Luton Town FC vs Middlesbrough (2nd Aug 2019)

LUTON TOWN 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 3

Six-goal thriller to mark the Town's return to the Championship

James Collins scored an 85th minute equaliser to earn Luton a point in a pulsating Championship opener against Middlesbrough, but it was record signing Simon Sluga who was the hero.

But for a mistake that allowed Britt Assombalonga to make it 2-2, the Croatian international pulled off a string off fine saves, most notably midway through the second period after Lewis Wing had sent a screamer into his top corner that threatened to be the winner.

And it was a night for net-busters as Sonny Bradley, who was the only Hatter that didn’t score last term, broke his long-standing duck with a top bin rocket from 22 yards after Ashley Fletcher had headed Boro into an early lead.

It got better for Town though as Martin Cranie bagged on his debut with a header that put the host in front until Sluga’s only error saw the team turn in at half time all square.

It was harsh on the Hatters as they were the best side and after Wing gave Boro a spectacular lead they should have put the game to bed from the spot. But Assombalonga blazed over and that set the scene for a grandstand finish.

Along with goalscorer Cranie and stopper Sluga, there were two other summer recruits in Luton’s starting line-up with Ryan Tunnicliffe and Callum McManamam also given competitive home debuts. Both impressed as Luton showed fight, determination and a good deal of verve.

They’d made a good start but it was Middlesbrough forward Fletcher who drew first blood with a close range header after Marvin Johnson had all the time in the world to pick him out with the penalty box still crowded from a corner.

But Luton fans kept the noise up and they had they saw something sensational for their efforts when Bradley levelled the scores with an absolute smasher.

It went from good to glorious in the 24th minute through Cranie’s header before Sluga showed the very best of what he could do followed quickly by a moment he’d rather forget. A Marvin Johnson curler looked destined for the top corner until the Croatian stretched his 6ft 3ins frame to paw it away, but moments later Andrew Shinnie gave the ball away in front of his own area and Assombalonga’s tame effort slipped through his grasp for the softest of equalisers. He’d soon redeem himself.

Town thought they’d got the third in 50th minute when McManaman whipped in a devilish cross and Collins converted only for referee Oliver Langford to rule it out, booking the forward for a handball.

A deflected McNair shot from an acute angle hit the bar as Boro went down the other end to hint that they weren't done.

Dan Potts was caught in a tangle of legs in Boro’s box and the whole of Kenilworth Road appealled for a penalty that Mr Langford looked at but remained unmoved.

By by the hour mark Luton’s dominance began to wane and their standoffishness cost them in the 69th minute when Wing took advantage of some space and slammed a shot beyond the despairing dive of Sluga, to hand the visitors the lead.

Then the stopper shone. He had his whole body instinctively in the way as Daniel Sanchez Ayala fired a point blank header his way and raced off his line to deny Assombalonga, with his feet.

It was all Boro and it looked to be game over when Cranie fouled Hayden Coulson in the penalty area, but Assombalonga blasted the spot-kick over and was then denied again soon after when Sluga slid in at his feet again. It proved a turning point.

Kenilworth Road errupted in the 85th minute when Harry Cornick - a threat after his introduction - got in behind and found Potts. The defender shimmied and shot straight at a Boro player prostrate on the ground, yet Collins was lurking and last term’s top scorer slotted in the rebound. And he could have won it too.

As the contest ticked into added time Town bombed forward with George Moncur finding Collins and the striker leathering the ball for what looked like a winner, only for Republic of Ireland international Darren Randolp to pull over an outrageously good save.

But, the feelgood factor continues at Kenilworth Road with a familiar “we are top of the league” chant ringing around the old girl. What a return to the Championship.

TOWN: Sluga, Cranie, Potts, Tunnicliffe, Bradley, Pearson, McManaman (Moncur, 74), Lee (Butterfield, 60), Shinnie (Cornick, 69), Mpanzu, Collins. Unused subs; Berry, Galloway, Jones, Shea

MIDDLESBROUGH: Randolph, Sanchez Ayala, Shotton, Clayton, Assombalonga, Fletcher, Hobson, McNair (Saville, 86), Johnson (Browne, 70), Wing, Coulson. Unused subs: Tavernier, Gestede, Wood, Bola, Pears

Referee: Oliver Langford

Attendance: 10,053 (960)

GRAEME JONES ON THE 3-3 DRAW WITH MIDDLESBROUGH

Hatters boss Graeme Jones was pleased with his group of players as they drew 3-3 with Middlesbrough this evening in the opening Championship game of the new season.

Ashley Fletcher opened the scoring with a header after seven minutes, before Sonny Bradley equalised with a fantastic half volley five minutes later.

The hosts took the lead when Martin Cranie headed in, before Britt Assombalonga’s low drive beat Simon Sluga at his near-post.

