Luton Town FC vs Derby County (26th Feb 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-0 Derby County

Luton Town moved into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with a 1-0 win over Derby County at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

After a quiet first half, Danny Hylton came off the bench to give the Hatters their third win of the week.

The victory sees Town leapfrog Sheffield United into sixth place, and the final play-off spot in the Championship.

Nathan Jones made one change from the win at Stoke City during midweek. Henri Lansbury came into the Town starting line-up, with Hylton dropping to the bench. New signing Robert Snodgrass was amongst the substitutes after joining the club yesterday.

Derby were the first side to have a sight on goal. Nathan Byrne broke into the Town area and found Colin Kazim-Richards, whose effort was well over the crossbar.

The first half saw chances at a premium, with the Hatters registering their first opportunity just after the half hour mark. Kal Naismith’s cross into the box was met by the head of Elijah Adebayo, but his header didn’t find the target.

Town were forced into their first substitution five minutes into the second half, after Lansbury was unable to continue, with Hyton coming on as a replacement.

A superb save from Jed Steer kept the game level. Max Bird’s curling effort looked destined for the top corner, but the goalkeeper got fingertips on the ball to tip it onto the crossbar.

Cameron Jerome was introduced as the Hatters made a second switch, coming on in the place of Harry Cornick and to great effect too.

Town would go in front through Hylton. Jerome’s header was perfect for Hylton, who found the bottom corner with a fantastic finish.

Reece Burke was next to threaten for Luton. Amari’i Bell’s cross found the defender, whose volley hit the side-netting.

Fred Onyedinma was Town’s third and final substitution, replacing Adebayo with just over ten minutes to go.

The lead should’ve been doubled when Onyedinma found James Bree with time and space in the Derby area. His shot, however, was straight at Ryan Allsop.

Allsop was called into action again from the resulting corner, keeping out Jerome’s headed flick.

Town were able to see out the game and record their third victory in a week, climbing into the Championship play-off places.

Goals:

Town: Hylton (67’)

Att: 10,070 (1,032 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkHKkGA_r9U – Nathan Jones interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYAJpvM5Oms – Gabe Osho interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsuG9fmwz0 – Danny Hylton goal from every angle

Nathan Jones reacts to Derby win!

Manager Nathan Jones said he is 'so proud' of his players after beating Derby County to move into the play-off places.

The third successive win of the week was the first time Luton have managed that feat in this division since 1996 and the gaffer spoke of how proud he was not only of that achievement, bu the month overall.

"15 out of 18 points is a phenomenal month to have in the Championship. I’m not sure we did that in League Two and League One so to do that in the Championship is wonderful. Nine point week, we haven’t gone through on the bounce before and that is all I wanted today.

"I didn’t particularly mind about the performance, it’s all about the win at this stage now. They’ve put in massive shifts, we didn’t make too many changes because we know we have a big week coming up as well. I’m so proud of the group and I'm proud of Danny after people had written him off.

Hylton and Jerome made the difference just like in midweek in Stoke and on the latter, Jones said: "He’s looking like a proper threat, just when we needed him because we have five or six strikers here and it’s difficult to pick a bench let alone a team. We have people like Carlos Mendes Gomes and Fred Onyedinma that can really change the game for us and make us front-footed.

"Today we were no where near our best but credit Derby because they’ve had to come here and stifle us. We felt if we picked up the tempo we could get something and we did that."

Hylton notches the winner as Luton beat Rams to climb into the play-off places

Championship: Luton Town 1 Derby County 0

Striker Danny Hylton came off the bench to score the winner as Luton made it three second tier league wins in a row for the first time since January 1996 as they climbed into the Championship play-off places, heaping more misery on struggling Derby County.

The forward was sent on by Nathan Jones early in the second half and expertly picked out the bottom corner with 67 minutes gone to score his second goal in as many games, netting a first home strike since March 2019 in the process.

It saw the Hatters take advantage of results going their way to leapfrog both Middlesbrough and Sheffield United and move above the dotted line, now sitting sixth in the division with just 13 games remaining.

