Luton Town FC vs Crawley Town (12th Mar 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:00 12th March 2016 Town can't find a way through against the Red Devils

LUTON TOWN 0-1 CRAWLEY TOWN

The Hatters twice hit the woodwork in a dominant performance against Crawley – but fell to an eighth home defeat of the season at a stunned Kenilworth Road.

Chasing a fifth straight victory, the Town saw efforts from Jonathan Smith and Paul Benson strike the post and bar respectively.

But ultimately it was Matt Harrold’s 12th-minute effort that handed the visitors a third straight win on Bedfordshire soil.

Despite enjoying over 60 per cent possession and forcing 14 corners to Crawley’s one, the Town were left frustrated once more at home.

However, despite the final result there was plenty to be heartened about following a performance which Nathan Jones said afterwards was unlike anything he had seen at League 2 level.

It all began with the manager keeping faith with the same side that beat Leyton Orient last weekend – a result which had hoisted the Town to within three points of the top seven.

The Hatters started well and were a lick of paint away from taking the lead in the ninth minute when Smith’s arrowed shot from 20 yards pinged back off the Crawley post.

Life following the Hatters is never straight forward, however. And, with the Town on the top and the crowd encouraged, typically it was Crawley who went in front on 12 minutes. The Hatters failed to clear their lines following a deep set-piece and Harrold turned and struck a fine low finish into the bottom corner. Goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell, making his home debut, picked the ball out of the net. It was his first touch of the ball of the game.

Against the run of play and behind, the Town rallied. Patient football resulted in Craig Mackail-Smith flicking a first-time shot over the bar on 17 minutes following Stephen O’Donnell cross, and a minute later O’Donnell’s low cross was cleared by the Crawley defence. As the Hatters continued to probe, Paddy McCourt’s shot was blocked.

Crawley’s threat was minimal, but the Hatters needed a superb last-ditch tackle from skipper Scott Cuthbert to deny Liam McAlinden on the half-hour with the visiting midfielder through on goal and with only Mitchell to beat.

The Red Devils then created a flurry of decent chances themselves. Gwoin Edwards’ shot bounced half-a-yard wide before right-back Lanre Oyebanjo hit an effort wide.

But, as the break approached, the Town upped the ante in search of a leveller. O’Donnell’s low shot was saved by the legs of Crawley goalkeeper Paul Jones on 34 minutes and five minutes before half-time Jack Marriott’s shot zoomed just wide.

As the first half came to a close, Cameron McGeehan blasted a shot over the bar from 25 yards on 42 minutes and Olly Lee did the same from further out bang on the break.

Urged on by the Hatters fans as they headed down the tunnel, the players responded in the same vein in the second period.

But as the Town continued to be patient and probe, Crawley’s back-line stood tall. Jones introduced Joe Pigott for Mackail-Smith 10 minutes after the restart and the striker thought he should have had a penalty just before the hour when going down in the box – only to see his appeals waved away.

McGeehan went close again with another well-hit drive from distance before Mitchell held onto his first real save of the game when holding a rasper from McAlinden.

Still the Town pressed. Crawley continued to shut the door. Jones brought on Danny Green for Smith on 66 minutes.

With 20 minutes left on the clock the door was almost open for an equaliser. McCourt’s superb pass found Dan Potts and his shot was turned away superbly by the flying Jones in the Crawley goal. With the ball still not clear, O’Donnell’s follow-up was deflected high but goalwards – only for the visitors’ Oyebanjo to hack the ball off the line. It just wouldn’t go in.

Pigott’s header wide on 72 minutes followed before Benson was introduced for Marriott with 15 minutes left. And within a minute of coming on the veteran forward saw a header from Green’s right-wing cross come back off the crossbar.

As time agonisingly ticked down against the Town, Potts put a peach of a pass on a plate for someone, anyone, too tuck away with 10 minutes left, only for the ball to elude Pigott. It was turning into one of those days.

Cross after cross into the Crawley box was either cleared or couldn’t quite fall right for the Town and, before you knew, it four minutes of injury time were being shown.

In the first minute of the four the Hatters came close for one last time: Lee strained his neck muscles to meet a Green cross to send a header goalwards. Up went the crowd, up went the ball – only for it to loop millimetres over the crossbar.

And that, was that. And football, as they say, is a funny old game.

The team were applauded off the pitch – an indication of how highly the Hatters faithful thought of the performance.

