Luton Town FC vs Chesterfield (10th Jan 2017)

PUBLISHED 22:36 10th January 2017 Hatters head into the last eight with four-midable show!

LUTON TOWN 4 (Mackail-Smith 23 (pen), Marriott 25, 51, Vassell 86) CHESTERFIELD 0

Att: 1,655 (152 away)

The Hatters are two rounds away from Wembley after turning in a four-midable performance to knock yet another higher-level side out of the Checkatrade Trophy at Kenilworth Road tonight.

Chesterfield might be involved in a League One relegation battle and without a permanent manager following the sacking of former Town hero Danny Wilson on Sunday.

But the Hatters showed no mercy to leave the visitors from Derbyshire in disarray as Craig Mackail-Smith netted his first goal in almost 11 months, Jack Marriott bagged a double and substitute Isaac Vassell scored an emphatic fourth to send the Spireites the same way as Gillingham, West Brom and Swindon, as the Town booked a place in Thursday’s quarter-final draw.

Manager Nathan Jones selected a strong side, with goalkeeper Christian Walton, centre-half Glen Rea and midfielders Jake Gray and Jonathan Smith all starting from the team that kicked off at Accrington in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Stephen O’Donnell, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Marriott, who all came on as substitutes at the Wham Stadium, were in the starting line-up too, along with Mackail-Smith, Jordan Cook and young defenders Frankie Musonda and Jack Senior.

The Hatters’ first chance came in the seventh minute when Cook burst down the left and crossed low for Mackail-Smith, who couldn’t get a clean shot off and visiting keeper Lloyd Allinson collected easily.

Within a minute Gray had registered the Town’s second shot, although it whistled over the bar from 20 yards after O’Donnell teed the midfielder up from the right flank.

Marriott was next to have a go in the 17th minute after Senior had won the ball with a crunching tackle on the left, but the striker’s effort was straight at Allinson.

Chesterfield had their first attempt in the 22nd minute when Jay O’Shea curled one just wide of Walton’s right-hand post, but within seconds the Hatters had made the breakthrough, with Mackail-Smith latching onto a fine through ball from Marriott before being brought down in the area by Laurence Maguire.

The 32-year-old quickly picked himself up to take the opportunity to net his first goal since returning from the broken leg he suffered towards the end of last season, despatching the penalty with confidence down the middle as Allinson dived to his right.

It was two in the 25th minute when Marriott raced down the right and fired home from a tight angle, beating Allinson at his near post with a powerful right-footed drive the skimmed up off the greasy surface and nestled in the back of the Oak Road End net.

Just before the half-hour O’Shea had a low shot gathered by Walton, then Maguire fired high over the bar into the empty Kenilworth Road stand – with the Hatters’ England Under-21 keeper acting as ball-boy to collect it from among the unoccupied blue seats.

As half-time approached, Mackail-Smith had a great chance for his second, but his stabbed effort from Marriott’s sharp turn and cross was saved by Allinson, before Chesterfield reminded the Town they could be a threat in the game.

First, O’Shea hit the bar with a 25-yard free-kick, then Rea sold Walton short with an attempted back-header that put Jake Beesley in the clear, but the Spireites’ striker couldn’t get a clean shot away under pressure from the excellent Frankie Musonda.

The second half started in much the same way most of the first half had gone – with the Hatters on top, pressing high and knocking the ball around with confidence.

That brought about the third goal within six minutes of the restart, and once again it was the Town’s front pair of Mackail-Smith and Marriott who combined, the former playing the latter in on this occasion to cut back onto his left foot and hammer a shot unerringly into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

Chesterfield made a double substitution, bringing on midfielder Jon Nolan and striker Kristian Dennis in a bid to prise a way back into the game, and they enjoyed a spell of possession without creating a clear-cut chance, Connor Dimaio having their only shot of the half that trickled just past Walton’s right-hand post.

At the other end, Cook had a crack at goal in the 75th-minute, but his right-foot volley fizzed just wide of the far post, then the ex-Walsall man looked to put Marriott in for his hat-trick with a fine through ball, but the Chesterfield captain Sam Hird nicked it off his toe as he looked to get a shot off.

