Luton Town FC vs Hartlepool United (20th Feb 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:30 20th February 2016 **Craig Mackail-Smith's first **goal since September gives Jones first Kenilworth Road win

LUTON TOWN 2-1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED

Craig Mackail-Smith’s late winner gave the Hatters a first home win under Nathan Jones and just a fourth home win of the season at Kenilworth Road.

The striker lofted a shot over Hartlepool keeper Trevor Carson after coming off the bench, netting his first goal since scoring a penalty against Mansfield back in September.

Cameron McGeehan’s penalty gave the Town a chance of their first home victory since November, slotting home after a handball in the area on the hour mark.

But the visitors, who have not won at Kenilworth Road since 1967, equalised through Adam Jackson just five minutes after McGeehan's opener before Mackail-Smith’s winner broke the winless spell.

Nathan Jones recalled goalkeeper Mark Tyler for his 295th Hatters appearance, while Danny Green, Joe Pigott and Alex Lawless also returned to the starting line-up having been missing last week.

The Town dominated the early possession, but it wasn’t until the tenth minute when the first chance came. Green and McGeehan combined down the right to give the latter a chance to cross, forcing a Pools defender to knock behind for a corner with no Hatters player on hand to head home.

From the resulting set-piece, Green delivered deep to meet the head of Scott Cuthbert, who looked certain to score only to see Carson tip superbly away before the ball was scrambled clear.

Billy Paynter was just inches away from poking his side in front at the other end, coming close to tapping in Carl Magnay’s teasing ball from the right as the game kicked into life 20 minutes in.

The same man had a sniff moments later, but the Town regained their composure to form their own half-chances, and Stephen O’Donnell had the best of those as his snapshot from another inviting Green corner drifted harmlessly wide with the Hatters upping their game.

And the pressure almost paid dividends. Olly Lee slipped Jack Marriott through on goal, beating the offside trap, and while he had just the keeper to beat, the striker couldn’t force a shot away and the chance came to nothing.

The Hatters continued to press forward, largely thanks to hold-up work from Pigott, who earned a free-kick on the edge of the area in a promising position which Green could only thwack high and wide.

Despite the hosts’ chances, Hartlepool could, and perhaps should, have been ahead five minutes before the break. The ever-threatening Paynter burst through the Town offside trap, delivering a ball in from the right which O’Donnell let run across his body to an almost devastating effect as Nathan Thomas poked wide from no more than ten yards out.

That opportunity gave confidence to the Monkey Hangers, yet Jones’ side still maintained a probing threat on the break. O’Donnell was the latest to speed through, meeting Green’s ball and streaming through on goal, only to be felled by Thomas who was booked with defenders around to cover.

It was Hartlepool who started the second period stronger though, with Nicky Featherstone jostling past McGeehan only for his shot to be easily grasped by Tyler, who was seldom tested up until that point.

Yet the Hatters should have been ahead moments later. McGeehan took his turn in miserly twisting his way past defenders before taking the ball on his left foot and shooting narrowly wide with half the ground thinking his 20 yard strike was in the back of the net.

Neither team were able to stake a claim for dominance, but it required some exceptional defending from Alan Sheehan to keep the game level. Thomas once again went on a mazy run, feeding Jake Gray whose shot required an exceptional block from the Town centre half.

And that block proved even more crucial when the hosts broke the deadlock just a couple of minutes later. Pigott was hauled down just outside the area and Green’s subsequent free-kick was adjudged to have struck a Hartlepool hand and the spot-kick was awarded.

That left McGeehan to confidently strike home into the bottom corner, far out of the ‘keeper’s reach to send the Town into the lead.

But that advantage lasted just five minutes. A corner from the left caused the Hatters defence all sorts of problems, leaving Jackson to thump a header past Tyler and square the game up once again.

There were more jittery moments soon after, with McGeehan robbed by Brad Walker in his own half, allowing the Pools man to stride through, only for his run to be ended by Cuthbert poking the ball away.

The visitors sensed a winner in Bedfordshire, and a spell of patient football almost provided it when Paynter was teed up 20 yards out, curling a shot narrowly wide of the upright.

