Luton Town FC vs Derby County (28th Jan 2020)

LUTON TOWN 3 DERBY COUNTY 2

Hatters end eight-game winless run with thrilling victory over Rams

The Hatters came from behind to secure a memorable 3-2 victory over Derby County at Kenilworth Road this evening - ending a run of eight Sky Bet Championship matches without a win.

Wayne Rooney had put the Rams ahead in the 63rd minute but Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu levelled proceedings four minutes later on the sixth anniversary of him signing permanently for the club.

Substitute Donervon Daniels scored his first goal for the Hatters in the 73rd minute but Chris Martin pegged Town back once again with five minutes to play.

The drama continued as the Hatters regained the lead 60 seconds later with Harry Cornick's shot going in off Jayden Bogle.

Max Lowe was sent off by referee Andy Davies in the dying embers and the Hatters stayed strong to record a first victory since December.

Manager Graeme Jones named an unchanged team from the side that lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest but did welcome back Callum McManaman and Izzy Brown to the bench - the latter for the first time since the defeat at Brentford in November.

The Hatters started quickly and Cornick could have scored the game’s first goal after just six minutes.

Simon Sluga cleared the ball long upfield and Matt Clarke was unaware of Cornick’s presence behind him as the forward latched onto the keeper’s clearance and tried to chip the ball over Ben Hamer, but failed to beat the former Leicester City goalie who stood tall.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate for most of the first half but Cornick did test Hamer again on his left foot, though the goalkeeper was equal to it and saved comfortably.

Derby had plenty of the ball in the second period and went close early on. Hamer produced a clearance up-field towards Jason Knight, who found Tom Lawrence in the middle but his left-footed effort went just over the bar.

Minutes later Lawrence went even closer as he got on the end of Bogle’s cross, hit the ball into the ground and watched it bounce up and off the bar.

The Rams’ pressure paid off in the 63rd minute as Rooney opened his account in Derby colours. He was picked out on the edge of the box and his strike took a deflection off Daniels on its way into the top corner.

Town almost immediately found an equaliser as Cornick was denied at close range by Hamer. The former Bournemouth man was causing problems and again found his way through on goal, this time a perfectly timed block stopped his effort on goal.

But from Bree’s resulting corner, the ball fell to Mpanzu on the edge of the box and he smashed it low into the far corner to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

After replacing Matty Pearson on the hour mark due to injury, Daniels made his mark on the game by scoring a thumping header from Bree’s corner in the 73rd minute to put the Hatters in the lead.

Derby, however, fought back and levelled the game once more through Martin, who powerfully directed Bogle’s cross beyond Sluga with five minutes of normal time left.

Town mounted a charge up-field straight from kick-off and put themselves back ahead a minute later. Harry Cornick’s shot from the right was blocked on the line and bounced off Bogle and into the back of the net.

The madness continued shortly after as Lowe played the ball back to Hamer, who proceeded to pick the ball up and referee Andy Davies awarded a free-kick inside the box, which Derby were furious with.

Rooney and Hamer were booked in the process, but worse still for Derby, Lowe was shown a straight red card for putting his hands on the referee's arm as he held the yellow card aloft.

The Hatters remained calm, with Glen Rea magnificent marshalling the midfield throughout, to earn a valuable three points to move within six points of safety as they travel to high-flying West Brom on Saturday.

TOWN: Sluga, Bree, Pearson (Daniels 60), Bradley (C), Potts, Rea, Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe, Cornick (Berry 90), LuaLua (Brown 68), Collins. Subs not used: Shea, McManaman, Shinnie, Moncur.

Goals: Mpanzu (67), Daniels (73), Bogle o.g (86)

Yellows: Mpanzu

DERBY: Hamer, Bogle, Wisdom, Clarke, Lowe, Holmes (Marriott 79) Bird, Knight (Martin 79), Rooney (C), Lawrence, Waghorn. Subs not used: Roos, Forsyth, Shinnie, Davies, Whittaker.

