Luton Town FC vs Cambridge United (16th Jan 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:38 16th January 2016 by Ross Lawson Honours even in new boss's first game in charge

LUTON TOWN 0-0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Nathan Jones got his first point at the Hatters helm as his maiden game ended goalless after a stalemate with Cambridge at Kenilworth Road.

The Town pushed in the late stages, but without success to go four games without scoring a goal despite Paul Benson going close in the first half.

The game was also marred with a trio of injuries, as Mark Tyler, Danny Green and Ryan Hall were all forced off with injuries.

The point pushes the side down to 18th, keeping the Hatters winless since Christmas in Sky Bet League 2.

Nathan Jones made two changes to his first starting XI, drafting in Green and Jack Marriott coming in for Cameron McGeehan, missing from the matchday squad, and Craig Mackail-Smith who was on the bench.

The Hatters started brightly with Marriott hassling the defenders, but Jones was forced into making an early change when Tyler was replaced by Elliot Justham. The Town stalwart seemed to go down without outside influence, with his side having a corner at the time of the injury after just eight minutes of the match played.

The switch seemed to unstable the home side, allowing Cambridge their first spell of pressure which Lewis Page wasted by sending the ball having cut inside past Green.

But that proved to be the last of Green’s game, too, who went down with what seemed a leg injury, replaced by Josh McQuoid after receiving several minutes of attention from medical staff.

In a truncated first half, the Town had the ball in the back of the net when McQuoid’s shot looped off a defender into the path of Marriott with his back to goal, but as he and Benson contrived to bundle home, the offside flag ruined the Hatters’ euphoria.

The pressure from Jones’ side ramped up thereafter, although Cambridge still maintained a threat when a ball into Robbie Simpson’s path was hit well before zooming over Justham’s crossbar.

It wasn’t until the 39th minute when the Town got a real sighting, as Jonathan Smith watched the ball across his body before fizzing an effort narrowly wide of Will Norris’ goal.

And the Town had their best effort of the half as we headed into five minutes of first half stoppage time.

Benson, who had moments previously disappeared off the pitch and behind the advertising hoardings at the Oak Road end, came back on to almost profit from Hall’s corner. The striker lurked at the back post to punch a shot from just three yards, only for the strike to be scuffed off the line in a penalty area melee.

The Town started the second half with purpose, and came whiskers away from opening the scoring when Howell’s left-wing cross towards Benson was only headed half-clear. The resulting ball found Hall, but his first-time effort from inside the area could only fly wide after bending away from goal and the last moment.

And it was Hall who was integral in the next attack, picking up the pieces after a hopeful ball towards Marriott wasn’t properly dealt with. His ball picked out McQuoid out on the left, who cut inside to strike just over the Cambridge bar.

The visitors fought back with half-chances of their own, but the Town almost found the lead when McQuoid – found by a cross-field Stephen O’Donnell ball on numerous occasions across the afternoon – crossed a ball which Benson was inches from connecting with.

Moments after the Town were forced into a third injury switch with Paddy McCourt coming on for Hall, the visitors were aggrieved not to be ahead.

Benson’s tackle on Lewis Page didn’t stop the Cambridge man getting a ball in, which Williamson duly nodded home, but the referee had called the foul back just seconds before the ball rustled the net, a literal head-in-the-hands moment for official Andy Madley.

The grievance sparked the U’s into their own spell of pressure, with Ryan Donaldson – on as a substitute – forcing Justham into a sharp grab from a free-kick around 25 yards from goal.

But the Town kept pressing, and almost found the breakthrough as McCourt’s dink over the top proved just too sharp for Marriott, dropping deeper as the second half went on, to make anything of.

The Hatters almost stole the points in the final minute, Jake Howells’ shot forcing an excellent save from Norris before Justham was forced to scramble behind Donaldson’s distance shot as both teams were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Attendance: 9,227, including 1,022 following Cambridge.

Town: Tyler (sub Justham 8), Howells, Okuonghae, Cuthbert, O’Donnell, Lawless, Smith, Hall (sub McCourt 65), Green (sub McQuoid 23), Marriott, Benson.

Subs not used: Mackail-Smith, Potts, Lee, Wilkinson

PUBLISHED 18:55 16th January 2016 by Ross Lawson Boss "realistically happy" with point in first game in charge

Town manager Nathan Jones was pleased with his side’s performance as he began his tenure with a 0-0 stalemate against Cambridge.

