Luton Town FC vs Notts County (30th Jan 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:51 30th January 2016 Town show promise but County take the points

LUTON TOWN 0-2 NOTTS COUNTY

The Hatters slipped to their first defeat under new manager Nathan Jones, going down 2-0 to Notts County to slip to 16th in Sky Bet League 2.

Alan Sheehan put through his own net before Jon Stead doubled the advantage in a 12-minute second-half period that took the game from the Town.

The hosts had numerous chances in the first half but went in goalless despite some excellent play on the ball at Kenilworth Road.

Pelly Ruddock was among those to spurn opportunities before the break, meaning the Hatters have now gone goalless at home in their last three outings.

Jones named an unchanged side from last week’s victory at Mansfield, but one of those in particular had a few nervy moments early on.

Alex Lawless was adjudged to catch Stead with a late tackle, earning a booking in just the third minute, also gaining a word from referee Keith Hill for another foul just a couple of minutes later.

But with the ball at their feet, the Town looked sublime in the first half. Paddy McCourt’s sumptuous cross-field ball set Stephen O’Donnell away down the right to win a corner, from which Ruddock could only sky a 15-yard strike over the bar from the half-dealt with delivery.

It was McCourt who was next to have a chance, jinking his way through three County players from Craig Mackail-Smith’s through ball to force a block from the defender, sending Kenilworth Road into a cauldron of noise in the process.

Cameron McGeehan and Ruddock were also unable to profit from half-chances, but the visitors remained a threat when Izale McLeod was met by Stead in a central position, yet he could only fire over from a promising position.

The Hatters did have the ball in the net when Mackail-Smith turned and struck home a nice finish, but the referee’s whistle halted celebrations, spotting a handball from McGeehan upon attempting to take the ball down.

It was a frenetic first half at Kenilworth Road, and the deadlock was also broken by some superb skill by Mackail-Smith. The Town man managed to outjump his over-towering marker, reacting to the second ball to stream through the away defence before forcing Roy Carroll into a smart stop.

And the hosts were not done there for the first period, with Ruddock once again boasting an opportunity, profiting from more excellent hold-up play from Mackail-Smith, ghosting through the defenders to drag his effort wide when plenty more could have been achieved.

The Hatters started the second half with equal impressiveness, as Ruddock and O’Donnell combined excellently down the right once again to force a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.

The Town continued their impressive work-rate, and their efforts matched by the fans’ noise although only half-chances threatened Carroll’s goal heading towards the hour mark.

But the Hatters were undone just a couple of minutes later. Jake Howells was left with two players to mark, and the overlap proved decisive as the ball was fizzed into the danger area for Sheehan to touch helplessly past Elliot Justham.

The goal prompted a double switch from Jones, throwing on new loan signing Joe Pigott and Olly Lee for Smith and McGeehan, yet the afternoon soon got worse as Stead showed a sly turn of pace to blitz through Scott Cuthbert from deep, beating both he and Justham to the ball to double the advantage.

The Town, two goals behind, were only able to create minimal chances as debutant Pigott nodded McCourt’s first time ball straight to Carroll’s chest.

McCourt also tried his luck, this time from range, profiting from his initial mis-control to be teed up by Pigott, but the shot was straight down the throat of the veteran keeper.

And the substitute also came close to netting a debut goal, attempting to pick a shot from Mackail-Smith’s knockdown, only succeeding in getting the ball stuck in his feet.

It proved to be the last of Mackail-Smith’s afternoon, replaced by Paul Benson for the final five minutes in a bid to restore a last-ditch comeback.

It seemed as though the Town had pulled one back when Pigott spun and shot from Benson’s knockdown, and despite the beating of Carroll, Haydn Hollis was lurking on the line to head away to keep the Town off the scoresheet once again.

Town: Justham, O’Donnell, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Howells, McCourt, Smith (sub Lee 61), Lawless, McGeehan (sub Pigott 61), Ruddock Mpanzu, Mackail-Smith (sub Benson 85).

Subs not used: Tyler, Marriott, Okuonghae, Banton.

Attendance: 8,147 with 390 following Notts County.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-luton-town-0-2-notts-county-2928961.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr4sGMyhP4o

League Two: Luton Town 0 Notts County 2

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones suffered his first defeat since taking charge of the club with a 2-0 reverse against Notts County this afternoon.