The Hatters threw on Mackail-Smith and Ryan Hall in a bid for a late winner, but Hartlepool’s decision to keep men behind the ball seemed to be paying off as chances dried up to the frustration of the home faithful.

And just when hope seemed lost, the Town netted their winner. Lee’s ball over the top caught out the visitors’ backline, allowing substitute Mackail-Smith to finish expertly, sending the Hatters in front for the second time in the contest.

With five minutes added on at the end of the 90, Hartlepool pushed for their equaliser and came close to getting it too when Gray struck straight at Tyler. But that was that, giving the Hatters a far from straightforward victory, their first at Kenilworth Road for seven matches.

Hatters: Tyler, O’Donnell (sub Ruddock 86), Cuthbert, Sheehan, Howells, Lee, Lawless (sub Hall 72), McGeehan, Green, Marriott, Pigott (sub Mackail-Smith 80)

Subs not used: Justham, Smith, Okuonghae, McCourt,

Attendance: 7,880 including 193 travelling from Hartlepool.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-luton-town-2-1-hartlepool-united-2964435.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO9hV4vznEA

League Two: Luton Town 2 Hartlepool 1

Striker Craig Mackail-Smith scored his first goal for five months as Luton Town boss Nathan Jones enjoyed a long overdue first win at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

With only five minutes left, it had looked like Luton would be left frustrated once more on home soil as they were being held by the League Two strugglers.

However, Mackail-Smith, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes himself, raced on to Olly Lee’s clipped through ball, to lift his effort over the advancing Scott Carson for a first goal since September 19, and a first from open play since August 22.

The late winner also ended Town’s run of six games without a victory at home, stretching back to November 14, as they saw the game out to seal only a fourth home success of the campaign.

Boss Jones had recalled Mark Tyler to the side for the clash after he missed the last five matches, with Elliot Justham dropping to the bench.

Danny Green also was included after he had been missing since the first game of Jones’ stint as manager, with Alex Lawless and Pigott back in too, as Luton lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Lee holding and Jack Marriott wide left, with Pigott the lone striker.

Hatters were dominating possession early on as Cameron McGeehan’s excellent cross was put behind for a corner that Scott Cuthbert met, forcing Carson to claw away, with the rebound hacked clear.

Green’s deep delivery was just missed by a sliding Jack Marriot, with Pools then doing the exact same on 17 minutes, Billy Paynter inches away from an 11th of the campaign.

Town then upped the tempo slightly as Joe Pigott’s mis-hit shot from Green’s free kick was scrambled away, with the winger’s corner reaching Stephen O’Donnell who fired well wide, when a cooler head might have prevailed.

Marriott then had a real chance after beating the offside trap only to get the ball stuck under his feet, while Green put a volley over the top, as he did again with a 25 yard free kick nine minutes before the break.

The visitors had the best chance on 40 minutes though when O’Donnell bafflingly tried to let Paynter’s low cross run through his legs and Nathan Thomas slid in to skew badly wide from six yards when he should have scored.

Half time came though with Town failing to score in front of their own fans during the opening period for the fifth successive game, as they haven’t netted a first half goal since Paul Benson’s overhead kick against Northampton on December 12.

After the break, Nicky Featherstone warmed Tyler’s gloves from long range, before Hatters came within inches of the lead as McGeehan went alone, beat two men and with Carson advancing, sent his left-footer into the hoardings despite half the crowd thinking it was in.

Lawless tried his luck too, curling wide from 20 yards, however Pools almost had the opener on 55 minutes when Luton were caught on the hop by Thomas’ dart forward, and Alan Sheehan had to courageously block as Gray pulled the trigger.

A silly foul by the Pools defence on Pigott saw Hatters awarded a free kick on 58 minutes and Green’s effort cannoned into the wall, with referee Andy Davies adjudging the visitors had handled, signalling for a spotkick.

McGeehan took the ball and slotted into the bottom corner for his 11th of an increasingly prolific season.

Any hopes of a comfortable first home win though were immediately dashed as Tyler saved well from Thomas, putting it behind for a corner, but the delivery saw Adam Jackson climb highest to head home, despite a last-ditch clearance, with the linesman’s flag immediately confirming the goal.

