Luton Town FC vs Newport County AFC (9th Aug 2022)

Report | Luton Town 2-3 Newport County AFC

The Hatters went out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage for the second season in a row, losing 3-2 to Sky Bet League Two side Newport County at Kenilworth Road.

Town led twice through a Carlos Mendes Gomes stunner and a Tom Lockyer goal, but both times Newport pegged them back with efforts from Lewis Collins and Chanka Zimba before James Waite grabbed a winner with 14 minutes to go.

Matt Macey was named in goal for his second Luton debut after returning to Kenilworth Road this summer, while Tom Lockyer captained the side in a back three alongside Henri Lansbury and Reece Burke, whilst there was a competitive Luton debut for Louie Watson in midfield.

Cauley Woodrow started and in doing so made his first competitive Luton start across his two spells at the club, supporting attackers Cameron Jerome and Admiral Muskwe.

Seventeen-year-old forward Zack Nelson is amongst the substitutes, as well as Development Squad regulars Josh Williams, Casey Pettit and striker Josh Allen.

The Hatters started brightly, Muskwe and Berry registering shots on target in the opening ten minutes, with Pereira sending a trio of dangerous looking crosses into the Exiles' box without reward before Watson curled just wide from 20 yards.

Berry saw an attempted curler pushed away by Joe Day, Jerome got his head on a Lansbury free-kick but couldn't direct it on target,then nodded down for Muskwe, whose attempt to nick the ball over the County keeper resulted in it ricocheting back off his legs for a goal-kick.

It took a moment of brilliance from Mendes Gomes to finally break the deadlock on the half-hour, when he collected Watson's pass just inside the Newport half, took a couple of strides forward and unleashed an unstoppable 35-yarder into the top corner.

How the Exiles must loathe the sight of the Spaniard's name on an opposition teamsheet, his last goal in a Morecambe shirt before his move in the summer of 2021 coming from the penalty spot at Wembley to end County's League Two promotion dream.

The lead didn't last long, however, with Chanka Zimba and Aaron Lewis combining in Newport's first real attack to cross low for Collins to finish confidently past Macey from just inside the area.

Mendes Gomes had been left in a heap on the far touchline in the build-up, courtesy of two dubious challenges by left-back Adam Lewis, and required treatment but managed to limp back into the action.

He didn't last long, however, with Wales Under-21 international Elliot Thorpe coming on in his place at half-time - and it didn't take long for Jerome to register the first attempt on goal of the second half, his 25-yarder whistling just the wrong side of the post 20 seconds in.

It was a full Welsh international who restored the Town's lead soon after, with Lockyer feeding Pereira on the left byline and then continuing his run into the box to take the return pass and finish emphatically into the top corner from a tight angle.

Again the visitors wouldn't lie down, and within two minutes they had hit back once more, Sam Bowen bursting through midfield and playing Zimba into the box to slam an angled drive past Macey for 2-2.

Jones made a triple substitution just after the hour, replacing Jerome, Berry and Lansbury with Carlton Morris, Harry Cornick and Gabe Osho, and great breakaway led by Cornick soon brought a chance for Thorpe, whose effort was saved well by Day.

Williams was introduced for his senior debut, in place of Burke, with 20 minutes left but it was Newport who were next to go close, James Waite finding space at the far post but unable to steer his header in from close range after a long throw was flicked on.

The midfielder didn't have to wait long for a chance to give County the lead, following up as Macey couldn't hold a shot from Zimba and slamming past the Town keeper.

The Hatters pushed for an equaliser, but save for a blocked shot from Osho in six minutes of injury-time, didn't look like forcing a penalty shoot-out and it was the side from south Wales who progressed into round two.

Goals:

LT - Mendes Gomes 30, Lockyer 50

NC - Collins 36, Zimba 52, Waite 76

Att: 3,827 (207 away)

Nathan Jones on Newport defeat

Nathan Jones said his side simply have to defend better after they were condemned to a Round One Carabao Cup exit at home to Newport County.

The Hatters twice led on the night but the League Two side responded on both occasions, and then came up with the decisive goal courtesy of James Waite with less than 15 minutes remaining.

