Luton Town FC vs Peterborough United (9th Jan 2018)

REPORT: LUTON TOWN 0 PETERBOROUGH 0 (6-7 ON PENS)

Town bow out of Trophy as League One Posh progress on penalties

Three days after the Hatters’ FA Cup run came to an end at the third round stage, the same fate befell them in the Checkatrade Trophy at Kenilworth Road tonight as Peterborough won 7-6 on penalties after an entertaining 0-0 draw.

The Sky Bet League One play-off hopefuls paid the Town huge respect by making just two changes to the side that beat Aston Villa on Saturday, and one of those was enforced by a Trophy suspension.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones, meanwhile, made ten changes to the side that lost at Newcastle at the weekend, with James Shea in goal and Alan Sheehan eligible to captain the side despite serving a three-match league and FA Cup suspension.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was the only player included who started at Newcastle on Saturday, while Harry Cornick and Luke Gambin – both who appeared as substitutes at St James’ Park – appear in attack.

It took former Hatters striker Jack Marriott just eight seconds to have the game’s first effort on goal, but his left-footed shot fizzed wide, before Lawson D’Ath sent a first-time volley on target at the other end with just 42 seconds gone – Posh keeper Jonathan Bond diving to his left to turn it behind.

It was a blistering start, and with Jack Stacey flying down the right, the Hatters were making inroads to the Peterborough defence, Jordan Cook firing a rocket just wide of the upright in the fifth minute before Stacey had a go himself, though Bond dealt with

Marriot got his body between Frankie Musonda and the ball to engineer space in the area on eight minutes, but Shea was equal to his low shot, as he was again ten minutes later when the former Town striker shot straight at him.

In between, Akin Famewo carried the ball out of defence and reached the Posh penalty area with some neat footwork, before laying it back to Mpanzu, whose shot was diverted into Jack Senior’s path.

The left-back’s path was blocked, but the Town were more than playing their part in an end-to-end encounter, and – after Josh McQuoid had come on for Gambin, who was injured in a strong, but fair, challenge by Posh captain – Senior had a go with his right foot, only to be blocked again.

Town were having their share of the chances, with Mpanzu teeing McQuoid up to crack a left-footed shot straight at Bond in the 28th minute.

On the half-hour mark Cornnick carried the ball deep into Peterborough territory from inside his own half, then got it back via Stacey and a back-heel flick from Cook, to fire a right-footed volley at goal, though once again Bond saved comfortably.

Maddison picked out United left-back Andrew Hughes to head just wide in the 34th minute, seconds before Shea had to produce a smart stop to keep Danny Lloyd’s powerful cross-shot out.

Cook came within a lick of paint of putting the Hatters in front in the 37th minute when he met Cornick’s inviting right-wing cross with a cushioned header that bounced back off Bond’s left-hand post.

Marriott called Shea into action again a minute later, before play once again moved to the Oak Road End, where McQuoid – who was looking lively – set D’Ath up for a 20-yarder that flew over the bar.

Captain Sheehan had to produce a timely challenge on the stroke of half-time to prevent Marriott getting on the end of a left-wing centre from Lloyd, but it was the Hatters who started the second period on the front foot.

Stacey made headway down the right, revelling in the space afforded him by the 3-4-3 formation, and standing up a lovely cross to the far post where McQuoid was poised to head home before Posh right-back Liam Shephard intervened with a timely header.

Marriott had another go soon after, but his shot was way off target, before Sheehan stepped up to take a 25-yard free-kick that only found the wall.

McQuoid sent another shot just wide before Shea had to deal with a cross-shot from Shephard as the sides continued to trade blows, without breaking the deadlock.

Just after the hour Jones made his second substitution, replacing Cornick with Andrew Shinnie, and it was the Town who continued to pose questions, D’Ath and Senior combining to set McQuoid up for a 65th-minute shot straight at Bond, before Ryan Tafazolli did well to clear Mpanzu’s cross over his own bar straight after.

Sheehan and Famewo then saw headers go wide, the former with the aid of a deflection, before Hughes sent a 25-yard left-footer high over Shea’s crossbar as Posh went on the attack again.

The Town were playing the better football, however, and in the 80th minute they were denied a clear chance goal when Stacey kept the ball brilliantly with a long, snaking run across the edge of the Posh penalty area, before laying off to Shinnie, who was brought down 22 yards out.

The ball rolled to D’Ath, who slipped Mpanzu into the box – only for referee Antony Coggins, who had let play go on, pull it back to award the free-kick.

