Luton Town FC vs Bristol City (19th Oct 2019)

LUTON TOWN 3 BRISTOL CITY 0

Pelly-Ruddock nets in fourth different division for the Town

Town produced a brilliant performance to beat Bristol City 3-0 at Kenilworth Road, handing the visitors their first league defeat since the opening day in front of a sell-out crowd.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu opened the scoring in the 56th minute with an outstanding curling effort and six minutes later Harry Cornick scored his fourth goal of the season.

In the 95th minute, the Robins' centre-half Ashley Williams diverted the ball into his own net, which sealed all three points as Town moved up into 16th place in the Championship.

The first 20 minutes set the tone for an enthralling encounter, an open game which Luton took control of after a few Bristol City chances.

The Robins had two opportunities in the space of two minutes, both of which fell to Tommy Rowe.

First the left-wing-back forced James Shea into a good save from distance and then moments later tried to go around the keeper, before chipping over the bar from a tight angle.

Town were next to venture forward and went very close to scoring the first goal. Izzy Brown did well to carry the ball through midfield and find Dan Potts available in plenty of space on the left.

The left-back then crossed the ball, which Collins tried to direct goal-wards, but it was deflected just wide of the post and behind for a corner.

Pressure from the Hatters didn’t end there. Matty Pearson carried the ball forward and found Brown with space in-behind, the midfielder then passed to Ryan Tunnicliffe, but his effort was gathered by Bentley.

Luton’s best chance of the half came just before the 30 minute mark as Mpanzu set the ball for Brown, who from the edge of the box, produced a fierce shot which Bentley tipped onto the post.

Mpanzu then went close himself just before half-time but his low drive from the edge of the box was parried behind for a corner.

The second half started with much the same intensity, but Luton’s pressure finally paid off as Mpanzu opened the scoring in the 56th minute.

After winning possession back from the Robins, Town moved forward swiftly and ball found its way out wide on the left to the midfielder, who cut in and unleashed a brilliant, curling effort straight into the top corner.

The 26-year-old’s cracker was his first goal in the Championship, meaning he has now scored for Luton in four different divisions since arriving in the Conference title-winning season from West Ham.

In the 62nd minute, the home crowd were on their feet again as Harry Cornick doubled Town’s lead. Brown played a perfectly timed ball in-behind for the forward to run onto and Cornick produced a calm finish to score his fourth goal of the campaign.

Bristol City were pushing to get back into the game but James Shea – who made his first league appearance of the season – was on hand to keep the clean sheet intact.

It was two Robins substitutes – Niclas Eliasson and Rodri – who linked up, but the latter’s glancing header was saved well down low by Shea, who tipped the ball onto the post.

With just over 15 minutes to go, Luton quickly scurried forward trying to seal all three points, which Collins came agonisingly close to doing.

Cornick switched the ball across the pitch and found Brown, who knocked the ball forward to Collins but the onrushing Bentley saved one-on-one.

Adding to the visitor’s despair and the home crowd’s jubilation, Rodri was denied a debut goal as his effort was ruled out for offside in the dying embers.

With the last attack of the game, Luton scored their third as Tunnicliffe’s cross was put into the back of the net by Ashley Williams, rounding off a superb day for the Hatters which marks their biggest Championship victory to date.

TOWN: Shea, Bree (Bolton 45), Bradley (C), Pearson, Potts, Cranie, Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Brown (McManaman 76), Cornick (LuaLua 88), Collins. Subs not used: Shinnie, Sluga, Jones, Butterfield.

Yellows: Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu

Goals: Mpanzu, (56) Cornick (62), Williams OG (90+4)

BRISTOL CITY:Bentley, Hunt, Baker, Williams, Moore (Eliasson 58), Rowe, Brownhill (C), Massengo, Palmer (O’Dowda 58), Diedhiou (Rodri 64), Weimann. Subs not used: Wright, Semenyo, Pereira, Maenpaa

Yellows: Diedhiou, Hunt

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance:10,064 (1,032 away)

GRAEME JONES ON THE 3-0 WIN OVER BRISTOL CITY

Town boss Graeme Jones praised the ‘four months' work’ that went into today’s victory over Bristol City at Kenilworth Road.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu opened the scoring with a lovely, curling effort into the top right corner, before Harry Cornick fired past Daniel Bentley to make it 2-0 to the hosts.

