Luton Town FC vs Cardiff City (16th Feb 2021)

Match Report | Luton Town 0-2 Cardiff City

Two second half goes condemn the Hatters to defeat against Cardiff...

A Cardiff City quickfire second half double proved the difference as the Hatters were defeated under lights at Kenilworth Road.

After an even opening period saw both sides draw blanks, Harry Wilson’s curling effort followed by Will Vaulks’ volley gave Luton a mountain to climb in the final 30 minutes.

With both managers picking physically strong lineups set pieces were always going to be important with Cardiff winning a series of free-kicks, corners and throw-ins in the opening minutes. After Josh Murphy’s cross from the left was turned behind by Sonny Bradley, the visitors had the first opportunity of the game after a corner was played straight to Will Vaulks on the edge of the box, but his shot was saved well by Simon Sluga.

In an opening 15 minutes where the Hatters struggled to retain possession, James Collins came close to opening the scoring for Luton. Tom Lockyer drove forwards from centre-back down the right flank, crossing to the back post where Collins stooped low but headed straight into the ground with the ball bouncing agonisingly over the bar.

Luton were forced into a change just thirty minutes in after an injury to Tom Lockyer, with the experienced Martin Cranie coming on to replace him.

In the closing stages of the half, a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in swinging free-kick found Danny Hylton who was unable to rise high enough to direct towards goal, with the Hatters going into the half-time break level in what was a fairly even opening 45 minutes.

Nathan Jones made one change at the break, with Luke Berry coming on to replace Matty Pearson.

Eight minutes into the second half and Harry Wilson gave the Bluebirds the lead. A long ball towards Aden Flint was knocked back into Wilson on the edge of box who emphatically curled home left footed to Sluga’s right despite the best efforts of Bradley.

A few minutes later and Wilson almost doubled Cardiff’s lead in similar fashion, unleashing another left footed effort from outside of the box but was this time denied brilliantly by Sluga.

Despite Sluga’s heroics Cardiff doubled their lead from the resulting corner after Potts’ clearance fell to Vaulks unmarked on the edge of the box, who volleyed home via a deflection off Bradley as the Hatters were hit with an undeserved second half double blow that left their chances of taking something from the game hanging by a thread.

The Town brought on Tom Ince and Harry Cornick in an attempt to salvage something from the game, and soon after Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu received the ball on two separate occasions in space on the edge of the box but was unable to hit the target.

In the closing minutes Cornick had a chance to halve the deficit after beating Curtis Nelson down the left flank before cutting in onto his right foot, but his shot deflected wide of the far post as the Hatters were unable to stage an unlikely fightback in the closing stages.

Luton travel to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon and will be looking to make amends after a disappointing home defeat.

Town: Sluga, Pearson (Berry 45), Lockyer (Cranie 29), Bradley (C), Potts, Naismith (Cornick 64), Rea, Dewsbury-Hall, Mpanzu, Collins (Adebayo 73), Hylton (Ince 64)

Yellows: None

Cardiff: Phillips, Ng, Morrison (C), Flint, Nelson, Bennett, Vaulks, Pack, Wilson (Bacuna 76), Murphy (Bagan 76), Moore (Watters 74)

Goals: Wilson (53), Vaulks (57)

Yellows: Vaulks

Nathan Jones reacts to defeat against Cardiff City

Manager Nathan Jones was disappointed his side couldn’t settle following injuries in the first half after they were condemned to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City.

Both Tom Lockyer and Matty Pearson had to be taken off in the first 45 minutes and despite a positive showing, Town were undone by two quick-fire goals from the away side in the second period.

“That really unsettled us, losing both centre-halves," said Jones. "This is a side you don’t want to lose big players against because they are massive. Everything comes into your box, from a throw-in, corner, everything. We needed them and that is what unsettled us really.

"First half I thought we were really good once we got to grips and settled a little bit because we were frantic early on. Once we settled I thought we were the better team and Collo should have scored back-stick, but that is what we didn’t do.