The Hatters were bemused by the call, and Sheehan’s curling free-kick proved too high, but the Irishman was soon doing his duty in his own penalty area, clearing a dangerous Hughes cross over his own bar as Marriott looked to profit.

Hatters keeper Shea made another great save to deny Jermaine Anderson in the 89th-minute, diving low to his left to keep the Peterborough sub’s drive out,

The second half hadn’t lived up to the first, but it had been a cracking game and penalties were needed to determine a winner.

Both sides were spot on with Cook, McQuoid, Olly Lee, Shinnie, Sheehan and Mpanzu all on target for the Hatters, while Maddison, Doughty, Marriott, Shephard, Kanu, Baldwin and Tafazolli all scored for Peterborough before Musonda saw his penalty – the Town’s seventh – saved by Bond.

The Posh were through, and the Town are left to focus on the season’s ultimate goal – promotion to the level their opponents are currently at.

TOWN: Shea, Musonda, Sheehan ©, Famewo, Stacey, Mpanzu, D’Ath (O Lee 82), Senior, Gambin (McQuoid 26), Cornick (Shinnie 64), Cook. Subs: Justin, Potts, Cotter, Isted (GK)

Yellows: Senior

Penalties scored: Cook, McQuoid, Olly Lee, Shinnie, Sheehan, Mpanzu.

Saved: Musonda

POSH: Bond, Shephard, Hughes, Tafazolli, Baldwin ©, Lloyd (Kanu 57), Maddison, Marriott, Morias (Anderson 68), Da Silva Lopes (Doughty 33), Grant. Subs: Penny, O’Malley (GK), Freestone, Borg

Penalties scored: Maddison, Doughty, Marriott, Shephard, Kanu, Baldwin, Tafazolli

REFEREE: Anthony Coggins

ATT: 2,253 (408 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpOnGSk2WDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgD1e-jOBJ0

NATHAN JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO PETERBOROUGH UNITED

Town boss Nathan Jones was disappointed to see his team knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy on penalties tonight by Peterborough United, but felt his team more than played their part in an entertaining clash with the Sky Bet League One play-off chasers.

After a goalless 90 minutes, both sides netted their first six penalties before Frankie Musonda saw his spot-kick saved by stopper Jonathan Bond.

Jones said: "I thought it was a good entertaining game. I am not pleased we lost the game on penalties, but they're eighth in League One, they made very few changes from their side that played against Villa [in Posh's 3-1 win a Villa Park in the Emirates FA Cup] and play week-in, week-out.

"We made ten changes, we've had equal chances and I think it was a good entertaining game. It just shows where we are. We've got a real strong squad and we've made changes and we've been able to more than compete with a side that is eighth in League One.

"The players who have come in have not so much given me food for thought, we've got a strong squad and we needed to test those and they got tested. I thought they were excellent tonight.

"We're aspiring to be a League One team next year and I thought we more than matched them and tonight I thought we had some real good performances from the young ones. I thought Akin Famewo was outstanding. Jack Senior as well.

"We're a young side and I thought they were excellent. Some of the ones who need game time, Sheehan, Cook, Lawson and Pelly, were excellent as well."

Town knocked out of the Trophy on penalties

Checkatrade Trophy, third round: Luton Town 0 Peterborough United 0 (Posh win 7-6 on penalties)

Luton Town were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy at the third round stage as they were beaten 7-6 on penalties by League One Peterborough this evening.

After a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes which somehow finished goalless, both sides were on the money in the shoot-out, netting some wonderful spotkicks, until Frankie Musonda saw his attempt saved by Jonathan Bond.

Hatters made 10 changes for the contest, with only Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu retaining his place from the weekend's FA Cup defeat at Newcastle United, as Alan Sheehan came back in, his suspension counting just for league games.

Posh swapped two players, showing how importantly they were taking the competition, the now prolific former Hatters striker Jack Marriott leading the line.

The ex-Town man went close inside 20 seconds, dragging wide, while Lawson D'Ath forced visiting keeper Bond to palm behind with an instinctive 20-yard volley.

Jordan Cook leathered one wide from 25 yards as both sides made a bright start to proceedings, Marriott beating Musonda and denied by a great low stop from Shea.

The Town stopper, hoping to push his claims for a first team berth, had made a comfortable save from Junior Morias's hopeful long ranger and continued to impress, sprinting off his line to gather the ball from the onrushing Marcus Maddison.