The Welshman, who rotated his entire starting 11, admitted: “Fundamentally you have to defend better. We are a very good side out of possession, one of the best in the Championship, but we didn’t show that tonight.

“We made eleven changes but if they want to play for Luton then you have to be good out of possession. I thought a few fell short tonight in certain moments. I thought we controlled the game in the first 45 minutes. It’s a clear foul for their goal, absolutely clear, but that shouldn’t have changed the direction of the game."

Turning his focus to the positives on the night, Jones said: “There were some moments of real quality in terms of our play and our set up. Carlos scored a wonderful goal, the second goal is a wonderful goal and you would have seen one of the best counter-attacking goals you’ve ever seen if Elliot Thorpe squared it, so there was lots of good play, it’s just we lost the game.

“I thought Henri Lansbury was excellent, I thought Tom Lockyer and Reece Burke were excellent. Cameron Jerome contributed first half, when the front two came on I thought they were really lively, I thought Elliot Thorpe looked really good and then there was a few playing out of position.

“It was a little bit makeshift but food for thought, a good run-out just disappointed because we don’t like losing games.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiU2Ri3_YQA – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UvZy6P5tjo – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGNiFk4cAQo – Tom Lockyer

Hatters humbled in the Carabao Cup as they let the lead slip twice against League Two Newport

Carabao Cup, first round: Luton Town 2 Newport County 3

Luton's Carabao Cup adventure was ended at the first round for the second season running as they twice let the lead slip to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to League Two Newport County this evening.

Home boss Nathan Jones made 11 changes from the side who drew 1-1 at Burnley on Saturday, with summer signings Matt Macey, Louie Watson and Cauley Woodrow all starting, as did Dion Pereira and Admiral Muskwe.

The visitors, with former Luton winger Robbie Willmott in their ranks, easily dealt with the early threats Town possessed, shots from Muskwe and Luke Berry handled by keeper Joe Day.

Pereira, in the left wing-back role, then started to come into the game, with Town's best moments going through him, one cross cleared out to Watson, whose low curler wasn't far away.

Berry attempted one of his trademark whipped efforts from outside the box, Day again well positioned to parry away, as Cameron Jerome headed disappointingly wide after being picked out by centre half for the night Lansbury's free kick.

The experienced forward then did well to nod down for Muskwe, who was unable to get enough on his dink, Day out quickly to smother at his feet, before Town used the other flank for one of the first times, Mendes Gomes picking out Muskwe, his flick hitting an outstretched hand, but referee Ollie Yates deeming it accidental.

Lockyer could only put his half volley wide as the play was almost exclusively in the visitors half, before they took the lead on the half hour once Mendes Gomes took matters into his own hands.

Picking the ball up just outside the centre circle, he strolled forward and unleashed an absolutely terrific hit from 35 yards out, as although Day got a hand to it, couldn't prevent it flying into the top corner.

In what was to become a theme of the evening, Luton's advantage didn't last long though, as six minutes later, Mendes Gomes, clearly fouled over by the touch-line, didn't win the decision.

However, the hosts still shouldn't have been carved open as easily as they were, Aaron Lewis getting the better of Pereira and finding Lewis Collins who clinically tucked beyond Macey.

The leveller affected Town's rhythm as a number of passes began to go astray, while the interval saw Elliot Thorpe on in place of goalscorer Mendes Gomes.

Luton looked like they had moved back in front seconds after the restart, Jerome lining up a curler from range that flashed inches wide.

They did have the ascendancy again though on 50 minutes as Thorpe's dangerous cross was picked up on the other side by Pereira who fed the the overlapping Lockyer of all people, the Welsh international picking out the top corner on his left foot with an excellent finish.

Just as they had in the first half though, Newport levelled immediately, and even quicker this time, a mere 120 seconds later, Sam Bowen sliding Chanka Zimba through and he beat Macey to make it 2-2.

Midway through the second period, Jones made three subs looking to pep his side up, with Harry Cornick, Carlton Morris and Gabe Osho on for Berry, Jerome and Lansbury.