With the hosts looking like they were about to go through the gears in the second, an unfortunate own goal from former Magpies defender Alan Sheehan saw the visitors move in front, while Jon Stead bagged a second with 20 minutes to go to kill off any hopes of a comeback.

Defeat was harsh on the Hatters who had impressed once more with their approach throughout the game, always trying to get the ball down and play on the floor, with plenty of murmurs of appreciation from the home faithful.

However, results are what Jones will be based on, and too often Luton’s approach play faltered in the final third, leading to a seventh home defeat of the season, Hatters failing to score in their last three at Kenilworth Road too.

Hatters named an unchanged side as Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu made consecutive starts for the first time since October 2014, with keeper Mark Tyler fit enough to be back on the bench, where he was joined by young striker Zane Banton and recent loan signing Joe Pigott.

The hosts took a while getting into their stride though as they found County a tough nut to crack early with chances at a minimum.

Ruddock Mpanzu missed the best opening on 15 minutes when a header out fell perfectly on the volley, but with time on his side, he shanked well over.

McCourt then magnificently tricked his way past two defenders, his low shot blocked by a covering third, while Cameron McGeehan’s effort was too close to Roy Carroll.

Town were upping the pressure, with Ruddock Mpanzu and McGeehan to the fore, as the latter side-footed wide and then just didn’t quite have the legs to gather his team-mate’s through ball.

Despite Luton looking the better side, County had the best chance on 28 minutes when Adam Campbell teed up Izale Mcleod who fired over the top on his left foot.

Back came Hatters as Ruddock Mpanzu’s blast was palmed aside by Carroll, while Luton did have the ball in the net on the half hour mark, through Mackail-Smith’s astute finish.

However, for the third time this season, he was to be left disappointed as referee Keith Hill spotted a quite blatant handball from McGeehan in the build-up, with the midfielder booked for his obvious indiscretion.

Mackail-Smith then took matters into his own hands, somehow out-jumping Haydn Hollis, beating another man and from 25 yards, forcing Carroll into a sprawling stop.

Still the chances kept coming, with Justham producing an excellent block from Stead, while the Magpies should have been ahead as half time approached.

A miscommunication at the back saw Scott Cuthbert head the ball virtually out of Justham’s hands and Stead’s follow up was narrowly missed by the onside Mcleod.

Luton went straight down the other end though and fluffed a glorious chance of their own, with Ruddock Mpanzu bearing down on goal only to somehow drag wide of the mark.

After the break, Hatters tried to make a fast start once more, as they got into a number of promising positions, but the final ball was unfortunately never quite right.

The Kenilworth Road were impressed by what they were witnessing , but the mood was punctured somewhat on 58 minutes when County overloaded on the right and Campbell’s cross was diverted past Justham by Sheehan against his former club.

Jones reacted by bringing on Pigott for his debut along with Olly Lee for Smith and McGeehan.

The new boy almost had a opening straight away, found by Ruddock Mpanzu as his shot deflected into Carroll’s hands.

However, County then had a killer second goal on 70 minutes as Stead picked up possession, drove at the heart of the home defence and with Justham far too slow to come out, stretched to slot the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Town tried to muster a comeback, McCourt’s deep cross headed at Carroll by Pigott, with the Northern Irishman then volleying at his fellow countryman from distance.

As time ticked away, Pigott came closest to what would have been a deserved consolation and debut strike, spinning well to fire a volley that was heading in but for Hollis on the line.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Stephen O’Donnell, Jake Howells, Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Alex Lawless, Jonathan Smith (Olly Lee 62), Paddy McCourt, Cameron McGeehan (Joe Pigott 62), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Craig Mackail-Smith (Paul Benson 85).

Subs not used: Mark Tyler, Jack Marriott, Magnus Okuonghae, Zane Banton.

Stags: Roy Carroll (C), Blair Adams, Scot Bennett (Alan Smith 46), Haydn Hollis, Curtis Thompson, Liam Noble (Rhys Sharpe 90), Elliot Hewitt, Adam Campbell, Wes Atkinson, Jon Stead (Ronan Murray 76), Izale Mcleod.

Subs not used: Scott Loach, Graham Burke, Thierry Audel, Stanley Aborah.