Cook had the ball in the net in the 78th minute with a neat finish after a lay-off from sub Olly Lee, but an offside flag ruled that one out, then Cook played in a low cross for Vassell – who had come on as sub alongside Zane Banton – but his near post effort flew wide.

The ex-Truro man made it four in the 86th minute, however, when Lee played him through with a drilled pass from inside his own half, and Vassell used his power and pace to great effect, regaining his footing when it looked like he was falling to outsprint Hird and finish emphatically into the roof of the Chesterfield net.

The Cornishman had another good chance seconds later when Mpanzu, who had turned in a composed performance in the holding midfield role, sprayed a lovely pass out to the left, but the striker’s shot flew wide of the far post.

It mattered not. The Hatters had already done enough damage with an emphatic performance that sent the Town soaring into the last eight, and “lifted” Jones after the disappointment of Saturday’s FA Cup exit.

TOWN: Walton, O’Donnell, Musonda, Rea, Senior, Mpanzu, Smith ©, Gray (Lee 62), Cook, Marriott (Vassell 77), Mackail-Smith (Banton 77). Subs not used: Mullins, Bakinson, King (GK), Cotter.

CHESTERFIELD: Allinson, Hird ©, Evatt, Gardner (Mitchell 75), O’Neil, Dimaio, Simons (Dennis 56), O’Shea, Maguire, Ariyibi (Nolan 56), Beesley. Subs not used: Parkin (GK), Martinez, Daly, German.

Yellows: Maguire

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-chesterfield-3511668.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYv7OWFRoP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cslW3WXBJhU

PUBLISHED 22:21 10th January 2017 Town cruised to a 4-0 win over the League One side

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was thrilled with his side’s showing in their 4-0 victory over League One side Chesterfield in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Craig Mackail-Smith’s penalty midway through the first half was followed up by a Jack Marriott brace, before substitute Isaac Vassell made it 4-0 late on as he smashed the ball past Lloyd Allinson.

Jones was delighted with his side's win, as he said: “It was wonderful. It was a bit more like us. After the weekend when we weren’t really at it.

“That was a team that was right at it, from the word go we really went for the jugular.

“We pressed high and we had a load of energy about us. We scored a goal from a real good through ball and pace.

“The second goal was exactly the same, the fourth one was exactly the same and it could have been more, without being disrespectful or anything.

“We had opportunities to put the game to bed a lot earlier, but I am delighted.

“It’s lifted me actually a little bit after the weekend.”

Checkatrade Trophy, third round: Luton Town 4 Chesterfield 0

Luton Town continued their love hate relationship with the Checkatrade Trophy after pummeling League One Chesterfield 4-0 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

With some of the most enjoyable evenings coming in a competition that has seen the club fined £15,000 for the amount of changes made, Nathan Jones' side easily dispensed with the Spireites, the fourth higher level opposition beaten so far, although this time the visitors weren't just beaten, but completely trounced by the Hatters.

Although Jones made seven alterations from Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat, he still opted for one of the strongest sides he has selected in the competition, with the likes of Craig Mackail-Smith, Jack Marriott, Christian Walton and Glen Rea all starting.

Young centre half Frankie Musonda once again showed just how much improvement he is making this season, although the stand-out youngster was left back Jack Senior, who will surely be in with a serious chance of the first team at Crewe on Saturday.

Town made a promising start, showing signs of what was to come, with Jordan Cook bursting away to set up Mackail-Smith, whose effort was easy for Lloyd Allinson and Jake Gray's dipping effort flew narrowly over.

Marriott tested Allinson low down on 17 minutes, as the Spireites, who sacked ex-Town midfielder Danny Wilson on Sunday, never once showed any renewed vigour that comes with a change at the helm, having their first real effort soon after, the tricky Jay O'Shea twisting and turning before shooting off target.

However, Luton scored twice in quick succession to put one foot firmly in the next stage as Laurence Maguire slid in on Mackail-Smith, tripping the forward in the area to concede a penalty on 22 minutes.

Mackail-Smith himself assumed the responsibility from the spot, thundering home his first Luton goal since February 28, that time a late leveller against Hartlepool on the same ground.

One swiftly became two as Marriott escaped his markers in the box and delivered a low shot that Allinson allowed to creep under his body at the near post.

