Luton Town FC vs Mansfield Town (22nd Oct 2016)

PUBLISHED 18:19 22nd October 2016 McGeehan strike makes it seven unbeaten for Town

LUTON TOWN 1 (McGeehan 76) MANSFIELD TOWN 1 (Green 9)

Att: 7,787 (295 away)

A week after his celebrating his goal at Leyton Orient with a trip to see Justin Bieber in concert, Cameron McGeehan played the right tune once again to earn the Hatters a deserved point at home to Mansfield this afternoon.

The midfielder netted his eighth goal of the season to cancel out Matt Green’s early opener and stretch Nathan Jones’ men’s unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.

Six of those have come in the league, and the Town remain fourth in the Sky Bet League Two table after a match in which they dominated possession, but failed to convert a host of chances that came their way in the second half apart from McGeehan’s 25-yard shot in the 76th minute.

Boss Jones made one enforced change to the starting line-up from last week’s 2-1 victory in east London, with Jake Gray coming in for Danny Hylton, who was suspended after picking up a yellow card.

There was also a return to the substitutes' bench for Craig Mackail-Smith after his 45-minute run-out in the development squad at Barton Rovers on Tuesday night, seven months since he suffered a broken leg in the 1-0 win at Plymouth last March.

The Hatters owned the ball in the opening stages in a slightly difference formation, with full-backs Stephen O’Donnell and Dan Potts pushed high on up the flanks and Mansfield barely getting a kick in the first five minutes.

It was from an O’Donnell raid down the right that the first chance came, the Scot combining with Jack Marriott and Alex Gilliead to set up a shooting opportunity for Jordan Cook, who couldn’t keep his effort down.

It was the visitors who took the lead in the ninth minute, however, when – from their first corner of the game – Rhys Bennett headed towards goal and Green diverted it into the roof of the net from almost on the line.

Three minutes later the Stags had another sight of goal, Kevan Hurst volleying over on this occasion.

But the Hatters were soon threatening at the other end with the lively Gilliead once again teasing left-back Mal Benning and crossing low for Marriott, whose initial effort as blocked by Pearce, with his follow-up in a goalmouth scramble claimed by keeper Scott Shearer.

Hatters keeper Christian Walton was forced to make his first save in the 17th minute when Chris Clements caught one sweetly on the half-volley from 20 yards out.

Marriott was looking sharp at the point of the Town attack and he was next to send a shot goalward, but Kyle Howkins stuck out a leg to deflect it wide for a corner, from which O’Donnell was off target after a lay-off from McGeehan on the edge of the box.

On the half-hour Cook, playing in a more advanced role up front with Marriott, linked up with his partner to latch onto a great lay-off by the latter, but unfortunately his low curling effort did not bend back enough.

Walton had to be alert again on 38 minutes when Benning tried his luck with a free-kick from 30 yards, but the England Under-21 stopper was equal to the left-back’s effort.

Two minutes before the break, the Town pieced together their most fluent attacking move of the half when Gray, Glen Rea and McGeehan combined to work the ball infield from the left touchline, but the latter’s 20-yard shot wouldn’t dip enough to trouble Shearer.

It took until the seventh minute of the second half for either side to register an interest, and it was Marriott who was once again carrying the Town threat, battling his way through a couple of challenges along the 18-yard line before letting fly with a left footer that was deflected just wide of Shearer’s left post.

Gilliead soon had the ball glued to his boot on another driving run to the visitors’ byline, this time on the left, but Gray couldn’t arc his curling shot into the top corner after the Newcastle loanee had cut the ball back.

The Hatters had won a host of corners in the opening exchanges of the half, and from the fourth – an inswinger from Alan Sheehan – his centre-half partner Scott Cuthbert got a clear head on the ball, only for a Mansfield defender to block and smother the danger inside the six-yard box.

