Luton Town FC vs Mansfield Town (2nd Apr 2018)

MATCH REPORT & GALLERY: LUTON TOWN 2 MANSFIELD TOWN 1

Landmark goals for James Collins and Glen Rea in important win for the Town

The Hatters got back to winning ways with a fantastic come-from-behind win against Mansfield Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon - with Nathan Jones' side dedicating the victory to injured midfielder Luke Berry.

After going a goal down in the first half through Kane Hemmings' low finish, James Collins and Glen Rea netted in nine second half minutes to move the Town up to 77 points for the season – the same tally they achieved for the entire 2016/17 campaign.

Nathan Jones made four changes from the side that was defeated at Colchester on Friday, with Alan McCormack, Jack Stacey, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Elliot Lee coming in for Luke Berry, James Justin, Glen Rea and Andrew Shinnie, with the Hatters looking to stretch the gap between themselves and fourth place to ten points.

After a stop start opening ten minutes, Town fashioned the first real opportunity of the afternoon. Intricate play between Elliot Lee and Danny Hylton saw the former tee up Dan Potts to cross in from the left, with his ball just avoiding James Collins in the box, before Hylton was unable to tuck away Olly Lee's flicked ball into the box 12 minutes in.

Nine minutes later and Hylton again was at the centre of the action, this time firing over from what was a crossing position out on the right, however with Conrad Logan off his line the striker tried to smash it in from an acute angle, but the effort flew just over the crossbar.

Town began to assert their authority on the match and Dan Potts was unlucky not to see his close range strike find the back of the net after Collins had played the defender through, the striker then seeing his 25 yard effort drift just over Logan's goal.

Just before the half hour mark the impressive Mpanzu swung a great cross in from the left with Hylton and Olly Lee waiting at the back stick but it evaded both and Mansfield managed to clear away.

Zander Diamond was guilty of missing a great chance for his side moments later when the Stags won a corner out on the far side, the defender met the cross six yards out, but his header was over the Town goal.

That sparked the visitors into life and they managed to score against the run of play in the 34th minute, when Kane Hemmings turned Scott Cuthbert from Logan's long ball down field, the striker then tucking it under Shea.

Shea somehow denied the Stags with a brilliant double save four minutes later, the keeper first throwing his body in the way of Alex MacDonald's effort before CJ Hamilton hammered an effort straight at the former Wimbledon man, with the Town defence caught on the back foot, but they were able to finally deal with the situation as they got it away.

The Hatters were forced into a change when Cuthbert went down holding his groin with two minutes of the first half to go, with Glen Rea slotting in, in his place.

Elliot Lee went agonisingly close to getting the Hatters back on level terms eight minutes into the second half when he volleyed from the edge of the box from a Mansfield clearing header, but his top right corner bound effort was somehow palmed over by Logan.

The Hatters got their equaliser a minute after the hour mark after some fantastic play out on the right from Mpanzu, as he powered down the wing before crossing low, with James Collins there two-yards out to net his 20th goal of the campaign. The striker celebrating by retrieving a Berry shirt from the bench and lifting it up, as the Town midfielder begins his recovery from a serious ankle injury picked up at Colchester.

The comeback was complete nine minutes later when Collins countered from a Mansfield corner, only to be hacked down from behind by Hemmings 25 yards from the Stags' goal. Alan Sheehan took it, it looked a simple enough save for Logan, but the keeper palmed it straight into the path of Glen Rea who made no mistake, firing it past the despairing keeper from five yards for the defender's first goal of the season.

Three minutes into second half stoppage time Man-of-the-Match Mpanzu nearly netted the goal his performance deserved when he pounced on a defensive mix-up from the Stags, but his effort was well saved by Logan.

Town: Shea, Stacey, Cuthbert (Rea 43), Sheehan, Potts, McCormack, Mpanzu, O Lee, E Lee (Justin 83), Hylton (Jervis 69), Collins.

Subs not used: Stech, Justin, Cornick, Downes, Gambin.