Jones replaced Lawless with Ryan Hall, who moved to the left flank with Marriott going alongside Pigott upfront.

Pools looked like they fancied the victory, as a lovely passing interplay led to Paynter’s audacious outside of the boot effort going wide.

With Town struggling to pierce a defence that was looking more and more assured as the game wore on, often resorting to long, hopeful and at times telegraphed diagonal balls, they finally broke through when Lee sent Mackail-Smith away.

Despite his long-running drought, the striker didn’t show any sign of nerves, coolly beating Carson before celebrating wildly.

That left Hatters’ four minutes plus stoppages to hold on, and with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu on as makeshift right back, they did so comfortably, as bar Gray’s low shot that was easy for Tyler, Pools couldn’t muster a leveller.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Stephen O’Donnell (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 85), Jake Howells, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Olly Lee, Alex Lawless (Ryan Hall 72), Cameron McGeehan, Danny Green, Jack Marriott, Joe Pigott (Craig Mackail-Smith 80).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Magnus Okuonghae, Paddy McCourt.

Pools: Trevor Carson, Carl Magnay, Jake Carroll, Matthew Bates, Nathan Thomas (Rhys Oates 85), Brad Walker, Billy Paynter (C), Nicky Featherstone, Lewis Hawkins, Adam Jackson, Jake Gray.

Subs not used: Scott Harrison, Rakesh Bingham, Adam Bartlett, Scott Fenwick, Jordan Richards, Josh Laurent.

Booked: Thomas 45, Lee 61, McGeehan 64, Featherstone 89.

Attendance: 7,880 (193 Pools).

Referee: Andy Davies.

Hatters overcame a psychological barrier during their 2-1 home win over Hartlepool at the weekend according to boss Nathan Jones.

Craig Mackail-Smith’s late winner saw Hatters register just a fourth home victory of the campaign in League Two, the first of Jones’ reign and a first since November 14.

The Town chief said: “We could have made it far, far easier for ourselves, but at the minute we’re not doing that so we’ve had to do it the hard way.

“Full credit to the players though because they showed a lot of character and I really think we’ve overcome a psychological barrier of being here.

“They had a couple of opportunities, Tyles (Mark Tyler) made a great save, but I felt we had enough opportunities to win the game comfortably.

“We got Cameron McGeehan into situations where he likes to be, put in some wonderful balls first half, had some opportunities from corners, and again, we’ve just got to learn to be a bit more clinical.

“I thought we moved the ball well, got into good areas, created enough to win the game, just that we could have made it a bit easier for ourselves.”

Striker Mackail-Smith, who came off the bench to net the winner with only his fourth goal of the campaign, hopes his side can now build on the long overdue home victory, saying: “It’s been a long time coming as it’s been difficult, I think boys have known that and it’s made for a bit of edginess in the team performance.

“When we’ve conceded or when teams get on top, we kind of get a little bit nervy. This kind of performance wasn’t brilliant, but it was a battling performance and we got the result we needed.

“Hopefully it gives us the confidence to show we can win games here.”

Winger Danny Green was in agreement too, knowing full well the side should be doing far better in front of their own supporters.

He said: “Three wins was not good enough at all especially for a team like this in front of the fans. Nine to 10,000 every week come here and they’ve been frustrated this season and we understand that, we’re frustrated as well.

“We own them performances and are hoping to repay them now with performances and wins.”

Jones was also pleased with the way Hatters bounced back from the 4-1 drubbing they received at the hands of AFC Wimbledon last time out.

The boss added: “We’re taking steps and that’s been part and parcel of it. Its great to celebrate a win because we’ve had a tough week.

“I didn’t see last week coming in terms and it’s been a long long week to get that out of the system.

“I felt we did get that out of our system, I felt we looked a lot tighter, a lot stronger, they had one or two opportunities, but that will happen.

“I’m really really pleased, pleased for the football club and happy for the players too.”

Hatters boss Nathan Jones has called on supporters to remain patient with his side as they get to grips with the new system he is implementing at Kenilworth Road.