Goals: Rooney (63), Martin (85)

Yellows: Bogle, Rooney, Hamer, Wisdom

Red: Lowe

Attendance: 10,057 (1,033 away fans)

Referee: Andy Davies

GRAEME JONES ON THE 3-2 WIN OVER DERBY COUNTY

Hatters boss Graeme Jones was ‘incredibly satisfied’ with the Town’s 3-2 win over Derby County at Kenilworth Road this evening.

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with a deflected effort in the second half, before goals from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Donervon Daniels put the Hatters in front.

Chris Martin equalised with a header, before Harry Cornick’s effort was put into the back of the Derby net by Rams defender Jayden Bogle to secure the three points for Town.

Jones said: “I think before the game we knew we had to find a way of getting a positive result – that meant a draw or a win. But I felt it coming with the performance at Nottingham Forest, I think it’s our first win in nine maybe. We got a draw against Fulham.

“It was incredibly satisfying, because we have managed to stay together when everybody has tried to divide us and they haven’t. Against all odds, to respond to going a goal down is really satisfying.

“[I was most satisfied with] the desire, the need, the character of the group – I think we had more efforts on target than them. They had more possession, they have got some really good players, you look at Chris Martin and Jack Marriott coming off the bench, it shows you the level that we are at. But our lads didn’t listen to any of that.

“I saw it at Forest where they know they can play at this level and it’s not easy and you have got to be in every phase of play.

"Tonight I thought we were exceptional in terms of off the ball. On the ball we still managed to have that composure, that confidence and that belief to play when confidence is low, you’re under pressure and you’ve got to play and you’ve got to get results, you’re bottom of the league. We learned our lessons from Birmingham, that’s satisfying as well.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnfFQSZjdME – Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugRy7OhILXU – Match highlights

Bogle's last-gasp own goal hands Hatters a thrilling victory over the Rams

Championship: Luton Town 3 Derby County 2

A crazy, crazy final half hour saw Luton breathe life into their fight to stay up this season, as Jayden Bogle's own goal in the final minutes saw the Hatters end their nine game winless run by beating Derby County in a dramatic Championship clash this evening.

With an hour gone, it appeared one goal would win the contest, but five then followed, Town looking like they had lost it, then won it, then drawn it, before Bogle turned Harry Cornick's cross into his own net, ensuring the Hatters picked up a much-needed three points, as they emerged victorious for the first time since December 7.

Luton boss Graeme Jones kept the same side who had lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest 10 days ago, although could welcome back fit-again duo Izzy Brown and Callum McManaman to the bench.

Town had a great chance on just six minutes, when Simon Sluga's clearance was missed by the visitors' defence, allowing Harry Cornick to escape, but with keeper Ben Hamer out quickly, he just couldn't get enough on his lofted attempt.

The Hatters fashioned a good move on the left for Dan Potts' cross that was just cleared, but with England and Manchester United's record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, Derby always had a threat, the striker's low shot gathered by Sluga.

Town, with Glen Rea providing a real buffer to the defence, were giving as good as they got, looking a far more confident outfit than they had in recent weeks, Cornick's pace catching out Matt Clarke once more, only to shoot straight at Hamer.

Clear sights of goal were few and far between until the closing stages of the opening 45, when the dangerous LuaLua's drive was deflected behind.

Hatters almost fell behind on the stroke of half time though, Rooney's vision finding Duane Holmes, his low cross prodded behind by Tom Lawrence under pressure from Rea.

After the break, Lawrence's 25-yarder didn't test Sluga, but the midfielder should definitely have broken the deadlock on 56 minutes, volleying into the ground, against the bar, and away.

Luton were then dealt a blow when Matty Pearson, who injured himself in the first half after colliding with keeper Hamer and never looked comfortable afterwards, had to give in, missing his first Championship minutes of the season, replaced by Donervon Daniels.