Mansfield sub Jack Thomas went into referee Graham Salisbury’s book on the hour for a late challenge on Gray, then – after Cook had been brought down – Sheehan swung in a free-kick from deep on the right that just evaded Cuthbert’s head, and the far post, as the Town sought an equaliser.

The Town’s best chance of levelling it to that point fell to Sheehan in the 66th minute, when Rea headed Gray’s deep cross back across the centre-of the penalty area and it fell to the unmarked Irishman eight yards out, but he didn’t connect with his usual conviction, and the ball drifted wide.

Jones brought Isaac Vassell into the attack, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in midfield, on 68 minutes with left-back Potts and Cook making way.

Rea dropped to centre-half with Sheehan moving out to the left side of defence, but it was Mansfield who soon reminded the Town of their ability to extend the lead when Walton scrambled across his goalline to field Clements’ 25-yard free-kick.

Gray had the home crowd on their feet a couple of times as the final quarter-of-an-hour approached, but his driving runs to the heart of the Stags’ penalty area came to nothing until, on 76 minutes, the pressure told.

The game had truly opened up and when Marriott laid the ball back to McGeehan 25 yards from goal, to the right of the area, the midfielder did not need a second invitation to take a touch and hammer it across Shearer and into the bottom corner for the equaliser.

As Town turned the screw, Shearer had to be at his best to push away a curling shot from Cuthbert, shortly before a looping, deflected cross from Sheehan just evaded the captain and McGeehan at the far post, before McGeehan fizzed another 25-yarder narrowly wide as the Hatters sensed a winner.

Two minutes into time added on, Rea saw a header from a Gilliead corner blocked and then his second follow-up shot smuggled away by the Stags defenders, who were almost caught out by a quick free-kick from Olly Lee right at the death, but Marriott’s shot on the turn flew inches wide of the top corner.

TOWN: Walton, O'Donnell, Cuthbert (c) Sheehan, Potts (Vassell 68), Rea, Gray (Lee 81), McGeehan, Gilliead, Cook (Mpanzu 68), Marriott. Subs: Smith, Mullins, Mackail-Smith, King (GK)

STAGS: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins (c), Pearce, Clements, Hoban (Thomas 55), Green, Hurst (Iacovitti 58), Hawkins, M Rose (Hamilton 72). Subs: Jensen, D Rose, Henderson

Yellows: Thomas, M Rose, Benning

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-mansfield-town-football-league-two-3376272.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezP_bMz1Vyg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dti_dLjJjI

League Two: Luton Town 1 Mansfield Town 1

Cameron McGeehan’s 77th minute blast rescued a point for the Hatters in their clash against Mansfield Town at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

After conceding early on to Matt Green’s close-range strike, it had looked like Luton were going to be left empty-handed, until McGeehan took aim from outside the box, drilling in an eighth goal of the season.

Without star striker Danny Hylton, boss Nathan Jones had opted to bring in Jake Gray, with Jordan Cook moving further forward, while Isaac Vassell was left on the bench despite being described as ‘rampant’ in the week.

Luton had clearly set out to dominate possession early on against a giant Stags side, who weren’t allowed to string two passes together in the opening five minutes, such was the utter dominance of the Hatters with the ball.

Empolying a slightly confusing formation that saw Dan Potts and Stephen O’Donnell pushed right forward, with Glen Rea holding and McGeehan taking the quarter back role, with Gray beginning deeper too, visitors Mansfield were allowed all of two touches during the early exchanges.

However, most of Luton’s passing was either sideways or backwards as bar an effort from Cook, Mansfield didn’t looked troubled and while most were still trying to work out exactly who was playing where, the hosts found themselves behind, due to their Achilles heel once more, defending set-plays.

There was nothing special about it either as on nine minutes, Mansfield swung the corner over, Rhys Bennett headed it goalwards and the prolific Matt Green was lurking to nod over the line from close range, stretching Luton’s long wait for a clean sheet to eight matches now.