Since Jones has taken the helm, the former Brighton first team coach has instilled a much greater possession-based game to the players, after a far more direct approach under previous boss John Still.

It was the case once more on Saturday, although with the scores at 1-1, there was an element of tension and frustration filtering through from the stands as Luton continued to keep the ball rather than go all out for winner.

It’s something Jones hopes will change over time though as he said: “Hartlepool came with a gameplan to sit back and try and hit us on the break and they did that at times.

“But I felt we’re building a reputation and I said when I first came, teams will change for us and that’s what they did.

“They sat back, allowed us to have possession, didn’t want to come out and press us too highly. We had a lot of possession and we’re going to have to learn to deal with that.

“The crowd are going to have to learn to deal with that because that’s the way we want to move forward.

“We want to dominate possession in games, if sides come out and want to play against us, then that opens up.

“The crowd when we’re playing well are superb, they’re right behind you, at times it can seem edgy though.

“I love being here, I love Kenilworth Road, I love the atmosphere. I would have loved to play in front of these fans who are demanding, and they’ve got to get that into them.

“They showed a lot of character my players and I’m very, very proud of them.”

Striker Craig Mackail-Smith also hopes the supporters will learn to understand what the players are trying to achieve as he continued: “It’s a bit more of a patient build up and we want to pass through teams, want to draw teams out and then want to hit them with a quick attacking break.

“Most teams in this division go back to front very quick and they play for the seconds, so it’s a completely different way of playing in this division.

“Sometimes it can be frustrating as it may not look like we’re going anywhere fast, but we’re trying to pull teams out of position and wear them down so we can make those chances later on in the game.

“As we go, the fans will understand and see how it goes and if we can put better performances in week after week then it’s fantastic for everyone.”

Winger Danny Green echoed his team-mates thoughts, adding: “I’ve never seen it happen in League Two football that much, it’s very much long ball and work off seconds, but you rarely see teams try and dominate possession.

“This season you’ve seen a lot more teams try and do it, even Hartlepool tried to play out and we matched it, we worked, pressed them, shut them down and we made them make mistakes.

“So a lot of teams are doing it this year, we’ve just got to make sure we dominate every game and hopefully come away with wins.

“The Luton fans come in great numbers. If I was a fan I’d want to come and watch good football and my team dominating play with good attacking football and I think first half we showed that.”

Luton Town 2 Hartlepool United 1

Craig Mackail-Smith bagged an 87th minute supersub winner to secure Luton's first home win in three months against League Two strugglers Hartlepool – both collector's items in a season short on them.

You'll have to cast your minds back to 19 September for the last time the marquee summer signing hit the net, but his sumptuous dink over United keeper Trevor Carson, not only marked just his fourth of the campaign but provided one of the few moments of quality. But what a time to produce it, sparing a few blushes.

That was because Cameron McGeehen's penalty on the hour – his 11th goal this term – was cancelled out by Adam Jackson's header five minutes later. Town weren't three points better than their visitors.

In fact, bar the finale and despite the Pools' lowly League Two position, this was largely a frustration-laden performance.

Mathematicians will note that Town can still make the play-offs. Realistically though, after a season spent permanently excluded from the top seven, it still seems like it would take a Herculean effort to reverse those fortunes. Stranger things have happened, but not often.

Victories bring hope, but it was the lacklustre first 60 minutes that had the bizarre feel of a dead rubber. Before February is even over, that's almost unheard of. But, then again, even after this triumph Luton are eight points off the play-offs and in no danger of getting sucked into a relegation battle with the likes of Hartlepool, so maybe it's not too far from the truth.

What Town have now under Nathan Jones is virtually a free pass and 14 more games to build towards next season. Already in seven games at the club, the manager has given his men the licence to play more with the ball. Now they must learn to do more with it, use it quicker and, judging by reaction from the terraces, cut out the crab football of relentless sideways motion.

The pace – and, as a result, the atmosphere – in the first half was subdued, brightened only a series of in-swinging Danny Green crosses and a glorious Olly Lee through-ball that got stuck under Jack Marriott's feet.