Ashley Williams put the ball past his own keeper in the dying moments to secure the result, which moves the Hatters up to 16th in the Championship.

Jones said: “I think that’s four months’ work for the players and staff, and that was the exhibition of four months work, the evidence. I think the tactical aspect is one thing and then the application and the courage and the character of the players to execute it was really, really satisfying.

“I am especially pleased for Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson, who have been thrown more challenges, more demands by me than any other players at the football club and they have stood up to it. They have showed courage, they have responded always, it has been really difficult for them at times and then when you eventually break through those barriers you grow as players and I think you can see that. I think the two boys were getting more and more frustrated at not getting a clean sheet. But with the greatest respect we haven’t had a defensive midfield player out on the pitch for two months and I think that was a key factor today.

“Martin gives you great flexibility, so there’s two shapes in that system, that’s the first time I have been able to do that, if you remember, Martin was playing right-back for us, and then we signed Luke Bolton and James Bree after Martin got injured, so it gives you great flexibility, as does Glen Rea. It was just a pity that both of them were injured at the same time, so now we are benefiting from that option.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVXbgBtbXE – Graeme Jones interview

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

Mpanzu's stunner sends Luton on their way to superb Robins win

Championship: Luton Town 3 Bristol City 0

A marvellous second half performance saw the Hatters record their best victory of the season in the Championship this term, with a thumping 3-0 win over promotion hopefuls Bristol City at Kenilworth Road.

Going into the game, there had been plenty to fear, the Robins sitting sixth in the table, unbeaten since the opening day of the campaign, and knowing a sixth success in the league could potentially put them top.

However, they were well and truly put to the sword by the hosts after the break, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Izzy Brown in particular sensational, while the recalled James Shea ensured Town kept a first clean sheet in the Championship this term too.

Prior to kick-off, Hatters chief Graeme Jones made three changes, as Simon Sluga was dropped after his error-strewn outing at Derby County, with Shea coming in for his first start in the Championship this season.

Martin Cranie also returned after two months out injured to move into a new-look back three alongside Sonny Bradley and Matty Person, with Brown in, Andrew Shinnie and Callum McManaman.

The visitors, as expected of a side unbeaten since the opening game of the season, caught the eye early on, as Tommy Rowe's low effort from outside the box was parried by Shea, Town hacking the loose ball away.

Rowe then beat the offside trap, but forced wide by Shea, couldn't find the empty net from an increasingly tight angle.

However, Luton could well have been ahead with their first attack, Brown bursting forward and his low cross was flicked goalwards by James Collins, brushing off a visiting defender as it crept inches wide.

The Hatters then started to turn up the pressure in what was an opening first half an hour, Matty Pearson finding the run of Brown who advanced into the area, only to dally too long, Ryan Tunnicliffe eventually shooting straight at Daniel Bentley.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's fierce blast was bravely blocked by Ashley Williams, while with 28 gone, the midfielder then teed up Brown just outside the box, whose thunderbolt cannoned off the post and away, Bentley getting the slightest of touches.

City were always quick to show their attacking qualities, Andreas Weimann darting between Town's back-line, and with Shea retreating back to his line, saw his chip only narrowly drop wide.

With Brown on the ball, Luton looked increasingly threatening going forward, one positive burst into space seeing the on-loan Chelsea midfielder send over a fine cross only just out of the reach of Collins.

Town's leading scorer then had a go from distance, Bentley able to watch if fly wide, before the Robins keeper was required to get down well and prevent Mpanzu's low show finding the bottom corner at the expense of a corner.

