Luton Town FC vs Coventry City (24th Feb 2019)

LUTON TOWN 1 COVENTRY CITY 1

Club record unbeaten run extended to 21 matches at Kenilworth Road

The Hatters restored their five-point advantage at the top of Sky Bet League One after a 1-1 draw against Coventry City in front of the Sky cameras this afternoon.

The stalemate means the Town add this result to their record-breaking unbeaten list for this season, which now stands at 21 matches since a 3-2 defeat at Barnsley in mid-October.

The draw also means the Hatters stay unbeaten at Kenilworth Road in the league this season, a run that has now been extended to 17 matches - and 21 since Accrington were the last side to take all three points in a league game here almost a year ago.

Matty Pearson headed in his sixth of the campaign but his opener was soon cancelled out by Jordan Shipley, when he calmly placed his strike past James Shea. The Hatters dominated play for large parts of the match but struggled to find the winner in the end.

Manager Mick Harford named an unchanged team to that which won at Fleetwood last week to break the club record unbeaten run in the EFL.

That meant James Shea was in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Pearson, captain Sonny Bradley and James Justin.

Alan McCormack anchored the midfield with Andrew Shinnie, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and George Moncur behind a front two of Danny Hylton and top scorer James Collins.

It was the Hatters who had the first chance of the match, Coventry-born Collins hitting his effort well over the bar after some neat work between Hylton and Stacey down the right.

Moncur then released Shinnie who had a go from 20 yards, although it ended up over the bar too. The Scot’s next attempt went just wide of the post as the Hatters began the match the stronger of the two sides.

A Coventry free-kick from a dangerous position on 12 minutes quickly led to a promising counter attack for the Town when Stacey won it outside his own penalty area. A string of quick passes between the midfielders found its way to Shinnie on the right, whose low cross had City keeper Lee Burge sprawling in his six-yard box to make it his.

The goal the Hatters deserved eventually came a little bit later from their first corner of the match, Justin putting a pinpoint cross into the box to find Pearson’s head. The centre-half was never going to miss, racing away to celebrate his sixth of the season.

A small mix-up between McCormack and Shea nearly handed the visitors their first chance of the afternoon, Amadou Bakayoko going down in the area after Shea failed to clear the danger. A large amount of protest from the Sky Blues wasn’t enough to sway the ref’s decision, awarding a goal-kick to the Hatters.

Coventry played their way into the contest though, disrupting the Hatters’ flow. Bakayoko had looked lively until he was forced off the pitch due to injury. The substitute Shipley proved to be an important change for the visitors though, popping up with the equaliser on 34 minutes.

Jordy Hiwula made a nice turn around Pearson and found Shipley in acres of space, and the sub coolly slotted in from close range. The Hatters then found themselves in the unfamiliar position of holding on until half-time, as Coventry closed in on the league leaders

Luke Thomas found time and space on the edge of the box after a driving run forward but couldn’t keep his curling shot below the crossbar. The Sky Blues ended the half better than the Town, who looked frustrated after not building on a positive start.

The Hatters looked fired up after the break and began the second 45 well, Justin finding Bradley this time from a corner. The defender’s powerful header was just about scraped off the line just five minutes in.

Town then began to play some better stuff, McCormack supplying the forwards with opportunities to attack the Coventry penalty area.

A well-worked corner routine then made its way to Shinnie. A small touch out of his feet meant the midfielder could drive a low effort through a crowd of bodies, a small deflection the only thing keeping the score level.

The Sky Blues continued to slow the game down but still the persistent Hatters battled to break them down. The Town also had their own penalty appeals waved away when Hylton felt he was tripped by Dujon Sterling.

Mpanzu spurned a chance wide when Justin fed a wonderfully-weighted pass through, and substitute LuaLua prodded over as the game entered its final ten minutes.

Sterling proved the visitors were still lurking when he lofted a fine ball into the middle where Dominic Hyam was waiting to head wide, before LuaLua’s low effort comfortably found its way into the gloves of Burge as still the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net at the other end.