Booked: Lawless 2, McGeehan 32, Mcleod 60.

Attendance: 8,147 (390 County).

Referee: Keith Hill.

Hatters MOM: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu - did his best to find a way through for the Hatters.

Jones urges Hatters to become more clinical

Hatters boss Nathan Jones rued his side’s lack of a clinical edge during their 2-0 defeat to Notts County yesterday afternoon.

The hosts dominated possession for the majority of the encounter, but despite creating some excellent chances, couldn’t find the back of the net, with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu missing the best opportunity on the stroke of half time.

Alan Sheehan’s own goal against his former club saw County break the deadlock on 58 minutes, with Jon Stead adding a second 12 minutes later.

Jones said: “I thought at times first half we were excellent, some of our build-up play and some of our approach play was superb, but we weren’t clinical.

“We had some real good chances first half, we weren’t really clinical and even second half, we had some decent chances again but weren’t clinical and they were slightly more clinical than us.

“I think we edged possession, we dominated, we had more chances than them, but they were slightly more clinical than us.

“Ironically we probably played better than our two previous games in possession, we were more fluent in our play but we didn’t take chances and defensively we weren’t great.”

Hatters did have the ball in the net on the half hour mark through Craig Mackail-Smith, but it was rightly ruled out for a handball by Cameron McGeehan according to Jones.

He continued: “It was handball. I thought Macka was excellent in all his approach play, he worked hard, worked tirelessly, his runs, how he led the line.

“It’s just unfortunate he hasn’t scored, it wasn’t through the lack of trying and his endeavour, but we have to be better all round so we supply him those opportunities as well.”

New signing Joe Pigott also went close late on, with his effort cleared off the line as Jones said: “It’s kind of symptomatic of our performance, he did everything right there, but they just had that bit between their teeth that they weren’t going to concede and because we didn’t force the issue, we came out goalless.”

The result meant Hatters have now gone five games without a win at Kenilworth Road, failing to even score in their last three games on home soil too.

Jones added: “It’s a clear stat, one that we’re working on. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, and how we played.

“I think our approach play was very, very good, some of the interplay, some of the fluency in our play was very, very good.

“We dominated possession, just did not have a clinical edge in the box and it wasn’t a 2-0 game, because they scored two, probably from harder chances than they had and we just didn’t take any of our chances.

“It was a difficult one to take, we know the work we’ve got to do and we move on from there.”

On Hatters’ awful record in front of their own fans this term, which has seen them win just three out of 14 games, Jones added: “We want them to enjoy it, want it to be difficult for sides to come to Kenilworth Road, this season it hasn’t been.

“We just felt we needed that first goal, if we had that first goal it might have been a different story, but it’s ifs and buts, the thing was they were more clinical than us, and they’ve got the result.”

Luton Town 0 Notts County 2

Alan Sheehan must have dreamt about a home Luton debut with his name sung from the Kenilworth Stands – just not like this.

The nightmare scenario saw the defender put through his own net, him beating the ground in frustration and the 390 travelling Notts County fans, used to seeing him in their colours, singing, "Alan Sheehan, he's one of our own."

Of all the times Town deserved to fall behind and lose, this was not it. Nor was it fitting that their home run stretched to three goalless games.

For the best part of an hour the Hatters battered the Magpies in every way but the one that counts. Dominance without goals doesn't win games.

Craig Mackail-Smith must have a dizzying fear of where his next one is coming from, for even when he hit the net it was disallowed for a Cameron McGeehan handball. That's three this term that have been chalked for the striker and a drought which has lurched into 17 games.

Defensive blunders, however, are nothing new for Town and they cost them dear here. Sheehan's gaffe was unfortunate – such are the perils of defending – but boss Nathan Jones' first defeat was confirmed by a timid piece of goalkeeping from Elliot Justham, which allowed Jon Stead to deliver a second goal sucker punch. The smash and grab was complete.

It stole the attention away from Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, back with a bang in his first consecutive start since October 2014. His was the penetrating, swashbuckling stuff that there has been precious little of in this parish.

The former West Ham youth should have scored in the first half and, had he done, so it probably would have opened the floodgates – but don't hold that against him. He was rightfully named man of the match. With the 23-year-old back in orange there is hope among the Hatters ranks once again.

