Luton Town FC vs Norwich City (5th Sep 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 3-1 Norwich City

Collo hat-trick secures progression into round two of the Carabao Cup!

A hat-trick from James Collins earned the Hatters progression into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over fellow Championship side Norwich City.

The striker scored from the penalty spot in the 79th minute before the Canaries levelled two minutes later through Kieran Dowell. But Collins had the final say, adding his second of the game with seven minutes remaining and then his hat-trick in additional time.

Manager Nathan Jones handed a first start to new signing Rhys Norrington-Davies, whilst James Shea started between the sticks in place of Simon Sluga, who is away on international duty with Croatia. Matty Pearson also returned to the starting line-up as the gaffer made three changes from the last competitive match against Blackburn Rovers.

Elliot Lee came close to give the Hatters an early lead but after Sonny Bradley nodded the ball into his path from Luke Berry’s corner, Lee sliced his shot just wide of the target.

Norwich’s best chances of the half fell to Lukas Rupp, who twice tried his luck from distance, one narrowly wide and one which Shea was quick to gather at the second attempt just before Jordan Hugill could gobble up the rebound.

On the stroke of half-time, Martin Cranie played a well-timed ball through to Collins, but the striker uncharacteristically fluffed his lines and missed the target.

Shea was called into action in the second half when Alexander Tettey struck a fierce effort towards goal which he done well to tip around the post. From the resulting corner, the goalkeeper got low quickly to palm away Marco Stiepermann’s attempt and the danger was cleared.

Shortly after new signing Jordan Clark entered the fray, he produced a dangerous cross into the box which fell to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who was brought down for a penalty kick by Mario Vrancic. Collins stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home to give Town the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Then ensued a crazy period, in which time Dowell fired in an equaliser for Norwich and just two minutes after the Hatters took the lead once more – again through Collins.

It was Clark again with the initial cross, Mpanzu brought it down and via a slight deflection, the 29-year-old fired into the bottom corner.

Collins completed his hat-trick in added time at the end after Clark squared the ball to him and he finished calmly to book Town's place in the next round of the cup, ahead of the Championship opener next Saturday against Barnsley.

Town: Shea, Cranie, Bradley (C), Pearson, Norrington-Davies; Rea, Mpanzu, Berry, Lee (LuaLua 85); Cornick (Clark 72), Collins.

Subs not used: Isted, Hylton, Shinnie, Moncur, Bree.

Goals: Collins (79,83, 90+5)

Yellows: Rea

Norwich: Barden, Mumba, Zimmermann, Klose (Vrancic 59), McCallum (Sitti 85); Rupp Tettey, Stiepermann, Dowell, Martin (Hernandez 72); Hugill.

Subs not used: McCrackin, Sitti, McAlear, Omobamidele, Hondermarck.

Goals: Dowell (81)

Yellows: McCallum

Referee: John Busby

Nathan Jones on the Hatters' 3-1 win over Norwich

The gaffer's reaction to his side's Carabao Cup progression...

Nathan Jones was happy with his side's return to competitive action after they defeated Norwich City 3-1 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

All four goals were scored in a late flurry at the end of the match which saw James Collins bag a hat-trick on the opening day, like he did against Yeovil Town three years ago.

With the Championship season beginning a week from today, Jones began by saying: "We’ve treated it as the final pre-season game really and if it had been a pre-season game then we would have wanted the most difficult test.

"They are as strong a team as you can get outside of the Premier League so it was a good game for us.

"In terms of the performance obviously they had one or two missing, internationals and stuff, but I thought our performance was excellent.

"Defensively we were good, things we worked on, pressed at the right times and I thought we looked a threat throughout.

"We had a number of opportunities around the box without really finishing the action, which is probably the only thing we are disappointed with. It was a tough game but we're delighted with the performance and the result.

"I think we had so many opportunities, we got into great positions where we got behind them and then it’s just the final ball that we’re missing. That’s where they are slightly ahead of us in terms of the quality they have, but that costs a lot of money.

"We work on that religiously so a little bit disappointed that we didn’t get a breakthrough earlier, but we have to respect the opposition, they are a fantastic side."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efoQMJi_g84 – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf2-Pq5agR8 – match highlights

Collins nets a 16-minute hat-trick as Hatters knock Canaries out of the Carabao Cup

Carabao Cup round one: Luton Town 3 Norwich City 1

A hat-trick in the final 16 minutes by striker James Collins saw Luton reach the second round of the Carabao Cup by beating Norwich City at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

With 79 minutes gone, it had looked like penalties would be needed to resolve this all-Championship tie, until a sudden, and quite unexpected, spree of goals saw Collins notch a fourth treble in Town colours since arriving in the summer of 2017 to send Hatters through.

Luton boss Nathan Jones gave recent signing Rhys Norrington-Davies a debut after he joined from Sheffield United on Thursday, with fellow summer arrivals James Bree and Jordan Clark on the bench.

Norwich, without a host of players due to international duty, injury and suspension, still were able to hand expensive addition Jordan Hugill a start, while Alex Tettey and Kieran Dowell were both involved too.

Norrington-Davies gave an early example of what he could bring to the side, bursting forward from left back to overlap Elliot Lee and send over an excellent cross that required a good clearing header.