Boss Jones had made one change to his side from the 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Wednesday night, Hylton dropping to the bench, replaced by midfielder Henri Lansbury, with new signing Robert Snodgrass among the substitutes following his arrival on a free transfer yesterday.

A quiet first half, low on real quality, saw the visitors create a wonderful chance on just four minutes, Jason Knight breaking Town's offside trap and advancing into the box, picking out Colin Kazim-Richards, who eight yards out and stretching, skied well over.

County also went close from range, Ravel Morrison's free kick flying just off target, with ex-Hatter Curtis Davies' volleying waywardly behind when a corner dropped invitingly to him inside the area.

With 31 minutes gone, Town had their first real sight of goal, as the corner routine that saw them move 2-0 ahead at Stoke in midweek almost paid dividends again, Kal Naismith's delivery headed over by Elijah Adebayo.

Luton's top scorer had another sniff just before the break, but went with his right foot from Harry Cornick's deep cross when the left was clearly the better option, Ryan Allsop easily collecting.

After the break, Town finally worked Allsop, but even that was a comfortable stop, James Bree winning possession back, Lansbury scuffing an effort at the keeper from outside the box.

The midfielder injured himself in the act of shooting, with Hylton on his place, while Derby were inches away from breaking the deadlock moments later, Jed Steer's punch reaching Max Bird and his curler was destined for the net, Town's keeper doing superbly to fingertip against the bar.

A fine break by Reece Burke on the right saw Allsop divert his hanging cross behind, as Jones brought on Jerome looking for a third goal in three games, Cornick making way.

Defender Burke stooped to put his header wide from Amari'i Bell's cross, while Bird fancied his chances from range, dragging off target.

Luton's changes worked a treat though, as on 67 minutes, a ball pumped forward from the back by Naismith was nodded down by Jerome to Hylton.

The forward took a touch before finding the bottom corner with a measured finish for his second in as many games and a first home goal since the hosts were a League One side.

Town almost had a second on 71 minutes, Bell hanging up a cross which eventually fell at the feet of the impressive Burke at the back post, who lashed his volley into the side-netting.

The Hatters had further opportunities to extend their lead, sub Fred Onyedinma sending Bree away, the full back unable to beat Allsop, while the keeper then did well to claw out Jerome's downward header.

With Hylton helping the Hatters manage the game through the closing stages, County resorted to sending Allsop up for a stoppage time corner, thumped clear by Bree, ensuring Luton moved into the top six for the first time this term.

Hatters: Jed Steer, James Bree, Amari'i Bell, Tom Lockyer, Reece Burke, Kal Naismith (C), Gabe Osho, Allan Campbell, Henri Lansbury (Danny Hylton 50), Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 60), Elijah Adebayo (Fred Onyedinma 78).

Subs not used: James Shea, Peter Kioso, Robert Snodgrass, Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Rams: Ryan Allsop, Nathan Byrne, Craig Forsyth (Luke Plange 74), Krystian Bielik, Max Bird, Ravel Morrison, Colin Kazim-Richards, Lee Buchanan, Curtis Davies ©, Jason Knight (Malcolm Ebiowei 84), Eiran Cashin.

Subs not used: Richard Stearman, Louie Sibley, Kelle Roos, Festy Ebosele, Liam Thompson.

Referee Andy Woolmer.

Booked: Burke 52, Jerome 72, Kazim-Richards 76, Ebiowei 90.

Attendance: 10,070 (1,032 Derby)

Jones: Derby victory means it has been a 'great month' for the Hatters

Luton up to sixth in the Championship following Rams success

Hatters boss Nathan Jones labelled February as a ‘great month’ for his side as they made it fives wins out of six by beating relegation-threatened Derby County 1-0 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

After beating Swansea, Barnsley, West Brom and Stoke, also making FA Cup progress by seeing off League One Cambridge United as well, Town went up against a Rams side, who under Wayne Rooney, have done superbly to even have a chance of staying up this term, deducted 21 points in total for going into administration and other historical financial breaches.