One thing’s for sure, following the Town is never dull.

See you at Plymouth.

Town: Mitchell; O'Donnell, Potts, Cuthbert, Sheehan; Lee, McGeehan, Smith (sub Green), McCourt; Mackail-Smith (sub Pigott), Marriott (sub Benson).

Hatters subs not used: Justham, Ruddock, Okuonghae, Banton.

Attendance: 8,264, including 197 from Crawley.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-town-0-1-crawley-3003586.aspx

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

League Two: Luton Town 0 Crawley Town 1

Luton Town suffered a huge dent to their League Two play-off ambitions with an almost impossible to stomach 1-0 defeat against Crawley Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

It was a match that hosts completely and utterly dominated in terms of possession and territory for pretty much the entire 90 minutes, but try as they might, they couldn’t find a way past Red Devils keeper Paul Jones.

Not that the visiting stopper was particularly overworked, bar one excellent save from Dan Potts during the second period, although he did have his woodwork to thank twice for denying both Jonathan Smith and Paul Benson.

However, it was in front of him where the Crawley defensive wall was to prove unbreakable, as despite Luton trying every avenue available to them, Potts and Stephen O’Donnell in particular enjoying the freedom of the flanks, plus Paddy McCourt on song, they just couldn’t create enough clear-cut goalscoring opportunities as crosses were blocked and through balls cut out.

Since taking over boss Nathan Jones has already broken a number of unwanted records, including a first ever victory at Mansfield, but winning after conceding the first goal continues to remain beyond him for the time being, that sequence now stretching back to the Conference days.

The hosts named an unchanged side for the clash, although Alex Lawless missed out from the bench with Zane Banton replacing him.

Luton, searching for that first goal in the first half since December 12, almost had it immediately, but Craig Mackail-Smith connected with fresh air from Jack Marriott’s cross.

Smith was then inches away from the opener on seven minutes as from 20 yards out, his low daisy cutter flicked off a defender and cannoned against the outside of the post.

Although Hatters completely dominated the opening 10 minutes, with new keeper Jonathan Mitchell not called upon, he was somehow left picking the ball out on 11 minutes when a free kick wasn’t cleared and Matt Harrold produced a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

Hatters didn’t let the early goal knock them though, resuming their passing approach, as O’Donnell’s cross was diverted narrowly over by Mackail-Smith, with the full back’s shot also hacked away.

Crawley then had their best spell midway through the half as only a wonderfully-timed challenge by Scott Cuthbert prevented on-loan Wolves striker Liam McAlinden from making it 2-0 as he was went through on goal.

Winger Gwion Edwards then saw his low effort a whisker away from the bottom corner, with Lanre Oyebanjo’s shot easy for Mitchell.

Still Luton went about their business calmly though, O’Donnell’s low cross shot repelled by keeper Jones’ legs, with Marriott’s first time effort only just missing the target as did Cameron McGeehan from 20 yards.

For all their possession though, Luton just couldn’t break through in the first period, Olly Lee thumping over, as Town’s drought in the first half at Kenilworth Road stretched to seven games.

In the second period, Hatters assumed their dominance on the ball once more, forcing a corner after 22 seconds, while O’Donnell’s hopeful blast was straight at Jones.

Feeling the need to increase Town’s aerial threat, boss Jones sent on Joe Pigott for Mackail-Smith, while McGeehan couldn’t have been too far away with his shot that appeared destined for the top corner only to fly wide.

Town upped the ante one more, with two claims for penalties within 60 seconds, Marriott pleading that his shot cannoned off an arm, with Pigott then hauled down, neither getting an affirmative decision from referee Michael Bull.

McGeehan was getting closer, his free kick from 25 yards, just not coming down in time.

Hatters were then desperately unlucky not to level as Potts’ effort on the run was palmed away by Jones, and O’Donnell’s deflected rebound somehow cleared off the line by the back-pedalling Lanre Oyebanjo.

Pigott then dived full length to head off target, while Hatters had a marvellous chance on 75 minutes as O’Donnell ran half the length of the pitch, with the ball finding its way out to sub Green and his pinpoint cross was headed against the from close range by fellow replacement Paul Benson.

Potts flashed another across goal, while late on Lee’s header looked to be looping in, only to drop narrowly over the bar, with Crawley holding on for the victory as Town fell six points adrift of the play-places once more.

