Luton Town FC vs Queens Park Rangers (14th Jul 2020)

MATCH REPORT | LUTON TOWN 1-1 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Collins' early penalty cancelled out by Ball's second half strike...

The Hatters remain in the Championship's bottom three having had to settle for a point at Kenilworth Road tonight against mid-table QPR, after James Collins' 13th goal of the season was cancelled out by a second-half Dominic Ball strike.

Boss Nathan Jones named an unchanged starting eleven from Friday's 2-0 win at Huddersfield, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu making his 250th appearance for the club and Dan Potts racking up his 150th.

Rangers enjoyed the lion's share of the possession in the opening 15 minutes, but it was the Town who drew first blood from the penalty spot in the 20th minute.

A crunching tackle by Andrew Shinnie on Luke Amos moments earlier had set the tone, with Elliot Lee breaking onto the loose ball and releasing Harry Cornick into a dangerous position on the right.

The forward may have shot instead of attempting to cut the ball inside, but even though that attack petered out, when Lee and Luke Berry combined to set the rampaging right-back James Bree into the box, the Town seemed destined to register their first attempt on goal.

Rangers left-back Ryan Manning took the Aston Villa loanee's leg away as he prepared to shoot, and referee Stephen Martin had not hesitation in pointing to the spot. Top scorer Collins similarly showed no complacency in sending Joe Lumley the wrong way from 12 yards.

Two minutes later the Republic of Ireland striker almost turned provider, sending a low cross towards Lee, but the forward couldn't get enough purchase on his effort as he slid in and the ball squirmed the wrong side of the far post.

The visitors thought they'd created an opening just after the half-hour, but Ilias Chair couldn't climb high enough to get a proper header on Osman Kakay's cross from the right.

The same player, moved from centre-half to right-back when Angel Rangel was carried off on a stretcher in the early stages, delivered another inviting centre soon after, and although Eberechi Eze brought this one under control, his shot was deflected into the side-netting.

Chair fired a 25-yarder straight at Sluga, but the Hatters created the next best chance of the opening half, with time almost up, as Lee, Potts and Berry exchanged passes on the left to set the former into the box, but his trademark curler was too close to Lumley.

Town thought they had doubled the advantage within 90 seconds of the restart, but Potts was penalised for pushing as he climbed to head Bree's corner past Lumley.

Another Bree set-piece, this time a free-kick from deeper after a surging run from Berry was brought to an illegal halt, saw Bradley head back across goal for Potts, but the left-back couldn't get enough power behind his header to trouble Lumley.

Then, just before the hour, Sluga had to be alert to repel a bullet header from QPR skipper Yohann Barbet, who met Manning's free-kick 12 yards out after Mpanzu had been shown a yellow card for pulling back Bright Osayi-Samuel in midfield.

It was the Rangers wideman whose pace down the left created the equaliser on 65 minutes, Ball arriving in the penalty area to sidefoot the former Blackpool flyer's cut-back into the bottom corner.

Martin Cranie was introduced for Lee in the drinks break that followed the goal, and it was his calm pass out of the Town penalty area to Berry that allowed the midfielder to release Cornick with a perfectly threaded ball into the Rangers half.

Cornick's left footed shot was deflected wide, then, from Bree's left-wing corner and Bradley's knock-down, the forward's next attempt was also diverted for another corner before Shinnie fired high over the bar.

Rangers were threatening, however, and Sluga had to scramble across his line to turn the ball around his left post after spilling a cross and seeing the loose ball deflected goalward by Mpanzu.

With Danny Hylton, Kazenga LuaLua and George Moncur waiting to come on, Potts, Collins and Cornick linked up on the left and the latter broke into the Rangers box, but his stabbed shot was well off target as he came under pressure from a back-tracking defender.

Hylton then crossed low from the right and Potts fired a left-footer at goal, but Lumley produced a fine save to deny the full-back a winner.

With Hull having been hammered 8-0 at Wigan and Charlton not playing until tomorrow, the result leaves Town level on points with the Tigers - who we visit on Saturday - and a point adrift of the Addicks.

TOWN: Sluga, Bree, Carter-Vickers, Bradley (C), Potts, Mpanzu, Shinnie (Moncur 83), Berry, Lee (Cranie 67); Cornick (LuaLua 83), Collins (Hylton 82).

Substitutes: Shea, Tunnicliffe, McManaman, Butterfield, Kioso.

Goals: Collins (pen) 20

QPR: Lumley, Rangel (Masterson 11), Manning, Barbet (C), Cameron, Kakay, Ball, Amos, Eze; Chair, Osayi-Samuel

Substitutes: Kelly, Kane, Wallace, Shodipo, Oteh, Bettache, Gubbins, Clarke

Goals: Ball 65

Referee: Stephen Martin

NATHAN JONES' REACTION TO THE DRAW AGAINST QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Nathan Jones was disappointed his side couldn't secure a second successive win after being held to a 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers.