Middlesbrough went back in front as Lewis Wing’s phenomenal strike from the edge of the box found the top corner, but James Collins equalised late on as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Jones said: “You realise you have to be level-headed and you have to control emotion, because if you don’t, nobody else will. Overall I am pleased with the group, pleased with some of the quality as well first half, both technically and tactically.

“I just think second half we had to dig in, we lost our way a little bit and then managed to rally with the character that’s in the dressing room. I spoke to them before the game about contribution and the subs came on and contributed, I think the boys that started contributed. I think Dan Potts went back on with a shoulder out of place and that’s contribution, that’s how you get football results. We will take the positives from it.

“We managed to stay in the game and the penalty miss helped, but I think we should have had a penalty at the other end of the pitch with Dan Potts. Some you win, some you lose, but I think if you give it everything you’ve got, I think it tends to be a fair game and that’s what the result was tonight.

“I thought Simon Sluga was excellent apart from one moment, he just didn’t move his feet and get down – the life of a goalkeeper, I don’t know anything about it! Overall I was delighted with him, obviously just that one moment, that as a Croatian international, he is big and bold enough to get over it and move forward.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyVVolJ6rk – Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur4omm0PNfM – Match highlights

Collins scores late leveller as Town hold Boro in six-goal thriller

Championship: Luton Town 3 Middlesbrough 3

Striker James Collins scored a late equaliser to earn the Hatters a well-deserved point during their thrilling return to the Championship this evening.

The Hatters looked like they might be staring down the barrel at a first home league defeat since March 2018, before Collins swept home with five minutes to go, to make it 3-3.

He might have even won it, denied in stunning fashion by Darren Randolph after what was a truly tumultuous and absorbing night of football at Kenilworth Road.

Town boss Graeme Jones handed debuts to four of his summer signings, with Simon Sluga, Callum McManaman, Martin Cranie and Ryan Tunnicliffe all starting in what looked like a 4-3-3 formation.

The Hatters made a bright and busy start, looking to capitalise on the wonderful carnival-like atmosphere that had enveloped a packed Kenilwirth Road.

Collins almost broke on to a long punt forward by record signing Sluga, only for his Irish international team-mate Darren Randolph to meet the danger.

A mistake by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu saw his pass easily picked off, with Ashley Fletcher not missing the bottom corner by much.

However, from the visitors next attack on seven minutes, the former Manchester United and West Ham attacker, who cost Boro £6.5million in July 2017, was to have much better luck, as Mpanzu gave Marvin Johnson too much time to deliver a cross that Fletcher nodded beyond Sluga.

Lewis Wing then fired at Sluga from 22 yards as Boro looked to hammer their advantage home.

But it was Luton who were to score next, and what a stunner it was, almost bringing the roof off Kenilworth Road.

Captain Sonny Bradley, who could not hit the target for love or money last season, nailed an early candidate for goal of the season.

Bringing a clearance out of the sky from a corner, he proceeded to chest the ball down and fairly thwack a glorious volley beyond Randolph and into the roof of the net for a wonder strike, his first goal since February 2018.

Boro tried to hit back, Johnson shooting straight at Sluga and then Paddy McNair's effort flying just the wrong side of the post.

But Luton were giving as good as they got, McManaman beating two players, just unable to pick out a team-mate, with another cross sliced over the bar.

From the corner on 24 minutes, Town were then in front, Shinnie swinging over a cross and full back Martin Cranie there to cushion his header into the top corner and make it 2-1.

There was no surprise that Cranie looked a bit bemused about how to celebrate, as that was his first goal since a little under five years ago, when at Barnsley he scored against Crewe on August 16, 2014.

In fact it was only the third goal of his 15-year career, his first coming in September 2009, then at Coventry.

Sluga then showed just why the Hatters were so keen to make him their record addition as he somehow stuck out a paw to tip Johnson's wonderful bending attempt that was destined for the top corner behind.

But the Croatian went from the sublime to the ridiculous moments later as with eight minutes to go until the break, Shinnie badly lost possession just outside his area, Britt Assombalonga was teed up and his weak effort was somehow fumbled in by the keeper.

A breathless first half saw Luton miss a great chance to go back in front as Collins did brilliantly to dig out a cross on the left and McManaman missed a volley at the far post when he should have hit the target at least.

The goal clearly took some of the stuffing out of Town for the final knockings of the first period, as Boro grabbed the upper hand once more, with Jones' men glad to hear the whistle and regroup.

The hosts thought they had an immediate lead at the start of the second period, Collins bundling in a wonderful cross from McManaman.

Referee Oliver Langford adjudged Town's frontman to have used his hand, booking the striker as well.

McNair saw his cross-shot clip the bar and rebound to safety, as Luton started to crank up the pressure, finding their second wind.

McManaman almost picked out Collins, a covering defender just clearing over his own bar, before Dan Potts thought he had won a penalty after being tripped in the box, Langford giving nothing.

Jones brought on new addition Jacob Butterfield for his first appearance, replacing Lee, with the impressive Tunnicliffe moving further forward.