Paul Benson and Jake Howells both had chances, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Hatters going four consecutive games without a goal.

But Jones felt his side have did enough to progress and make those chances count in upcoming fixtures.

He told us: “I felt that we contained their attacking threat and as a team they worked superbly well.

“I would have liked us to be more positive at times, but we had a real discipline and work rate and that’s what we’re going to build on.

“Today it wasn’t quite there, but it’s only been six days. The work rate from every single one of them was excellent. Cambridge have an aerial threat and we defended that really well.”

Jones’ first game-plan at Kenilworth Road was scuppered when Mark Tyler had to come off after just eight minutes, while Danny Green also had to be replaced before the 25-minute mark, replaced by Elliot Justham and Josh McQuoid respectively.

“It’s not good when they come off that early, it’s certainly not the baptism you want and it kind of restricted us in certain ways,” he said.

“I like to make more positive changes, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“Elliot was superb, and Josh, who was very close to starting anyway, did very well.”

While the new boss would obviously have liked a win to start his reign, Jones remained pleased with a second clean sheet in three matches.

“I would have loved the euphoria of going on and winning,” said Jones “I said we would go and build on the hard work with the way we play. I want us to be better in possession, which we will be, but it’s a positive point.

“It gives everyone that belief we can get clean sheets, and become a more fluent team.”

He added: “It’s a competitive group, and I went with a balanced team today, because I felt I needed that and the side we responded.

“Cambridge didn’t allow us to be fluent, and they worked extremely hard. It’s hard to be disappointed, I want to win the game but they gave me everything. Another day we may have nicked it.”

Jones also praised the Kenilworth Road faithful, and promised more to come in terms of performance in upcoming weeks.

“The supporters were outstanding, and I knew they would be.

“Hopefully they saw that work rate. We did create chances, would have liked to have given them more today. But like I keep saying, it’s all about taking small steps.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-luton-town-0-0-cambridge-utd-2905271.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSXqL1qkUik

League Two: Luton Town 0 Cambridge United 0

Nathan Jones began his reign as Luton Town manager with a goalless draw against Cambridge United at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The newly-appointed boss would have been enthused by his side’s second half performance, as they created a number of goalscoring opportunities, denied a last-gasp winner when Jake Howells was denied by Wil Norris.

However, Luton were handed a huge let-off with 15 minutes to go when Cambridge scored through Ben Williamson, but the goal wasn’t allowed to stand as referee Andrew Madley had whistled a fraction earlier for a foul by home striker Paul Benson, giving the visitors a free kick.

Jones had made two changes from the side who lost 2-0 at Bristol Rovers for his first game in charge, with Danny Green and Jack Marriott in for Craig Mackail-Smith and Cameron McGeehan, the latter not even on the bench despite being the club’s top scorer.

The new boss was dealt a huge blow to his preparations after just eight minutes though when out of nothing, keeper Mark Tyler was left on his haunches with what appeared to be a back injury, meaning that Elliot Justham had to make an unexpected start.

With Hatters looking like they had been encouraged to play a more possession-style game, particularly out from the bag, they also displayed an inventive corner routine too, Green running from deep to cross first time, although it was cleared away.

However, Luton were then dealt another injury blow on 20 minutes when Green went down awkwardly and with the stretcher and various leg braces called for, he was eventually replaced by Josh McQuoid.

Hatters thought they had the lead on the half hour when McQuoid picked up Ryan Hall’s fine pass, cut in, and his deflected shot was acrobatically volleyed in by Marriott, only to be met by the offside flag.

U’s then came close themselves as they worked a lovely move through the centre, Robbie Simpson shooting narrowly over, before new signing Williamson was off target too.

Luton still couldn’t fashion anything at the visitors goal though, with Jonathan Smith’s left footer watched wide by Will Norris.

A speculative volley from Luke Berry didn’t test Justham, while Hatters did finally make Norris, as he had to block Benson’s close range attempt from Hall’s corner, Town’s first attempt on target in over two hours of football.

After the break, Luton improved immediately, as they started to show, at least going forward, what Jones is trying to implement, switching the ball wide and creating some real pressure.

Hall was inches away from breaking the deadlock, stretching to half volley narrowly wide, with the winger then finding McQuoid whose curler didn’t come down in time.

Back came the U’s though, with Magnus Okuonghae and Scott Cuthbert both making crucial blocks in their area, although their efforts were bettered by Howells, who superbly deflected Luke Berry’s effort away.

