Luton Town FC vs Oxford United (4th May 2019)

CHAMPIONS! LUTON TOWN 3 OXFORD UNITED 1

Town are crowned Sky Bet League One champions in style!

The Hatters were crowned champions of Sky Bet League One this afternoon, defeating Oxford United 3-1 to end this record-breaking season unbeaten at Kenilworth Road.

A George Moncur brace and a top strike from Elliot Lee was enough to see off the U’s who managed to notch a goal when Garbutt pounced on a loose ball.

The Hatters ended the campaign on 94 points, three in front of Barnsley in second spot. The sea of orange in the home ends of the ground were in fine voice throughout this afternoon’s encounter, creating the perfect atmosphere for the champions to play in front of.

For the final time, Mick Harford named his starting 11 to end the campaign. Alan McCormack came back into midfield after time out with an injury and George Moncur reclaimed his starting spot after some good spells off the bench.

It only took three minutes for the Hatters to get themselves in front, Moncur doing what he does best, curling another fine free kick in from 25 yards. Simon Eastwood in the Oxford goal could only fall to his knees and watch as the ball flew past him into the bottom right corner.

Elliot Lee then misplaced a pass that James Henry collected. Henry played it to Jamie Mackie who was through. Shea got down well to his right at full stretch and stopped the effort though, keeping the score in the home side’s favour.

Moncur was up to his usual tricks a little later when he was gifted another free kick outside the Oxford penalty box following a foul on Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu. This time the midfielder picked out the top left corner but couldn’t get it the right side of the post. The Kenilworth Road end thought it was in.

Both sides took their time settling into the match. The Hatters were playing some nice football, but the visitors were standing up to the pressure well, making it difficult for the Town who were looking to calve out a chance. The visitors were proving why they were unbeaten in nine coming into this fixture.

A chance eventually did come on 30 minutes, James Collins latching on the end of a cross and firing a volley at Eastwood who managed to keep it out. Moncur picked it up and placed it in the danger area where Lee was waiting to scoop another shot at goal but eventually the danger was dealt with.

McCormack slotted back into the holding midfielder role well this afternoon, keeping an eye on a well-organised Oxford side who were playing some good football of their own. Marcus Browne found an opening for the U’s, easing his way past Justin to force another good save from Shea, just about gathering the shot that was heading towards the top right corner.

Justin had a go from 30 yards but was never going to beat the keeper, not fully getting behind it as it sailed through into the arms of Eastwood. Mpanzu flashed a low cross into the area just asking to be tapped in after cleverly taking it around Sam Long. That was to be the last action of a fairly even first half.

Shinnie created the first Hatters chance of the second period, looping the ball over the head of Cameron Brannagan, managing to play it wide to Lee who stung the palms of Eastwood low at his near post. Lee got it right a minute later though, this time Moncur slotting it wide to the forward who curled a beauty into the top right corner, making it 2-0, with one hand on the champion’s trophy.

The visitors pulled one back though, snatching that hand away to complicate matters. The substitute Gavin Whyte threaded a well-weighted pass through to Browne who hit a shot across Shea’s goal. The home fans thought he’d missed when it bounced back off the post, but Garbutt was there to tuck a low effort into the unguarded net.

Mpanzu won a corner just afterwards when Eastwood tipped his effort over. Pearson rose highest at the corner and directed a good header towards the bottom right corner, but Eastwood was there again to tip it wide.

Shea made a crucial save with his legs moments later when Brannagan released Whyte but he couldn’t quite squeeze his shot under Shea at the near post, who made himself big and kept the Town in front.

The visitors began to play their way back into the contest, Browne had a go from distance but couldn’t get his shot past the Hatters back line. The U’s were pushing men forward in search of the equaliser, but eventually left themselves short at the back to allow the Town in.

Harry Cornick was introduced with 20 minutes to go and instantly made an impact, causing trouble in the Oxford penalty box. Moncur picked the ball up in his own half and powered his way forward. Cornick received it and took it wide; his shot was dealt with by the Oxford goalkeeper but Moncur was there to pounce on the loose ball and restore the two-goal advantage. The party atmosphere was well and truly underway.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, the home side began to take their time and slowed the match down, putting both hands on the trophy this time, clutching even tighter, determined not to let the the U’s force them off this time.

Berry hit a tame effort at Eastwood in stoppage time but by then, the title had been claimed. The Hatters were returning to the second tier of English football as champions.

TOWN: Shea, Justin, McCormack (Berry 83), Bradley, Pearson, Stacey, Lee (Cornick 70), Shinnie, Mpanzu, Collins (Connolly 88), Moncur SUBS Isted, Potts, Baptiste, Panter

Yellows: Pearson

Goals: Moncur 3, 73, Lee 53

UNITED: Eastwood, Garbutt (Hall 83), Nelson, Hanson, Brannagan, Browne, Ruffels, Henry (Whyte 58), Mackie (Sinclair 59), Long, Jones SUBS Stevens, Moushino, Napa, Sykes

Yellows: Brannagan, Browne, Hanson

Goals: Garbutt 60

REFEREE: Michael Salisbury

ATT: 10,089 (1025 Away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyGYL4fmmNs – Mick Harford interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9WOr6Azg54 – George Moncur interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWQbGmsCcTc – Andrew Shinnie interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hWIFbXrA9o – Trophy presentations (mobile phone coverage)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i6hqyWaJNM – Gary Sweet & Mick Harford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1oM0gHVnCs – Match Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePsDWhB_mOc – There’s only Micky Harford compilation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKnYYCIdnoo – Trophy presentation (gantry camera)

Hatters crowned League One champions after beating Oxford

League One: Luton Town 3 Oxford United 1

Luton were crowned League One champions in front of a packed Kenilworth Road, as George Moncur's double secured a last day win over Oxford United.