It was Boro who gained the upper hand though, showing some clever and intricate link-up play around Town's box, before Wing decided to pull the trigger, blasting a swerving bullet beyond Sluga's outstretched grasp and into the net in the 69th minute.

Harry Cornick and George Moncur were introduced for the final stages in a bid to engineer an equaliser, the pair eventually doing just that.

Sluga made partial amends for his earlier error though, bundling Daniel Sanchez Ayala close-range header away and then sliding out with his feet to prevent Assombalonga from walking the ball in after Fletcher's clever flick.

Town were fortunate to not concede a fourth on 81 minute though, Cranie giving a penalty away after tripping Hayden Coulson in the area, Assombalonga blasting way over the bar.

Sluga redeemed himself with two brave saves at the feet of the Boro striker, while Luton made the most of the miss with five to go, Cornick picking out Potts, his shot was blocked, and Collins was there to sweep home the rebound.

In stoppage time, Luton thought they had won it, Moncur bursting into the box and teeing up Collins whose blast was wonderfully repelled by his Irish team-mate Randolph.

The point was good enough for Town to maintain their unbeaten home record since March 2018, while they also sit on top of the Championship ahead of tomorrow's round of matches.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie (Harry Cornick 69), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elliot Lee (Jacob Butterfield 60) Callum McManaman (George Moncur 73), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Luke Berry, Brendan Galloway, Lloyd Jones.

Boro: Darren Randolph, Daniel Sanchez Ayala (C), Ryan Shotton, Adam Clayton, Britt Assombalonga, Ashley Fletcher, Jonny Howson, Paddy McNair (George Saville 86), Marvin Johnson (Marcus Browne 70), Lewis Wing, Hayden Coulson.

Subs not used: Marcus Tavernier, Rudy Gestede, Nathan Wood, Marc Bola, Aynsley Pears.

Booked: Fletcher 38, Mpanzu 45, Collins 50, Wing 61.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 10,053 (Boro 960).

Jones hails Luton's character in Middlesbrough draw

Luton chief Graeme Jones paid tribute to the reserves of character shown by his side as they hit back to draw 3-3 with Middlesbrough this evening.

The Hatters looked like they were going to be left disappointed as with ninie minutes remaining and trailing 3-2, they conceded a penalty after Martin Cranie tripped Hayden Coulson inside the area.

Striker Britt Assombalonga blazed wildly over from the spot though and Luton bounced back to pick up a point, thanks to striker James Collins' composed finish.

Jones said: “You realise that you have to be level headed and you have to control emotion, because if you don't no-one else will.

“Overall I'm really pleased, pleased with the character of the group, pleased with some of the quality as well first half, both technically and tactically.

“Second half I thought we had we to dig in, we lost our way a little bit and then managed to rally with the character that's in the dressing room.

“I spoke to them before the game about contribution and the subs came on and contributed, the boys that started contributed, Dan Potts can came on with a shoulder out of place.

“We managed to stay in the game, the penalty miss helped, but I think we should have had a penalty at the other end with Dan Potts, so some you win, some you lose.

“I think if you give everything you've got, football tends to be a fair game and that's what the result was.”

The Luton chief, in his first competitive match in charge of the club, was also quick to highlight how his side had stuck together and given themselves a chance of taking something from the game.

He added: "I'm delighted with it, it's not something I take for granted either as I've worked in clubs where that hasn't been there.

"I think that strength in unity, I've preserved in the group, the players that have come in here, I've gone into detail about their characters and I think I've enhanced that.

"But you're on your own on that pitch and the boys dug in for long periods and managed to get their footballing rewards tonight."

'Excellent' Sluga praised by Jones despite mistake

Luton record signing Simon Sluga was handed huge praise by boss Graeme Jones despite making a big error during his Town debut against Middlesbrough yesterday evening.

The Croatian number two let Britt Assombalonga's tame shot dribble through his hands on 37 minutes as the visitors drew level at 2-2.

Sluga's mistake came just moments after he had made a sensational save to prevent Marvin Johnson's curling effort nestle into the top corner, while he also made a string of fine stops in the second period as Luton hit back from 3-2 down to draw 3-3.

Jones said: "I thought he was excellent apart from one moment, he just didnt move his feet and get down.

"Life as a goalkeeper, I wouldn't know anything about it, but overall I was delighted with it.

"It was just that one moment and I'm sure as a Croatian international, he'll be big enough and bold enough to get over it and move on."

Sluga appears to already be something of a crowd favourite at Kenilworth Road, with the home fans singing his name before, during and after the match.

Jones added: "It's always a two way thing with the crowd and the players.

"He made a great save before the mistake, his top right hand corner and I've got no doubt about Simon Sluga.

"If you imagine us now going to Croatia and trying to adapt to their style of play, and their language in two and a half weeks.

"Overall his performance was excellent."