Luton Town FC vs Preston North End (12th Dec 2020)

Match Report | Luton Town 3-0 Preston North End

Collo's** hat-trick leads Town onto victory against Preston!**

Nathan Jones secured his 100th win as Luton Town manager thanks to James Collins’ superb hat-trick as the Hatters were comfortable victors against Preston North End.

The striker scored twice within a nine minute period during the first half, before he added a third midway through the second half in what was a fantastic team performance.

The gaffer – who took charge of his 200th game as Town boss – made three changes to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s game. George Moncur and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were brought back in to start, whilst Matty Pearson returned from his one-match ban after picking up a red card against Swansea City.

Prior to kick-off, both Luton and the Preston players linked arms on the centre circle to show that we “All Stand Together” against racism and in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign, which today’s match was dedicated to.

2,000 home supporters were treated to a fantastic opening goal, made by the quality of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s inch-perfect pass.

The midfielder received the ball, looked up and lofted it over the top of the Preston defence to Collins, who calmly chested it down and finished beyond Declan Rudd.

One turned into a two-goal advantage in the 29th minute and the striker had his eighth goal of the season.

Dewsbury-Hall laid the corner short to George Moncur, who crossed deep for Glen Rea, who in turn hooked the ball back across the box, and the Republic of Ireland international headed home from close range.

The away side had made all five substitutes before the hour mark in a bid to try and get back into the contest, but it was the Hatters who had the better chances in the second period.

Collins was initially denied his hat-trick after Harry Cornick crossed deep towards him and Rudd saved from close range, but in the 66th minute, he did achieve that feat for the second time this season.

Cornick did well to win possession on the edge of the box and knocked it forward to Collins, who controlled and then rolled the ball into the bottom corner.

The striker left the field to a standing ovation in the 84th minute, replaced by Sam Nombe for his first appearance at Kenilworth Road.

Shortly after, Tom Lockyer went inches away from his first Luton goal and a fourth of the afternoon, heading Rhys Norrington-Davies’ free-kick just wide of the post.

Town are now four games unbeaten at Kenilworth Road and the three points pushed them up into 11th place in the Sky Bet Championship, ahead of Wednesday’s game against Middlesbrough.

Town: Shea, Pearson, Lockyer, Bradley (C), Potts; Rea, Mpanzu (Tunnicliffe 80), Dewsbury-Hall (Berry 80); Cornick (Clark 74), Moncur (Norrington-Davies 74), Collins (Nombe 84).

Subs not used: Isted, Cranie, LuaLua, Morrell

Goals: Collins (20,29,66)

Preston North End: Rudd; Fisher, Huntington (Storey 45), Davies, Hughes; Browne, Ledson (Johnson 45); Barkhuizen (Maguire 58), Potts (Bayliss 60), Sinclair; Stockley (Jakobsen 58)

Subs not used: Ripley, Earl, Rafferty, Gallagher.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Nathan Jones' thoughts on the win against Preston North End

The gaffer on a landmark day and the win over Preston!

Manager Nathan Jones secured his 100th Luton Town victory in his 200th match in charge of the club in this afternoon’s 3-0 victory against Preston North End.

James Collins scored a hat-trick, his second of the season, to extend Town’s current home unbeaten run to four matches in the Sky Bet Championship.

The gaffer understandably was in fine spirits after the full-time whistle, after watching his team produce a brilliant performance in front of 2,000 home supporters.

“Nice to keep a bit of symmetry - a 50 per cent win record isn’t bad," said Nathan. "I know I would have definitely taken 200 games as manager of this football club, and then if someone says ‘you can win 100 of those’, I would have snapped their hand off!

“The manner of today’s performance was very fitting, I thought we were excellent from start to finish. I thought the energy, the aggression we showed from start to finish. We’re competing at this level which is what we want to do.

“Preston had the best away record in the league, they’re a side that know what they’re doing, they have very good players, and they are a real difficult side to play against. For us to win the game in the manner we did, I’m very proud of the team.

“I think they had one or two half chances. Preston are a good side, I watched them midweek and they scored three against Middlesbrough, so it shows they’re a good side.

“I’m very pleased with the performance, how we pressed, our desire to win the game. That was key because the Championship is relentless week-in, week-out.”

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/preston_e-programme - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAA_VkpQJgA – Nathan Jones post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZKmqWMj5Yc – Match highlights

Collins nets a treble to beat Preston as Jones celebrates 200th game in charge with 100th win

Championship: Luton Town 3 Preston North End 0

Striker James Collins bagged a second hat-trick of the season as manager Nathan Jones celebrated his 200th game in charge of the Hatters by making it a century of wins, Town brushing aside Preston North End this afternoon.