Yellow: Sheehan, Shea

Goal: Collins 61, Rea 70

Mansfield: Logan, Bennett, Diamond, MacDonald, Mellis, Angol, Atkinson (Potter 71), White (Miller 88), Hunt, Hamilton, Hemmings.

Subs not used: Digby, Pearce, Anderson, Olejnik, Byrom, Miller.

Goal: Hemmings: 34

Yellows: Angol, Hemmings, White

ATTENDANCE: 9,592 AWAY: 725

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLuc_QEn8fk

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

NATHAN HAILS TEAM AND GROUNDSTAFF AFTER MANSFIELD WIN!

Nathan Jones hailed his side – and the Kenilworth Road groundstaff – for coming from behind to record a “massive victory” over fellow promotion chasers Mansfield Town and equal last season’s points total of 77 points this afternoon.

The Hatters boss saw James Collins equalise Kane Hemmings’ opener just after the hour, before Glen Rea followed up Alan Sheehan’s free-kick ten minutes later to seal all three points and take a big step towards automatic promotion.

After the first goal, Collins raced to the home dugout to get injured team-mate Luke Berry’s No.18 shirt and hold it aloft to the fans – and the players carried it off the pitch with them at the end too having gone eight points above fourth-placed Exeter, who have a game in hand.

“It’s a massive victory,” said Jones. “I’m not going to play it down in any way. It wasn’t a must-win game, because there’s still five games to go – but it doesn’t half help. It was an absolutely massive game and a massive win against quality opposition.

“These are a big budget club with some real good players for the level, and especially after taking the lead against the run of play, we had to show a load of character.

“We had to show a load of real, real desire to win a football match – and we showed loads of quality as well. I thought they were wonderful from start to finish, but second half we were excellent.

“We’ve showed how much character we’ve got today, because to come out in the second half and play in the manner that we did was wonderful.

“I’m so proud of them, and so pleased for them as well because they’ve taken some knocks. They’ve taken a knock at the weekend with their mate getting injured, and he’s a big part of it. They love him here and once again we’ve shown the character and the quality. All of the characteristics that you need to get promoted, we’ve shown them today.”

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu returned to the side in Berry’s midfield role and turned in a man-of-the-match winning performance, setting up Collins’ equaliser with a surging run to the right byline and low cross.

“He needs to add that consistency to it, but we felt that they are a big powerful side and they press and run, and we’ve been a little bit lightweight in midfield in recent weeks,” said Jones. “We’re a wonderful football team but we’ve been a little bit lightweight, so we went positive with three strikers and the ones we played in midfield are good footballers who get on it.

“It was a wonderful performance from Pelly and he’s deserved that because he’s trained day in, day out, and he’s been left out recently – against Colchester he was actually left out of the squad, but we felt it was right to bring him and Alan McCormack back for today, so it’s proved right.”

Jones also made a point of signalling towards the ground staff, led by head groundsman Dickie Bird, as he came off the pitch which had taken an overnight soaking.

“He’s normally the prophet of doom, Dickie the head groundsman, and he rang me this morning early on and said ‘We’ve got a real problem here with the ground’,” added Jones.

“We wanted it on and they’ve worked tirelessly to get a pitch that was playable. It wasn’t ideal for how we play, but they worked so hard and a lot of credit goes to the four of them.

“They’ve grafted – Rog, Dickie, Dave and the young intern we’ve got – because they got the game on and today we sit there on 77 points, and that’s due in a big part to the work they’ve done.”

Hatters hit back to seal vital win over Stags

League Two: Luton Town 2 Mansfield Town 1

A marvellous second half turnaround saw Luton gain an absolutely vital victory over Mansfield in their quest to go up this term.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, it had looked like the Hatters would be in for a nervy second half, with results elsewhere finally going against them and their lead over the chasing pack in danger of disintegrating.

But the hosts came out and gave a true declaration of their promotion credentials with a marvellous display, goals from James Collins and Glen Rea's first of the season enough to seal a much-needed three points.