"I was really pleased with the first half performance, then when we lose Lockyer. All right, you can cope with that, but then we lost solidity in the middle of the park with Glen, had to put him back into the back four, and that is how they scored their first.

"I was disappointed with the first goal, one because it was a free-kick in the build-up and two, because we vacated the middle of the park, left Harry Wilson free as a bird.

"It is a learning curve. You have to do the basics and you have to do them right.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHMrMFm1HHk – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0L9Ny8QnZY – match highlights

Town caught cold by early second half double as they lose out to Cardiff

Championship: Luton Town 0 Cardiff City 2

Luton paid the price for a poor start to the second half as they failed to build on Saturday's impressive win at Birmingham City, going down to a 2-0 defeat to a resurgent Cardiff City this evening.

At the break, the hosts, who had been the better side in the opening 45 minutes, looked like they could go on and inflict a first defeat of Mick McCarthy's reign as Bluebirds boss, or at the very least, claim a point.

However, they conceded twice within the opening 11 minutes to goals from Harry Wilson and Will Vaulks to make it three home games without a win now since the turn of the year and a second successive defeat under the lights at Kenilworth Road, after such a proud prior unbeaten record.

Town boss Nathan Jones made two changes from the win at St Andrew's, Danny Hylton and Kal Naismith replacing Jordan Clark and Harry Cornick, the latter on for his full Town league debut.

An opening 12 minutes which saw the ball barely touch the floor was then almost brought to life when Cardiff played a short corner routine, working the ball to Vaulks on the edge of the box.

His first time effort was destined for the bottom corner, only for Simon Sluga to stick out a strong left hand, with Sean Morrison flagged offside as he attempted to put the rebound in.

Luton then went close with their first real passing move of the night on 15 minutes, Tom Lockyer bringing the ball out and crossing deliciously to the far post where James Collins, almost worrying about colliding with the post, stooped to head wide of the target.

Town were dealt a blow on the half hour as Lockyer, who had injured his foot when making a last-ditch challenge to prevent a City break, couldn't continue, Martin Cranie on in his place.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's curling 20-yard free kick required tipping over the bar by Dillon Phillips moments later, while he then found Hylton inside the area, the striker's touch getting away from him.

Luton continued to play the better football when they got hold of possession, Cardiff intent on going from back to front at every opportunity, Collins carrying on from where he left off at the weekend with another fine display upfront.

Just before half time, the hosts might have taken the lead, another dangerous free kick by Dewsbury-Hall skimming off the head of Hylton from a few yards out.

Jones altered his side at the break, taking off Matty Pearson for Luke Berry, as Cranie dropped to right back, with Rea moving into the centre of defence.

Kieffer Moore whistled an effort past the post after finally breaking clear of the Town back-line, before Cardiff had the lead out of nothing with 53 on the clock.

A long ball wasn't cleared properly and on-loan Liverpool midfielder Wilson didn't any second invitation to transfer possession on to his left foot and hammer a wonderful effort beyond Sluga and into the corner from outside the box.

Wilson tried his luck again moments later, this time Sluga doing impressively to turn his volley over the bar, but the resulting corner saw Cardiff double their lead.

Hatters once again didn't get the required distance on their efforts to get the ball out of their area, Vaulks left in acres of space to beat Sluga via a slight deflection.

Jones quickly made a double switch, Tom Ince and Cornick on for Hylton and Naismith, but from being in the box seats, Town now had an unlikely mountain to climb, as Cardiff, under the seasoned campaigner McCarthy, looked very unlikely to hand the hosts a way back into the contest.

They did come under threat though, Cornick's cross only inches above the leaping Collins, while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu hammered narrowly wide from the loose ball.

The midfielder should have made it 2-1 on 68 minutes, teed up inside the area by Collins, he sliced disappointingly off target.

Collins was then replaced by Elijah Adebayo for his Town debut with 16 minutes remaining, who after giving a free kick away with his first touch, flicked on a long throw for Bradley to see his tame effort stopped by Phillips.

