Luton Town FC vs Doncaster Rovers (23rd Mar 2019)

LUTON TOWN 4 DONCASTER ROVERS 0

Mpanzu, Hylton, LuaLua and Berry net as Hatters go 26 unbeaten

The Hatters added another important three points to their tally this afternoon with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Danny Hylton, Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry on target in a scintillating 4-0 win over play-off hopefuls Doncaster.

The Town guaranteed a play-off place at worst for themselves, now able to finish no lower than sixth, and proved exactly why they’re top of the league this afternoon with some outstanding play to remain unbeaten at Kenilworth Road since Accrington won here over a year ago.

The win means Mick Harford’s team remain top of Sky Bet League One, five points clear of Barnsley and one result away from equalling John Still’s Conference-winning side’s club record unbeaten run of 27 matches, having broken the club’s Football League record with last month’s win at Fleetwood.

The Hatters were excellent from start to finish today, with an impressive 29 shots at goal to more than justify exactly why the club are currently on the longest unbeaten run in the country.

With James Collins away on international duty, LuaLua joined Hylton up top. James Justin also began the match further up the pitch in midfield, handing Dan Potts his first league start since October.

Stacey and Hylton linked up well in the opening exchanges, the latter winning a free-kick and quickly finding the full-back in space on the wing. His cross-come-shot floated just over, clipping the top of the bar on its way.

Rovers’ first shot came from some neat play between Aaron Lewis and Mallik Wilks. Some slick footwork from Wilks allowed him time to skip past the Luton defence and plant a tame effort into the arms of Shea at his near post.

Kenilworth Road witnessed some delightful trickery from LuaLua a minute later, something they’ve become accustomed to over the course of this season. The forward won a free-kick in the process after cleverly turning Lewis.

Justin’s inswinging free-kick won the first corner of the match where Pearson glanced his header wide, just about clipping a touch on to the ball, but nowhere near hard enough to force it towards the net.

Another strongly hit corner from Justin found its way onto Potts’ head, but the ball fell well wide of the target once more.

Unfortunately this was to be the only impact the defender made on the match, picking up a knee injury as ha landed after an aerial challenge. Visibly upset, the full-back trudged down the tunnel and was replaced by Berry.

The Town began to get a hold of the match mid-way through the first half and made it difficult for Rovers, the substitute Berry with a tantalising touch to pluck the ball out of the sky and thread it just out of reach for Pearson who was looking to snatch a goal on the loose ball.

The visitor’s showcased some good football at times in the first half, proving their worth at the right end of the table, but couldn’t stop the Hatters ruthless flow to the match. Marquis did have a small chance after bringing it down well but couldn’t flick a shot away from Shea who collected well.

Justin had been delivering some wonderful corners throughout the first half, Berry was involved again when he got away from his marker in the box and headed the cross into the gloves of Marosi who had been the busier of the two keepers so far.

The Hatters were playing some cutting-edge football by this point, setting the tone for what was to follow in the second half. Andrew Shinnie with a backheel into the path of Lee, who hit well over, and LuaLua turned both of the centre-halves and unleashed a powerful strike to sting the palms of Marosi, but Hylton’s follow-up wouldn’t go in either as the Hatters closed in on an opener.

That opener did come moments later though. Pressing high up the pitch, Mpanzu won the ball outside Rovers’ penalty area and coolly side footed his shot into the bottom right corner from 25 yards.

The midfielder, who has been shortlisted for the EFL goal of the season award for his effort against Crewe last term, added another fine strike to his list of Luton goals on the eve of his 200th match for the Hatters.

LuaLua continued to press high up the pitch for the remainder of the half, causing the Doncaster defence problems. The forward’s presence up top forced the side into errors, even taking one to the face to keep the ball in play and in the danger area.

Hylton almost grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time on two occasions, the first after a well-worked free-kick routine made its way out to Lee on the left side of the pitch. A pin-point cross just alluded the forward who ended up in a heap in the net after narrowly missing the ball.

