Luton Town FC vs Morecambe (20th Jan 2018)

REPORT: LUTON TOWN 1 MORECAMBE 0

Mullins heads the winner as Town bounce back from Chesterfield defeat

The Hatters moved six points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two with a 1-0 victory over Morecambe at Kenilworth Road this afternoon. Captain Johnny Mullins’ second goal of the season proved enough to extend the Town’s unbeaten home run to six league matches as a fifth win in that sequence was ground out on a dirty day in Bedfordshire.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, and you can't expect seven and eight-goal home wins every other week. But it is on determined afternoons in freezing conditions like these that promotion campaigns are built, so they say.

And as snow, sleet and rain saturated the playing surface, an 11th home victory of the season – with a 13th league clean sheet for goalkeeper Marek Stech thrown in – made it a good day back at the Kenny for manager Nathan Jones after successive defeats on the road, either side of the New Year’s Day success against Lincoln.

The Town boss made three changes to his starting line-up, with Jack Stacey coming back into the team at right-back, Lawson D’Ath into midfield and striker Danny Hylton returning up front after missing last Saturday’s loss at Chesterfield with a hamstring problem.

James Justin, Akin Famewo and Elliot Lee dropped to the bench, with Glen Rea moving into central defence alongside Mullins as Alan Sheehan sat out the last game of his three-match suspension, and Olly Lee playing in the midfield holding role.

Hylton’s return didn’t last long, the top scorer feeling his other hamstring after trying to dummy and turn Shrimps centre-half Max Muller for the second time in the opening five minutes, and he was eventually replaced by Elliot Lee in the ninth minute after trying to carry on following treatment.

The Hatters regrouped and had the first shot on goal in the 14th minute when Andrew Shinnie won the ball in the middle of the Morecambe half and drove towards the penalty area before unleashing a 25-yard drive that Barry Roche could only beat away.

Two minutes later Luke Berry sent in a cross looking for D’Ath, but the knock-down from Morecambe defender Steven Old landed straight at the feet of Elliot Lee, who let fly first time only for the Kiwi centre-half to recover and block, unwittingly, for a corner.

At the other end Stacey, a constant threat down the Town right, did really well to get a deflected block on Aaron Wildig’s attempt to steer Garry Thompson’s low cross home as the Shrimps proved a threat on the break.

Berry had crack just before the half-hour, creating space for himself on the edge of the box before firing over the Shrimps’ bar, but the Hatters were finding clear-cut opportunities had to come by, despite dominating possession.

Glen Rea had the next attempt in the 33rd minute, shooting wide on the turn as Olly Lee’s right-wing corner was half-cleared in his direction 12 yards out.

But Morecambe reminded the Town they were well in the game when right wing-back Aaron McGowan drew a save out of Stech, moments after Luke Conlan – soon to be booked for a foul from behind on Shinnie – had sliced a left-footed shot horribly wide.

The Town ended the half in the ascendancy, Elliot Lee tricking his way inside from the right touchline a minute into added time, although his shot from a tight angle was deflected behind for a corner when a cut-back for the unmarked D’Ath might have been the better option.

His brother Olly then delivered a wicked outswinging free-kick into the six-yard box after Conlan was penalised for handball when charging down a cross on the right, but no-one took up the invitation and the opening 45 minutes finished frustratingly goalless.

McGowan had the first shot of the second half, though it drifted safely past Stech’s left post, before D’Ath led a 54th-minute charge from inside his own half, slipping Olly Lee in on the right but the midfielder’s shot flew high over the bar into the Kenny end.

Stech did brilliantly in the 55th minute when Adam McGurk’s tame shot on the turn took a wicked deflection off Mullins, and the Czech had to get down low to turn it around his left post.

There was a carbon copy stop three minutes later when Conlan’s cross from the left took a couple of deflections en route to finding McGurk inside the six-yard box, and his scuffed effort once again had the Hatters keeper scrambling to turn it behind.

Morecambe were asking the questions at this stage, McGowan drawing another save from Stech with a 25-yard shot, just before Aaron Wildig’s 62nd-minute header flew inches past the near post.

Two minutes later, however, the Town had the breakthrough. Elliot Lee was fouled out on the left and his brother Olly delivered another beautiful ball into the six-yard box for Mullins to bury his header emphatically past Roche and into the bottom corner.

Harry Cornick came on as a substitute in place of D’Ath before the restart, and the ex-Bournemouth man soon produced a beautiful flick past Conlan on halfway to find Collins, who bided his time before feeding the flying sub into the box, but Roche got a fingertip to his angled shot.

Mullins almost doubled the lead with 20 minutes to go when the captain met Olly Lee’s left-wing corner with a flicked header, but this one drifted wide of the far post.

Then, with 72 minutes on the clock, Cornick again called Roche into action, beating Conlan with ease inside the box before crashing a shot on goal that the visiting keeper punched away once more.

