Luton Town FC vs Coventry City (29th Sep 2021)

Report | Luton Town 5-0 Coventry City

Adebayo and Cornick bag braces and Berry another as Hatter hit Sky Blues for five!

The Hatters returned to winning ways in style at Kenilworth Road with a five-star show against high-flying Coventry.

After six matches without victory, four of which were excellent draws, the Town tore into the Sky Blues from the off with Elijah Adebayo winning and then netting a penalty inside the opening two minutes.

The striker moved to the top of the scoring charts with a fifth of the season before half-time, after man-of-the-match Harry Cornick and Luke Berry had made it 3-0 by the half-hour mark for the second home game in a row.

Adebayo netted that fourth deep into eight minutes of first-half injury-time, allowed after a long delay for a Coventry supporter to receive treatment in the away end immediately after the second goal by Cornick, who added gloss to a brilliant individual performance with the fifth just before the hour.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes from the side that had lost, but played impressively at Bournemouth on Saturday, with Glen Rea starting in the league for the first time this season and captain Sonny Bradley returning from injury to make his second appearance of the campaign.

After coming on at half-time against the league leaders in the previous match, Amari’i Bell started on the left and there was a welcome return to the matchday squad for Allan Campbell following his injury at Blackburn Rovers earlier this month.

The Hatters made a dream start when Adebayo beat Jake Clarke-Salter on the Town right and drove towards the box, only to have his feet taken from under him by the City left wing-back. The striker picked himself up and tucked the penalty into the bottom corner, giving keeper Simon Moore no chance, for his fourth goal of the season.

Adebayo and striker partner Cornick were causing problems for the visitors' defence, but it was the latter's long throw from the right that created the next chance, Kal Naismith flicking on at the near post and Berry glancing a header inches wide after 15 minutes.

Two minutes later it was Rea who was driving the Hatters forward, whipping a cross in from the left but being taken out by City midfielder Gustavo Hamer in the process. The City midfielder was booked, and from the free-kick Town extended the advantage.

Bree slid a low ball into Naismith, who laid it back for Cornick to shoot. The opportunity was closed down and Cornick turned to lay it back to Clark, who stood up a lovely cross for Naismith to head back across goal for Cornick to complete his run and place his header past Moore into the bottom corner.

A length delay followed the goal, as paramedics and the Hatters' medical team gave treatment to a Coventry supporter in the Oak Road End, the fan eventually emerging on a stretcher and carried off to warm applause from both sets of supporters.

Play restarted with 26 minutes on the clock, and four minutes later it was three - Cornick doing brilliantly to latch onto Tom Lockyer's ball down the right, taking advantage of a mix-up between Clarke-Salter and his captain, Kyle McFadzean, and cutting it back into the path of Berry, who finished brilliantly on the run for his fourth of the season.

Clark was running riot in midfield, and it was the former Accrington man who rise highest to meet Bree's cross for the Town's next oppoprtunity, his header drifting a foot wide of the far post.

Coventry attempted to mount a response, Dominic Hyam volleying Todd Kane's deep cross into the side-netting, but it was the Hatters who went closest to extending their lead in the eight minutes of added time, Bradley heading straight at Moore and Cornick flashing a cross-shot across the face of the Sky Blues' goal, before Adebayo did.

We were in ther seventh minute of injury-time when Lockyer released Bree with a lovely clip down the right, the former Aston Villa full-back whipped the ball across for Cornick to flick it on for Adebayo to volley emphatically home for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Coventry made a change at the break, bringing on Ben Sheaf for Hamer to stiffen up the midfield, but it was the Town who were soon in attacking mode once more, Cornick's tireless running causing countless problems for the Coventry back four.

Berry shot from distance at the end of one fine passing move, then Ian Maatsen called Simon Sluga into action for the first time on 55 minutes, just before Cornick grabbed his second.

It owed much to Berry's determination, pinching the ball off Sheaf as Coventry looked to play out from the back from a free-kick awarded for Cornick being flagged offside. The ball broke to the forward, who took a touch and hit a left-footed shot into the top corner, via a deflection off Hyam as the City defender attempted to block.

Clark and Cornick combined to play the rampaging Bree into the box just after the hour, his low shot zipping across Moore's goal and a whisker wide of the far post, as the Kenny End eagerly awaited a sixth.

Clark and Berry were everywhere, with Rea anchoring the midfield with calm authority, and it was the former tracking back to win the ball with a sliding tackle that allowed Berry to create the game's next chance for Adebayo, whose 25-yard attempt for a hat-trick was good, but straight at Moore.

