Luton Town FC vs Plymouth Argyle (6th Sep 2014)

Match report: Luton Town 0-1 Plymouth Argyle

Town 0 Plymouth 1 Blizzard 68

The Town’s wait for a first win in the Football League at Kenilworth Road goes on, as a second half goal from Dominic Blizzard gave Plymouth the points.

The Hatters, showing four changes to the side that lost at Shrewsbury, had their best chances during an entertaining first half.

Luke Guttridge, who orchestrated the Town’s play for long periods of the game, tested Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick as early as the third minute when his free-kick – heading for the top corner – was parried away by the visitors’ stopper.

The Hatters began well, and 10 minutes later Luke Rooney swept over a first-time shot following Jake Howells’ left-wing cross.

Plymouth – who arrived at Kenilworth Road having lost both of their previous two away games – almost took the lead on 17 minutes when Lewis Alessandra raced clear of the Town defence but could only shoot straight at Mark Tyler.

Back came the Town, and the faintest of fingertips from McCormick prevented Howells from slotting home after a superb through-ball from Guttridge.

As half-time approached the Hatters were again denied by the excellence of McCormick with Howells again left frustrated when he darted into the box and drilled a shot low that the Argyle keeper turned away with his foot.

After the break, the Town continued to look for a breakthrough. On 55 minutes Howells’ corner from the right caused confusion in the Plymouth penalty area and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s shot from six yards was blocked by two defenders.

But the Hatters’ failure to take their chances came back to haunt them midway through the second half when Argyle took the lead. Blizzard, who had come close moments before, worked a yard of space on the edge of the penalty area to shoot hard and low beyond the outstretched hand of Tyler.

Behind, John Still introduced Alex Lawless and Ross Lafayette in the final 20 minutes as the Town hunted an equaliser.

However, it was Plymouth who looked the more likely to grab the next goal: the dangerous Reuben Reid – a handful all afternoon for the Town defence – almost came close to latching onto a right-wing cross on 72 minutes.

Lafayette lashed a shot wide with 15 minutes left on the clock for the Town before McCormick was alert to keep out a stray back-header from his own skipper Curtis Nelson with two minutes left.

The Hatters huffed and puffed in the closing stages, including five minutes injury time, but Argyle held on to secure victory.

Town: Tyler; Connolly, Griffiths, McNulty, Lacey; Howells (sub Lawless), Drury (sub Stevenson), Ruddock Mpanzu, Rooney, Guttridge, Cullen (sub Lafayette). Subs not used: Smith, Wall, Wilkinson, Justham.

Attendance: 7,864, including 527 from Plymouth.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/plymouth-gallery-060914-1900759.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH45bLQXY6U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1USMOItz9o&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Luton Town 0 Plymouth Argyle 1

Hatters’ stuttering start to life in League Two continued with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle.

The reverse was harsh on Luton who impressed greatly in the first half with some lovely passing interchanges.

Unfortunately, that all elusive goal just wouldn’t come, despite two excellent chances for Jake Howells, as they were left to rue their missed opportunities.

Hatters boss John Still made four changes for the game after a disappointing 2-0 reverse against Shrewsbury Town last time out.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu came in for his first start of the campaign, with Alex Lacey beginning at centre half too.

Scott Griffiths was back as was Andy Drury, with Paul Benson out due to a slight hamstring injury, while Matt Robinson started the first game of his three match ban, as Luke Wilkinson and Jim Stevenson dropped to the bench.

There were also welcome places amongst the substitutes for Jonathan Smith and Alex Lawless for the first time this campaign.

From the first whistle, Hatters looked far more at ease than in recent weeks, as Argyle captain Curtis Nelson was in the book early on for blatantly handling Luke Guttridge’s instinctive pass forward for Mark Cullen.

From the set-piece, Plymouth keeper Luke McCormick palmed Guttridge’s effort over, while the midfielder then had Town’s next effort, turning on Luke Rooney’s pass, but his low shot was easy for McCormick.