Town's back-line, clearly affected by the change, were then behind moments later, on 63 minutes, as the ball fell to Rooney, who else, outside the box, his effort flicking off Daniels, giving Sluga no chance at all.

While in the past Luton's heads have dropped after going behind, this time they didn't let it get to them, as Cornick should have levelled immediately, Hamer somehow saving with his legs from just yards out.

Cornick's next burst into the box bore fruit though, winning a corner, with the ball making its way out to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu on the edge of the box, who marked his six year anniversary of signing for Town in some style, hammering his low shot past Hamer via a deflection or two.

Jones then brought on Brown for his first outing since late November, with Town moving ahead on 73 minutes, from a corner no less.

James Bree swung over a set-piece which beat the first man and there was Daniels to power a header into the net for his maiden goal for the club and a first strike since October 2015, when he bagged a double in League One for Wigan Athletic against Colchester.

The visitors threw on ex-Hatters Jack Marriott and Chris Martin for the final 10 minutes, and it was Martin who had the leveller on 85, burying an unstoppable close range header.

Once again though, Town's chins didn't hit the floor, as they went up the other end to win it, Cornick dinking over Hamer and Bogle diverting into the net.

In stoppage time, it all kicked off, Hamer picking up a backpass inside his area, with the keeper and persistent moaner Rooney booked for their complaints, while Max Lowe pushed referee Andy Davies to see a straight red.

Although Brown sent the free kick miles over, Town clung on through five minutes of stoppage time to triumph, closing the gap on fourth bottom Charlton Athletic to six points.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson (Donervon Daniels 60), Sonny Bradley (C), Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Kazenga LuaLua (Izzy Brown 67), Harry Cornick (Luke Berry 90), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Andrew Shinnie, Callum McManaman, George Moncur.

Rams: Ben Hamer, Andre Wisdom, Martyn Waghorn, Tom Lawrence, Matthew Clarke, Duane Holmes (Jack Marriott 79), Max Lowe, Wayne Rooney ©, Jayden Bogle, Jason Knight (Chris Martin 79), Max Bird.

Subs not used: Craig Forsyth, Graeme Shinnie, Kelle Roos, Curtis Davies, Morgan Whittaker.

Booked: Bogle, Mpanzu, Hamer, Rooney, Wisdom.

Sent off: Lowe.

Referee: Andy Davies.

Attendance: 10,057 (1,033).

Jones praises Hatters for sticking together during Derby win

Luton chief Graeme Jones praised his players for sticking together during tonight's wonderful 3-2 win over Derby County.

After a positive first half, the Hatters found themselves 1-0 down on 63 minutes, Wayne Rooney opening the scoring.

However, they hit back to draw level through Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (67) and then moved 2-1 in front thanks to Donervon Daniels' first goal for the club.

Ex-Hatter Chris Martin came off the bench to look like he had rescued a point for County with five left, only for Jayden Bogle to turn Harry Cornick's cross into his own net in the final moments as Town won for the first time since December 7.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "I think we knew before the game, we had to find a way of getting a positive result and that meant a draw or a win, but I felt it coming with the performance at Nottingham Forest.

"I think it's our first win in nine maybe, and it was incredibly satisfying, because we managed to stay together, when everybody’s tried to divide us and they haven't.

"We're against all the odds and to dig out a win after responding to going a goal down is really satisfying."

On what pleased him most about the display, Jones continued: "The desire, the need, the character of the group.

"I think we had more efforts on target than them, they had more possession, obviously they've got some really, really good players, Chris Martin and (Jack) Marriott coming off the bench, it shows you the level that we're at, but our lads didn't listen to any of that.

"I think finally they've seen at (Nottingham) Forest that they know they can play at this level, and it's not easy, you've got to be in every single phase of play.

"Tonight I thought we were exceptional in terms of off the ball and then on the ball as we still managed to have composure and confidence and belief to play.

"When confidence is low and you're under pressure and you've got to get results, you're bottom of the league, we learned our lessons from Birmingham and that's satisfying as well."