It was to be Adebayo's last action, as he left the pitch - along with Cornick - to a standing ovation with just under 20 minutes to go, to be replaced by Carlos Mendes Gomes and Cameron Jerome.

Both game changers went close to adding to the scoreline, Jerome with an over-head kick after Berry's shot was blocked, and Mendes Gomes with a poke towards the near post, deflected behind for a corner, after great link up play on the left by Naismith and Berry.

Jerome went close again in the final minute, but couldn't keep his header down from Naismith's pinpoint cross, and the Hatters had to settle for five.

Goals:

Town: Adebayo (pen) 3, 45+7, Cornick 18, 58, Berry 30

Att: 9,805 (1,032 away)

Nathan Jones delighted with Coventry win!

Manager Nathan Jones was full of praise for his ‘magnificent’ players after a superb 5-0 victory against Coventry City, a performance he credits as one of the best he has had as a manager.

The rampant Hatters were four goals in-front at half-time thanks to goals from Elijah Adebayo, Luke Berry and Harry Cornick, before the latter added to his tally in the second period.

After a run of matches without a win, the gaffer said: “Let’s be honest, the performance levels have been there. Birmingham we were flat after coming off the back two away journeys but Swansea we should have been five up against them comfortably, they got away with one. Bristol City should have been three up at half-time comfortably but tonight I thought we were magnificent.

"I think it is as good a performance I have ever had as a manager, bearing in mind we’ve won by seven and eight before, but this is the Championship and against a side that could have gone top. They are a good side, energic side but tonight pretty much showed everything that we are about."

With the memories of Swansea’s comeback undoubtedly crossing supporters’ minds at the interval, Jones was glad to see the momentum continue for the entirety of the match.

“We finished strong and it doesn’t flatter us in any way shape or form. It could have been more and that is the level we showed tonight, we are a good side here, the crowd were brilliant tonight and praise the lord, the fan who was ill in the away end is good so best wishes to him.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi63qLdLC1I – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yrFA2w15LA – reverse angle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNgWeej54U – NJ interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQrrO62w6bo – Harry Cornick interview

Five-star Hatters are simply brilliant as they thrash Coventry

Championship: Luton Town 5 Coventry City 0

Luton Town emphatically ended their run of six games without a win a truly wonderful demolition of high-flying Coventry City this evening.

During the pre-match build-up, manager Nathan Jones had spoke of it being his worst run of results during two spells in charge, with the Sky Blues, who had only conceded six in nine matches beforehand, sitting third in the table, expected to prove tricky opponents.

It went on to prove anything but, the visitors simply blown away by a Town team who had pace and power to burn all over the pitch, the brilliant Harry Cornick in particular running rings around the City defenders, as the Hatters scored four times in the first half with a blistering display of attacking football.

This time there was to be no repeat of the Swansea debacle from just over a week ago either, which saw the Hatters concede three times in the second half to leave with just a point, as they added another after the break to seal a biggest since their return to the second tier.

Jones had made three changes to his side from the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, Sonny Bradley and Glen Rea starting for the first time this season, Rea making his 200th Luton appearance.

Amari'i Bell was also back, with Gabe Osho, Henri Lansbury and Reece Burke dropping to the bench, where they were joined by midfielder Allan Campbell, making a swifter than expected return from his ligament damage suffered against Blackburn Rovers last month.

In a first game with a full house in attendance under the lights at Kenilworth Road since February 2020, the Hatters got off to the best start possible as inside two minutes they were awarded a penalty when Elijah Adebayo was clipped just inside the area by Jake Clarke-Salter.

Gifted an early chance to redeem himself from the miss at Bournemouth on Saturday, the forward did just that, confidently cracking his effort beyond Simon Moore and into the corner, maintaining his 100 per cent success rate from the spot.

Town continued their strong start, Rea impressing in the holding role, while Adebayo found space to have two more shots deflected behind, while a long Cornick throw was flicked on for Luke Berry to arrive and nod just wide.

The Hatters had a second on 18 minutes though when a short free-kick routine saw Cornick find Clark situated some 30 yards from goal.

He lofted a pass into the area where Kal Naismith rose highest to send the ball back across for Cornick to nod past the exposed Moore.

Immediately after the goal, there was a break in play as a Sky Blues fan required treatment and was stretchered away from the stands, however the stoppage didn't prevent Luton from regaining the ascendancy.