Hatters: Jonathan Mitchell, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Jonathan Smith (Danny Green 66), Olly Lee, Cameron McGeehan, Paddy McCourt, Jack Marriott (Paul Benson 75), Craig Mackail-Smith (Joe Pigott 54).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Zane Banton, Magnus Okuonghae, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Red Devils: Paul Jones, Lanre Oyebanjo, Sonny Bradley (C), Gwion Edwards, Liam McAlinden (Simon Walton 80), Jon Ashton, Matt Harrold, Andre Bond, Frankie Sutherland, Lyle Della Verde (Roarie Deacon 86), Charles Dunne.

Subs not used: Lee Barnard, Callum Preston, Lewis Young, Shamir Fenelon, Josh Yorwerth.

Attendance: 8,264 (197 Crawley).

Booked: McAlinden 25.

Referee: Michael Bull.

Hatters MOM: Paddy McCourt.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left bitterly frustrated by his side’s 1-0 defeat to Crawley Town at Kenilworth Road yesterday afternoon after what he felt was their most dominant display since taking over at the club.

Luton produced easily their best performance at home under Jones, but were left disappointed as Matt Harrold’s 12th minute goal settled the encounter.

Town bossed possession and territory throughout, but try as they might, couldn’t break through against the Red Devils, as their four game winning run was ended.

Jones said: “Performance-wise, I thought we were outstanding.

“The way we moved the ball, the way we created, the amount of chances, opportunities, possession we had, was enough to win two or three games.

“But we didn’t. Credit to Crawley, they had probably one chance in the game, took it and then they showed a real resilience to defend and to graft and to grind out a result.

“In terms of me, I’m happy with how we played, because we moved the ball fantastically well, that’s as dominant a game as you’re likely to see at this level, regardless of score and I’m pleased for that.

“I’m just bitterly disappointed that we didn’t convert that into three points, because if we had won that it would have been a wonderful, wonderful performance and a wonderful day for Luton Town.”

Hatters weren’t without their chances during the game either, as Jonathan Smith fired against the base of the post in the first half, before sub Paul Benson saw his free header strike the crossbar late on.

Jones continued: “Those things happen, but you’ve got to take your chances and we had enough chances to have won that game, enough situations where we got into their box and behind them.

“We didn’t quite takes those opportunities and that’s a frustrating thing because we work on stuff, but we didn’t have that real clinical edge.

“Their keeper’s made some saves, we’ve hit the woodwork twice, Benno’s had a point blank chance, they’ve knocked one off the line, had some penalty appeals, but we shouldn’t rely on them.

“We’ve got to have a clinical edge and if you do that and take more chances than they do then you win games.

“The first goal is so important in games, because it gives sides something to defend or cling on to. We’ve got to be clinical and the other day (against Leyton Orient) we had probably a hundredth of the chances we had and won the game 1-0.

“They were very deep, sat back and it wasn’t as if we couldn’t break them down as we did on a number of occasions, we just we weren’t clinical.”

Luton Town 0 Crawley Town 1

Luton could still be playing this game when you make your Monday morning school runs and commutes to work – and they'd still be searching for a goal. It was one of those days.

Matt Harrold scored in the 12 th minute against the run of play and there Crawley stayed, happily parking the proverbial bus and heading clear ball after ball. This was smash-and-grab with big, shiny bells on, a one-sided romp where the best side lost.

To add extra agony to that, it party-pooped Town's promotion push, ending a run of four wins on the spin and widening the gap between them and the play-offs from three to six points.

It was arguably the Hatters' best performance of the campaign and certainly they've rarely enjoyed so much possession, but their tika-taka-takedown brought everything but net.

They had two penalty claims turned down, saw one cleared off the line and hit the woodwork twice, through Jonathan Smith and Paul Benson. After the second occasion, from point blank range in the 76th minute, the jig was very much up.

It was not for the want of trying as they spent almost a further 20 minutes valiantly peppering Crawley's goal with crosses, for nothing. Now they know how Leyton Orient felt last weekend, while the post-match frenzy of their day out in London was replaced here by half-hearted boos for referee Michael Bull and the return of doubt and frustration.

That substitute Benson's nearly-man cameo came with his first touch of the ball highlighted a selection issue. Jack Marriott and Craig Mackail-Smith deserved their places up top after the victory at Orient – in an unchanged side that was announced over the public address system by comedian Matt Berry (The IT Crowd and Toast of London) – but they were short-changed by Crawley's two towering centre backs.