Town brought on Luke Bolton for the injured James Bree at the break, Collins going close early on, swivelling to volley over from eight yards.

The Hatters then lead with a stunning goal on 56 minutes, as Mpanzu cut in from the left, broke into the box and curled a superb effort beyond Bentley and into the top corner.

Luton then moved 2-0 in front just six minutes later as the visitors offside trap failed spectacularly, Brown sending Harry Cornick away and he burst through, keeping his nerve to beat Bentley.

Town were indebted a truly magnificent save from Shea on 70 minutes to keep them two in front, as City brought on former Sevilla striker Rodri and his glancing header was destined for the bottom corner, until Town's keeper stuck out a glove to fingertip it on to the post.

Luton almost had the points sewn up with 17 to play, breaking impressively as Cornick found Brown who in turn fed Collins through, Bentley out quickly to block with his legs.

Rodri then looked like he had pulled one back, turning in from close range, but the offside flag was raised, before he whistled another attempt wide, as Town ensured they weren't breached for the first time in the Championship.

They then managed to add some icing on the cake late on, with Tunnicliffe bursting down the left wing and sending over a cross that Williams turned past his own keeper at full stretch.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree (Luke Bolton 46), Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Matty Pearson, Martin Cranie, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua 88), Izzy Brown (Callum McManaman 76), James Collins.

Subs not used: Lloyd Jones, Jacob Butterfield, Andrew Shinnie, Simon Sluga.

Robins: Daniel Bentley, Jack Hunt, Nathan Baker, Josh Brownhill ©, Famara Diedhio (Rodri 64), Andreas Wiemann, Taylor Moore (Callum O'Dowda 58), Tommy Rowe, Ashley Williams, Han-Noah Massengo, Kasey Palmer (Niclas Eliasson 59).

Subs not used: Bailey Wright, Antoine Semenyo, Pedro Pereira, Niki Maenpaa.

Booked: Tunnicliffe 51, Diedhiou 63, Mpanzu 85, Hunt 90.

Referee: Graham Scott.

Attendance: 10,064 (1,032 City).

Jones: Robins win shows we're learning our lessons in the Championship

Luton chief Graeme Jones felt that this afternoon's 3-0 win over Bristol City shows that his side are starting to 'learn their lessons' in the Championship.

On the back of an international break that Town went into beaten 2-0 at Derby County in a match they should have taken something from, the Hatters posted a first home victory since August 31, with superb second half display.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's wonderful opener and Harry Cornick's fifth of the season, plus an own goal by the experienced Ashley Williams gave Luton their most convincing triumph so far this term.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "That’s four months work there for the players and the staff, I think that was the exhibition of four months work, the evidence.

“But the tactical aspect is one thing, the application and the courage and the character of the players to execute it, is really, really, satisfying.

“We are capable. We’re starting to show that.

"I don’t want to make any bold predictions, I said right at the beginning, we want to be competitive in every game and by and large we have been.

"I think the biggest thing for the staff and the football club and the players, was that from the last international break, there’s been a lot of lessons learned.

"If you don’t work hard and you don’t go into details, you don’t learn lessons, so you keep making the same errors, and that’s what we’ve done.

“Only a fool makes the same mistake twice, so I’m really, really happy with the performance today.”

Jones opted to change shape for the contest, bringing back Martin Cranie who played as part of a three man defence alongside Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson.

Although City began brightly, crucially Town kept them out in the opening 15 minutes, getting stronger and stronger themselves as the half progressed.

The boss added: “I think that was a period that you needed to get through, the opening period, as you’re adapting to your shape.

"The character of these players is never, ever in question here, the character and the application of the players to carry that out at the right times and the game intelligence was outstanding.

“Martin gives you great flexibility, so there's two shapes in that system.

"It's the first time I've been able to do that as Martin was playing right back for us and then we signed Luke Bolton and James Bree after Martin got injured.

"So he gives you great flexibility, so does Glen Rea, it's just a blow that both were injured at the same time, so we're benefiting from having that option.”