Prior to kick-off, Town boss Nathan Jones made four changes to his side, the most noticeable being Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in for his first league start since the 4-0 defeat at Port Vale on December 30.

He was well and truly vindicated by the decision as Mpanzu went on to show just what a fine player he can be at this level, keeping things simple as he grew into the game, then taking the bull by the horns after the break with a fearsome display of pace and power.

Alan McCormack, Elliot Lee and Jack Stacey were back as well, with Luke Berry injured, James Justin and Andrew Shinnie paying the price for indifferent displays at Colchester, Rea missing out too.

Neither side could really establish a clear foothold early on, Town's best offerings coming from two Dan Potts crosses that they couldn't make the most of, while Danny Hylton's highly ambitious cross-shot from near enough the corner flag flying wide.

The hosts had their best moment midway through the half, with Potts again the architect. He escaped on the left, and when his cross was blocked, Luton kept the ball alive, Collins shooting over from 20 yards.

Mansfield had a rare chance on the half hour, Zander Diamond heading a good opportunity from a corner into the stands.

Luton showed their class on 32 minutes, Mpanzu doing superbly to start a move, firing into Collins who laid off for Olly Lee, his ball sending brother Elliot through on goal, only to be denied by the hefty frame of Conrad Logan.

Referee Kevin Johnson saw a foul as Town tried to bundle the loose ball in and from the free kick which was pumped downfield by Logan, the Stags led, Scott Cuthbert buffeted off far too easily by Kane Hemmings, who left one-on-one with Shea, finished through the keepers legs.

The visitors should have had a second, Alex MacDonald missing his kick with the goal gaping, his second attempt saved by Shea, who also parried Will Atkinson's rebound, Sheehan throwing himself in the way of the third attempt.

Hemmings was a whisker away from 20 yards as Town started to lose their cool somewhat, Sheehan booked for a rash challenge, while Cuthbert was then replaced by Rea after pulling up with what looked like a recurrence of his groin injury.

The visitors almost capped a fine end to the first period by doubling their advantage, Sheehan's clearance going straight to Jacob Mellis, whose long ranger took a nick, leaving Shea stranded, clipping the bar on its way over.

Hatters came close to levelling on the stroke of half time though, Elliot Lee's ball finding Collins onside and in the clear, Logan sticking out a leg to divert his snapshot away.

Any thoughts that Luton would start the second half in a nervy manner were soon shelved as the hosts began positively, Collins teeing up Olly Lee to curl off target.

Displaying a real sense of adventure, Logan then kept his side in front, with a wonderful flying save from Elliot Lee's instinctive volley, finger-tipping it behind for a corner.

With Luton having plenty of the ball in front of their opposition's defence, they needed someone to make that driving run in behind and boy did it happen on 61 minutes thanks to Mpanzu.

He burst forward bravely, committing his opponents, going on the outside of Stags' back-line and delivering a perfect low cross that was gleefully slammed home by Collins for his 20th of the season.

The striker then went to the dug out and got Berry's shirt, holding it up to all corners of the ground for his injured team-mate in a real show of unity within the squad.

The game opened up immeasurably from there, with Mansfield needing a victory to keep their slim automatic promotion hopes alive, Hemmings' shot cleared away by Rea.

Collins was to have a massive few minutes midway through the half, somehow managing to stand his ground and deflect former Luton striker Lee Angol's effort from eight yards, which looked destined to put the Stags back in front.

Town's leading scorer then led a charge forward from a Stags attack that broke down, and when about to spring Mpanzu clear, was crudely and cynically taken out by Hemmings.

However, Luton got the justice they deserved as Sheehan's free kick was spilled by Logan with Rea of all people the first to react, coolly slotting home for his first goal of the season and first since Yeovil away in March of last year.

Mpanzu was now running the show offensively for the hosts, with Mansfield needing two men on him at all times, the midfielder sending another drive that Logan comfortably stopped.

Town didn't sit back and try to defend either, Jake Jervis replacing Hylton and making sure the ball stuck upfront, winning a number of intelligent and pressure relieving free kicks to boot.