After a first half low on real quality, Luton improved after the break, grabbing the only goal of the game through striker Danny Hylton, as the substitute produced a measured finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after being picked out by Cameron Jerome’s knock-down.

It was enough for Luton to win three games in a row for the first time this campaign, climbing into the play-off places as well, as Jones said: “It’s been a great month to be fair as apart from a debacle at Birmingham we’ve taken 15 points from 18.

“Unless you're Fulham, or Man City or Liverpool, you don't get many better months like that, so a wonderful, wonderful month and that’s a credit to the players, a credit to everyone, the staff, everyone behind the scenes.”

When asked what is was like finally being above the dotted line after chasing the top six sides for so long in previous weeks, Jones added: “It doesn’t feel any different to being in eighth to be honest, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking as there’s a long way to go.

“If it was game 46 and we’d just finished sixth it would feel special, but it’s wonderful to be in the position we are.

“First of all we had to secure our status in the league and we’ve done that a number of weeks ago.

"So we want to push boundaries, we want to evolve, we want to get better, so let’s see where it takes us.”

Hatters boss glad he stepped in to prevent Hylton leaving in the transfer window as the Luton striker is now proving he is a Championship player

Attacker on target as Derby are beaten 1-0 at Kenilworth Road

Luton boss Nathan Jones is glad he stepped in to prevent striker Danny Hylton leaving the club during the transfer window last month.

The forward, who turned 33 yesterday, came off the bench to score the winner in today’s 1-0 victory against Derby County at Kenilworth Road, a result that lifted Town into the top six of the second tier.

After also finding the net in midweek as Luton won 2-1 against Stoke City, Hylton conceded there had been chances to leave the club last month, but that he always wanted to stay and fight for his place.

Jones was happy that was the case and eventually pulled the plug on any possible move away, as he always felt a fully fit Hylton could be a real threat at this level, saying: “I’m so glad we didn’t (let him leave), we had to have a few chats and I stepped in in the end because I didn’t want him to go.

“I wanted to be fair to him in terms of prolonging his career and so on, but he can prolong his career here, so that’s what we said.

“I said, ‘you come, you contribute and you play games, and you do what Danny Hylton does and your career will last a bit longer here.’

“I knew he could do that, it’s just him staying fit, that’s the only thing as some of his performances when he played against higher division sides were phenomenal.

“I know Danny Hylton is a Championship player, I've always known Danny Hylton is a Championship player.

“When I met him in the Noke Hotel in 2016, I told him he was a Championship player, a lot of people didn't realise that, but that’s why he came and signed for us, and now he’s proving that.

“It’s taken him a long time, but now he’s proving that.”

Hylton, who had scored 60 goals in 159 outings for the Hatters after arriving in the summer of 2016, has always been a firm favourite with the Town fans for the role he played in seeing the club rise up the footballing echelon, on target 50 times in his first two seasons for the club.

After replacing Henri Lansbury early in the second half against Derby this afternoon, goal number 61 came following a fine knock-down from fellow replacement Cameron Jerome, as h took a tough and glided a shot into the bottom corner.

It was Hylton's third of the season and first time finding the net at home since March 2019, when the injury problems that had threatened to end his stint in Bedfordshire began.

However, after fighting back to first team contention, Jones was elated to see him prove the match-winner in front of the Kenilworth Road faithful, adding: “It’s a credit to him.

“I’m really proud of him and everyone at this football club should be really proud of Danny Hylton because he’s had a tough time.

“He was the catalyst for us being this wonderful club we are, he really was.

“He was one of the first, I know we signed Glen Rea, we signed Alan Sheehan, but with the greatest of respect, when I brought Danny in, it made people stand up and then he was a real catalyst for how we play, the energy we play with, the goals we score and everything, and I don’t forget that.

“There was times when he was a Championship player playing in League Two.

“We went to Newcastle in the FA Cup and he terrorised two Premier League centre halves and that’s when I knew he was a Championship player.

“He’s had a tough time with injuries, he’s had to battle back and the club has shown a lot of faith in him, I’ve shown a lot of faith in him, but he always repays that faith and I see him on a day to day basis.

