Luton Town FC vs Leyton Orient (20th Oct 2015)

PUBLISHED 22:00 20th October 2015 Town settle for a point after Marriott opener

LUTON TOWN 1-1 LEYTON ORIENT

The Town were held to their second successive 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road as they were pegged back by Leyton Orient.

Jack Marriott’s seventh goal of the season put the Hatters ahead shortly after the half-hour.

But Orient levelled less than two minutes after the break when Jay Simpson turned home from close range.

The Hatters were indebted to a number of key saves from goalkeeper Mark Tyler but Marriott almost won it for the Town late on only for his shot to flash just past the post.

After Saturday’s defeat at Crawley, manager John Still made one change to the side, opting to bring in Paddy McCourt for Nathan Doyle, who dropped to the bench.

Marriott had his first chance of the night on 12 minutes when a fine Town move down the right saw McCourt’s flick-on send Craig Mackail-Smith away. His cross was perfect for strike-partner Marriott but his shot from close range was held by Orient keeper Alex Cisak.

Back came the visitors and on 16 minutes it should have been 1-0 Orient. A ball from the left found the on-rushing John Marquis but, with the goal gaping, the on-loan striker’s side-foot effort was saved brilliantly by the Town number one diving to his left.

And moments later Jack Payne shot wide from the edge of the box as Orient pushed for the lead.

Back came the Town however, and former Orient defender Scott Cuthbert came close to putting the Town ahead on 31 minutes when rising to plant a header from McCourt’s right-wing corner only to see his effort cleared off the line by Payne.

But a minute later the Hatters were in front. Dan Potts’ cross-cum-shot bobbled through the Orient defence. Marriott ghosted in, lurking at the back-post, though, and the striker was alert enough to the loose ball to guide a finish high into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

It was the Town’s first first-half goal at home since late August and the Hatters and Marriott almost got another on 36 minutes only for the goalscorer to rifle a shot inches wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Orient ended the first period on top though. Sensing a leveller, Tyler denied Mathieu Baudry on 40 minutes before holding onto a shot from Ollie Palmer that was straight at him 60 seconds later.

As the breathless first half continued to swing from end to end, Olly Lee shot wide for the Town before Cuthbert did brilliantly to scramble away two Orient set-pieces under pressure.

However, to the Hatters’ frustration, the O’s were level just two minutes into the second half. Sean Clohessy crossed low from the right and Simpson was quickest to the pass in the six-yard box to get ahead of the Town defence and poke home his 11th goal of the campaign.

Back on level terms the visitors upped the ante in search of the lead but failed to test Tyler despite their dominance.

Marriott headed straight at Cisak on 55 minutes before the Town made two changes in the space of four minutes, introducing Nathan Doyle, for Lee, and Luke Guttridge, for McCourt.

The Hatters attempted to seize control in the final quarter. Cameron McGeehan’s curling shot from 22 yards was creeping into the bottom corner under Cisak’s save on 69 minutes.

Back came the O’s, however, and Tyler needed to stand tall with 11 minutes left on the clock when blocking a goal-bound shot from Sammy Moore.

You felt there was one last chance for the Town as time ticked away, and there was one with six minutes left when Guttridge’s clever pass released Marriott through on goal. However the striker clipped his shot just past the post.

That was the last chance for either side as both sides settled for a point.

The Town are back again at Kenilworth Road when leaders Plymouth come to town. BE THERE.

Town: Tyler; Long, Potts, Cuthbert, Wilkinson; Lee (sub Doyle 57), Smith, McCourt (sub Guttridge 64), McGeehan, Marriott, Mackail-Smith (sub McQuoid 76).

Subs not used: Lawless, Justham, O’Brien, Ruddock.

Attendance: 8,022, including 638 from Orient.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/luton-1-1-leyton-orient-gallery-2754935.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-0_NcU6NYY

League Two: Luton Town 1 Leyton Orient 1

Luton Town’s stuttering home form continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Leyton Orient this evening.

Although a point against the promotion-chasing O’s can’t be seen as a bad result on paper, the manner in which it was achieved, Luton struggling to regularly test a visiting keeper once more, left the Kenilworth Road faithful audibly frustrated at full time.

With Hatters free-scoring on their travels this term, Jack Marriott’s first half strike was all they could muster, meaning John Still’s side have netted a mere eight goals at home in seven league games.

Town’s inability to create opportunities was highlighted in stoppage time as rather than going all-out for a winner, they were reduced to passing ponderously around in defence as time ticked down.

The boss made one change to the side that lost 2-1 to Crawley on Saturday, Paddy McCourt in for Nathan Doyle.

Setting up in a diamond formation, Hatters were slow out of the blocks yet again though.