O'Shea appeared the visitors most likely outlet, sending a daisycutter that Walton expertly fielded, while with the two goal cushion, Luton were happy to soak up pressure and hit on the break with the pace of Mackail-Smith and Marriott, although O'Donnell was next to venture forward, dragging off target on 38 minutes.

Mackail-Smith was denied his second of the evening by the legs of Allinson after a lovely move saw Marriott take Senior's perfectly weighted throughball and crossing low for his striking partner.

The Spireites finally woke up to seriously threaten in the closing stages, as O'Shea's wonderfully disguised free kick wide on the right saw the midfielder aim for goal instead of cross to his team-mates, with his audacious attempt clipping the bar.

Jake Beesley then wasted a glorious opportunity, as Rea got nowhere near enough on his back header, allowing the visiting striker a free run on goal as he fluffed his lines badly, directing a weak attempt straight at Walton.

Six minutes after the interval, Marriott had his second when another quickfire break by Town saw Mackail-Smith feed the forward and he transferred the ball on to his left to slot into bottom corner.

The game then started to meander to its conclusion, with Chesterfield's Connor Dimaio going close from range, to ironic cheers from the visiting support.

Cook had a pop as well, skimming an angled volley off target, with Jonathan Smith hitting the side-netting and sub Olly Lee couldn't divert Cook's cross beyond the sprawling Allinson.

Late sub Isaac Vassell was to put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute, sprinting on to Lee's pass and with plenty to do, showcased his tremendous pace and power to outmuscle Sam Hird and then drill beyond Allinson.

Vassell almost had his second, arrowing wide of the mark, but Town were in cruise control now and go into Thursday's draw, one step closer to that mouthwatering Wembley final.

Hatters: Christian Walton, Stephen O'Donnell, Jack Senior, Frankie Musonda, Glen Rea, Jonathan Smith (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Gray (Olly Lee 62), Jordan Cook, Jack Marriott (Isaac Vassell 77), Craig Mackail-Smith (Zane Banton 77).

Subs not used: Craig King, Johnny Mullins,Tyreeq Bakinson, Kavan Cotter.

Spireites: Lloyd Allinson, Sam Hird (C), Ian Evatt, Dan Gardner (Reece Mitchell 75), Liam O'Neil, Connor Dimaio, Rai Simons (Kristian Dennis 56), Jay O'Shea, Laurence Maguire, Gboly Ariyibi (Jon Nolan 56), Jake Beesley.

Subs not used: Angel Martinez, Derek Daly, Ricky German, Dylan Parkin.

Attendance: 1,655 (152 Chesterfield).

Booked: Laurence Maguire 22.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Hatters MOM: Jack Marriott - great to see the striker back in the goals once more.

Luton boss Nathan Jones had his spirits boosted after watching his side demolish League Two Chesterfield 4-0 in the Checkatrade Trophy last night.

The Hatters chief admitted Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup exit at Accrington Stanley had left him feeling pretty down, but he soon perked up thanks to Jack Marriott’s double, plus goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and Isaac Vassell.

Town’s thumping victory saw them into Thursday’s quarter-final draw where they could face either Cheltenham or Bradford, who play next Tuesday, along with one of Wycombe, Swansea City U23s, Yeovil, Coventry, Mansfield or Oxford.

Jones said: “I’m very happy, it’s lifted me a bit to be honest with you.

“After the weekend I was disappointed with the performance and how we went about our work, tonight we were wonderful from start to finish.

“We had energy about us, had a real good structure, and we looked a really, really dangerous side and without being disrespectful it could have been a lot more.

“It’s pleasing as that’s the performances I’m looking for, as we train at that intensity, we train at the pace and the level where we move the ball quickly and we know we’ve got players who are a threat.

“Their best chance came from O’Shea’s free kick which was a bit of improvisation, but he’s a very good player.

“In terms of a performance, when they had a bit of play second half, bit of possession, our discipline, our defensive shape was excellent, we pressed at the right times, put our bodies on the line when we needed to and were always a threat and it should have been more.”

The style of the performance in midweek left Jones purring too, as it was everything that Luton didn’t do in their third round exit to Stanley at the weekend.

He continued: “I hate losing games, but if we lose doing the right things and generally when we’ve done the right things we haven’t lost.

“It’s just when we go away from what we train at, we do things every single day, it’s like breathing.