Late on, Cornick almost pulled one back with seven remaining, as a quickfire break saw him move the ball on to his right and pull the trigger, a Cardiff defender just doing enough to deflect behind.

Perry Ng looked for a flattering third, Sluga comfortably gathering his left-footed effort, while Ince couldn't engineer a stoppage time consolation, firing straight at Phillips.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson (Luke Berry 46), Tom Lockyer (Martin Cranie 30), Sonny Bradley ©, Dan Potts, Kal Naismith (Harry Cornick 64), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Danny Hylton (Tom Ince 64) , James Collins (Elijah Adebayo 74).

Subs not used: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jordan Clark, Sam Nombe.

Bluebirds: Dillon Phillips, Joe Bennett, Sean Morrison ©, Aden Flint, Will Vaulks, Kieffer Moore (Max Watters 74), Josh Murphy (Joel Bagan 76), Curtis Nelson, Marlon Peck, Harry Wilson (Leandro Bacuna 76), Perry Ng.

Subs not used: Alex Smithies, Tom San, Mark Harris, Ciaron Brown, Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill.

Bookings: Vaulks 65.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Jones left frustrated as his Luton side were 'derailed' by double injury blow against Bluebirds

Lockyer and Pearson both forced off in Cardiff defeat

Luton boss Nathan Jones was left frustrated that injuries to Tom Lockyer and Matty Pearson derailed his side’s victory bid against Cardiff City this evening.

With Town starting to get on top in the first period, Lockyer had to go off on the half hour, after suffering an ankle injury following a block tackle, replaced by Martin Cranie, with Glen Rea dropping back into the centre of defence from his holding midfield position.

At half time, Pearson then didn’t reappear, with Luke Berry on in his place, as Town moved from a five-man defence to a flat back four, and swiftly conceded twice to Harry Wilson’s wonderful curler on 53 minute, and Will Vaulks strike three minutes later.

Jones, who had given starts to Danny Hylton and Kal Naismith in a bid to pep up Town’s aerial power against an imposing Bluebirds side, that contained Kieffer Moore, Aden Flint and Sean Morrison, said: “Tom opened his ankle up, so we'll have to wait and see how he is in the coming days, but that’s the issue

“Hamstring (for Pearson), I wouldn't be making tactical changes and taking centre halves off, not against these.

"Matty was doing very, very well just a tight hamstring that curtailed him.

“We went with physical threat, to go up against them, we needed men out there today and there was absolutely no problem until we had to make the changes and we got derailed with the two centre halves having to go off.

"This is not a team you can get away with, normally we should have put Jordan Clark on at right back but today wasn't the day for that.

“I’m disappointed, I thought first half we were very good, we matched them all over, had the best chance with Collo (James Collins), then we had to reshuffle completely.

"That derailed us a little bit, as pulling Glen (Rea) out of the centre of the park was a big thing because as he gives us that discipline and arguably their most talented player (Wilson) is in there.

"Our three midfield players vacated the area for that, they were able to have knock down without anyone around him and then he scores from 25 yards, so I'm disappointed with the first goal.”

Cardiff’s second was equally as galling for Jones as a corner was cleared by Dan Potts, only for Vaulks to be left completely unmarked inside the area to volley past Simon Sluga via a slight deflection.

Jones added: "I’m really disappointed because we switched off, we didn't do the basics right.

"We wanted to make sure we were right at it and we were for pretty much 50 minutes, but when you switch off and a side that’s in good form and has good players then that’s what happens.

“They’re massive, they’re a massive side, but we handled that really well and we’ve got one on the edge of the box (for the second goal), as you have to have an overload in the box,.

"We didn’t deal with that well enough and I was really disappointed with the first goal as I felt there was a foul and should have been two free kicks in the build up.

"Kieffer Moore goes over so easily, and it looks like simulation, but apparently that’s not simulation anymore, and then we felt Danny got pulled back there and then they hit the diagonal knock down and score.

"So we’re disappointed, but we need to be better, we need to be more clinical when we have chances and a real disappointment that we had to reshuffle and got derailed.”