With 12 minutes gone, Luton had the best chance of the opening forays when Luke Berry's corner was met by Sonny Bradley at the back post, Martin Carnie diverting his header to Lee who volleyed narrowly wide.

Collins, who was adopting a far more central role under Jones than he had for previous manager Graeme Jones last term, was almost picked out twice, blocked off from Harry Cornick's cross and then just beaten to a fine Lee delivery by Christoph Zimmermann.

City finally started to create some opportunities of their own, Lukas Rupp whistling into the side-netting from 20 yards, while James Shea made a brilliant save to tip Bali Mumba's effort over the bar, not receiving any credit from referee John Busby who awarded a goal kick.

Town almost made the breakthrough moments later, Cranie's header from Berry's corner inches wide.

Shea then continued his impressive start to proceedings, as clearly unsighted, he managed to adjust his body at the vital moment to block Rupp's daisycutter and then grab the rebound ahead of the lurking Hugill.

Just before the break, Town might have been ahead when Cranie played a lovely through ball to unlock the defence for Collins, but Town's frontman got it all wrong, failing to even test Daniel Barden, the shot rolling tamely and rather disappointingly wide.

In the second period, Town were indebted to Shea for keeping them level as he made an excellent stop from Tettey, the Canaries skipper cracking a half-volley goalwards from 20 yards that required tipping behind.

The Luton stopper then kept out Kieran Dowell's angled drive with another excellent stop and claimed Hugill's cross-shot at his near post to further press his credentials ahead of Simon Sluga's return from international duty with Croatia next weekend.

Shea was to continue his one-man resistance when Norwich broke with pace, Josh Martin turning Norrington-Davies inside out before shooting low, the keeper hanging on well.

Town looked to have one foot in the second round on 79 minutes when Clark made an instant impact from the bench, his cross looping up to the back post where Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu took a touch and was brought down by sub Mario Vrancic.

Berry hammered home the loose ball ball, but referee John Busby had already signalled for a penalty, which Collins calmly slotted down the middle.

That saw the game come to life, as Norwich levelled just two minutes later when Dowell's snapshot from the edge of the box finally broke Shea's resistance, nestling into the bottom corner.

Town were undaunted though, as within 60 seconds they were back in front, Clark the architect once more, his cross cannoning off Mpanzu's chest, for Collins to volley past Barden via a slight deflection.

Luton almost had a clinching third with two to go, Rea slamming into the stands, before Collins made sure in stoppage time.

Mpanzu dinked over the top for Clark who broke into the box and unselflishly squared for his team-mate to sweep beyond Barden and put Town into the second and third round draw that takes place tomorrow evening.

Hatters: James Shea, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Kazenga LuaLua 86), James Collins, Harry Cornick (Jordan Clark 72).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, Andrew Shinnie, James Bree.

Canaries: Daniel Barden, Christopher Zimmermann, Lukas Rupp, Jordan Hugill, Kieran Dowell, Timm Klose (Mario Vrancic 59), Marco Stiepermann, Josh Martin (Onel Hernandez 73), Bali Mumba, Alex Tettey (C), Sam McCallum (Melvin Sitti 86).

Subs not used: Daniel Sinani, Reece McAlear, Anrew Omobamidele, William Hondermarck, Jon McCracken.

Booked: McCallum 70.

Referee: John Busby.

Hatters boss elated as Collins notches treble in Norwich win

Town top scorer is up and running on the opening day

Luton boss Nathan Jones was thrilled to see striker James Collins notch an opening day hat-trick for the Hatters in their 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Norwich City this afternoon.

The Town forward made it 62 goals in 140 appearances for the club with his fourth treble since arriving from Crawley Town in the summer of 2017 to dump the Canaries out of the competition at the first round stage.

His first came from the penalty spot with 11 minutes to go, slotting coolly down the middle after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu had been fouled by Mario Vrancic, as Jones said: “I haven't seen it, I don't watch the pens, but he scored so I'm pleased.

"We trust him, I'm delighted he scored. For him to get a hat-trick in the first game of the season is fantastic as he's someone we think a lot of.”

Town were then pegged back just two minutes later through Kieran Dowell’s leveller, but Luton didn’t let their heads drop, as within 60 seconds, Collins volleyed home via a slight deflection once second half substitute Jordan Clark’s cross was teed up to him by Mpanzu.

Jones continued: “It wasn't an ideal time to concede, but it was definitely an ideal time to retake the lead.

“It's a good ball in, Pelly's done well again, and it's something we’ve been working on, Collo does what he does best in the box and a great finish.”

Town’s leading scorer from last term was at it again in stoppage time, with the same three players involved once more, Mpanzu dinking over the top for the unselfish Clark to race clean through and pick out Collins for a tap-in.

Jones added: “I’m delighted, I thought all three goals had a real element about them, certain things that we've done and that's the pleasing thing, the choice of crosses from Jordan Clark on a number of occasions.

“If I’m honest, that’s something that we've lacked in the three or four years I’ve been here, is that real Man City type pass as I think we've got in so many opportunities today.

“We got in and around their box so many times, it’s just that little bit of coollness and calmness and I thought we added that.

“We picked the right pass. It would have been easy to flash the shot wide, or even score, but that was the perfect way to finish in terms of our counter attack.

“A great ball from Pelly, great run, great touch and great little ball in the end and then Collo finishes, so very, very pleasing.”