It was no surprise they registered their fifth Kenilworth Road game in a row without scoring before the break.

The intensity increased after the break to a level that Jones appeared to be demanding, instructing and screaming at his Hatters for in the opening half.

McGeehan – who the boss announced afterwards has signed a new contract – seemed to take the hint but though he did all the hard work to burst into the box and wrong-foot the United defence, he clipped wide of Carson's upright with the goal at his mercy. He'd get a second crack from the spot on the hour, but only after Alan Sheehen had kept Luton level with a last-ditch block to deny Jake Gray.

McGeehan got his chance when Nicky Featherstone was adjudge to have blocked Green's free-kick with his arm. Town's top scorer sent keeper Carson the wrong way with consummate calmness, but the lead last just five minutes as Jackson's header from a corner was ruled to have crossed the line.

The Kenilworth Road faithful demanded a grandstand finale and, for once, they got it with a classy Lee through-ball and an even defter dink over Carson from Mackail-Smith.

It was a rare glimpse of the finishing talents that took him to the Championship and the international game.

While it will be a real Roy of the Rovers stuff if it leads to anything more than a good weekend and a sense of relief, for Town this term, that's a collector's item in itself.

Luton Town: Tyler, O'Donnell (Ruddock Mpanzu, 85), Cuthbert, Lawless (Hall, 72), McGeehan, Green, Marriott, Lee, Howells, Sheehan, Pigott (Mackail-Smith, 80) Unused subs: Smith, McCourt, Justham, Okuonghae

Hartlepool United: Carson, Magnay, Carroll, Bates, Thomas (Oates, 85), Walker, Paynter, Featherstone, Hawkins, Jackson, Gray

Unused subs: Harrison, Bingham, Bartlett, Fenwick, Richards, Laurent

Referee: Andy Davies Attendance: 7,880 (193)

Nathan Jones claimed his Luton players hurdled a "psychological barrier" by beating Hartlepool to secure his first home win as manager, but says fans have to learn to deal with their new possession-based style.

The Welshman's seventh game in charge was settled by an 87th minute winner from substitute Craig Mackail-Smith which also earned Town only their fourth League Two win on home soil all season.

There was frustration from the stands, however, during a first half in which Luton laboured against a deep-lying Pools defence and registered their fifth straight home game without scoring a goal in the opening 45 minutes.

The BBC's match statistics also suggested that it was the north-east visitors that shaded possession 51 per cent to Town's 49 per cent.

Jones said: "We're building a reputation and I said when I first came, sides will change for us and that's what they [Hartlepool] did, they sat back and allowed us to have possession and didn't want to come out and press us too highly.

"We had a lot of possession and we'll have to learn to deal with that. The crowd will have to learn to deal with that, because that's the way we want to move forward. We want to dominate possession with games.

"If sides come out against us then that opens up, but I'm pleased because I think they've got past a psychological barrier. They've got a win at home. The crowd, when we're playing well, are superb. They're right behind you. At times it can seem edgy though and they showed a lot of character, my players and I'm very, very proud of them."

The last time Town tasted victory at their headquarters was on November 14 and Jones added: "I really think we've overcome a psychological barrier of [playing] here. I love being here, I love Kenilworth Road, I love the atmosphere.

"I would have loved to play in front of these fans who are demanding. They've got to get that into them and I thought we moved the ball well, I thought we got into good areas, created enough to win the game, it's just that we could have made it a bit easier for ourselves."

Cameron McGeehan – who has signed a contract extension to keep him at Luton until the summer of 2018 – netted from the spot to hand the Hatters the lead with his 11th of the campaign. But it lasted only five minutes as Adam Jackson headed in from a corner to level for United.

Mackail-Smith was introduced from the bench and seven minutes later popped up with a fabulous finish for only his fourth goal of the campaign, breaking a five-month barren spell.

"We've just got to learn to be a bit more clinical. We could have made it far, far easier for ourselves. At the minute we're not doing that so we've had to do it the hard way, but full credit to them because they showed a lot of character," Jones said.

"I'm really, really pleased. I'm pleased for the football club and I'm happy for the players because they've really enjoyed a good week, but it has been a long one."