Stags got desperate, Angol volleying wastefully over from 25 yards, as if anything, Luton finished the stronger, almost adding a third when Mpanzu's blast was repelled by Logan's legs, James Justin's follow up deflected behind.

The final whistle was met with scenes of real joy around the ground as Berry's shirt was once again hoisted aloft, Town's players and supporters knowing full well the significance of this result in their aims to be a League One side next term, moving eight points clear of fourth with just five games to go.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert (C Glen Rea 43), Alan Sheehan, Alan McCormack, Olly Lee, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elliot Lee (James Justin 83), James Collins, Danny Hylton (Jake Jervis 70).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Harry Cornick, Flynn Downes, Luke Gambin.

Stags: Conrad Logan, Rhys Bennett, Zander Diamond (C), Alex MacDonald, Jacob Mellis, Will Atkinson (Alfie Potter 71), Hayden White (Ricky Miller 89), Johnny Hunt (Paul Anderson 89), CJ Hamilton, Kane Hemmings.

Subs not used: Paul Digby, Krystian Pearce, Robert Olejnik, Joel Byrom.

Referee: Kevin Johnson.

Booked: Angol 37, Sheehan 37, Hemmings 69, Mellis 72, White 86, Shea 90.

Attendance: 9,592 (725 away).

Hatters MOM: Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu - star turn from the recalled midfielder.

Jones lauds brave Town's 'wonderful' performance

Luton boss Nathan Jones hailed his side for the manner in which they came from behind to earn a vital 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town this afternoon.

The Hatters had found themselves 1-0 down going into the break when Kane Hemmings fired past James Shea after getting the better of skipper Scott Cuthbert.

However, Town hit back thanks to goals from James Collins and Glen Rea, to ensure they stayed in second place and edge closer to a place in League One next term.

A thrilled Jones said: “It was a continuation of the first half, we were excellent first half, they scored against the run of play from one direct ball that we should have dealt with better, but we didn’t.

“Then after that they had a couple of minutes where we had to scramble a few things, had to make a couple of saves, had to put our bodies on the line, but apart from that, I don’t think we had any problems, I really don’t.

“A few little scrambles in the box, but we controlled the game, played some wonderful football first half and I thought we deserved to be in front on the balance of play and the balance of chances.

“But second half, I’m so proud of them for the second half, as the crowd was edgy. They’ve taken a real knock on the weekend, they’ve taken another knock today and they’ve come out second half and just the manner of the second half performance, I’m just so proud of, because it was wonderful, from start to finish.

“They’ve got it down, they’ve played, they’ve passed, created chances, got into great areas, and apart from their keeper it could have been more.”

The Stags goal when it came was after Town were penalised for a foul on visiting keeper Conrad Logan with the ball pumped long and Hemmings doing the rest.

Although disappointed at the time, Jones admitted he wouldn’t have had it any differently as it showed to him once more the spirit within the camp.

He added: “I’ll have to look at it again as it didn’t seem like it was anything, a bit of a scramble, then he (referee Kevin Johnson) seemed to take an age to talk to someone, he talked to our captain, then they booted it downfield and got on the end of it.

“It’s a direct play, but that’s what you get with the league, so we needed to deal with that.

“If we dealt with that, it would have been a lot more comfortable afternoon, but I wouldn’t want to change anything now as the manner of the performance, to come back, the character shown, and we asked questions of them at half time.

“We said, ‘look, we can’t waste seven or eight months worth of work by being silly and doing sloppy things.’

“It’s not easy to play football in League Two, it’s not easy to play football on a pitch like that, it’s not easy to play football when you keep getting knocks and you’re 1-0 down and the expectation of the crowd, but they did it and they showed a bravery and you can’t buy that.

“That’s in real good players, and I’m proud, because if we had gone gung ho and smashed it up to the front men and second ball, and scored two, we could say ‘great win.’

“But we don’t do that, and we’ve asked them to build and I’m really proud, as that’s our structure and I thought we were wonderful I really do.”