The second, a half hit and hope from the right side of the penalty area which fizzed wide of the goal. The Hatters could well have scored more, creating ample chances to be out of side as the referee brought an end to the first period.

The second half began very much like the first, the Hatters keeping hold of the ball from kick-off, patiently waiting for their chance. This time another great cross landed onto the head of Hylton. The home fans thought it was there, but it fell the wrong side of the post.

Sonny Bradley popped up with some last ditch defending when Marquis got the wrong side of Pearson, the centre-half calmly getting his foot to he ball and away from the striker who was looking to capitalise on a rare mistake from the home side.

The Hatters had their second just over ten minutes after the restart and what a goal it was. Stacey collected the ball in the middle of the pitch and darted forward, driving the ball into the Rovers half.

A quick turn and a burst of pace from the young full back took three defenders out of the game. The run was matched with lovely pass which fell to the feet of Berry, whose shot was diverted past a defender on the line by Hylton, netting for the third home match in a row and registering his eighth of the season.

Elliot Lee had a few tricks of his own a few minutes later when he backheeled the ball into the path of Shinnie, who had Marosi flapping the ball out for a corner. Justin sent in another top-notch pass which nearly gifted Bradley his first goal in a Town shirt, with a thumping header just past the upright.

The onslaught continued, the Hatters not allowing Rovers any chance to re-group, covering every blade of grass, pressing high and forcing Donny back into their own half. Stacey managed to get forward again, this time he cut inside and hit a great effort over.

Lee was denied by the crossbar when LuaLua out-smarted the Rovers defence once more, pulling the ball back to the edge of the area, where Lee was waiting to rattle the bar with a thunderous strike which should have made it 3-0.

Hylton had it in the net again on 70 minutes, a simple tap in on the goal line but had his celebrations cut short and the goal chalked off when he was judged offside. Lee also forced another top save from Marosi, the ball heading for the top corner, bumping over the bar on its way down off the shot stopper’s gloves. The Hatters were quite literally queuing up at this point.

Bradley made another important tackle with 15 minutes left to send the ball wide for a corner. Some good defending from Pearson then had Hylton racing down the line, taking it well past Coppinger and drilling his effort into the legs of Marosi.

Man of the match LuaLua netted the Town’s third seven minutes from time. Stacey again putting the defenders on the back foot with another decisive run towards the Rovers box. The 22-year-old was brilliant all afternoon, this time his pass set the striker up for the goal he deserved, bending the ball past Marosi who got a touch but couldn’t keep it out.

The triple somersault celebration more than matched the mood around Kenilworth Road as the home fans lapped it up.

The performance was topped off with a classic belter from Berry, who added a fourth in stoppage time, pouncing on a misplaced pass by Lirak Hasani. The midfielder brought the ball forward and hit a solid effort into the top left corner from outside the box, rubbing salt into the wounds.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley ©, Potts (Berry 22), Mpanzu, Shinnie, Justin, Lee, Hylton (Cornick 79), LuaLua (Cummings 87). Subs: Moncur, Thorne, Sheehan, Isted

Goals: Mpanzu 33, Hylton 57, LuaLua 82, Berry 90+2

Yellows: Mpanzu

ROVERS: Marosi, Andrew, Butler, Wilks (Smith 63), Marquis, Rowe © (Sadlier 63), Crawford, Blair, Coppinger, Downing, Lewis (Hasani 72). Subs: Jones, Anderson, Beestin, May.

Yellows: Lewis, Blair, Coppinger

REFEREE: John Busby

ATT: 10,071 (544 away)

MICK HARFORD HEAPS PRAISE ON PLAYERS AFTER 4-0 WIN OVER DONCASTER ROVERS

Town boss Mick Harford heaped praise on his squad after they put four past Doncaster Rovers without reply in a dominant performance at Kenilworth Road this afternoon in Sky Bet League One.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu broke the deadlock when he curled the ball past Marko Marosi just after the half hour mark, before Danny Hylton doubled the lead from close range in the 57th minute.