And the signs are already clear that the new manager is creating a side full of passing, penetration and with more purpose than at any stage under the previous regime this season. It was just never going to plain sailing. His next task is to banish this appalling record of Luton never having won a Football League game – since their return – after falling behind in a game.

His unchanged side started slowly but began to purr from the 20-minute mark as Ruddock Mpanzu, Paddy McCourt and Cameron McGeehan threatened.

Izale McLeod should have punished the hosts when he was sent clean through on goal but blazed over the bar and, at that stage, the stars seemed aligned in the home side's direction.

Seconds later Ruddock Mpanzu shrugged off challenges in the box and, from an acute angle, stung the experienced palms of Roy Carroll though it looked very much a case of when, not if, the Hatters would break the deadlock.

Mackail-Smith thought he had on the half hour but it was ruled out, while a determined solo run ended with a Carroll parry.

Stead forced Justham into a reaction save and then pulled another across the face of goal where McLeod was waiting to steer home, but skewed wide. Still, the momentum was Luton's

Then came their big chance. Ruddock Mpanzu steamed into the County box but somehow blasted wide from five yards out.

It would prove costly because Luton were dumbstruck in the second half when Wes Atkinson crossed and Sheehan diverted the ball past Justham, in off his shin.

And they found themselves 2-0 down against the run of play soon after when Stead burst through. Justham hesitated off his line and, by the time he'd committed it was too late and the striker suffered injury to force the ball beyond him.

Luton loan striker Joe Piggott – signed from Charlton on Friday – saw Haydn Hollis head off the line his volley on the turn, as his debut day ended in agony too.

Luton Town: Justham, O'Donnell, Smith (Lee, 62), Cuthbert, Lawless, McGeehan (Piggott, 62), McCourt, Mpanzu, Mackail-Smith (Benson, 85), Howells, Sheehan

Unused subs: Tyler, Marriott, Okuonghae, Banton

Notts County: Carroll, Adams, Bennett (Smith, 45), Hollis, Thompson, Noble (Sharpe, 90), Hewitt, Campbell, Atkinson, Stead (Murray, 77), McLeod

Unused subs: Loach, Burke, Audel, Aborah

Referee: Keith Hill

Attendance: 8,147 (390)

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted that Notts County were more clinical than his side as the Hatters dominated but lost 2-0, slipping to 16th place in League Two, ten points adrift of the play-offs.

Former Magpies captain Alan Sheehan scored an own goal against the run of play on is home debut and then Jon Stead beat a hesitant Elliot Justham to ensure the manager's first defeat, three games into his Kenilworth Road tenure.

"I want it to be difficult for sides to come to Kenilworth Road. This season it hasn't been," Jones said.

"Today, we just felt we needed that first goal. We felt that if we'd had that first goal it might have been a different story, but ifs and buts…the thing is, they were more clinical than us and they've got the result."

Craig Mackail-Smith had a goal disallowed while man of the match Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu should have scored in the first half, but their failure to score stretched Town's wait for a goal on home soil to three games.

Jones said: "It's a clear stat. It's one that we're working on. It's not for lack of trying and how we play. Our approach play was very, very good. We just did not have that clinical edge in the box today. It wasn't a 2-0 game.

"It's a difficult one to take but we know the work we've got to do and we move on from there."

Sheehan was Jones' first signing as Luton boss and after an accomplished bow at Mansfield last week he barely put a foot wrong again, but had to listen after his own goal as the County fans sang, "Alan Sheehan, he's one of our own."

"That's just unfortunate because they got in down the side from us being slack defensively. Then that's just last-ditch. It's gone across the box, he's tried to defend it and it's just a little bit unfortunate," said Jones, adding: "We had two positive results [before] and I think you could see a little more fluency in our play today but, ironically, we've not won the game."

Justham kept his place in goal with regular number one Mark Tyler restored to the bench after week away through a back injury, but was at fault when Stead broke through, racing off his line too late.

"He probably shouldn't have come," said Jones, adding: "We've given it away on the edge of their box and then they've just broken on us, which we knew they would come and play on the counter. So it's disappointing.

"It's a disappointing result. We're disappointed with the goals we've conceded but we've got to be better than that if we want to get where we want to be."