The Hatters went into the game knowing just a win was needed to lift the title ahead of nearest rivals Barnsley, although in the end, it mattered not, the Tykes going down 2-1 at Bristol Rovers.

Town chief Mick Harford made two changes for his final match in charge, Moncur and Alan McCormack in for the injured Kazenga LuaLua and Luke Berry, who dropped to the bench.

Free of any tension after promotion was assured on Tuesday night, the hosts got off to the perfect start on just three minutes, as James Collins was fouled 20 yards from goal.

Moncur stepped up to once more curl a delicious free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner, with visiting keeper Simon Eastwood motionless.

Town were indebted to James Shea for keeping it at 1-0 on 11 minutes, as James Mackie was clean through, but the keeper got a strong right hand to palm aside his low effort.

Moncur then almost doubled the advantage with another set-piece, this time going for the opposite corner, with Eastwood flying through the air, grateful to see it just miss the top corner.

With half an hour gone, Eastwood was at his best to prevent Collins getting on the scoresheet, as Jack Stacey's cross was flicked on by Elliot Lee for the leading scorer to fire goalwards, U's over-worked keeper making an excellent stop at point blank range.

Shea was required to keep out Marcus Browne's curler, springing to his right from 20 yards, while James Justin tried his luck from even further out, Eastwood gathering comfortably.

After the break, Lee overlapped on the left only to shoot straight at Eastwood, but he didn't make that mistake again on 53 minutes.

From yet another quick break by the hosts, Moncur burst forward, looked up to pick out Mpanzu, who teed up Lee, the attacker curling first time unerringly into the top corner.

He could have doubled his tally moments later, found by Collins' impish through ball, Eastwood saving with his legs

Oxford were back in it on the hour when Gavin Whyte, who had just come on, escaped the home defence and fired against the post, Luke Garbutt netting the rebound.

Back came Town as the game really opened up, Mpanzu digging out an attempt that Eastwood tipped over, while Matty Pearson's header from the resulting corner was palmed away by the U's keeper.

Oxford hunted a leveller, with Browne on the end of a fine move, Shea standing up well to block.

As they have all season, Town remained on the front foot, hunting a third and they got it when Moncur, who found a second wind, set off on a mazy run from inside his own half.

Sub Harry Cornick took over and when his effort was blocked, Moncur gobbled up the rebound as Kenilworth Road erupted.

Never happy to declare though, Town kept on throwing men forward, Stacey's low drive well saved by Eastood, Moncur's ambitious volley flying over.

However, the full time whistle brought the curtain down on a stunning season with the Hatters taking their place in the Championship next season.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Alan McCormack (Luke Berry 82), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, James Collins (Aaron Connolly 88), Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 69).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Corey Panter, Alex Baptiste, Dan Potts.

United: Simon Eastwood, Luke Garbutt (Rob Hall 83) Curtis Nelson, Jamie Hanson, Cameron Brannagan, Marcus ,Browne, Josh Ruffels, James Henry (Gavin Whyte 58), Jamie Mackie (C Jerome Sinclair 58), Sam Long, Nico Jones.

Subs not used: John Mousinho, Malachi Napa, Mark Sykes, Jack Stevens.

Booked: Hanson 63, Pearson 77, Browne 80.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Attendance: 10,089 (1,025 Oxford).

Harford** hails a 'brilliant day' as Luton take the title**

Luton boss Mick Harford hailed a 'brilliant day' as the Hatters were crowned League One champions yesterday.

A 3-1 win over Oxford United in front of a packed Kenilworth Road ensured Town finished top of the pile, three points clear of Barnsley in the end, after they lost to Bristol Rovers.

Harford said: "It's an absolutely brilliant day, fully deserved over the course of 46 games.

“I thought the players throughout the season have been magnificent, breaking records, the 28 game run, highest scorers in the division and it's just overall a fantastic all-round season, a magnificent effort by what I call a really top bunch of players.

“I was asked by Gary (Sweet, chief executive), my remit was to take care of the team.

“I'd been involved in the process of recruiting the team, so I knew the characters of most of them, but I’ve got to be honest with you, when I got working with them, after two or three weeks, I realised that they were different.

“To me, I believed we had a group of winners, a group of players who could win games, and now they’ve gone and won the League One Championship and now they are champions.

“I'm absolutely 100 per cent thrilled for every player, every member of the squad, the football club and all the supporters, it's a brilliant, brilliant achievement.”

Town led after just three minutes against the U's, George Moncur netting with yet another free kick.

Elliot Lee doubled the advantage in the second half, as although Oxford pulled one back, Moncur was on target once more to seal the victory.

On the game, Harford added: "It was a real good game I thought, very open, very attack-minded.

"We had to change shape to counteract them because of their movement, the way they rotated was very good and at times, we came under pressure.

"But again, I keep saying it, the players responded.

"I was nervous and a bit edgy when it got to 2-1 and Oxford played some really good football but again they showed a willingness and the desire to win games, to get over the line and it was an absolutely magnificent performance from ourselves, capped by what was an electric atmosphere out there today.

"I just want to say to the fans of Luton Town Football Club, you've surpassed all my expectations in terms of the way you've supported the team, not just today but throughout the season.

"Away games, the support has been immense, absolutely massive and when you come down here, it’s an absolute fortress.

"We're unbeaten at home this season and that's some kind of record, as it all contributes to us being champions."