical decision, but we know we’re going to get tactically tested at this level, especially against Brentford.

“We didn't quite get it right for the second goal, first one is a poor clearance and then you know it’s backs against the wall then.”

Although conceding the Bees were easily the better team on the day, Jones still had an element of frustration in how his side fell 2-0 behind within 30 minutes.

He added: “You have to make sure you’re structurally really good against these because they’re a very good Championship side.

“We know we’re at our maximum at this level but I’m frustrated because it (first goal) was a simple ball in the box that we should clear, we cleared it straight to them and it’s a shot that goes in the bottom corner.

“If you clear your lines you don’t concede that and then the game-plan goes, which was to keep it tight early on.

“The second goal was something that we didn’t get the press right that we’ve worked on.

“It didn’t happen, their midfield man got it, no-one went in with him, he was then able to play a long ball, which Rhys (Norrington-Davies) wasn’t able to curtail because of his injury and then they scored.

“Then the game’s pretty much dead, because if you start to come out against these and get it wrong, they can hurt you, because they’ve got a great system, real good athleticism about them and they’re good footballers that can hurt you.”