"He’s the most wonderful human being, he really is, he’s a clown at times but he’s the most wonderful human being.

“I’m so pleased for him because he’s had to battle back for this and he’s earned that.

"I couldn’t think of any other human being I would rather score a winning goal here today.

“It was a great finish, great ball in to Cameron, Cameron does wonderfully well to control the knock down and then Danny finishes with aplomb.

"To hear the fans singing his name was wonderful and he’s earned that, he really has.”

Hatters boss admits three successive Championship wins was a 'big barrier' for Luton to overcome

Town achieve feat for the first time in over 25 years

Luton boss Nathan Jones was eager to talk up the significance of the Hatters finally getting over the 'big barrier' of winning three successive Championship games in a season for the first time since they returned to the level, when beating Derby County 1-0 at Kenilworth Road yesterday.

After winning promotion back to the second tier in 2019, the Hatters have come close on a number of occasions, falling just short each time.

Under previous boss Graeme Jones they won against Barnsley and Huddersfield early on, before losing 3-2 at QPR.

He then led Town to victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough later in the campaign, once more defeated in the third though, 3-1 against Charlton.

When Nathan Jones returned as manager in May 2020, Town did win the last two games to stay up, while they were also victorious in the first two of the next campaign, but a 1-0 defeat at Watford again prevented them from making it three in a row during the same season.

At the back end of last year, they got close on three occasions, beating Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, then losing to Norwich.

They also saw off Coventry and Preston, beaten by Derby, before wins over Wycombe and Watford were halted by a 0-0 draw against Reading.

This term they have also had the opportunity twice when overcoming Bournemouth and Reading, losing to Sheffield United, while defeating Swansea and Barnsley before dispatched by Birmingham City.

However, after beating West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough last week, they finally managed to get over the line and win a third in a row thanks to Danny Hylton’s winner which lifted Town up into the play-off places.

They last managed to record three successive second tier wins in the same term way back in the 1995-96 season, beating Southend 3-1, Norwich 1-0 and Sheffield United 1-0 in January, Boncho Guentchev on target in all three matches.

Jones admitted he made a big deal of it in his pre-match briefing to the players ahead of the Rams' visit, saying: “It’s massive, it shows we’ve come a long way.

“Midweek was a big win (at Stoke), away at the stadium and against my old club and they showed that they wanted to play for me, not just the club, but really get a result for me as they were excellent second half.

"And then to back that up, that was the final slide on my video today, all I said was 'three on the bounce.'

"I don't care how we got it, and I literally didn’t care how we got it, yes I want us to play better but it’s all about the result, all about the result.

"There were tough games today, a lot of people playing each other, so I was reasonably confident that if we got the three points then we would at least jump a place, so we did that, and fantastic, but it is a big barrier to get over.”

On the quality of sides that Luton have managed to put to the sword in their recent run, Jones continued: "Stoke and West Brom have been Premier League, Stoke have been in the Premier League for the majority of the last decade or whatever it is.

"We know what we’re competing with, we know how tough it is this league, we know that every week is a different test.

"We’re in real good form, but we do the basics right, we’re playing for each other. We’re not Fulham, we’re not the most gifted team in the league, but what we are is a fantastic team."

The fact that Town were able to get their noses over the line in games they aren't quite at their best in, and against some of the biggest clubs in the division, meant Jones was even more impressed, as he added: "We could have even lost it, you never know as they have got quality in the side.

"I think midweek was a big, big statement, West Brom here, I knew they would be motivated with the crowd, this is a difficult place to play, a real difficult place to play.

"Then going to Stoke and regardless of what anyone else says, anyone else who got interviewed after that game the other night, we were full value.

"Second half they didn’t live with us, they didn’t do what we did second half.

"Now they were a little critical saying 'we play this way,' we want to win games. I didn't go to Stoke to entertain, I tried to go to entertain and I failed, so I didn’t try to do that this time.

"What we wanted was three points, so that was a big, big win.

"As it shows we can go to these big stadiums, hostile crowd and on a wet, Wednesday night in Stoke, be fantastic and full value for what we have."