Luton Town FC vs Huddersfield Town (13th May 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-1 Huddersfield Town

Sonny Bradley scored as Luton Town drew 1-1 against Huddersfield Town in the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

The Terriers went in front, as Danel Sinani fired in after being found by Harry Toffolo.

Luton found an equaliser later in the half, as Sonny Bradley fired in from a Kal Naismith free-kick, meaning it’s all to play for as Town go to the John Smith’s Stadium on Monday.

Nathan Jones named an unchanged side from the 1-0 win over Reading on the final day of the regular Championship season. James Bree kept his place, after he returned to Town’s line-up against the Royals on Saturday. The only change was on the substitutes bench, as Peter Kioso came in for Admiral Muskwe.

Town’s first chance came after three minutes, as Bree’s venomous effort stung the fingertips of Lee Nicholls in the Huddersfield goal.

But it would be the visitors who would go in front, taking the lead after 12 minutes. Sinani’s low effort was enough to beat Matt Ingram at his near post.

After a strong period of possession, Town would find themselves level on the half-hour mark. A brilliant ball in from Naismith was met by a first-time hit from Bradley, who found the top corner for the equaliser.

Cameron Jerome was the next Town player to come close. The striker burst forward and almost found the top corner with a brilliant curling effort, but saw it go just wide of the post.

The Terriers registered the first shot on goal after the restart. Danny Ward saw his effort deflected out for a corner, with the Hatters eventually clearing their lines.

Jordan Clark tried his luck with an ambitious long-range volley, but his effort didn’t trouble Nicholls.

Jones made his first switch of the evening not long after the hour mark, as Tom Lockyer replaced Henri Lansbury.

The second half was a cagey affair, with both sides not creating any clear cut chances.

Town made their second switch of the game with ten minutes remaining, with Danny Hylton coming on for Reece Burke.

Clark had another long-distance effort for the Hatters, but his curling effort was off target.

Robert Snodgrass was Town’s third and final substitution of the evening, replacing Jerome.

The game would end as a draw, as Jones’ side travel to Huddersfield on Monday night for the second leg and a place at Wembley.

Goals:

Town: Bradley (30’)

Terriers: Sinani (12’)

Att: 10,005 (1,014 away)

Nathan Jones' take on Huddersfield draw

Nathan Jones admitted it was a fair result as the two sides head into the second leg level after a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Danel Sinani had given Huddersfield Town an early lead before captain Sonny Bradley replayed on the half-hour mark.

It was a tight contest and one the gaffer thought his side controlled in the first-half particularly, he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

“I thought we were excellent first half, really were front-footed and controlled the game. We got hit on the counter attack but I thought we were excellent, had some real good chances and just a little bit disappointed we didn’t have a lead.

“Second half they came into it, controlled the play a little bit more in front of us without causing us masses of problems and I thought we defended our box fantastically well. Could have changed things a little bit earlier to be honest with you to combat that but, odd as evens, pretty fair result and we move on.”

Talking about the electric atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes, Jones added: “The crowd were brilliant. It was a wonderful night this, Championship play-off game, the winner goes to Wembley and the winner of that goes to the Premier League so the stakes are massive.

“These are an excellent side, they finished third in the league but in the games the margins have been so small and again they were exactly the same.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNiVzd3h5eo – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86WZJcAyvmM – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PMrPiJGrm0 – Sonny Bradley interview

Bradley on target as Hatters and Terriers can't be separated in first leg

Championship play-off semi-final first leg: Luton Town 1 Huddersfield Town 1

Luton and Huddersfield couldn't be separated in their Championship play-off semi-final first leg encounter at Kenilworth Road this evening.

An open first half saw Danel Sinani's early goal cancelled out by skipper Sonny Bradley, scoring yet again in front of the Sky TV cameras, before the Terriers had the better of a cautious second period, Town defending valiantly to ensure they head to Yorkshire on Monday all square.

The Hatters went with an unchanged side from their 1-0 win over Reading last weekend meaning that top scorer Elijah Adebayo wasn't included once more, although on the bench Peter Kioso came in for Admiral Muskwe.

Town almost got off to the worst start possible inside 15 seconds when a dangerous cross from the right saw Harry Toffolo impeded by James Bree as he went to score, only for referee Rob Jones to wave away the appeals, possibly due to the early nature of the incident.

Bree was then involved at the other end moments later, released by Jordan Clark, his fizzing drive touched over the top by Lee Nicholls.

Despite making the early running, Luton found themselves behind on 12 minutes when an attack broke down and with Kal Naismith slipping, Toffolo released Sinani on the right, and with Bradley unable to get across and close him down, was able to drill low past Ingram, who will be disappointed to be beaten at his near post.

The Terriers went close again moments later, Danny Ward escaping his Town markers, but this time Bradley was alert to cover and get a crucial block in.