The pace of Cornick saw him burst away and find Thorpe, who went for goal, Day keeping his low shot out.

Thorpe was proving a real livewire on the right hand side with some whipped deliveries, one volleyed over the top by a stretching Morris.

Josh Williams came on for his Luton debut in place of Burke, but with 15 minutes to go, County were in front for the first time themselves, Zimba found by James Waite , his low shot fumbled by Macey, Waite reacting first to prod home.

Offrande Zanzala almost put the result beyond the hosts, racing away from Pereira who pulled up holding his hamstring, Macey flicking his drive over the bar.

With Pereira soldiering on as Town had used all of their subs, they couldn't muster a presentable chance in the closing stages, the best seeing Morris's cross just out of Woodrow's reach, as just as they had done at Stevenage last season, Town fell in the first round to lower league opposition once more.

Hatters: Matt Macey, Tom Lockyer (C), Henri Lansbury (Gabe Osho 63), Reece Burke (Josh Williams 72), Dion Pereira, Carlos Mendes Gomes (Elliot Thorpe 46), Louie Watson, Luke Berry (Harry Cornick 63), Cauley Woodrow, Cameron Jerome (Carlton Morris 63), Admiral Muskwe.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Casey Pettit, Zack Nelson, Josh Allen.

Exiles: Joe Day, Declan Drysdale, Sam Bowen (Scot Bennett 63), Priestley Farquharson (Cameron Norman 53), Robbie Willmott, James Waite, Aaron Lewis, Chanka Zimba (Aaron Wildig 78), Lewis Collins (Offrande Zanzala 63), Adam Lewis, Mickey Demetriou (C).

Subs not used: Matthew Dolan, Omar Bogle, Will Evans, Nick Townsend, Tom Stokes.

Referee: Ollie Yates.

Booked: Drysdale 5, Bowen 47, Willmott 81, Bennett 88.

Attendance: 3,827 (207 away).

'Embarrassed' Hatter boss hits out at one of the 'worst' individual performances he has ever seen after Town's cup exit to Exiles

Manager reacts to 3-2 defeat at Kenilworth Road

An ‘embarrassed’ Luton boss Nathan Jones declared he had witnessed one of the ‘worst’ individual performances he has ever seen in his lifetime during this evening’s 3-2 Carabao Cup first round defeat to League Two Newport County at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters appeared to be on their way into round two twice, when Carlos Mendes Gomes fired home a stunning 35-yard strike on the half hour and then Tom Lockyer picked out the top corner early in the second period.

However, on both occasions, Town couldn’t hold on to the lead, Newport hitting back within six minutes of Mendes Gomes’ wonder goal first and then 120 seconds after Lockyer’s impressive finish.

They went on to win it with 15 minutes remaining of the tie, James Waite stabbing home following an error from Matt Macey, who couldn’t hold Chanka Zimba’s tame attempt.

When speaking to the press afterwards though, a clearly frustrated Jones didn’t name exactly who he was pointing the finger at when it came to his criticisms, instead saying: “First of all credit to Newport, so let’s start if off, credit to Newport, they’ve come here, played well, they’ve scored three goals, which not many do at Kenilworth Road, not many have done that since I've been manager at this football club, so credit to Newport first and foremost.

“Then secondly I think you've seen one of the worst performances you've ever, ever witnessed at this football club, in any match whatsoever you've witnessed one of the worst performances I have ever, ever seen and I'm embarrassed.

“Not for my team, I'm embarrassed by a certain individual who’s had possibly one of the worst, worst games I've ever seen in my life.”

When pressed further on the identity of who he was discussing, Jones continued: “I haven’t actually made it clear that it was a player I’m talking about.

“I said I’ve witnessed one of the worst performances I've ever seen at this football club, in a game, at this football club.

“You can make your mind up, but I’ve seen one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen.

"I thought he took liberties with the football match, I thought he absolutely took liberties, the person I’m on about.”

The Hatters boss was also disappointed that Newport’s first equaliser was allowed to stand, the goal coming after Mendes Gomes was fouled in the build-up, unable to reappear after the interval, only for referee Ollie Yates to give nothing.