Kazenga LuaLua confidently extended the lead with eight minutes to go as he rolled it into the bottom corner, before Luke Berry fired in from the edge of the box in excellent fashion in added time to round off a truly outstanding performance.

Harford said: "I thought it was an all-round performance. Firstly I would like to say without the ball I thought we were excellent. We had a good shape defensively, they had a couple of chances early on, half chances, but over the course of the 90 minutes without the ball I thought we were exceptional.

"Some of the defending, the shape of the back four was excellent and going forward we were a threat all afternoon, in terms of different kinds of chances, we put the ball in the box, we looked dangerous from set-plays, we looked dangerous on the counter-attack, so overall it's a real pleasing performance and I am just so proud of the players.

"Absolutely proud of the players and it's testament to them, because each and every day they come in, they work hard on and off the pitch, they're a great group and I have got to be honest with you, the fans shouldn't be singing my name, they should be singing the players' names.

"I thought it was a real, real good performance, within that team performance there were some good individual performances, but I am not going to single anyone out, I think each and everyone of the squad have contributed. The way they make a contribution on and off the bench and just overall it's a good day for the football club in terms of the result, in terms of where we are and to the levels we are playing at."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73EiJiOZ4Js

Dominant Hatters romp to victory against 'the best side in the league'

League One: Luton Town 4 Doncaster Rovers 0

Luton Town produced an utterly dominant performance to firmly shove Doncaster winger Matty Blair's words back down his throat with a scintillating 4-0 win at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The Rovers wideman had made some baffling comments in the press ahead of the game, stating his side were the 'best team in the league' whereas table-topping Luton were just the 'most consistent'.

However, after witnessing 90 minutes of virtually complete control from the Hatters, in which they scored four times, had 29 attempts on goal, moved five points clear at the top, extending their unbeaten run to 26 Football League games, he must have wished he kept his mouth shut.

Luton had seen the pressure ramped up before the game, with nearest rivals Barnsley closing the gap to just two points courtesy of a last-minute winner at Walsall.

Town boss Mick Harford made two changes to his side, Dan Potts in for his first league start since October 20, James Justin moving into midfield, as Luke Berry dropped to the bench, while Kazenga LuaLua replaced James Collins, on international duty with Ireland.

The visitors had the first attempt of note on seven minutes, Mallik Wilks going between Potts and Justin, his low shot easy for James Shea.

Luton's set-pieces were causing problems in the early stages, Justin pinging a flat delivery into the area, an unmarked Potts nodding off target.

Potts' afternoon then came to an unfortunate and premature end after just 22 minutes, landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge, jarring his knee, and despite trying to play on, had to concede defeat, Berry on and Justin returning to full back.

Marquis gave further notice of his predatory instincts, taking a cross on his chest but seeing his effort deflect into Shea's gloves.

That was pretty much as good as it got for the visitors though, with corners Luton's most likely avenue in the opening half hour, Justin finding Berry whose downward header was straight at Marko Marosi.

Elliot Lee blasted wildly over, before Hatters started to crank up the pressure, LuaLua producing some audacious skill to spin away from his man and drill a shot that Marosi parried away.

There was no stopping Town on 33 minutes though, with LuaLua heavily involved once more.

His backheel found Mpanzu some 20 yards from goal, and the midfielder simply sidefooted beyond Marosi and into the bottom corner for his third goal of the season.

Hylton almost added a quickfire second, his shot from Lee's low cross ending up going away from goal, while he then tried to turn another Lee delivery in with his foot, when using his head appeared the best option.

The striker dragged across goal from LuaLua's pass as Town finished the first half strongly, while Hylton was Town's main outlet at the start of the second period, his header from Shinnie's cross hitting the outside of the post.

After seeing Gillingham peg them back twice last week to earn a point, a second goal for Town was absolutely crucial this time and they got it on 58 minutes.

