Luton Town FC vs Derby County (19th Sep 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 2-1 Derby County

Late Clark winner gives Hatters all three points at Kenilworth Road!

The Hatters’ made it two wins from two matches in the Sky Bet Championship after they were 2-1 victors against Derby County at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Luke Berry scored the opener in the first half before Jack Marriott replied for Derby early in the second half. But with three minutes remaining, Jordan Clark scored his second winning goal of the week to ensure Town again came out on top and moved up to second place in the Championship.

Nathan Jones named an unchanged line-up from last weekend’s Championship opener against Barnsley and the Hatters enjoyed a good opening spell, creating several chances from the 20th minute onwards.

First of all, Martin Cranie picked out Harry Cornick with an inch-perfect ball forward, the wide-man got the ball on his left and struck low, but it hit the base of the post.

Just seconds later, Cornick was looking to provide for his team-mates and drilled a cross into the box, but James Collins couldn’t stretch far enough to turn the ball home.

The same routine almost worked again, though this time Andre Wisdom made a vital intervention for Derby just as Collins was about to connect with Cornick’s cross.

However, it wasn’t before long that the Hatters did manage their deserved breakthrough and it came courtesy of Berry in the 34th minute.

Elliot Lee crossed from the left-hand-side and Berry beat David Marshall to the ball and poked it into the back of the net from close range.

Derby found a route back into the game as Marriott picked out the bottom corner from inside the box, seven minutes into the second period.

Town were eager to regain their lead and Lee came close to doing just that. Half-time substitute James Bree found space on the right and crossed low for the former Barnsley man, but his effort went just wide of the goal.

The Hatters also had to be wary of Derby’s attack threat as Jamal Hector-Ingram came off the bench and almost had an immediate impact, though Sluga was out quick to block his effort.

In the 87th minute, the Hatters struck again as Rhys Norrington-Davies stood a cross up to the back post and substitute Jordan Clark was there to head into the net.

With the last kick of the game in the six additional minutes, Wayne Rooney went agonisingly close to equalising once more but Sluga was relieved to see the ball go wide of the post.

Town will now look to make it five wins in a row when they face Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Town: Sluga, Cranie, Pearson, Bradley (C), Norrington-Davies; Rea (Bree 46), Berry, Mpanzu, Lee (Clark 83); Cornick (Moncur 83), Collins.

Subs not used: Shea, Hylton, Shinnie, LuaLua.

Goals: Berry (34), Clark (87)

Yellows: Norrington-Davies, Mpanzu

Derby: Marshall, Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Forsyth; Shinnie (Sibley 45), Bird; Jozwiak (Whittaker 88), Rooney (C), Knight, Marriott (Hector-Ingram 64).

Subs not used: Roos, Evans, Buchanan, Davies

Goals: Marriott (52)

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Nathan Jones' reaction to victory against Derby County

NJ spoke to local press after the game at Kenilworth Road...

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased his side were able to claim a second victory of the week after beating Derby County 2-1 this afternoon.

Luke Berry had given the Hatters the lead in the first-half before Jack Marriott replied for the away side. But like he did on Tuesday night, Jordan Clark scored the winning goal, this time with three minutes to play as Town held on to move up into second place in the Championship.

“I’m really pleased overall with the win,” said the gaffer, whose baby daughter Olivia (pictured with dad) was attending her first game at Kenilworth Road.

“I thought first-half we were excellent. I think that’s as good as we have played in the first half, on the front-foot, pressed well and moved the ball and looked a real, real threat. Harry was outstanding.

“Second half I thought we took our foot off the gas, took a backwards step which I didn’t want us to do because you can’t do that at Championship level.

"We allowed Derby onto us and fair play to them, they changed shape, tweaked things with Rooney dropping deep and he can cause problems if you don’t get to him and that’s a learning curve for us but we responded really well to not give up, not just to be content for the 1-1.

“We made positive changes and a great goal to finish. We tweaked the shape twice and it proved fantastic in the end.