James Collins' 13th goal of the season had put the Hatters ahead midway through the first half but Rangers struck back in the second period through Dominic Ball.

Jones said: “We would have liked to control the game a little bit more. To be fair to them, they came here, played a little bit unorthodox so they were able to get on the ball, and we had to make sure we were solid and not concede.

"We got in front with a well-worked goal and then we couldn’t quite get the second. Then we conceded on the counter-attack which is a bit disappointing. Maybe I made changes a little bit late. If I made them a little bit earlier it might have given us a little bit more impetus to go on and win the game."

It was the sixth game out of seven since the restart that the Town have gained points, with a fourth draw to go with two wins.

Jones added: “We had a glorious chance at the end to win it but look, it’s another point. It could turn into a positive point but I’m a little bit disappointed tonight in terms of not being able to be a little bit better. There are some big battles ahead."

On the Rangers equaliser, he said: "We were in good positions in terms of being able to deal with the counter attack. We’ve got good numbers back but we’ve lost a header, then he’s (Bright Osayi-Samuel) made a run, then he’s gone past Cameron, which not many people do, and then they’ve arrived in more numbers than us at the edge of the box. So I will have to have a look at it, but it’s disappointing from our side."

The result leaves the Hatters second-from-bottom, but level on 45 points with Saturday's opponents Hull, and one behind Charlton who are just above the cut-off line, but with a game in hand against Birmingham tomorrow night.

"It’s probably a fair result in terms of chances because we had some good chances right at the end, had a goal disallowed which we are really disappointed about as well," said Jones.

"End of the day, God willing we stay up, this will be a positive point. I would have liked three, I really would have. Maybe I should have been a little braver in parts of the game, but it’s another point."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_laNNlNaiQ – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymvc1cmI6o – Match highlights

Hatters miss the chance to climb out of the relegation zone with QPR draw

Championship: Luton Town 1 QPR 1

Luton missed the chance to take a giant leap towards Championship safety after being held to a 1-1 draw by QPR this evening.

The Hatters had looked to be on their way to ending the night outside the bottom three for the first time since December, leading at the break through James Collins' penalty.

However, QPR belied their poor form since the season restarted to dominate large swathes of the second half, eventually grabbing a deserved point through Dominic Ball's equaliser.

Town were unchanged for the clash after beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 on Friday night, going into the game knowing they could climb out of the relegation zone with victory, particularly as third bottom Hull City had been hammered an astonishing 8-0 by Wigan Athletic.

After an even opening 15 minutes, Hatters started to get on to the front foot, enjoying an excellent period of possession, taking the lead with one marvellous passing move that involved almost the entire team.

It ended with Luke Berry dinking a lovely ball over defence for James Bree of all people who had made a run from right back, felled in the act of shooting by Ryan Manning. Collins stepped up to send Joe Lumley the wrong way, sidefooting into the corner for his 13th of the season.

A second almost arrived just before the drinks break, Collins slamming over a low cross and Elliot Lee just unable to turn it home at the far post.

QPR finally had a moment of threat just before the half hour, Bright Osayi-Samuel's effort drawing a fine sliding block by captain Sonny Bradley, while Ben Amos couldn't direct his header on target.

The visitors kept up the pressure, Eberechi Eze's effort deflecting behind for a corner which was taken quickly, Osayi-Samuel's fierce drive excellently repelled by Simon Sluga.

Town's Croatian international then got everything behind Ilias Chair's daisycutter from range as Hatters managed to contain their opponents and even created a chance to add a second their own before the break, Lee curling straight at Lumley.

Luton thought they had a second straight after the interval, Dan Potts, on his 150th appearance for Town, heading home Bree's corner, but it was disallowed for holding inside the area.

QPR then heaped on the pressure, Town just about digging in to stay ahead, Potts vital at the other end to prevent Sluga facing a further test.

The keeper was called upon again, palming Yoann Barbet's header away from Ryan Manning's free kick as visiting attacker Osayi-Samuel began to run the show with his direct running from deep, one such burst seeing Eze slam over the top.

The goal that had been coming, did eventually arrive on 65 minutes when a Luton break on the left was transferred to the other end, and for once Cameron Carter-Vickers couldn't halt the run of Osayi-Samuel, his ball slammed home by Dominic Ball.

Luton almost fell behind on 75 minutes, Sluga somehow spilling a cross after getting in a tangle with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, the ball just about bouncing the wrong side of the post.

Jones made a triple sub with eight minutes to go, George Moncur, Danny Hylton and Kazenga LuaLua on as they came so close to winning it, Hylton's drilled cross met by Potts, denied by an excellent Lumley stop.