Connolly was next to receive yellow for a late challenge against his former club, but Hatters immediately broke with almost devastating effect as Griffiths charged forward, found Jake Howells and his cross was half volleyed over by Rooney.

With Ruddock Mpanzu back in the side, Hatters had that crucial athletiticism in midfield, as he got back expertly to snuff out the danger when Steve McNulty dallied and then within a few moments, almost broke through at the other end.

Argyle should have been 1-0 up on 17 minutes when the ball found its way through to Lewis Alessandra, who was left one-on-one with Mark Tyler.

The Plymouth’s striker shot was uncharacteristically weak though as he could only fire into the arms of the advancing keeper.

Cullen finally started to find some space in the visiting half, but could only drag wide of goal on 20 minutes, while Alessandra sized up a curler for the Pilgrims, although his radar went awry.

The hosts’ neat football carved open a magnificent chance on 28 minutes as Rooney, pulling the strings from deep, found Ruddock Mpanzu. Guttridge then took up possession and slipped a delightful ball through to Howells, but his scuffed effort was finger-tipped wide by McCormick.

Plymouth then worked a chance too as Dominic Blizzard, who had earlier been booked, saw his daisycutter confidently handled by Tyler.

Hatters were occasionally guilty of trying to do too much at the back and were given a warning shot when one passing move was cut out and Reid volleyed well over.

Luton’s front three continued interchanging well as Cullen flicked on for Howells, who couldn’t hit the target.

Most of Argyle’s threats were coming through top scorer Reid and he scampered away to test Tyler, Town’s keeper saving well low down.

Howells’ battle with McCormick continued as after ref Mick Russell accidentally got in the way of an Argyle attack, Luton sliced their way through with some wonderful quick passing by Guttridge and Ruddock Mpanzu.

That saw Howells bearing down on the Argyle keeper, but he showed tremendous reactions to stick out a leg and deflect his shot away for a corner, before giving Russell an earful for his intervention.

In the second period, Argyle appeared to finally have a handle on Town’s attacks as McNulty made a brave block to prevent Alessandra’s shot hitting the target.

Connolly slid in to win a corner and from the dead ball, Luton were close to an opener as after some pinball, Ruddock Mpanzu’s fierce drive was blocked by Kelvin Mellor.

With an hour gone, Plymouth were inches away from breaking the deadlock too as Reid showed great vision to tee up Blizzard whose controlled side-footer skimmed just wide.

However, Town paid the price for their missed chances on 68 minutes as Blizzard displayed some lovely feet to danced his way past a few challenges and found the bottom corner past the despairing dive of Tyler.

Still rung the changes as Lawless made his return, while Ross Lafayette replaced Cullen and the latter should have levelled up the scores on 77 minutes, as a ball rebounded into his path, but from just outside the box, he blazed wide.

Blizzard then should have put the result beyond doubt, but tamely prodded wide from Reid’s cross.

Hatters never really threatened a comeback after that as Nelson’s back header that almost lopped into his own net, their only real chance, while when McNulty thundered wide.

Guttridge had shouts for a penalty in injury time, but the ball was won before he was barged to the floor and with that went Town’s hopes of a leveller.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Paul Connolly, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Alex Lacey, Andy Drury (Jim Stevenson 79), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jake Howells (Alex Lawless 69), Luke Rooney, Luke Guttridge, Mark Cullen (Ross Lafayette 72).

Subs not used: Jonathan Smith, Alex Wall, Elliot Justham, Luke Wilkinson.

Argyle: Luke McCormick, Kelvin Mellor, Lee Cox, Curtis Nelson (C), Lewis Alessandra, Jason Banton (Alex Bray 58, Deane Smalley 70), Reuben Reid, Dominic Blizzard, Carl McHugh, Anthony O’Connor, Peter Hartley.

Subs not used: James Bittner, Ben Purrington, Oliver Norburn, Tyler Harvey, Nathan Thomas.

Referee: Mick Russell.

Booked: Nelson 2, Connolly 7, Blizzard 25, Bray 60

Attendance: 7,864 (Argyle 527).

Hatters MOM: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu - genuine box to box display from the midfielder.