The Hatters certainly threatened more once Benson and Danny Green entered the fray for the finale because they were able to play Crawley at their own game and come up trumps. Well, almost.

Boss Nathan Jones, said: "I did say we were building. I did say that teams would come and change for us and that's as dominant a performance at this level that you're likely to see. Ultimately we've come away fruitless, if you like, because we've lost the game."

Marriott and Mackail-Smith did combine early on but the latter couldn't supply the finishing touch and a Jonathan Smith pile-driver took a deflection and battered back off the base of Crawley's post. At that stage, with Luton rampant, it seemed only a matter of when, not if, they'd score. That feeling became more desperate as the game went on.

But with their first foray into Town territory Harrold produced a smart finish which meant that goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell's first touch on his home debut was to pick the ball out of his net.

Undaunted, the hosts greedily hoarded possession, but the Reds broke out and it needed a magnificent saving tackle from Scott Cuthbert to thwart Liam McAlinden after he was sent clean through on goal.

A Gwion Edwards daisy-cutter had Mitchell diving desperately as it skimmed an inch wide of the post before Luton returned to their pressing and probing. But for all that, their blank at the break was the seventh home game on the spin that they've failed to register in the first half.

The two spot-kick shouts came in quick succession when Marriott felt arms blocked his drive, but it was nothing to the rage felt moments later when substitute Joe Pigott was hauled down by Sonny Bradley. Referee Bull waved play on and retreated amid frustrated appeals.

The visitors, however, were fairly comfortable in the modus operandi until Dan Potts forced a save from Paul Jones and then Stephen O'Donnell's follow-up was cleared off the line by Lanre Oyebanjo.

Sensing they needed more height up front Benson was introduced along with Green to supply the ammunition and with his first touch the striker met the winger's cross, slamming a header into the crossbar. He should have scored. Luton should have scored.

They didn't. Quite how is anyone's guess.

Luton Town: Mitchell, Potts, Smith (Green, 66), Cuthbert, McGeehan, Marriott (Benson, 75), McCourt, Lee, Mackail-Smith (Pigott, 54), Sheehan

Unused subs: Justham, Ruddock Mpanzu, Okuonghae, Banton

Crawley Town: Jones, Oyebanjo, Bradley, Edwards, McAlinden (Walton, 80), Ashton, Harrold, Bond, Sutherland, Della Verde, Dunne,

Unused subs: Barnard, Preston, Young, Fenelon, Deacon, Yorwerth

Referee: Michael Bull

Attendance: 8,264 (197)

Nathan Jones was left frustrated as Luton created enough chances "to win two or three games" but came away goalless and pointless against Crawley.

Matt Harrold scored against the run of play in the 12th minute with the visitors' first shot at goal but Town couldn't turn 61 per cent possession and 22 shots into goals as their four-game winning run in League Two came to an end.

The frustrating defeat – which saw the Hatters hit the woodwork twice and have two penalty appeals turned down – means that they drop back to six points adrift of the play-offs.

Jones said: "Performance-wise, I thought we were outstanding. I thought the way that we moved the ball, the way we created, the amount of chances, opportunities, the possession we had was enough to win two or three games, but we didn't.

"Credit to Crawley. They had one chance in the game and they took it and then they showed a real resilience to defend and to graft, to grind out a result and all credit to them.

"In terms of me, I'm happy with how we played. We moved the ball fantastically well. That's as dominant a game that you're likely to see at this level, regardless of score.

"I'm pleased for that thing but I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't convert that into three points because if we'd have won that it would have been a wonderful, wonderful performance and a wonderful day for Luton Town."

Jones admitted that the Hatters had "earmarked" Crawley's set plays as a threat, which was how they scored their winner.

He said: "We just didn't clear it well and we didn't react to the seconds well enough. It was a poor goal to give away but it was a really good finish, a real good, technical, sweet finish.

"We're just disappointed because it happened to us and not them."

The defeat maintained Luton's run of never coming from behind to win since their return to League Two in 2014, while they have now gone seven games without a first half goal at Kenilworth Road.

"That's in the past. I think, at times, that shows a lack of character, but there's no lack of character in this team," he said, adding: "It was a fantastic performance, a dominant performance. We just needed to be clinical."