The hosts did come came close to levelling on 12 minutes though as Alex Gilliead and O’Donnell combined well with the on-loan Newcastle man crossing for Jack Marriott who was denied by the prostrate Krystian Pearce, with Town screaming for a handball, and then keeper Scott Shearer.

Chris Clements’ pot shot was handled by Christian Walton, as Town were reduced to an effort from distance by Marriott that was deflected as Luton continued to look susceptible to conceding whenever a decent ball was swung into the box, which was clearly Mansfield’s gameplan.

Town almost had a lovely equaliser on the half hour, as Cook set off on his own, twinkling his way into the box and aiming for the bottom corner, only narrowly missing his intended target.

He then set up McGeehan for an effort that was always rising, as Mansfield quite clearly showed their hand, slowing the game down at every opportunity, employing what can only be described as fairly cynical time-wasting tactics.

After the break, Jones rather surprisingly sent the same 11 out again, although there were signs of a greater intensity as a deflected attempt from Marriott went behind, before Gilliead went on the outside of Bennett and pulled back for Gray, whose curler wouldn’t come down in time.

The hosts did force a number of corners too, one of which was met by captain Scott Cuthbert but blocked and hacked away before it could cross the line.

Despite having the likes of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu plus Vassell on the bench, Jone continued to keep faith with the same side, when the pace, power and unpredictability the pair offered would have been an option.

His side should have levelled on 65 minutes though when Gray’s driven cross was headed back by Rea, dropping perfectly for Alan Sheehan eight yards out, who on his left foot, had time, space, but could only volley horribly over.

Finally, Mpanzu and Vassell were introduced with 23 minutes to go, as Gray set off on a purposeful run, his effort again deflected behind, while Rea was crowded out too.

Luton were then level on 77 minutes as McGeehan showed just why he is such a vital component of this Luton side, taking Marriott’s pass 25 yards out, and drilling his shot into the bottom corner, before celebrating with his animated manager in the dug out.

Hatters didn’t necessarily throw the kitchin sink at their opponents in search of a winner, preferring to stick to their passing and probing approach, but they continued to press, with Cuthbert’s side-footer drawing a flying stop from Shearer, with McGeehan clearly held from Sheehan’s dinked cross, although no penalty was given.

McGeehan had another sighter from a bit further out, but couldn’t get the same connection or direction, while Rea rose well from another corner, his header saved and the rebound blocked away.

Marriott then almost won it with the last kick, his left-footed curlier inches wide, as Luton remained fourth in the table, although did pull a point back on Doncaster in third, after they lost at Blackpool.

Hatters: Christian Walton, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts (Isaac Vassell 68), Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Alex Gilliead, Jake Gray (Olly Lee 80), Cameron McGeehan, Jordan Cook (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 68), Jack Marriott.

Subs not used: Craig King, Jonathan Smith, Johnny Mullins.

Stags: Scott Shearer, Rhys Bennett, Malvind Benning, Lee Collins (C), Krystian Pearce, Chris Clements, Pat Hoban (Jack Thomas 55), Matt Green, Kevan Hurst (Alex Iacovitti 58), Kyle Howkins, Mitchell Rose (CJ Hamilton 72).

Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Ashley Hemmings, Danny Rose, Darius Henderson.

Bookings: Thomas 60, Rose 72, Lee 90.

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 7,787 (295 Mansfield).

Annoyed Jones lambasts Town’s defending for Stags opener

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left to rue his side’s defending once more as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mansfield at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

With just nine minutes gone and Luton completely dominating possession, they fell behind to a soft goal, as Matt Green converted from close range, with the hosts once again failing to deal with a corner kick.

That then gave Mansfield something to hold on to, which they did until Cameron McGeehan’s equaliser on 77 minutes, as Jones said: “I thought we totally dominated the game, it’s just when we give away a goal from a set-play and you don’t keep a clean sheet, then sides will just come here and shut up shop and not show any ambition whatsoever and just literally try to get a lock down and that’s what Mansfield did.