With half an hour gone, Town were in dreamland with the third goal as Tom Lockyer's long ball forward saw Cornick do outstandingly well to outmuscle two defenders, then get his head up and find the run of Berry who sidefooted it past Moore.

It was almost the repeat of the last game here, with Town going 3-0 up and then being pegged back by Swansea, meaning Town's fans were left hoping lightning didn't strike twice.

Luton went close to a fourth to calm any nerves that supporters might have had of lightning striking twice, which is bizarre to type at 3-0 up, Clark's header dropping narrowly wide.

The Sky Blues had their first spell of something resembling pressure, Martyn Waghorn's backheel blocked and Dominic Hyam hitting the side-netting after being left unmarked at the far post.

Town quickly weathered the best City had, getting a fourth on the stroke of half time, Lockyer setting Bree free on the right who hared away to cross, Cornick flicking on and Adebayo slamming in for a fourth that surely put the game to bed.

Luton came out determined to make sure there was no chance of City getting any wind in their sails, although Gyokeres had an early effort parried away by the otherwise un-worked Simon Sluga.

The Hatters increased their lead even further with 58 on the clock, as a quick free kick deep in opposition territory was read by Berry who intercepted, Cornick beating Moore via a slight deflection for his second of the night.

Still Luton kept on going though, sending a landslide, Bree flashing a shot just past the bottom corner after yet another foray into the City area.

A naturally confident Adebayo tried to bag his hat-trick from distance, his fierce drive well gathered by Moore underneath the bar.

Neither he or Cornick were given the chance to net a first treble for the club in the final 20 minutes, replaced by Carlos Mendes Gomes and Cameron Jerome, Jones clearly with one eye on Saturday's clash against Huddersfield.

A neat combination between Clark and Bree once more saw Berry try his luck from 18 yards, screaming for a handball, official Stephen Martin waving the claims away.

The changes didn't affect Town's attacking thrusts, Naismith and Berry neatly playing in Mendes Gomes, Moore doing enough to prevent a sixth, while he had simple task of catching Clark's 20-yarder.

Late on, Jerome almost opened his league account, meeting Naismith's inviting cross, but couldn't quite keep his effort down.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Kal Naismith ©, Amari'i Bell, Glen Rea (Gabe Osho 80), Jordan Clark, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Carlos Mendes Gomes 71), Elijah Adebayo (Cameron Jerome 71).

Subs not used: James Shea, Reece Burke, Allan Campbell, Henri Lansbury.

Sky Blues: Simon Moore, Jake Clarke-Salter, Kyle McFadzean C (Michael Rose 64), Jamie Allen, Martyn Waghorn, Callum O'Hare. Dominic Hyam, Viktor Gyokeres (Tyler Walker 64), Ian Maatsen, Todd Kane, Gustavo Hamer (Ben Sheaf 46).

Subs not used: Liam Kelly, Ben Wilson, Matt Godden, Julien Cacosta.

Bookings: Hamer 17, Meatson 62.

Referee: Stephen Martin.

Attendance: 9,805 (1,032 Coventry).

Jones hails Sky Blues thrashing as the 'best performance' of his reign as Luton manager

Hatters** chief elated by stunning victory**

Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled this evening’s 5-0 thumping of Coventry City as the ‘best performance’ he has witnessed during his time in charge at Kenilworth Road.

Although Jones has been at the helm for an 8-2 thrashing of Yeovil Town, plus a 7-0 hammering of Cambridge United in his first spell as manager, this one topped the lot.

Elijah Adebayo set the hosts on their way from the penalty spot on two minutes, while Harry Cornick and Luke Berry netted to make it 3-0, before Adebayo bagged his second on the stroke of half time.

After the break, Cornick doubled his own tally on 58 minutes, as the visitors barely threatened all evening, leading Jones to say: “We asked them to score the first goal, keep a clean sheet and win and I’d have taken any two of those.

“It was a complete performance, it’s my best performance as Luton manager by a mile.

"I know we scored eights and sevens and five away from home at certain places, but this is in the Championship against a very good side, a side who is third and they could have gone top tonight.

“So that’s the magnitude of the performance as from start to finish I thought we were outstanding.

“It should have been more, we had shots on targets, balls flashing across the box, the control we had in the game.

“They had one chance first half which hit the side-netting, and this is a side that scores goals, a side that’s third in the league, a side that has run over teams, and they are a good side.

