Luton Town FC vs Newport County AFC (20th Dec 2014)

Full report: Luton Town 3-0 Newport County

The Hatters bounced back to winning ways in League 2 as goals from Luke Wilkinson, Luke Rooney and Jake Howells earned the Town their eighth successive home league win to lift them back in the top three.

After last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Morecambe, the Town got off to the perfect start when Wilkinson nodded home after just four minutes.

The Town weathered some heavy Newport pressure to get to half-time in front before the Rooney fired home early in the second period to double the advantage.

Goalkeeper Mark Tyler made two fine saves to thwart any chance of a County comeback and the win was wrapped up in the final minute of injury time when Jake Howells flicked home.

John Still made one change to the Town side from Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Bury with skipper Stephen McNulty replacing Fraser Franks, who dropped to the bench.

The Hatters got off to a good start and, after Nathan Doyle saw a deflected shot saved by Jamie Stephens, the Town took the lead on four minutes. Luke Rooney’s fine reverse pass found Jonathan Smith and his shot from close range was tipped around the post. From Andy Drury’s left-wing corner Wilkinson rose highest to plant home his third goal of the season with a fine header.

But after the Town had taken the lead it was County that looked the more likely to score the next. On seven minutes McNulty blocked a Chris Zebroski before Michael Harriman charged down a Yan Klukowski shot from the edge of the box.

The Hatters were on the back foot as the visitors continued to boss things and, as a few tackles began to fly in from both sides, County saw Lee Minshull hit the crossbar following a right-wing corner. The visitors appealed that the ball had crossed the line by the officials ruled no goal.

Back came the Town, and on 22 minutes Shaun Whalley ran at the Newport defence before teeing up Mark Cullen with a shot from the edge of the box which was blocked. Whalley then saw his follow-up charged down.

Tackles continued to fly in, with Nathan Doyle and McNulty both booked for the Hatters and Tyler needed to be alert on the half-hour when the Town stopper saved a Sean Jeffers header with his thigh following a left-wing corner.

As the first half came to a close, the heat of the game seemed to disappear and the Town were unlucky not to go 2-0 in front shortly before the break when Drury set-up Cullen to drive a shot at goal but the striker’s deflected effort was cleared off the line by Ismail Yakubu.

At the start of the second period, there was a change in referee as Darren Drysdale was replaced by assistant Andrew Laver and, like the first half, the Town began well.

So well in fact that, after Whalley spurned a great chance following a stunning pass from Rooney, the Town doubled their lead five minutes after the restart. Cullen did well to challenge the goalkeeper, who made a mess of an attempted punch and Rooney was on hand to tuck home his fourth goal of the season.

In command, the Hatters were unlucky not to extend their lead further. Drury, Doyle and Cullen all came close to extending the Hatters lead but the Town, and Tyler in particular, kept the visitors at bay as they went in search of a way back in to the game.

Firstly, the keeper kept out Chris Zebroski’s header in the 76th minute and from the resultant corner Tyler bravely blocked Ishmail Yakubu’s close range shot.

That signalled the end of the visitors’ threat as the Town pushed forward in search of a late third goal. Drury, imperious all afternoon, came close to making it 3-0 but shot over the crossbar after winding past two challenges and, with two minutes left Cullen saw to efforts saved well Stephens.

However, the third goal did come in the final minute of stoppage time. Drury was the creator, whipping in a fine low cross from the right which Howells met first-time at the near post to complete the scoring – and that was that.

Allied with results elsewhere, the Town leapfrogged into the final promotion place in League 2 and now lie just two points off the top.

Enjoy your Christmas…see you Boxing Day…

TOWN: Tyler; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith, Drury; Rooney (sub Lafayette 81), Whalley (sub Howells 72), Cullen.

Subs not used: Franks, Connolly, Miller, Stevenson, Justham.

Attendance: 8,383, including 317 from Newport.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/luton-town-3-0-newport-county-2156405.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOnnpFgiB-U

Hatters stay strong to end Exiles unbeaten run

League Two: Luton Town 3 Newport County 0

Luton Town produced the perfect early Christmas present for their fans with an excellent 3-0 win over Newport County this afternoon.

Luke Wilkinson, Luke Rooney and sub Jake Howells were all on target as Hatters ended the Exiles lengthy nine-game unbeaten run, inflicting a first league defeat since October 11.

Town captain Steve McNulty had made an instant return after suspension, with the unfortunate Fraser Franks dropping to the bench.

The hosts started magnificently though with Luke Rooney to the fore as he took a crossfield ball out of the sky and set up Doyle for a shot that was saved.

Rooney then played a delightful reverse ball for Jonathan Smith who charged into the area and forced Jamie Stephens to palm behind.

From the corner, Hatters were ahead as Andy Drury swung over a dangerous delivery and Wilkinson climbed highest to glance into the net for his third of the season.

After the goal, Newport’s heads didn’t drop and if anything, they dominated proceedings, hemming Hatters back and slinging ball after ball into the box.

From a corner, Mark Tyler was beaten to the punch and Lee Minshull saw his header thump against the underside of the bar and out, as County appealed that the ball had crossed the line, but referee Darren Drysdale was unmoved.