They did break with pace on 11 minutes, as McCourt flicked on for Craig Mackail-Smith and he burst away on the wing before crossing for Marriott, whose prod was well handled by Alex Cisak.

However, Luton didn’t apply enough pressure on their visitors when in possession as John Marquis eased past Scott Cuthbert and pulled the ball back for Jack Payne, his side-footer drawing an excellent save from Mark Tyler.

Precious little happened from there, with home fans growing restless as the hosts appeared restricted in their formation, with both full backs coming under increasing pressure from their Orient counterparts.

Cuthbert saw his header cleared off the line as Town started to build up the slightest head of steam and were somehow in front after 34 minutes.

Jonathan Smith teed up Dan Potts and his hopeful cross shot took a deflection that wrong-footed all but the ever-alert Marriott at the far post who beat Cisak.

That saw Hatters finally throw off some of their shackles and on another foray forward, McGeehan tried his luck from distance, his shot blocked into the path of Marriott who with time on his side, hammered wide.

Orient upped the pressure for the remainder of the half though with a number of deliveries whistling across the box, forcing Luton into some last-ditch challenges, while Ollie Palmer fired straight at Tyler.

Hatters looked to have made bright start after the interval, McGeehan inches away from a cross and then Smith firing over the top.

However, Orient were level on 47 minutes as Potts sold himself far too easily, as Clohessy skipped away to cross for Jay Simpson to convert from close range.

The game then became increasingly stretched, with Orient always looking the more likely as Hatters were left clinging on at times

Marriott almost had an opening, spinning in the area only for Adam Chicksen’s intervention, as Luton finally started to get something resembling a foothold in the game.

Too often there wasn’t enough support when Hatters broke though, as McGeehan had to shoot from range, awkwardly parried by Cisak.

Still Orient pressed when they could, allowed far too much space in which to do so at times, Bradley Pritchard close to poking in at the back post, while Sammy Moore’s volley was blocked by Tyler.

Luton then had a magnificent chance with six minutes to go as Luke Guttridge sent Marriott away and with just Cisak to beat, he dragged past the post.

That sucked any life out of Hatters’ hopes to grab a winner and they will need to try and rectify their home form on Saturday, entertaining leaders Plymouth Argyle.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Sean Long, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C), Luke Wilkinson, Jonathan Smith, Olly Lee (Nathan Doyle 57), Paddy McCourt (Luke Guttridge 63), Cameron McGeehan, Jack Marriott, Craig Mackail-Smith (Josh McQuoid 76).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Alex Lawless, Mark O’Brien.

Orient: Alex Cisak, Sean Clohessy, Connor Essam, Mathieu Baudry, Ollie Palmer (Dean Cox 71), Jack Payne, Sammy Moore, Bradley Pritchard, Adam Chicksen, Jay Simpson, John Marquis (Lloyd James 88).

Subs not used: Frazer Shaw, Alan Dunne, Blair Turgott, Scott Kashket, Charlie Grainger.

Attendance: 8,022 (638 Orient).

Booked: Wilkinson 38.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Star man: Jack Marriott. Could have had a hat-trick but effort was commendable and is always in the area looking for a goal

**Harris urges fans not to panic over ‘**work in progress’

Hatters assistant boss Terry Harris has urged Town fans not to panic and keep faith what he describes as a ‘work in progress’.

A crowd of over 8,000 at Kenilworth Road were left frustrated once more last night as their side were held to a 1-1 draw by Leyton Orient in a match devoid of any real excitement for the home faithful.

When asked what he would say to supporters, whose anxieties grew and grew, with the atmosphere barely registering at times, Harris said: “Just dig in there, I understand their frustrations after the game Saturday, I totally understand their frustrations.

“But it’s a work in progress, I keep saying those words, but that’s what it is.

“Stick with us, stick behind us, which I think hopefully 99 per cent of them are anyway and we’ll push on.

“We were second looking at the form guide, at this moment in time, we’re mid-October and we’re 12th and probably four or five points behind third place.

“So there’s no need to panic, no rush, we’re getting there, let’s see at the end of the season.”

Town’s formation came in for criticism from certain sections last night too as lining up with a diamond, there was precious little width on show throughout the evening.

Once more, neither wingers Danny Green or Ryan Hall were included on the bench, and on their continued absences, Harris continued: “They were in the squad, but weren’t on the bench.

“It’s a very thin dividing line between being on the bench or not involved at all really. We just felt that the personnel we had on the bench was suited to the system that we played.”

Although Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was among the substitutes, he was also not called up on as Harris said: “Maybe he might have to wait a little bit longer too.

“Each and everyone of them know that when there time is called they’re going to have to be ready.

“I know Pelly’s ready as I know Danny Green and Ryan Hall are ready. Their time will come.”