He added: “One, it’s a foul, then he stamped on him after, it’s crazy how he hasn’t given it.

"But I felt that the referee at times took liberties with the game.

"He was trying to be clever in lots of stuff and that’s constructive, that’s not having a real go at him.

"I felt he took liberties through the game and I don’t condone that.

"I’ll go and I’ll look and I’ll put a report in because I felt he did and that’s not taking anything away from Newport at all.”

Jones warns 'naive' Town players they must be better if they want to feature for Luton following cup exit

Hatters manager not happy with defending during first round loss

Luton chief Nathan Jones warned the players who took to the field for last night’s Carabao Cup first round defeat to League Two Newport County that they need to be better if they want to make a mark on Town’s Championship XI.

The Hatters boss made 11 changes from the team who had gained an impressive 1-1 draw at Burnley on Saturday, naming just two out and out defenders in the starting line-up, with Tom Lockyer and Reece Burke either side of Henry Lansbury in the back three.

Dion Pereira and Carlos Mendes Gomes were makeshift wing-backs, with Louie Watson making his debut in a midfield that contained Luke Berry and Admiral Muskwe, Cauley Woodrow and Cameron Jerome leading the line.

However, despite dominating the opening 30 minutes, taking the lead through Mendes Gomes’ wonder strike from 35 yards, Town were quickly pegged back when some slack defending saw Lewis Collins fire past Matt Macey.

Town were back in front five minutes into the second period when Lockyer picked out the top corner, but that was short-lived too, Chanka Zimba shooting through Macey to equalise.

The Luton stopper was then at fault for the winner with 15 minutes remaining as once Woodrow was dispossessed, he couldn’t hold Zimba’s low shot, allowing James Waite to turn in.

It wasn’t good enough for Jones, who said: “I’m disappointed as I thought we did enough.

“We had enough opportunities first half, the goal’s a clear foul, then just defending.

"We’re very good out of possession, we’re one of the best sides in the Championship out of possession, we are, and I've said that in there.

"I think one or two of them today were very, very naive, very naive in certain aspects of their play that allowed Newport to win the game.

“Collectively I thought for large periods of the game we were excellent, it's just moments in the game.

“First goal is a foul, second goal Admiral Muskwe has tried to dribble the ball out, then he’s had to kick it out, then he's let his man go, then they've gone through and scored.

“Then again we’ve played inside, given the ball away, Louie Watson gets skipped round, goalkeeper fumbles it, so some catastrophic errors there for us and we don't normally do that.

“We’re very tight in Championship games.

"Against Burnley on the weekend, Burnley had the lowest expected goals in the Championship at the weekend as we’re one of the best teams and we defend properly, and we didn’t defend properly today.

"We gave the ball away too easily, too cheaply, naively and then allowed them to score.

"We don’t to that, that’s not how Luton Town go about their business.

"We pride ourselves on that, the group that played tonight have to get up to that level otherwise they don’t play.

“Those players know that if they want to play for Luton Town they’ve got to be better out of possession, because we are as good as anyone out of possession.

"Today, with the greatest of respect, I don’t think I’ve conceded three goals against Newport in the duration of my time here, so to do it in one game is very disappointing.”

Although he made 11 alterations for the contest, Jones didn’t think that should be used as any kind of excuse for their second exit to fourth tier opposition at this stage of the competition for the second year running.

He continued: “They’re here, they're training, they believe they should get opportunities, they believe that they should be in the team.

“I thought Elliot Thorpe when he came on was absolutely outstanding, I thought a few individuals first half were good, we controlled the game, we had no issue whatsoever, absolutely no issue in the game, but certain things happened.

“There were a lot of individuals out there who could just do a little bit better, but it’s a great learning curve for them.

"It’s a real good test, as Newport came and were a real, real good test, they'll be better for it, but we also know that maybe one of two were a little bit off.

“We have to better, as with the greatest respect we don’t concede three at home, that hasn’t happened, we don’t concede three goals at home.

"There must be a reason for that, yes it’s a makeshift team, but these are players that want to play for Luton Town, so if they want to play for Luton Town, they’ve got to be better out of possession.”