Then came the game’s main talking point as Madley blew before Williamson scored, the official throwing his hands to his face in realisation of the error made, before being surrounded by incensed Cambridge players.

Hall, who had his best game for the club so far, joined Luton’s growing casualty list, replaced by Paddy McCourt, while Marriott struggled through the final 10 minutes too after picking up a knock.

With time running out, Ryan Donaldson forced Justham to save from a free kick, as Luton almost won it, but Howells low effort was parried by Norris.

Town’s hearts were then in their mouths as Justham almost spilt a long range shot into the net, but fortunately it fell the wrong side of the post, as Hatters ended a run of three straight home defeats, kicking off Jones’ tenure with a point.

Hatters: Mark Tyler (Elliot Justham 8), Stephen O’Donnell, Jake Howells, Magnus Okuonghae, Scott Cuthbert (C), Danny Green (Josh McQuoid 20), Alex Lawless, Jonathan Smith, Ryan Hall (Paddy McCourt 74), Paul Benson, Jack Marriott.

Subs not used: Dan Potts, Craig Mackail-Smith, Olly Lee, Luke Wilkinson.

United: Will Norris, Mark Roberts (C), Leon Legge, Luke Berry, Barry Corr (Harrison Dunk 65), Lewis Page, Robbie Simpson (Karlan Ahearne-Grant 66), James Dunne, Ben Williamson, Ryan Ledson (Ryan Donaldson 77), Darnell Furlong.

Subs not used: Elliot Omozusi, Sam Beasant, Josh Coulson, Conor Newton.

Booked: Smith 43, Marriott 54, McQuoid 65, Dunne 69, Benson, Lawless 78.

Attendance: 9,227 (1,022 Cambridge).

Referee: Andrew Madley.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones has denied there have been any bids for top scorer Cameron McGeehan after he was left out of the squad for today’s goalless draw with Cambridge United.

McGeehan, who joined Luton permanently from Norwich City in the summer, has scored nine goals so far, but on whether any clubs have approached Town for his services, Jones said: “I don’t really know where that’s come from, I haven’t heard of any bids, we’re in no position to be letting our good players go.

“It was a constructional decision today, and I realise that lots of decisions get scrutinised. I’ve known Cameron seven, eight days now, and Cameron will play games for us, no worries about that, but let’s not get carried away by the fact Cameron was left out of the squad.

“I understand it’s January, but we want to keep our good players here. I’ve no issues with Cameron, he’s trained brilliantly, he’s a great kid, wants to do well.

“For the balance of the bench I had to leave him out today, things change in football, quickly, but he’s going to play a big part for us.”

On just why he opted to leave McGeehan out of the match day squad entirely, Jones continued: “We felt in terms of what we wanted to do, we wanted to get a nice balance to our side.

“I know Cameron scores goals and believe me Cameron’s going to play games for this football club, let’s not make that a big issue because it’s the first one.

“The games before, they’ve lost games, they’re in a position because they’ve lost games. No-one’s untouchable here, but Cameron will play a lot of games for us, he’s a talented young boy and as I said, he missed out today, because we went a different way.

“I felt I picked a side that gave us a good opportunity, gave us the chance to be a bit solid, but then go on and try to win the game as well.”

Defender Magnus Okuonghae admitted that McGeehan’s absence from the team sheet showed everyone they can’t simply expect to play under the new regime.

He said: “I suppose it was a surprise, the new manager has a new way of doing things, everyone’s got to be on their toes, I think that goes without saying.

“No-one could have expected to play after what’s gone before, he’s going to go on what he feels is the best side to put out there and the best bench to have.

“It might be different next week, might be different the week after that, you can’t speculate on any of that.

“We’ve all been in the game and experienced it before, so we know these things can happen.

“The manager comes in, he’s got his ways of doing things, the players he would prefer to play in a certain position than others.

“Cam’s a good player, it goes without saying and I’m sure he’ll work hard and be involved at some point.”

Meanwhile, Alex Lawless didn’t read too much into McGeehan not featuring, as he added: “We’ve got such a big squad, it’s not nice for Cam but he’s a lovely lad, a really good player, there’s potential there.

“It’s not great for him today but that shows our squad and it’s the manager, he’s got to make decisions like that.

“I’m sure at some point he’ll see Cam playing and scoring, so I don’t think it’s too big a deal.”

Winger Danny Green faces a spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off against Cambridge United this afternoon.

The recalled wideman went down on 20 minutes with what appeared an innocuous challenge, but had to leave the field with his leg in a brace.