Morecambe had brought Kevin Ellison on as a 70th-minute sub and the 38-year-old was presented with a great chance after Rea was caught out of position, but the former Republic of Ireland U21 international soon got back to make a perfectly timed challenge.

Then Ellison had another, even better chance, as Mullins’ poor headed clearance landed straight at the forward’s feet on the edge of the area, but thankfully he dragged his shot wide.

Along with Cornick on the right, Elliot Lee continued to take the game to Morecambe down the left and Roche was called into action again when Lee’s low cross-shot almost caught him out.

Morecambe missed a sitter to draw level when the unmarked Old headed wide from a corner with five minutes left, and the Town were having to soak up some pressure.

But Shinnie relieved it in the 88th minute when he nicked the ball halfway inside his own half and set Collins clear on the right, although the striker’s shot was too high.

Morecambe had one final chance with 90 minutes up, when Elliot Lee fouled Adam Campbell 25 yards out, but captain Michael Rose’s effort was way off target and the Town could breathe a sigh of relief.

With second-placed Notts County losing at home to Exeter, the Hatters doubled their advantage over the Magpies to six points, although the gap over fourth-placed Wycombe remains at eight points with the Chairboys winning 3-2 at Crewe.

On to Grimsby...

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Rea, Mullins ©, Potts, O Lee, D’Ath (Cornick 65), Berry, Shinnie, Collins, Hylton (E Lee 9). Subs: Justin, Cook, Mpanzu, Famewo, Shea (GK)

Goals: Mullins 64

MORECAMBE: Roche, McGowan (Lund 85), Old, Thompson, Fleming, Conlan, Wildig (Campbell 70), Lavelle, Muller, Rose ©, McGurk (Ellison 70). Subs: Brough, Kenyon, Winnard, Nizic (GK)

Yellows: Conlan, Fleming

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle

NATHAN JONES ON THE WIN OVER MORECAMBE

Town boss Nathan Jones was pleased with the way his side ground out a 1-0 win against Morecambe this afternoon at Kenilworth Road as the Hatters moved six points clear at the top of Sky Bet League Two.

A Johnny Mullins bullet header midway through the second half was all that separated the sides on a filthy day of snow, sleet and rain, with Notts County losing at home to Exeter giving the Town an even more comfortable cushion at the top of the fourth tier.

Jones said: "It was one of those days. I wouldn't say it was ugly in terms of the manner, the set-play and having to dig in. I am proud of them for doing that. Last year we would have drawn or lost that game. We have got a lot of big players missing.

"Sheehan is missing, Hylton had to go off early, McCormack and Cuthbert are out as well. Morecambe are a big, strong side, they've come here in good form. In the first half I thought we were excellent, without scoring. Our movement, our passing, our structure was wonderful. It's just we lacked a bit of cutting edge.

"Sometimes we might have to grind out results and we did. We ground out a result, we extended our lead at the top, and that's what you have got to do. It isn't always going to be fluent football.

"It's a wet, cold day, the pitch was a bit heavy. But today we have shown we are a stronger side than we were last year and that's what I am pleased about."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuWdrJ8RR8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1AUoPfpczM

Mullins the match-winner as Luton battle past Morecambe

League Two: Luton Town 1 Morecambe 0

It wasn't pretty, it certainly wasn't vintage, but if Luton are promoted this season and lifting silverware in May, then few will remember this performance against Morecambe on a dank and grey day at Kenilworth Road.

Although Hatters have hit seven on two occasions at Kenilworth Road, eight once as well, the end result is the same, three points, which Luton ensured, just about, stayed in Bedfordshire once more.

A flat first half, which saw top scorer Danny Hylton limp off after eight minutes, carried on into the second period, with the visitors looking the better side right up until centre half Johnny Mullins popped up with the winner on 64 minutes.

The hosts then had to cling on in the latter stages, Marek Stech making some fine stops to pick up a first clean sheet in the league since Boxing Day, as Luton extended their advantage over second-placed Notts County to six points, the Magpies losing 2-1 at home to Exeter.

Boss Nathan Jones made three changes, opting to bring back Hylton, while Lawson D'Ath was given his first home league start, as the Luton chief altered his defence from the 2-0 defeat at Chesterfield, Glen Rea moving to centre half, Akin Famewo dropping to the bench, where he was joined by James Justin, Jack Stacey earning a recall.

However, Hylton, who missed the reverse at the Proact Stadium with a tight hamstring, lasted less than 10 minutes this time.

Dummying his man for the second time in quick succession, he pulled up in clear pain holding his other leg, the gasp of disappointment audible from home supporters, as he couldn't continue, Elliot Lee coming on.

After a quiet opening, Andrew Shinnie did well to win possession and let fly from 25 yards, Barry Roche unconvincingly parrying away, with Elliot Lee's goalbound close range blast blocked by Steven Old.