Shea had to parry again from the lively Marriott and collect Danny Lloyd's cross-shot at his near post, before Town were forced into a change as Luke Gambin disappointingly hobbled off after a heavy challenge, Josh McQuoid back from his loan spell at Torquay to replace him.

The attacker almost marked his return immediately impact, taking Mpanzu's lovely pass, cutting in and firing at Bond, while Harry Cornick showed great determination to power past three and from Cook's audacious backheeled flick, shot at the keeper.

Town fashioned the chance of the half on 37 minutes as Cornick's superb cross from the right was met by Cook's downward header, only to clip the post and bounce out.

Marriott continued his one-man battle to try and beat Shea, the Luton stopper saving low down, while D'Ath blasted a half volley over.

Famewo continued to catch the eye both going forward and at the back, one moment effortlessly motoring away from Posh's midfielders to bring the ball out, while in the blink of any eye, producing an excellent sliding intervention to prevent Marriott making it 1-0.

After the break, the action was still at both ends in an always absorbing contest, even if genuine clear-cut chances dried up.

Shea blocked a fierce drive from Liam Shephard and McQuoid sliced wide on the run, while he had another go midway through the half, again into the midriff of Bond, with Famewo off target from a corner.

Sheehan sent a free kick over with nine minutes to play, after referee Antony Coggins waited to play an advantage and then when it arrived with Mpanzu clean through, crazily blew the whistle.

Shea saved his best for the closing moments as sub Jermaine Anderson looked certain to have won it, driving into the box and shooting low, the keeper producing a stunning one-handed stop to force penalties, where Posh triumphed.

Although out of their second tournament in four days, Town now have absolutely no distractions as they look to secure the promotion that has always been their number one goal this season.

Hatters: James Shea, Akin Famewo, Alan Sheehan (C), Frankie Musonda, Jack Stacey, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Gambin (Josh McQuoid 24), Lawson D'Ath (Olly Lee 82), Jack Senior, Jordan Cook, Harry Cornick (Andrew Shinnie 64).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Dan Potts, Kavan Cotter, James Justin.

Posh: Jonathan Bond, Liam Shepherd, Andrew Hughes, Ryan Tafazoli, Jack Baldwin (C), Danny Lloyd (Idris Kanu 57), Marcus Maddison, Jack Marriott, Junior Morias (Jermaine Anderson 68), Leonardo Da Silva Lopes (Michael Doughty 34), Anthony Grant.

Subs not used: Alex Penny, Conor O'Malley, Lewis Freestone, Andrea Borg.

Booked: Senior 86.

Referee: Anthony Coggins.

Attendance: 2,253 (408 Posh). Hatters

MOM: Akin Famewo. Impressed both at the back and going forward.

Jones hugely encouraged by Town's strength in depth

Luton boss Nathan Jones was massively enthused by the way his much-changed side ran League One promotion hopefuls Peterborough United so close in the Checkatrade Trophy third round on Tuesday night.

The Hatters only kept Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in from the team which took to the field at Newcastle United in the FA Cup on Saturday, while Posh stuck with nine of the side who knocked Championship giants Aston Villa out of the same competition.

Although beaten on penalties after the game finished goalless, Jones felt the manner in which side performed against an opponent just two points outside the play-offs in a higher division was hugely encouraging, saying: “I thought it was a real good, entertaining game, I really did.

“We took on a side that’s promotion hopefuls from League One, they came here with their strongest side, we’ve made 10 changes and we’ve been more than a match for them, so it’s pleasing.

“We want to test the squad, the squad got tested and I thought they came through it with flying colours. “We’ve been tested by a real good League One side and I’m delighted to know that the my squad is right at it.

“We have competition all throughout. If one of the full backs goes down, we’ve got two full backs there, the centre halves were good, I thought Lawson (D'Ath) and Pelly were far, far better than when we were at Port Vale the other day.

"Then we had a sharpness upfront, without actually scoring, we looked like we were going to score and that’s the only frustrating point from us because we don’t often go 0-0.

"But on the whole, we’ve taken on higher league opposition with 10 changes and we’ve been excellent on the night.”

With Peterborough possessing former Hatter Jack Marriott, who is the second leading English scorer behind Tottenham's Harry Kane this term, and Tpwn scoring a hatful of goals themselves, then few would have expected the stalemate they witnessed.

It was still a thoroughly entertaining affair though, as Jones continued: “I thought we had a lot of good chances second half, and we didn’t quite do enough.