Justin put another good cross into the area where Lee tried to flick his header in, but Burge watched it over the whole way. Collins then pulled a top save out of the Coventry number one in stoppage time to deny the Hatters who forged ample chances to snatch all three points.

With one of the last passages of play, perhaps the best chance of the game fell to McCormack as Elliot Lee's free-kick from the edge of the box was deflected into the midfielder's path.

McCormack, already falling backwards, hit his shot straight back into the arms of Burge when a prod either side of the keeper would surely have won the game.

By then, it became clear that the Hatters would have to share the points after throwing everything at the away side to try and break them down.

The side have now accumulated 53 points from a possible 63, scoring 48 in the process. With another home match next Saturday against Rochdale to look forward to, the Town can now prepare and hope to be back to winning ways at the Kenny in a week’s time.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley (c), Justin, McCormack, Shinnie, Mpanzu, Moncur (Lee 65), Hylton (LuaLua 77), Collins. Subs: Potts, Cummings, Thorne, Sheehan, Isted

Goals: Pearson 16

Yellows: Mpanzu, LuaLua

CITY: Burge, Mason, Willis, Kelly (c), Hiwula, Hyam, Sterling, Bayliss, Bakayoko (Shipley 29), Thomas (Meyler 77), Enobakhare (Wakefield 84). Subs: Grimmer, Davies, Bremang, Addai (GK)

Goals: Shipley 35

Yellows: Bayliss, Thomas, Kelly [should be Shipley not Kelly]

REFEREE: Ross Joyce

ATT: 9,810 (819 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZykavl4U0o

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

MICK HARFORD ON THE 1-1 DRAW WITH COVENTRY

Town boss Mick Harford was disappointed to see his side only pick up a point after his side's 1-1 draw with Coventry City this afternoon.

Matty Pearson grabbed the opener in the 16th minute when he nodded in from James Justin's cross, before Jordan Shipley converted from Jordy Hiwula's pull back just after the half hour mark.

The result means Town have now gone 21 league games unbeaten at Kenilworth Road, and should they avoid defeat against Rochdale next weekend, they will have gone a whole year since suffering a loss in the league at home.

Harford said: "We are disappointed with the result. We did enough in my opinion to win the game, the performance was excellent, especially in the second half. They had a spell in the first half, Coventry for 20, 25 minutes where they looked a dangerous outfit. We countered that and second half we had numerous chances. We're disappointed with the result, but the performance in my opinion was excellent.

"The way they worked, the way they go about their work – I keep saying it, but it's a testament to the way they work, the spirit they have amongst themselves, the camaraderie and they just stick together when it gets tough and the going got tough today in the first half. They stuck to their guns, they came through it. I thought we were brilliant second half, we tried to create opportunities and they barely got in our half second half."

There were two big penalty calls – one for each team – during the game, with Harford certain his side should have been awarded one after Danny Hylton appeared to be cleaned out in the box.

"I have seen them back," Harford said. "I am going to be biased, I think James Shea got the ball and the lad has gone over. I think the one where Danny Hylton, Sterling has come across him, it looked a penalty to me. But it's a tough job for the referees, it's 50/50 'do I give it, don't I give it?', he's gone the other way and on another day we could have had it, we know how hard it is for them."

Hatters held at home by Sky Blues

League One: Luton Town 1 Coventry City 1

Luton Town saw their run of six successive victories ended by a determined Coventry City in front of the Sky TV cameras this afternoon.

Although the Hatters dominated large parts of the play, particularly in the second period, they just couldn't break through a dogged visiting side, who managed to keep them at arm's length.

The hosts were unchanged after beating Fleetwood 2-1 last weekend, and had a great chance inside the opening five minutes when Danny Hylton found the overlapping Jack Stacey who teed up top scorer James Collins, but he got underneath his effort.

Town continued their fine start, Andrew Shinnie picking up George Moncur's pass and driving down the centre of the pitch, only to shoot over the top from 20 yards.

Shinnie was having a real influence in the early stages, nicking the ball back and breaking into the box, his low attempt missing the bottom corner.