“It’s annoying and it’s stuff we work on and it’s simple. It’s not like a great, whipped ball in, it’s a clipped ball in, that gives everyone enough time to see their man, to see the ball, to go and attack it, but we’ve switched off and it’s just basic, it’s really basic from our point of view.

“Then no matter how much we do in our structure, in breaking lines, in playing through people, in getting it wide, in combination play, runs and crosses, playing out from the back, rotation, it doesn’t make a difference, because all that just comes down to then we’re having to chase the game.

“We must have 70 per cent of possession and the frustrating thing for us is that we had possession for the first six minutes, but then on nine minutes they scored and it gave them something.

“They picked the biggest side they could and just tried to play for those set-plays, but we just can’t give sides something to cling to as when we give sides something to cling to, they’ll show even less ambition than they do when they come here anyway.

“It would have been a travesty if we did lose the game, but I’m disappointed because we have to learn these things, because sides can’t just throw a ball into our box and nick something, because we don’t do that to other teams.

“We craft teams open, we look to create, look to score good goals and if sides just come and shut up shop and play on set-plays, and we allow them to do that, without punishing them, then we’re not going go to get the points we need.”

Jones was pleased with the way his side went about fashioning they way back into the game after the break, as he added: “Second half I thought we were excellent, first half we were a little bit lacklustre, so we changed stuff and second half we did everything we could to win the game.

“We got the goal, had chances, blocked on the line, we must have had 20 corners and the way we went about our work second half was really, really pleasing.

“That’s how I want us to play and we didn’t resort to lumping it, didn’t resort to just putting it in people’s boxes, we kept possession, we were inventive, played through people, the keeper’s made one or two good saves, we had enough chances to win the game again, but I would just like one to be enough.”

MATCH REPORT: Smash hit earns Luton Town a draw against Mansfield

Luton Town 1 Mansfield Town 1

'Baby, baby, baby, oh' – what a hit from Cameron McGeehan.

The Luton midfielder's tender 21 years may explain a debatable taste in pop poser Justin Bieber but he provided the only rock 'n' roll moment to rescue a point against Mansfield.

He may have never heard of Mick Jagger but somehow his goal struck a chord with 1969 classic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'. You see, if you try sometimes you get what you need. Luton needed inspiration. McGeehan hummed the tune.

At the moment, he is rolling stone that gathers no moss, as his 25-yarder nestled into the bottom corner to seal a share of the spoils that, up until that point, they had struggled to full convince they deserved. For the most part, this was League Two football at its most League Two-est.

Though he was deployed in a more unusual deeper role, his second strike in successive weeks moved the goalscorer to eight for the season and now joint top with Town hitman Danny Hylton. The striker was conspicuous by his absence as, sat on the sidelines serving a one-match suspension, and his team-mates struggled for a focal point.

But boss Nathan Jones eluded to McGeehan's strike-rate after last week's exploits at Leyton Orient and he showed again exactly why he's so valuable to this Luton side. It was why the midfielder made a celebratory beeline for his boss. One good turn deserves another, after all.

The Hatters were incoherently bewildering in a first half where they began with five solid minutes of ponderous passing. Mansfield, who managed just a few touches, during that time then typically took the lead on ten minutes with their first corner. Their first effort on goal.

Rhys Bennett headed forward and Matt Green nodded in. Basic, economical football and far, far too simple, making for a ninth straight league game without a clean sheet.

At least for those opening exchanges there looked to be a game plan, but that dissipated quickly and the rest of the first half was played almost exclusively in the Hatters' half.

Jack Marriott cut a lonely figure up front with his strike partner missing, but he was protesting for a penalty soon after his side fell behind. A neat turn left Krystian Pearce on the turf and when the striker tried to push it past the prostrate defender, a hand appeared to halt his momentum.