“We’ve hit the post first half, they’ve had a couple of chances, fair play to them, but look at the strikeforce they’ve got.

“Jack’s been on fire for them, so to keep him quiet shows that we’ve done well and they’ve had to do well to keep us quiet, as we’re one of the highest scorers in English football.

"They’re a good attacking side as well, so you never would have bet on a 0-0, but I thought we were excellent, considering the changes we made, it just shows the strength in depth that we’re able to do that.”

Jones lined up with a new-look 3-4-3 formation too, using Frankie Musonda, Alan Sheehan and Akin Famewo in defence, as on his move away from the diamond or 4-3-3 he usually opts for, the boss added: “It kind of suited our personnel more than anything.

"If I’d had different personnel available then I would have gone to our normal one, but because we had those three centre halves available it would have meant I would have had to play someone from Saturday, which I didn’t want to do.

"It meant I could make those changes, so that was more natural for us, and I thought it worked well.

"I thought they were excellent, they defended well and their front three is a real threat in terms of (Danny) Lloyd, (Marcus) Maddison and Marriott, so we knew they were going to need some containing.

"But I thought we were excellent, we’ve hit the post had some real good opportunities second half, could have won it right at the end with Josh McQuoid, and I just said, a little bit more conviction from our finishing and we would have.

"But I’m pleased generally because we’ve been properly tested and for me the bigger thing about it, is it just shows the strength we have.”

Dilemma for Jones as Famewo shows he’s now ready

Hatters boss Nathan Jones admits young centre half Akin Famewo’s performance against Peterborough United in the Checkatrade Trophy has proved he can part of Town’s back-line during the second half of the season.

The 19-year-old delivered a stand out display on the night against opponents from League One, as he helped keep former Hatter Jack Marriott under wraps, with a clean sheet, as Town only went out on penalties.

Famewo had been in contention to play at Newcastle in the FA Cup, but Jones opted to drop Glen Rea back from his defensive midfield role to partner Johnny Mullins, although that could change when Luton visit Chesterfield this weekend, as the Luton chief said: “He’s pushing to play and he needs to be tested in these games.

“He won’t come up against a sharper strikeforce, well, apart from ours, but I’m delighted that he’s really shown me now that, ‘yes, I can, put me in,’ so it’s a wonderful dilemma to have.”

It wasn’t just defensively that Famewo shone either, as he glided out from the back at times to get Town going, showing some wonderful skill for a centre back, with Jones saying: “He’s a big, powerful lad and he did that, he was excellent on the night, he really was.

“He did his defensive responsibilities, he was brave, he stepped in, so I’m delighted for him and it just goes to show that we believe in our younger players here.

“We’ve got good strong squad, we’ve showed that tonight and that’s the main thing. We’re disappointed we’ve lost the game and gone of out of the competition, albeit on pens, but how they went about their work, how they acquitted themselves was wonderful.”

Famewo was part of a back three that included fellow teenager Frankie Musonda and the vastly more experience Alan Sheehan.

Playing due to his suspension only covering league games, Sheehan has been hugely impressed by both of Town’s young defenders, as he said: “The two of them have come up together, they’ve got a great understanding.

“Akin’s a powerhouse, he’s a big man, he’s physical, he’s got a bit of everything for a higher level and Frankie’s more chilled and composed.

“Akin’s powering out and he’s a specimen of a man, Frankie, quite cool on the ball and then me in the middle, I thought it worked well.

“They’re different players, they’ve had tastes of first team football, and they’re really good players.

“We knew we had to be on our toes, because that’s the front three that scored three at (Aston) Villa, they’re banging in goals and they’re worth millions supposedly at the moment, so it was a good test for us.

“I always try to help them out as much as I can, but I think the two of them will be ready whenever they get the chance, although the team’s playing really well at the moment.

“Whoever’s getting in is doing well, Johnny Mullins didn’t play for a long time, but he’s come in and been brilliant, and Scott Cuthbert was brilliant before that.

“You know you have to be on your toes as there’s so much competition for places.

“A lot of the lads haven’t been playing regularly and they go toe to toe with a team who are challenging for play-offs in the league above, so it’s mad competition.”

Meanwhile, on the duo, keeper James Shea added: “They’re brilliant, in every single game they’ve played, even when we’ve played behind the friendly game behind closed doors, they’ve been absolutely brilliant.

“I feel solid with those two in front of me, I can’t speak highly enough of them and they’ve been fantastic all season.”