"Mark has done a great job here, but that shows the magnitude of the performance.”

Going into the game, the Hatters had failed to register a victory in six previous matches, albeit with four draws in that sequence, as Jones knew the importance of the result, which moved them up to ninth in the table.

He added: “We needed a win today as we’d gone six without a win, but the performance levels were there.

“I don't want to keep on saying, we should have beaten Bristol City, should have beaten Swansea, Bournemouth, we should have taken something from categorically.

“Here, Sheffield United, we had better chances, so it could have been so different.

“If we sat here in third, absolutely no-one is surprised with the performance levels, we wouldn't be, but we’re not, so we have to have that consistency, show a bit more clinical edge.

“I wish we had scored four tonight and showed a tiny bit more killer instinct against Bristol City and we'd have won that 2-1, but that’s football and shows that even when they’re under pressure, they can put in performances like that.

“The relentlessness of it, and to continue it and to keep going and to not try and take the mick, that’s a good place to be.”

Hatters** boss admits he had been feeling the pressure ahead of Coventry hammering**

Town chief explains his reserved celebrations after magnificent midweek win

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted he had been feeling the pressure going into last night’s game against Coventry following a run of six games without a victory, his worst in the two spells as manager at Kenilworth Road.

Although the sequence wasn’t as bad as it seemed on paper, Town drawing four of those matches, one with former Premier League side Sheffield United, plus dominating at Bristol City and also being 3-0 up against Swansea, pegged back in injury time, it was still a major cause of frustration for the Hatters chief.

Fast forward 90 minutes though and that pressure had been relieved, in quite magnificent fashion too, Town putting five past a high-flying Coventry City team who had conceded just six goals in nine games this season prior to the, Luton producing a performance that left those inside Kenilworth Road positively drooling.

On getting back to winning ways once more, Jones said: “For me, I’ve been under a lot of pressure, I put a lot of pressure on myself as I haven't been on a run like that, apart from when I was at Stoke, but it’s really pleasing.

“I don’t sleep, my wife is on the brink of leaving me, literally, all these things happen because I’m consumed with the club and the work that I do, so when things don’t go right it’s very difficult.

"But I lead the team, I lead the group along with Gary (Sweet, chief executive) and the board, I lead the club, so I can’t afford to be like that, I have to drive that on.

"When I drive that on and I get a response to that, everything's worth it and that’s what we did tonight.

"I’m really, really proud of the performance as it was a wonderful performance and take into consideration the opposition were a good side, even better.”

Town’s thumping triumph was the first time they had scored five goals in the Championship since beating Leeds United 5-1 back in October 2006.

It was also the first time they had bagged four in a half at this level since defeating Norwich City 4-2 in October 2005 and equalled their best margin of victory in the second tier since thrashing Barnsley 5-0 in October 1993, when John Hartson and Scott Oakes were both on target.

Despite the stunning nature of the victory, Jones was fairly reserved in his celebrations afterwards, as on why that was, he said: “We came off here and I had fans shaking their heads when we drew 3-3 with Swansea and looking at me as if 'sort it out' and so on.

"I would have liked to have embraced them a little bit more tonight, but I just felt it wasn’t the right moment as they need to realise where we are as well.

"The fans were magnificent tonight, but we gave them a performance that they probably haven't seen for a long, long time.

“Bearing in mind the opposition as they could have gone top of the Championship, from start to finish, without being disrespectful, I thought we dominated the game.

"If anyone wants to argue that, I’m prepared to sit down and watch the game, I thought we were dominant and we know we can do that.”

With Town 3-0 up against the Sky Blues and cruising, there were still a few nervy souls inside the ground who were quick to point out the Hatters had been in exactly the same position against Swansea in their last home outing, only to leave with just a point.

This time, there was no such chance of history repeating itself, as the hosts added two more to seal victory, as Jones felt there were mitigating factors in the collapse against the Swans, as he added: "We were in control from moment one, you shouldn’t lose a three goal lead, but the circumstances behind the Swansea one, we should have been five up against Swansea.

"Swansea got away with absolute murder here, let’s not make any mistake, they scored three from outside the box, two with huge deflections, so there’s real context in that performance.

"Then we'd come off the back of two big away games, which is the ridiculous EFL thing of two away, it doesn’t help, so there’s real context in that.

"But to come out against a Swansea side who want to play, to really run over them and to annihilate them for 45 minutes, it’s very difficult to do that, but tonight was a complete performance from start to finish.”