“It was as good a Championship performance as I think I’ve seen from us, I thought we were organised, I thought we pressed, we were aggressive, athletic and if it wasn’t for margins, we would have gone in further ahead.

"I was delighted with the goal. One of the midfielders gets in the box, another one arrives back-stick and these are things we work on, stuff that we ask and demand from them.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXSte6uyfus – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyENJoDldc8 – match highlights

Supersub** Clark nets late on as Hatters defeat Derby**

Championship: Luton Town 2 Derby County 1

A late goal from substitute Jordan Clark saw Luton continue their superb start to the season with a marvellous 2-1 victory over Derby County this afternoon.

The midfielder had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes, when he was left totally unmarked at the far post to head in his second goal in a week, picked out by Rhys Norrington-Davies' pinpoint cross to seal the win, Town's fourth in a row, in what had been an absorbing contest, which was definitely deserving of a crowd to see it play out.

Going into the final stages, it looked like a game that Luton would have been happy to come out of with a point, as after dominating the first period, they saw Derby have the better of the second.

Last term, the Hatters could have quite conceivably left with nothing as well, late goals hindering their efforts to establish themselves in the second tier, as their soft underbelly meant they struggled to pick up results.

But this Town side are a different animal under Nathan Jones, and rather than settle for the drawm ,he made positive changes, bringing on George Moncur and Clark, the decisions paying off handsomely, with he latter in the right place to notch a winner.

The Luton chief had reverted to the same side that beat Barnsley 1-0 at Oakwell last week, meaning James Bree and Clark had to make do with a place on the bench, Tom Lockyer missing out completely.

The visitors gave an immediate debut to Polish winger Kamil Jozwiak, signed from Lech Poznan in the week, while England's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney started, as did former Hatter Jack Marriott, ex-Town defender Curtis Davies on the bench.

County showed first, Rooney pulling the strings with an exquisite ball out to Nathan Byrne whose dangerous delivery wasn't cleared, allowing Rooney to send a tame shot at Simon Sluga.

Craig Forsyth put an attempt wide, before the Hatters started to gain a proper foothold, creating two chances in the space of 60 seconds.

First, Harry Cornick was released by Martin Cranie's pass and after cutting back on to his left foot, was denied a first goal of the season by the outside of the post.

Then the attacker turned provider, thundering over a low cross that James Collins just couldn't get enough on, as it flew behind.

Collins went for goal himself moments later, shooting straight at David Marshall, as Luton started to look increasingly dangerous.

A glorious passing move almost saw Town break the deadlock, as Luke Berry found Mpanzu, he timed a perfect pass for Cornick, whose cross was just about to be turned in by Collins until Andre Wisdom got there in the nick of time to divert behind.

There was no stopping the Hatters on 34 minutes though, when Elliot Lee dug out a cross that keeper David Marshall looked to have covered, almost waiting for it to drop into his gloves.

His hesitancy however allowed Luke Berry to take full advantage, timing his run brilliantly to executive a wonderfully inventive almost karate kick-style finish to open his account for the campaign.

County responded well, Pearson with a vital block on Marriott, as his spin and shot looked to be threatening an instant response.

Unfortunately for Town, holding midfielder Glen Rea had to go off at the break, Bree on and Cranie going to the base of the diamond, with Louie Sibley replacing Graeme Sinnie for Derby, the replacement just unable to reach a low cross and equalise with his first touch.

The visitors began the second period in excellent fashion though and were rewarded for their fine start with an equaliser on 52 minutes, through a familar face to Luton, former striker Marriott teed up by Jozwiak, who had been quiet up until then, to beat Sluga low into the bottom corner.

The winger started to raise his game though, lofting narrowly over from the edge of the box as Derby looked to hammer their advantage home with a second.

Town showed they still could fashion opportunities though, Bree released on the right and reaching the byline when his ball across saw Lee unable to turn it home at the far post.

Jozwiak was now looking a completely different proposition, beating Bree on the left and finding Marriott, who was met by a firm block tackle from Pearson that saw the forward requiring treatment.