With the visitors comfortable, but offering little to threaten Christian Walton's goal, a rare home foray forward saw Jordan Cook squirm into the box and curl just wide of the post.

Town had to wait for another 23 minutes for something approaching an effort on goal when Jake Gray curled just past the top corner.

Inspiration continued to evade the hosts as the clocked ticked past an hour and, when they did fashion a chance, so too did a finishing touch. In theory there would be few left pegs in the Luton squad that you'd want a Glen Rea header to drop to, 12 yards out, than Alan Sheehan.

The reality was that the defender slashed at golden opportunity. At that stage it looked like another one of those frustrating afternoons, where nothing would go right.

But Luton upped the ante with a double substitution on 68 minutes and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Isaac Vassell gave them more forward thrust.

And nine minutes later they were back on terms when, like last week, Marriott and McGeehan combined with the latter rattling into the bottom corner.

And that strike, brought an injection of adrenaline that lifted Kenilworth Road.

Scott Cuthbert shaped to score in the 83rd minute but his curler was beaten away by Scott Shearer.

Then, with the final kick, five minutes into injury time, Marriott looked to have hit a peach but his shot curled jut wide of the top corner.

It was head in hands stuff for the striker but at least their was one smash hit from this game that you'll want to play on repeat.

Luton Town: Walton, O'Donnell, Potts (Vassell, 68), Cuthbert, Gray (Lee, 81), McGeehan, Cook (Mpanzu, 68), Marriott, Gilliead, Rea, Sheehan

Unused subs: Smith, Mullins, Mackail-Smith, Lee, King

Mansfield Town: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins, Pearce, Clements, Hoban (Thomas, 55), Green, Hurst (Iacovitti, 58), Hawkins, Rose (Hamilton, 72)

Unused subs: Jensen, Hemmings, Rose, Henderson

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 7,787 (295)

Shooting master class pays off for Cameron McGeehan

Cameron McGeehan nailed a wonderful for strike to rescue a point against Mansfield in a 1-1 League Two draw and then revealed the tip that former Hatters hitman Andre Gray gave him for scoring more goals.

The 21-year-old says private shooting lessons with Superior Striker Coaching head honcho Alan Russell have been helping as he registered his second in two weeks and took his season's tally level with Town's top marksman Danny Hylton, both now on eight goals.

The coaching consultancy firm, run by a former Scottish league striker Russell, has helped a series of high profile goalscorers to hone their skills including the current Burnley man, who made his name at Kenilworth Road in Luton's 2014 Conference-winning season.

"Andre gave me the number because he does a hell of a lot of work with him," said McGeehan of Russell, adding: "He's on [Gray] a slightly better wage so he can enjoy a few more sessions, but I got in contact with him and did a few sessions last year. It makes you think about different ball strikes. He films it and it's detailed.

"Sometimes I have to come away from it and not do too many sessions because it makes me overthink it sometimes, but it helps me with all parts of my game. We do touches, shooting and it helps because I'm hitting the back of the net and it gives me a positive mindset going into the game."

McGeehan revealed earlier this term that he also regularly pays for sports psychology stints to help with the mental side of the game and he added: "I do look at other avenues.

"I do a bit of work with Alan Russell. I don't see him all the time because it's quite expensive, but I try to see him when I can. That type of shot that I hit [against Mansfield] is something that we do work on quite a lot. Sometimes I do get annoyed because we work on that long range stuff and it ends up being tap-ins.

"It was worth it today, but I think I've always had that knack of getting in the right areas at the right time, but I try to look at other things. I do a lot of work with Joacquim [Gomez – Luton first team coach], the gaffer [Nathan Jones] and Kev [Dearden] the goalie coach about different finishing drills, which all help. I do stuff with Hylts [Hylton] and Jack [Marriott] as well, so I'm always working on that side of my game and it's good at the minute.

"The gaffer and that all know I work with him and they're happy with it as long as I don't do it too much."