There was an element of fortune about the manner in which Hatters had the lead on 17 minutes, as James Justin appeared to get the final touch on a burst forward, only for referee Ross Joyce to award a corner.

The full back swung it over from the left and there was Matty Pearson completely unmarked to send a downward header through keeper Lee Burge's grasp for a sixth of the season.

Town had an iffy moment when Alan McCormack's backpass was almost pinched by Amadaou Bakayoko, with James Shea lucky not to concede a penalty for his studs high challenge on the attacker.

Rather than kick into gear, the opening goal saw Hatters strangely come off the pace, becoming unusually sloppy in their play and were made to pay by the visitors on 34 minutes.

City were allowed to transfer possession down the left far too easily, with Jordy Hiwula getting the better of Pearson, his ball across perfect for sub Jordan Shipley to beat the exposed Shea.

With the confidence growing after restoring parity, Luke Thomas made room and then chanced his arm, shooting over from 20 yards.

After the break, Town's set-piece prowess almost worked again, with Sonny Bradley this time meeting Justin's delivery, only for Liam Kelly to clear off the line.

Luton were by far the brighter in the second 45 though, looking out of their slumber and Shinnie, who impressed throughout, almost had them back in front just after the hour, advancing into the area, his effort deflected inches past the post.

With 20 to go, the Hatters started committing men forward, Hylton going over in the box under a challenge from Dujon Sterling, with no penalty awarded, while Justin found Mpanzu, who spun cleverly, only to drag just wide.

Going into the final 10 minutes, there was always the chance of City getting a goal on the odd breakaway, Dominic Hyam putting a header off target at the back post.

Sub Elliot Lee looped his header over the top and Collins was crowded out by Burge, but Luton should have won it in stoppage time, when they won a free kick on the edge of the box.

Although Moncur had since been replaced, once again, Justin dummied the set-piece, with Lee this time taking aim.

His side-footer was deflected but fell perfectly for McCormack, who unmarked and just five yards out, couldn't show the composure required in that position, shooting straight at the prostrate Burge, when either side and it was in.

The result saw Luton move five points clear of second placed Barnsley, both now on 34 matches, while Sunderland dropped to seven points behind, having played a game less.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur (Elliot Lee 64), James Collins, Kazenga, Danny Hylton (Kazenga LuaLua 77).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Dan Potts, Jason Cummings, Alan Sheehan, George Thorne.

City: Lee Burge, Brandon Mason, Jordan Willis, Liam Kelly ©, Jordy Hiwula (David Meyler 77), Dominic Hyam, Dujon Sterling, Tom Bayliss, Amadou Bakayoko (Jordan Shipley 30), Luke Thomas, Bright Enobakhare (Charlie Wakefield 84)

Subs not used: Jack Grimmer, Tom Davies, Corey Addai, David Bremang.

Booked: Mpanzu 28, Bayliss 43, Thomas 58, LuaLua 85, Shipley 90.

Referee: Ross Joyce. Attendance: 9,810 (819 Coventry).

Harford** left disappointed by rare Luton home draw**

Hatters boss Mick Harford declared he was left feeling disappointed by his side's 1-1 draw against Coventry this afternoon.

Harford saw Town move in front through Matty Pearson's header on 17 minutes, but, for the first time this season, that didn't lead to a Luton victory, City levelling before the break through Jordan Shipley.

Town missed chances in the second period, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu wide and Alan McCormack shooting straight at keeper Lee Burge from close range in stoppage time.

Speaking afterwards, Harford said: “Overall, we're disappointed with the result, we did enough in my opinion to win the game.

“We got in numerous times down the right hand side with some very intricate play, especially from Jack Stacey and Andrew Shinnie, cut backs and Andrew bursting through a couple of times.

“Fair play to Coventry, they have a very expansive game, they've got some good players, good young players who will go on to have good careers.

“They made it difficult for us for 20-25 minutes, and we had to counter that.

“At half time, we had a little reshuffle so to speak and second half I think we countered their strengths very well.

“We created numerous chances, so overall we're disappointed with the result but the performance in my opinion was excellent."