It led to him having to limp off, but his replacement Jamal Hector-Ingram, almost had an instant impact, turning Pearson in the box, only to see Sluga out quickly and bravely to save with his legs.

As the game progressed, Luton started to wrest the initiative back, with Cornick slicing wide on his left foot and then Bree winning a corner which was played to him by Berry, his drive headed away.

Jones threw on Moncur and Clark with seven to go and it was to pay dividends very quickly.

Full back Norrington-Davies' touch took him past his man, as he got his head up and to boss Jones' delight, dinked over an inviting cross to the back post where Clark was left all unmarked to power his header into the net.

With six minutes of stoppage time being added, County should have left Kenilworth Road with a point as with the last kick, Rooney dragged an opportunity, that he would have usually buried with his eyes closed, wide, as Town's winning start elevated them to a heady second in the fledgling Championship table.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea (James Bree 46), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Jordan Clark 83), James Collins, Harry Cornick (George Moncur 83).

Subs not used: James Shea, Andrew Shinnie, Kazenga LuaLua, Danny Hylton.

Rams: David Marshall, Andre Wisdom, Craig Forsyth, Graeme Shinnie (Louie Sibley 46), Kamil Jozwiak (Morgan Whittaker 88), Max Bird, Nathan Byrne, Matthew Clarke, Wayne Rooney (C), Jason Knight, Jack Marriott (Jamal Hector-Ingram 64).

Subs not used: Kelle Roos, George Evans, Lee Buchanan, Curtis Davies.

Booked: Norrington-Davies 23, Mpanzu 90.

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Jones hails Town's first half display as the best he's seen

Luton chief hugely impressed by opening 45 minutes

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side produced their best performance under him in the Championship during the first half of their 2-1 win over Derby County this afternoon.

After an even start, the hosts wrested the initiative from a Rams side containing Wayne Rooney and new Polish international signing Kamil Jozwiak, to play some wonderful football, one such move almost leading to a superb team goal, as they carved their opponents open, a desperate clearance just keeping out James Collins.

Luke Berry did manage to put Town in front on 34 minutes, with an impudent finish from Elliot Lee's cross, but the Rams upped their game after the break, ex-Town striker Jack Marriott levelling seven minutes in.

However, Luton were unbowed, going again to snatch a late winner through Jordan Clark's close range header, as Jones said: "I’m really pleased overall with the win, first half we were excellent and it was as good a Championship performance as I think I've seen from us.

"I thought we were organised, we pressed, we were aggressive, we looked athletic, but for margins, we would have gone in further ahead.

“We were front-footed, pressed well, moved the ball and looked a real, real threat.

“I thought Harry (Cornick) was outstanding and but for something different happening, we could have been further ahead.

"I'm delighted with the goals, one a midfield player gets in the box, one a midfielder arrives back stick and these are good goals.

"These are stuff that we work on, stuff we ask and demand from them and they carry it out, as we’re on the front foot at the minute."

Jones was less happy with the second half display, as Derby were able to get on top and after equalising, had a spell of pressure where it looked like they might be the ones leaving with the points.

However, he wasn't too dispirited, thanks to Clark's header with three minutes to go, moving Luton up to second in the table, adding: "Second half I thought we took our foot off the gas, took a backward step, which I don't want us to do as you can’t do that at Championship level.

“We allowed Derby on to us, fair play to them, they've changed shape, tweaked certain things, with (Wayne) Rooney dropping deep and he can cause problems if you don’t get to him.

"I’m a little bit disappointed, it was probably a 20-25 minute period second half where we took a backward step and allowed them to do that.

"If you do allow players with the quality of Rooney and (Max) Bird to get in and around your box then you're going to get punished at this level and that's the learning curve for us.

"We did it against Norwich and we did it against Derby and we conceded.

"Luckily enough we came back and got the result, so that's the learning curve, we want a 90 minute performance.

"But I'm delighted, four wins out out four four, two wins in the league, it literally could not be any better."