Huddersfield's early goal definitely quietened the noisy home crowd as with the visitors deploying one of the lowest blocks seen, Luton struggled to find an answer to the puzzle they were posed.

They worked it out on 31 minutes though as a quite magnificent free kick from the left was whipped in with unerring accuracy by Naismith and there was Bradley of all people to meet it on the volley with his right foot, Nicholls getting a hand to the shot, unable to keep it out

With the life breathed back into the crowd, Town went looking for second, and might have had it, Jerome bursting through and although dallied in getting his shot away, was also being dragged down by Sarr, but with the Luton bench and players going ballistic in their demands for penalty, referee Jones, as he had at the other end, gave nothing.

Jerome then went on his own from 25 yards, bending a shot narrowly over which would have brought the house down, but the Terriers quickly disbanded their defensive tactics, as Sinani's inviting cross was flicked on by Ward, Ingram ungainly using his body to shovel away.

Back came Luton as the game opened up, Jerome doing well to roll the ball into the path of Henri Lansbury who looked destined to make it 2-1, only for the imposing figure of Sarr to get his body in the way.

After the break, chances were harder to come by, Clark's speculative but ultimately wayward volley on the hour mark after the ball up nicely for him, the only moment of note for Town.

The hosts were forced into a change on 67 minutes, Lansbury going off after appearing to injure himself and Tom Lockyer on, meaning Naismith moved out of the back three and into midfield.

Huddersfield also made an alteration, experienced forward Jordan Rhodes on for top scorer Ward as the visitors began to take a stranglehold on the game, penning Luton in their own half with long spells of possession, but couldn't take advantage of a number of set-piece opportunities.

After appearing to weather a lengthy period of pressure, Luton were thankful to Reece Burke for getting back to block Lewis O'Brien after an incisive run straight through the middle of the pitch by Duane Holmes.

Clark tried his luck again from range, never testing Nicholls, while with five minutes to go, Naismith sent over another cross that Lockyer got too much on, steering over.

Late on Pipa's drive cannoned against two defenders and could have gone anywhere, although fortunately for Luton, it rebounded behind for a corner.

Four minutes of stoppage time came and went, as both sides will now do it all again at the John Smith's Stadium on Monday evening.

Hatters: Matt Ingram, James Bree, Reece Burke (Danny Hylton 80), Sonny Bradley ©, Kal Nasmith, Amari'i Bell, Henri Lansbury (Tom Lockyer 67), Allan Campbell, Jordan Clark, Cameron Jerome (Robert Snodgrass 89), Harry Cornick.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Dan Potts, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Peter Kios.

Terriers: Lee Nicholls, Harry Toffolo, Jonathan Hogg ©, Lewis O'Brien, Duane Holmes, Ollie Turton (Pipa 46), Naby Sarr, Danel Sinani (Sorba Thomas 85), Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes 72), Tom Lees, Jon Russell.

Subs not used: Tino Anjorin, Jamal Blackman, Levi Colwill, Carel Eiting.

Bookings: Naismith 57, Rhodes 90.

Referee: Robert Jones.

Attendance: 10,005 (1,014 Terriers).

Hatters** boss highlights the importance of not losing first leg against Huddersfield**

Jones reacts to 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was hugely satisfied that his side didn’t give away any advantage to Huddersfield Town after their Championship play-off semi-final first leg finished 1-1 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Terriers had taken an early lead on 12 minutes when Danel Sinani was sprung clear by Harry Toffolo and motored away on the right before beating Matt Ingram at his near post.

However, the Hatters ensured they weren’t behind for long, Sonny Bradley with a deft volley from Kal Naismith’s wickedly delivered free kick on the half hour, scoring yet again in front of the Sky TV cameras.

Cameron Jerome then had calls for a penalty turned down after being felled in the box by Naby Sarr, while he also curled narrowly over, with Jordan Clark’s effort also charged down by the defender.

After the break, neither side ever seriously looked like grabbing a winner, but with the second leg at the John Smith’s Stadium to come in three days time on Monday night, Jones said: “We’ve come here, we haven’t lost the game and that was really, really important, we didn’t lose the game.

“First half we were excellent, we should have got more from the half, but that’s the way it goes, and it’s a wonderful tie to go away at Huddersfield now.

“They were probably better second half without getting the chances, controlled possession in the middle of the field and we struggled to deal with that.

“We struggled to get to that press, but first half I thought we were electric, I really did.

“Front-footed, opportunities, we should have had a pen, should have had a sending off, all those things, (James) Bree had a chance, Harry Cornick’s had a chance, Henri Lansbury’s had a glorious opportunity, so I thought we were really, really on top, and a wonderful football game.

“Tactically both sides went at it and it just shows we’re a Championship side.”