While on the formation utilised, which saw the likes of Jonathan Smith wide on the left at times, Harris added: “We just felt that was the best formation for the day. We knew Orient would play the same, so we just ensured that the guy behind the front two, (John) Marquis was shackled.

“We thought if we could get the ball wide, get the ball into the channels, then certainly Craig (Mackail-Smith) and Jack (Marriott) could cause them a problem.

“I thought Orient probably used the full back space better than what we did as (Sean) Clohessy bombed on, certainly in the first half.

“We said to Danny (Potts) you’ve got to come and meet him earlier as he’s taking you into our own penalty box, you’ve got to shackle him earlier.

“But when two teams play a diamond, it’s full back on full back.”

Orient’s goal came from a mistake by Potts too as he was beaten far too easily by visiting right back Clohessy, who crossed for Jay Simpson to net.

Harris added: “Every goal you concede you can pick it to bits. You could see Pottsy, who I thought played well on the night, I have to say, he half turned and let the guy go across and we didn’t really defend the ball across the six yard box.

“But he’s a young lad, Dan, he’s got a good future ahead of him and think he’ll do well for us, but that one slip cost us the points.”

Luton Town 1 Leyton Orient 1

For a team that has only kept two clean sheets all season it is advisable to stick like glue to the most dangerous striker in the land. Luton didn't, Jay Simpson scored, but at least they scraped a point.

It wasn't particularly convincing against a Leyton Orient side with one win in eight previous league games and Mark Tyler had to perform one or two goalkeeping minor miracles as per usual, but in such lacklustre mood sometimes the Hatters will just have to be grateful for what they can get when frustration looms large at Kenilworth Road.

Jack Marriott gave Town an unlikely lead with his seventh of the season in the first half before Simpson struck with his 11th in the league two minutes after the break.

That's more than Premier League hotshots Jamie Vardy, Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa, Alexi Sanchez and a good few more than anyone in the Football League.

Give a predator a sniff from point blank range and they rarely disappoint, but the biggest blot on Luton's copybook was that the former Arsenal Academy man just didn't have to work hard for it.

Marriott had chances to take all three points but it wasn't a night under the lights where the diminutive dangerman could sprinkle any gold dust.

Any home winner would have glossed over a real lack of any discernible Town tactic – beyond giving the ball to Paddy McCourt (first half) and Luke Guttridge (second half) and crossing their fingers.

The former was the only change to the side that slumped at Crawley, replacing Nathan Doyle for his first start since September 29, but he and the hosts rarely had the ball in the opening stages to enact said game plan.

Despite that, Orient keeper Alex Cisak had to react quickly to prevent the impressive Sean Clohessy from putting through his own net.

It was a good save but home stopper Tyler trumped that at the other end, stopping John Marquis when the Millwall loan man looking odds on to open the scoring after Ollie Palmer's cutback.

Scott Cuthbert – given the Luton captain's armband after Steve McNulty's departure for Tranmere on Monday – almost stung his old side but Jack Payne hacked his header off the line, though the Orient net soon bulged.

Dan Potts' cross-cum-shot skidded through the six-yard area to where Marriott was lurking to poke home his seventh of the season. And, on a night of slim pickings, at least that represented Town's first home goal in the opening period since the end of August.

The striker should have doubled his night's bounty three minutes later. Town broke through Cameron McGeehan and the midfielder, who had just lost his place at the summit of Luton's goalscoring charts, ought to have slid his team-mate through on goal for a chance to overtake his tally. Instead he shot from distance but the ball cannoned off a blue shirt and into the path of Marriott who stabbed wide.

The O's, by no means deserving of their disadvantage, found Tyler as he often is, in the right place, to pluck a Palmer volley out of the sky as Luton saw out the half.

Two minutes of the second period was all they could manage by way of resistance. Simpson picked one right out of the poacher's handbook, toeing in Clohessy's cross from close range.

It looked momentarily as though another Luton collapse was on the cards, but they did at least show some grit to snuff out that fear.

Half chances came and went for both sides until Marriott had an opportunity to snatch it seven minutes from time. Substitute Guttridge put him through on goal – the one moment of quality from a Hatter – but the striker pulled his effort wide and with it any hope of a heroic late winner.

In truth, the evening didn't deserve one.

Luton: Tyler, Potts, Smith, Cuthbert, McGeehan, Marriott, McCourt (Guttridge, 64), Lee (Doyle, 57), Long, Mackail-Smith (McQuoid, 76), Wilkinson

Unused subs: Lawless, Justham, Ruddock Mpanzu, O'Brien

Orient: Cisak, Clohessy, Essam, Baudry, Palmer (Cox, 72), Payne, Moore, Pritchard, Chicksen, Simpson, Marquis (James, 88)

Unused subs: Shaw, Dunne, Turgott, Kashket, Grainger

Referee: Tim Robinson

Attendance: 8,022 (638)