Full back turned flying winger Jack Stacey did superbly well to beat three men on the right, cutting into the box, his cross picked up by Berry at the far post.

The midfielder's low shot looked destined to hit the net, but with Rovers having a man on the line, Hylton made sure, prodding home from yard out to make it three in three home matches.

Boosted by the strike, Town began with playing with a real swagger, Shinnie close to a third, as he fired goalwards after a lovely team interchange, Marosi clawing away, while Stacey went alone, thundering over on his left foot.

Sonny Bradley headed wide from a corner, while still Town attacked, in no way settling for 2-0, as the magical LuaLua escaped his markers on the left once more, crossing for Lee, who from eight yards out hit the underside of the bar.

Hylton turned in LuaLua's cross-shot only to be flagged offside, while the forward then tried to set up his striker partner, just eluding his dive.

The shots continued raining in on Marosi's goal, as he parried Lee's rasping attempt up into the air, the ball coming down with snow on to hit the bar and go behind.

To their great credit, Town didn't for one second look content with that they had either, hunting a goal down as if their lives depended it.

Time and time again they sent wave of attacks at the visitors' goal, Hylton only denied a second by Paul Downing's last-gasp block.

Mpanzu fired at Marosi from 30 yards, but it was 3-0 with eight to go, LuaLua getting the goal his performance thoroughly deserved.

A rampant Stacey tore down the middle of the pitch, timing his pass to release the hugely popular LuaLua, who took a touch and then slid the ball past Marosi, before unleashing his trademark acrobatic celebration.

There was no stopping at three either – sub Harry Cornick bursting clear, only to shoot straight at Marosi's legs, but Luton had a fourth in stoppage time.

Winning the ball back high up, Berry motored forward and with no-one up in support, opted to try his luck from 20 yards, cracking an effort beyond the hapless Marosi.

The result saw Town move five points clear of Barnsley once more, with just seven games to go, while they moved 10 points in front of non-playing Sunderland, who were leapfrogged into third by Portsmouth, the south coast team nine adrift of Luton.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts (Luke Berry 22), Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Justin, Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee, Kazenga LuaLua (Jason Cummings 86), Danny Hylton (Harry Cornick 79).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Alan Sheehan, George Thorne, George Moncur.

Rovers: Marko Marosi, Danny Andrew, Andrew Butler, Mallik Wilks (Tyler Smith 63), John Marquis, Tommy Rowe (C, Kieran Sadlier 63), Ali Crawford, Matty Blair, James Coppinger, Paul Downing, Aaron Lewis (Lirak Hasani 73).

Subs not used: Tom Anderson, Alfie Beestin, Alfie May, Louis Jones.

Booked: Lewis 10, Blair 45, Mpanzu 68, Coppinger 78.

Referee: John Busby.

Attendance: 10,071 (544 Rovers).

Harford**: We proved we're a better team than Doncaster**

Hatters boss Mick Harford felt that his side proved they were a better team than play-off Doncaster this afternoon, after running out handsome 4-0 winners at Kenilworth Road.

Going into the contest, visiting winger Matty Blair had stated: “I’ve said it from day one I believe we’re the best team in the league.

“We’re just not the most consistent. When we played Luton back in September I thought they were the best team we’ve played.

“But we’re better than them. So this weekend it’s the best team in the league against the most consistent.”

However, 90 minutes later, with league leaders Town registering 29 attempts at goal, scoring four of them, while Rovers’ barely laid a glove on their hosts, Harford said: “We all read it and we respect what he says, but we proved today that we’re a better team than Doncaster.

“We don’t go around saying we’re the best team in the league, we were better than Doncaster today and that’s all that matters.

“People get put under pressure by the press and sometimes say the wrong things, it might be taken out of context, I don’t know, but it never entered our head what Matty had said, so we just got on with it.”

Midfielder Luke Berry, who notched the fourth goal in stoppage time, added: “I know Matty Blair so I don’t think he meant it.

“He might have, but obviously we won 4-0, so that sort of says that doesn’t it.”