Make no mistake, this was a superb victory too, the Lilywhite boasting the joint best away record in the league this season, having already won at places including Brentford, Bournemouth and Reading.

But despite looking good for the opening 15 minutes, once Luton and Collins in particular had got going, they simply had no answer to what was a marvellous and typically high-octane performance from a Luton side managed by Jones, Town pressing the life out of their opponents at times, with the 2,000 supporters inside Kenilworth Road lapping it up.

The boss made three changes from Tuesday night's 0-0 draw with Coventry, Matty Pearson back after suspension, with George Moncur and Kiernan Dewsbury-Halll also in, Luke Berry, Joe Morrell and Jordan Clark dropping down to the bench, joined by the fit-again Martin Cranie and Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Town made a bright start, Harry Cornick's spin and cross not read by striker partner James Collins, with Dewsbury-Hall sending a volley miles over the top.

However, a sloppy free kick given away by Moncur on 10 minutes should have led to the opener, former Hatter Jayden Stockley heading Ryan Ledson's dangerous set-piece into the ground and over the top from close range.

The visitors looked like they were capable of spoiling Jones' celebrations, Tom Barkhuizen turning Collins and testing James Shea's handling at his near post, which proved secure.

After rejecting one opportunity to shoot, Moncur did take aim on 15 minutes, his curler not coming down in time.

A well-worked corner saw the visitors go close again, Alan Browne timing his run well to volley wide, as Luton's chances were mainly coming from range, Cornick slicing rashly into the stands.

The Hatters were ahead on 20 minutes though with a wonderful goal, showing they are more than capable of doing it from open play.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's excellent crossfield pass split the defence and Collins did magnificently, chesting down instantly and then side-footing beyond the advancing Declan Rudd.

Having grabbed the advantage, Town then took the game by the scruff of the neck, with some glorious passing moves, as following a dreamy touch from Collins, Moncur's cross just out of reach of the onrushing Mpanzu.

It was 2-0 on 29 minutes when Luton proved how strong a side they are from set-pieces again, a short corner seeing Moncur swing an inviting cross in from the left, which was half cleared to Rea.

He took a touch and sent it right back into the danger area where Collins was waiting to to head home his second of the afternoon.

Going for a third, Town were almost hit on the break, Browne lofting harmlessly over from outside the box after a home move broke down.

Still they kept pressing, Moncur having a pop from 25 yards, while the re-energised Cornick couldn't quite divert Matty Pearson's cross on target.

The visitors made a double change at the break, bringing on Daniel Johnson and Jordan Storey, but Luton carried on showing their attacking intent, winning two corners as they looked to put the game to bed.

Moncur swivelled to shoot at Rudd from the edge of the box, as with Preston having used all five substitutes by the hour mark, some brilliant pressing by should have put the game out of reach, a misplaced pass skied over by Mpanzu from 20 yards with Rudd out of position.

Collins was close to a perfect hat-trick, his left footed volley from Cornick's penetrating cross deflecting behind.

He didn't have to wait too long though as on 66 minutes, Town's constant hunting in packs paid off.

A terrible error from the home defence saw Cornick nip in and find Collins, who cut back on to his right foot and arrowed a drive into the bottom corner for a hugely deserved treble, his fifth for the club since arriving in the summer of 2017, and maiden Championship trio.

Just as the Hatters have been, particularly on home soil under Jones, they never once looked like declaring at three, Rea trying to add his name to the scoresheet, firing a daisy cutter straight at Rudd.

Sub Jordan Clark rifled over on his left foot, as Town kept going until minute 90, Tom Lockyer putting a header a fraction wide from Rhys Norrington-Davies' late cross, meaning the only minor disappointment was that there wasn't a full house to witness one of the most complete performances of the season by the Hatters on Jones' big day.

Hatters: James Shea, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Luke Berry 80), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Ryan Tunniciffe 80), George Moncur (Rhys Norrington-Davies 74), Harry Cornick (Jordan Clark 74), James Collins (Sam Nombe 84).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Martin Cranie, Joe Morrell, Kazenga LuaLua.

Lilywhites: Declan Rudd, Darnell Fisher, Ben Davies, Alan Browne (C), Andy Hughes, Ryan Ledson (Daniel Johnson 46), Jayden Stockley (Emil Riis Jakobsen 57), Paul Huntingdon (Jordan Storey 46), Tom Barkhuizen (Sean Maguire 57), Scott Sinclair, Brad Potts (Tom Bayliss 59).

Subs not used: Josh Earl, Paul Gallagher, Joe Rafferty, Connor Ripley.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.

Attendance: 2,000.