The encounter then turned into a really spicy affair as Wilkinson looked like he was wrestled to the ground in the area when going up for a corner, and there was some pushing and shoving in the aftermath.

Bizarrely it was just Wilkinson who received a talking too from Drysdale, despite Minshull appearing to be the instigator, but Luton lose their discipline momentarily as both Nathan Doyle and Steve McNulty were in the book for what were poor challenges.

Newport were close to levelling too as after McNulty shoulder charged Jeffers into the advertising hoardings, the striker met the resulting free kick and his downward header forced Tyler into an excellent reflex stop with his legs.

Hatters got a grip on proceedings once more though as the needle that had been on show, died down momentarily, with Rooney dragging a low effort wide from distance.

Ref Drysdale was replaced at half time by assistant Andrew Laver to the delight of the crowd, who had been left howling in frustration at a number of the official’s decisions.

Once again though, Hatters made a fast start as Rooney’s glorious lofted pass was volleyed wastefully wide by Whalley, who lacked real conviction all afternoon.

Luton did have that crucial breathing space on 51 minutes though when Exiles keeper Stephens missed a cross and the ball dropped for Rooney.

Although the net was gaping, there was still plenty to do as the midfielder chested down and coolly beat the covering defender for his fourth of the campaign.

With the luxury of the second goal, Hatters settled down and spurred on by the creative forces that were Drury and Rooney, almost netted once more when Cullen’s low drive was parried by Stephens.

A free kick saw Drury then teed up Rooney and his low daisycutter was well kept out by Stephens, before sub Rene Howe headed over the top for Newport.

Lovely vision from Rooney saw him thread another fine pass for Doyle who was tackled as he shaped to shoot, while Jeffers found Tyler’s handling exemplary as he took aim from range.

Drury was becoming more and more of an influence as the game wore on, starting to show just why Hatters were so keen to sign him in the summer, chipping over when off balance after another mazy run.

The visitors always carried a threat though as Tyler had to be alert to tip Zebroski’s looping header over, and then repel Yakubu’s close range blast.

He was almost caught out soon after though, palming a cross back into play and Chris Zebroski’s follow up was blocked while he hit the rebound wide.

Jake Howells had replaced Whalley by now and he slipped Cullen through, as Stephens blocked with his legs.

The third did arrive in stoppage time though when Drury fashioned a cross from the right and Howells stole in to impudently flick the ball into the far corner.

That strike crowned yet another home victory for Hatters, their eighth in a row, as they leapfrogged Burton Albion to climb back into the automatic promotion spots once more.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Scott Griffiths, Jonathan Smith, Nathan Doyle, Andy Drury, Shaun Whalley (Jake Howells 71), Luke Rooney (Ross Lafayette 81), Mark Cullen.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Fraser Franks, Jim Stevenson, Ricky Miller, Paul Connolly.

Newport: Jamie Stephens, Ryan Jackson, Max Porter (Adam Chapman 58), Darren Jones, Ismal Yakubu, Lee Minshull (Rene Howe 65), Chris Zebroski, Andy Sandell (C), Sean Jeffers, Yan Klukowski, Mark Byrne.

Subs not used: Lenny Pidgeley, Mike Flynn, Regan Poole, Danny Crow, Aaron Collins.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.

Booked: Doyle 27, McNulty 29, Cullen 80.

Attendance: 8,383 (317 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Andy Drury. Best display yet for Hatters. Undoubted quality shone though as he ran the game .

Hatters first team coach Hakan Hayrettin felt his side displayed their true qualities during yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Newport County.

The hosts stood firm against an aerial assault at times from their physical opponents, but goals from Luke Wilkinson, Luke Rooney and Jake Howells saw them record an eighth straight home triumph in the league.

Hayrettin said: “It’s a fantastic three points for us, I think as the game went on we got stronger, but lets take nothing away from them.

“They were a strong, organised team. Our goalkeeper made one or two good saves, but their goalkeeper made three or four good stops too.

“We had to match them, which we did, we got the goal and caught them cold to start with. As the game went on we got stronger and stronger.

“That’s one of the qualities that we don’t give up. We got stronger and we got our rewards.

“We got the goals at the right time, we had the emphasis and pushed them back and could have got a few more.”

Although the visitors may have had the better of the first half, Luton stuck to their task well and could have won by more late on.

Hayrettin continued: “If history repeats itself, this is the way we play.

“The crowd here wouldn’t expect anything different from us and they were fanatstic, like the 12th man and pushed us on.

“This is the way we are. We try and grind teams down, we believe we’re fitter than most teams and stronger than most teams, even though Newport are a big, strong, physical team and work very, very hard for their manager.

“I think we can compete with anyone on our day and we did it again.”

Town have now enjoyed back to back wins since slumping to their biggest defeat of the season at Morecambe the previous weekend

as they climbed back into the top three.

Hayrettin added: “That was out of character for us, we took it on the chin, we didn’t play particularly well first half and probably deserved what we got.

“We’ve put that to bed now and moved on.”