Green has since tweeted: “Thanks for your messages! Think iv done my ankle ligaments! Hopefully be back soon! Good point, fans were class!”

When asked about the incident, boss Nathan Jones said: “Danny’s rolled his ankle, which is unfortunate for him as coming into the side today, I thought he started quite well.

“It’s a little bit frustrating, but is one of those things, we’ll assess it and see where we are on Monday.”

Green was one of three Luton players who had to go off injured, as Mark Tyler was forced off after just eight minutes for Elliot Justham.

In the second period, Ryan Hall had to be substituted too, while Jack Marriott was struggling for the final stages as well.

On Tyler’s injury, Jones added: “I’ll have to speak to the physios but his back seized up and very early we’ve lost two players.

“It’s things to try you and test you, it meant we couldn’t go quite as positive later in the game because we didn’t have the subs to do that as had to make two early ones.”

Hatters defender Magnus Okuonghae confirmed he had clearly heard the whistle during the controversial incident that saw Cambridge’s goal ruled out in yesterday’s Kenilworth Road stalemate.

With 15 minutes to go, U’s full back Lewis Page swung over a cross, before being fouled by Paul Benson, which Ben Williamson clinically converted.

However, referee Andrew Madley had blown for the challenge by Benson, yellow carding the striker, so was forced to bring play back and award the visitors a free kick, ensuring the goal never stood.

Centre half Magnus Okuonghae said: “I’d heard the whistle, the full back said he had heard the whistle as well.

“It was loud, it was clear, so I’d turned around in amazement, thinking what’s going on? I’d heard the whistle, surely this goal is not going to be given, so luckily that wasn’t the case.

“He (referee) actually said to me that he messed up, and I said, ‘I hesitated because I heard the whistle’ and he said, ‘all right, that makes me feel a bit better.’

“So hopefully he’s not too down about it, as I thought he refereed the game quite well.”

The reaction of the official after realising his mistake was to throw his hands to his head in the acknowledgement of the error, and midfielder Alex Lawless thought that was to his credit.

He said: “It was probably a better reaction because then on a human level people can associate with it, rather than just pretended that he hadn’t made a mistake it infuriates people even more.

“So I’m sure Cambridge are going to be absolutely raging about it, but they can actually see it’s a human error.

“I think that was probably better to see than him just ignoring it, just a shame for him”

Cambridge boss Shaun Derry refused to blame Madley despite robbing his side of a potential victory, as he said: “Obviously an element of disappointment, but I’m not going to make a big deal of it as I’ve made so many mistakes in the past and I’m sure will continue to make mistakes in the future.

“I’m not one for saying they should be getting everything right, the game’s played at such a high intensity now that any split moment decision can be in the back of the net.

“This is a game of football, this is live, this is happening, I was pleased with how we responded after the goal wasn’t given.”

Meanwhile, Luton boss Nathan Jones understood Cambridge’s disappointment, but felt his players had switched off for the free kick, adding: “Our players would have heard the whistle, he blew up early, they’ll be certainly aggrieved, but you can’t do anything.

“He blew immediately, if he let it go and then they scored, then he brought it back and that kind of error then fine, but I heard the whistle, our players would have and you can’t do anything about that.”

Luton Town 0 Cambridge United 0

Those Luton fans uninitiated in Motown music will have been introduced to The Supremes' hit 'Nathan Jones' when their new boss arrived, but after his first foray as manager they will have realised that you can't hurry love.

You can, however, offer a few flirtatious glimpses of what this new relationship could be, small as they were. Indeed, Jones had written in his programme notes, 'it's important to understand that the first step in this new chapter will not happen overnight."

It's fair to say, few people were expecting miracles. After the Hatters' last few dismal outings, a shot on target would've been an improvement. Against Cambridge, they got two.

A clean sheet would have been high on the agenda? They got that too.

A bit of fight, would have been further improvement. Check.

Some defensive solidity and a clean sheet? Yep. Magnus Okuonghae looked like a new man, to that effect.

Admittedly fans, they just keep you hanging on for goals. It is four games now without any to cheer while, in the luck stakes, I guess you could call this a draw too, but even that's a turn up for the books.

The bad was that Jones saw Mark Tyler (back) and Danny Green (leg) leave the field injured inside the first 25 minutes, but then the good was a huge gaffe from referee Andrew Madley which spared them defeat.