Shinnie looked Town's most creative outlet, spinning his man and driving forward, only to shoot well wide, when a ball to the unmarked Stacey was the better option.

Luke Berry slammed over the top, but the half hour lacked any real spark from either side, Glen Rea swivelling to shoot off target as well.

The action didn't improve much in the closing stages, Aaron McGowan's snapshot forcing Stech into a diving stop moments before the interval.

There was very little suggest the second 45 was going to be much better, D'Ath breaking with purpose to find Olly Lee up in support, who at full tilt blazed over.

Town were then indebted to Stech for keeping it goalless, with Adam McGurk's effort taking a wicked deflection off Mullins, the stopper hastily changing direction to palm behind.

The Czech custodian needed to be alert once more as Luke Conlan's cross flicked into the path of McGurk, his nick requiring another sprawling stop.

It was all Shrimps now, Stech beating away Michael Rose's fierce drive, the loose ball dinked over for Aaron Wildig to head inches wide.

With Town's supporters becoming increasingly nervy seeing their side under mounting pressure, it was all to change as Town broke the deadlock in timely fashion on 64 minutes.

A brilliant free kick was swung in from the right by Olly Lee, and whereas in the first half, no-one had gambled on a similarly delivered set-piece, this time Mullins judged his run to perfection, burying a downward header.

Before play could restart, Harry Cornick came on for D'Ath and made his customary difference, posing all sorts of problems that the visiting defence hadn't had to deal with.

One direct, pacy burst led to Roche beating the ball away, with Mullins almost grabbing a double, his header flicking agonisingly wide.

Although Luton apperaed to finally be taking a stranglehold on the game, with Kevin Ellison on for the final 20 minutes, play swung from end to end.

The veteran almost took advantage of two errors from Rea, who redeemed himself with a wonderful sliding challenge and then fired wide when Mullins' clearance lacked distance.

Still Cornick pressed though, Roche's fingertips preventing a pressure relieving second, and the Shrimps almost made Town pay for not taking their chance, Old nodding wide.

Late on, James Collins sliced over but when Rose put his free kick into the stands, Hatters could take a collective sigh of relief to chalk up yet another win on home soil towards their target of automatic promotion.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins (C), Glen Rea, Olly Lee, Luke Berry, Lawson D'Ath (Harry Cornick 65), Andrew Shinnie, Danny Hylton (Elliot Lee 8), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, James Justin, Jordan Cook, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Akin Famewo.

Shrimps: Barry Roche, Aaron McGowan (Mitchell Lund 84), Steven Old, Garry Thompson, Andrew Fleming, Luke Conlan, Aaron Wildig (Adam Campbell 69), Sam Lavelle, Max Muller, Michael Rose (C), Adam McGurk (Kevin Ellison 70).

Subs not used: Patrick Brough, Alex Kenyon, Dean Winnard, Danijel Nizic.

Booked: Conlan 45, Fleming 63.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Attendance: 8,476 (Morecambe 61).

Hatters MOM: Marek Stech. Key saves after the break ensured Town weren't breached.

Jones thrilled as Luton show some 'steel'

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones was thrilled to see his side show a different facet to their game during this afternoon’s battling 1-0 win over Morecambe.

With Hatters nowhere near their best for long periods, or showing the type of form that has seen them rack up 41 goals in front of their own fans this season, they still managed to pick up another crucial victory courtesy of Johnny Mullins' second half strike.

Speaking to the press, Jones felt it was vital his team showed they could win in such a manner, saying: "We weren't at our best today, but I was delighted with the result as it showed a different side to us.

"We said, there's no god given right we're going to win four, five, seven and eights here.

"Morecambe are in good form, they came here, they've set up, they're big, strong, they're organised. they got plenty of men behind the ball, so it's difficult for us.

"I thought first half our structure was excellent without scoring, but we did enough to get opportunities and just needed a little bit more cutting edge, that final ball.

"But second half we had to grind it out. The goal came against the run of play, but at a great time for us, because then when we made the change we finished much stronger and could have extended the lead.

"We've had to dig in and show a different side to us. It's not the fluent, high scoring, wonderful side, but a side that has a bit of steel about it and we did, we all had to dig in and put a shift in."

Jones, who won promotion himself as player, felt there were similarities between the display he witnessed from his Luton side at Kenilworth Road, and what he had experienced in the past, adding: “Trust me, I’ve played in a team when I was at Brighton, and we won League Two and then League One straight after.

“We had Bobby Zamora up top who we always knew would score a goal for us and then what we did was we worked and ground teams down.

“Sometimes we were fluent and scored threes and fours, and we had good footballers and good workers, but we had to grind out results so many times, to get that promotion and we did that, and that’s what you’ve got to do.

“It’s not fluent and it’s not champagne and roses week in week out, you’ve got to grind out results and we showed a bit of steel today and I’m delighted.”