Jones hails Luton players after recording a milestone victory against Lilywhites

Town chief bags win number 100 on his 200th match in charge

Luton boss Nathan Jones was quick to pay tribute to his players after he marked his 200th game in charge of the club with his 100th win, James Collins’ treble leading the Hatters to an authoritative 3-0 victory this afternoon.

Town’s leading scorer had a brace inside 30 minutes showing wonderful chest control and an unerring finish from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s excellent crossfield pass, before nodding home Glen Rea’s cross.

He then added a third after the break, profiting on an error from the visiting defence to find the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Jones said: “I’m really proud of the players, I’ve thanked them for just the level of performance they gave me today as from start to finish we were aggressive.

“We went out and pressed, these are a good side, the best away record in the Championship, I watched them in midweek, they won 3-0 (against Middlesbrough) and it didn’t flatter them.

“So it was a real top performance and I’m just really happy with the level of how we went about it, how we went out and how we worked, and then to score three and in all honesty we could have had another two more as well.

“But I’m delighted, any win is massive in the Championship, but the manner and the level of the win, I’m so proud of.

“I think it’s probably slightly more complete (than the 3-0 win over Norwich last time out), we just showed a level of workrate and pressing and aggression that is rare.

“I haven't seen that in many teams in terms of what they do, so I'm really, really happy with that.

“Then we were absolutely clinical today.

“The first goal is from a wonderful ball from Pelly-Ruddock and something we’ve worked on all week, in terms of that movement.

“Mick’s (Harford, assistant boss) worked with Collo and he's worked on that ball, so to score from it was wonderful.

“Then to get the second was massive and then it was important we got the third goal as the next goal is always vital when you come out.

“So we went out aggressive, I wanted us to win the first five minutes, is what we said, we did that, we did it against Norwich and got the third, slightly later today, but I felt the performance was outstanding.”

Jones targets another 200 games in charge of Luton as he declares Preston win his best yet

Hatters manager plans long stay at Kenilworth Road

Luton boss Nathan Jones has targeted another 200 games in charge of the Hatters after reaching his double century milestone with a 3-0 win over Preston North End this afternoon.

The 47-year-old became only the sixth manager in the club's history to reach the landmark, going level with Mike Newell in the process.

To make it even better, the victory was his 100th as Town chief as well, giving him a win ration of exactly 50 per cent, a record bettered only by Scotsman Allan Brown, who managed half percent better during his spell at the helm between 1966-68, winning 55 of his 109 matches, leading Luton to the Division Four title.

Speaking about the future, Jones said: "I hope that I’m entrusted to manage these for another 200, I really, really do.

"And if I’m honest, I would take the same record all day long.

"If after 400 games I’m still in charge, and we’ve won 200 of them, then I know we’re doing something right and I would love that, I would love nothing more than that.”

Striker James Collins, who was the hero of the day, scoring a hat-trick to defeat the Lilywhites, said of the man who signed him from Crawley Town back in the summer of 2017 when Town were a League Two club: “That’s a hell of a record to have, 100 wins out of 200 as a manager, that’s brilliant.

"He deserves it all and I think the lads put on a great performance for him today and credit goes to everyone involved with Luton Town.”

After racking up some superb victories during his two stints in charge, Jones insisted that today’s display now moves to the top of his list, saying: “It’s the best, because without being disrespectful, beating Yeovil 8-2, this is a better win.

"Without being disrespectful to Yeovil in any way as it’s a club I love, Cambridge 7-0, this is far more of an achievement because of the level.

"Now to score seven goals even in a training game is phenomenal, but the level of performance that we put in today, to beat a side, an Alex Neil side, as they’re aggressive in what they do and how they go about it, to do that shows that we’re not in a bad place.

“It gives a nice bit of symmetry as well, 100th win which is always nice.

"I know it was (win percentage) a little bit higher than that in League One and League Two, but bear in mind this is the Championship and where we are.

"I’m so proud of the team, but the level of performance for me is what gives me the greatest satisfaction because of who we played against and the level shows that we are moving forward.”

The win also came in front of 2,000 Luton fans, the biggest crowd inside Kenilworth Road since late February, and Jones now wants to see even more supporters present as soon as possible.

He added: "The fans were superb, I'm just desperate now to keep getting more fans in, because they’re such a difference to us.

"It shows that we can put in some wonderful, wonderful performances when we’ve got fans behind us

“It’s brilliant and the 1,000 the other night (against Norwich) to be fair to them were just absolutely magnificent, but another 1,000 today makes it even better.

"This is a unique ground, it’s a wonderful place, and the more we can fill it with noise is phenomenal as 10,000 here make more than 20 (thousand) at others, because of one the acoustics, two the level they are, and they're such a passionate group.

"We just long to have them back because they do make a massive difference."