"A clean sheet and a first point on the board, it's a start," said Jones afterwards, adding: "I'd have loved to win the game, but more important that that it's seeing how we go forward.

"I got a really good attitude, I got a proper 90 minute performance from them. We will get more fluent, we will try and score goals, we will be a positive side, I promise you that, but I'm happy with a point today. It's a start."

While the record books will show a stalemate, the new boss got slightly more of a tune out of a side that, with just the addition of Green and Jack Marriott, had been so pathetic at Bristol Rovers a fortnight ago.

Most notably, Jones deployed his players in their correct positions. Imagine that!

Yet it was nothing but heartache as he was forced into two early changes. Green, in particular, was stretchered off in some distress and the delays killed the first half atmosphere, which was hardly febrile beforehand, though you could put that down to sins of the past, perhaps.

Another dampener came when Marriott had the ball in the net on the half hour mark but was ruled offside.

And moments after Paul Benson had tumbled over the advertising hoardings, leaving medics running to his rescue and Luton fearing for the worst, the striker saw his point blank shot saved by Will Norris – Luton's first on target in more than two hours of football. That's progress!

Ryan Hall and Josh McQuoid went close in the second half to signal a greater attacking intent from Town, to which the crowd responded – but so did United. Mr Madley rained on their parade.

The official had played the advantage rule to varying degrees of success and Luton got lucky when he instantly pinged Benson for taking out Lewis Page just as he crossed to Ben Williamson, who turned the ball home. The official put his head in his hands for a split second as he realised his error but the decision had been made and the Hatters had gotten away with it.

Old nerves jangled but didn't shatter to signal more baby steps of progress.

Jake Howells almost drilled a late winner but Norris squirmed the ball to safety while, Hatters' hearts were in mouths in the dying moments when Ryan Donaldson's drive slipped through the fingers of goalie Elliot Justham. But there were no tears of sorrow and that's a good thing.

So too, was the Hatters fans reciprocating Jones' applause at the final whistle. But, as to whether it was the first flushes of a love affair, well, you can't hurry that. You'll just have to wait.

Luton: Tyler (Justham, 8), O'Donnell, Smith, Cuthbert, Lawless, Benson, Hall (McCourt, 74), Green (McQuoid, 23), Marriott, Okuonghae, Howells

Unused subs: Potts, Lee, Mackail-Smith, Wilkinson

Cambridge: Norris, Roberts, Legge, Berry, Corr (Dunk, 65), Page, Simpson (Ahearne-Grant, 65), Dunne, Williamson, Ledson (Donaldson, 77), Furlong

Unused subs: Omozusi, Beasant, Coulson, Newton

Referee: Andrew Madley

Attendance: 9,227 (1,022)

Manager Nathan Jones has promised to improve the Luton players and turn them into a positive team but said after Saturday's 0-0 League Two draw with Cambridge United that it won't happen overnight.

In his first game in charge there were definite signs of progress as they looked resilient at the back and exhibited more of a passing ethos, but they couldn't find the spark to make it a memorable result on the boss' debut.

Town hadn't scored in their three previous games before the Welshman's arrival so that will be something he'll want to address.

"We will get more fluent, we will try to score goals, we will be a positive side, I promise you that, but I'm happy with a point. It's a start," Jones said, adding: "It's not going to be fairy-tale stuff, it's going to be progress. Small, quick steps."

The Hatters boss was hampered by injuries to Mark Tyler (back) and Danny Green (ankle) inside the first half an hour, which meant he couldn't make the changes he'd have liked, but they did have the better of the chances to score, with United goalkeeper Will Norris saving from Paul Benson and Jake Howells.

On his players, Jones said: "They're getting to know me, I'm getting to know them, but they're a really good, honest group and that's all you can ask. It's my job to improve them and I will improve them, but they gave me everything and I'm proud of them.

"New managers come in and you get a reaction. With the injuries and what happened it maybe wasn't what we would have liked, but Cambridge are a good side."

"What we've got to give them now is a bit of know-how, a way of playing, a way of getting points and a way of winning games, but as a start they gave me everything and I'm pleased with that."

There were over 8,000 Hatters fans at Kenilworth Road to witness the dawn of a new era and Jones said: "I'm very, very proud to be manager of Luton Town. I wouldn't have left a fantastic club in Brighton if I wasn't coming to a special club, and I believe this is a special club.

"I hope we achieve special things together, but it was a great atmosphere. Both sets of fans were excellent, ours were brilliant and we're going to need them."