“They don’t ever get a chance to go ‘I can toss today’s training session off, I can have a day off today,’ they don’t do that.

“They work hard every day, so when they go away from that and we didn’t press well the other day and we didn’t pass the ball well enough.

“Yes it’s a difficult game, it’s foggy, pitch wasn’t great, it’s Accrington, and you go away, and it’s a difficult place to go and I know we missed chances, but we just didn’t do the right things that we normally do.

“Tonight we did and that’s pleasing as I recognise my team tonight and I didn’t on Saturday.”

Jones opted for what could be classed as the strongest side he had picked in the competition so far, making just seven changes from Saturday’s defeat, with the likes of Christian Walton, Glen Rea, Jake Gray and Marriott involved.

On his selection, Jones added: “We have to use the squad, and it’s just the one that needed the game.

“Some haven’t played in this tournament before but they needed games, it’s Cook’s first game in this tournament and he needed the minutes, Marriott did as well, so did Mackail-Smith, so we used the squad, and we used them well.

“Jake has come in and done really at the weekend but he lacks the minutes, so again, he had to play.

“It was just using the squad, so anyone we need at that time we use and thought they were excellent, really has given me a big lift.”

Luton Town 4 Chesterfield 0

CHECKATRADE? Check your diaries because Luton moved a step closer to a Wembley final after cruising past Chesterfield to reach the quarter finals.

Mark it down in pencil only perhaps but the day after April Fools seems like a fitting point in the calendar for a north London day out and for the Hatters to make monkeys out of the EFL. It would be the ultimate, you-fine-us-£15,000-for-fielding-kids; we'll-just-win-your-Mickey-Mouse-Trophy scenario.

Here against the managerless Spireites, Town boss Nathan Jones fielded far fewer homegrown starlets than in previous rounds, but still made seven changes from the weekend's FA Cup exit, beating higher division opposition for the fourth time in the tournament. Well, to be fair, they strolled past the Derbyshire side.

And, as an added bonus, all but one of the much-criticised invitational under-21 sides are now out of the running after the kids of Leicester, Wolves, Reading and Brighton all got knocked out. Unless Swansea go on to win the silverware, then I'd say that's an epic fail for this year's big Trophy experiment.

Luton's case study just keeps improving, though. Jack Marriott bagged a brace, Craig Mackail-Smith scored from the penalty spot – his first goal since February – and Isaac Vassell completed the rout late on.

I don't know about you, but, for all its faults, this competition is proving rather enjoyable. As ever, it's understandable why supporters have stayed away in their droves all over the country, but some of Town's best nights have come courtesy of the Trophy. And now they're getting down to the nitty-gritty.

And, as their League Two campaign has stuttered of late, there were a few examples of what could be done to change that. Most notably, a fabulous all-action display from left back Jack Senior. Defensively tenacious with a good touch, eye for a pass (long or short) and with adventurous attacking abilities, the former Huddersfield ace now more than merits a place in the team to face Crewe at the weekend.

And the strikers have all thrown their hat in the ring for a place alongside top score Danny Hylton. That united front began in the 22nd minute when Mackail-Smith was sent scampering into the box. He nipped in front of Laurence Maguire, and was chopped down but took the spot-kick himself, smashing straight down the centre.

Two minutes later things got even better. Marriott chased onto a ball and had no right to score from the acutest of angles, but his shot took Chesterfield's keeper Lloyd Allinson by surprise and squeezed in.

Chesterfield's only concession to clawing back into the game came in the first half's final throes as Jay O'Shea hit the bar with a free-kick before Glen Rea escaped a major gaffe.

As last man, the midfielder missed a header and Jake Beesley raced through on goal, but the striker could bobble an effort at grateful goalie Christian Walton anyway.

However, six minutes after the half time interval Luton put the game well and truly beyond the Spireites, when Mackail-Smith fed in Marriott and the striker had the freedom of Kenilworth Road to stroke into the bottom corner.

And when the front two departed, replacement Vassell got in on the goal action with some of the stuff that has seen boss Jones affectionately call him "an animal". The striker out-muscled and out-paced last man Sam Hird and buried high in the visitors' net.

Que sera, sera? On this EFL Trophy form, Wembley is a distinct possibility for Luton.