Sluga then ensured the Hatters did leave with what could be a crucial point to their name though, palming away Chair's low attempt, as Town will do it all over again at third bottom Hull on Saturday.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Andrew Shinnie (George Moncur 83), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Martin Cranie 66), Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua 83), James Collins (Danny Hylton 83).

Subs not used: James Shea, Jacob Butterfield, Peter Kioso, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Callum McManaman.

Rangers: Joe Lumley, Geoff Cameron, Luke Amos (Aramide Oteh 81), Eberechi Eze, Dominic Ball, Ryan Manning, Ilias Chair, Bright Osayi-Samuel (Olamide Shodipo 81), Angel Rangel (Conor Masterson 11), Osman Kakay, Yoann Barbet (C).

Subs not used: Todd Kane, Lee Wallace, Faysal Bettache, Liam Kelly, Joe Gubbins, Jack Clarke.

Referee: Stephen Martin.

Jones: We couldn't afford to go gung ho against Rangers

Luton chief satisfied to be another point closer to safety

Luton boss Nathan Jones defended his side’s approach after they missed the opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw against QPR at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The hosts got off to the perfect start when James Collins put them in front from the penalty spot on 19 minutes after James Bree had been felled by Ryan Manning.

However, QPR then came on strong, dominating the opening exchanges of the second period, as Dominic Ball equalised on 65 minutes, pouncing on a rapid counter from the impressive Bright Osayi-Samuel.

On why he didn't go all out for a victory despite his side's current predicament, the Town chief said: “They’re a very difficult side to play against.

"Tonight they played without a centre forward, had the luxury of some wonderful, wonderful players and were able to experiment being on 53 points.

“They caused us problems in terms of being able to press, so we had to stay solid and make sure we didn't concede, then I probably made changes a little bit too late, but it’s another point.

“I could go gung ho against these sides but I watched the away game the other day (3-2 defeat) when an open team got ripped apart and it could have been six or seven at half time.

"We haven’t got that luxury, we have got to make sure that we are in games to win them.

“At the minute we are giving ourselves an opportunity, we are picking up points every game and that's all we can do.

“It’s very difficult to come out and be purely expansive against some real dangerous sides, because if you do, you’re going to get punished.

“There’s going to be a time for that, but at the minute, it's another point closer to our total.”

Although the result did see Luton trail fourth bottom Charlton by just a single point, the Addicks heading to Birmingham tomorrow, Jones was happy to keep adding to the tally.

He added: “We’ve had to come from a six, seven point deficit, so we’re clawing it away.

"We’re not a side that can go and play gung ho as if you do, you end up with the worst goal difference in the league, so we haven't been able to do that.

“It would have been great to get the win because for all their good play it took a counter attack and for us to be overzealous in our defending.

“If we had just defended it properly and stopped the counter attack, we could have been sat there with a win.

"It happened last week against Barnsley, a scrappy goal, so it’s another point closer to our total.

"We would have loved to have got two wins rather than two draws but that’s the position we’re in.”

Hatters chief admits he should have been 'braver' and changed things earlier against QPR

Town boss wishes he had taken the chance to freshen his side up

Luton chief Nathan Jones admitted he should have made changes earlier than he did during last night’s 1-1 draw against QPR at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters boss saw his side leading 1-0 at the break through James Collins’ 19th minute penalty, with Rangers starting to show signs of life after falling behind.

They carried that threat on in the second period, dominating proceedings, particularly when Bright Osayi-Samuel was in possession, and it was no surprise the visitors drew level on 65 minutes, Dominic Ball firing home after an incisive counter attack.

Jones had been looking to bring Martin Cranie on before the equaliser, doing so moments afterwards, while he also make a triple substitution with eight minutes to go, Danny Hylton, George Moncur and Kazenga LuaLua coming on.

The trio seeing Luton finally wrest the initiative back for the closing stages, threatening a winner themselves, before time ultimately ran out, meaning the Hatters remained in the bottom three.

Looking back on his decisions, Jones said: “We would have liked to have done it a little bit earlier and maybe I should have freshened up the front ones a little bit earlier as when Hylton and Moncur and Kaz on, they did give us a real impetus.

"That's maybe my fault, but you make these calls.

“End of the day, God willing we stay up, this will be a positive point.

"I would have liked three, I really would have.

"Maybe I should have been a little braver in parts of the game, but it’s another point."

Hylton almost set up a winner for the Hatters, his low drilled cross met by Dan Potts at the far post, but the defender couldn't mark his 150th appearance with a goal, denied by keeper Joe Lumley.

Jones continued: “Those are the moments you have to take.

"Harry's (Cornick) been through and a slightly more difficult one than his chance last week (against Barnsley), but we defend well, wait for those moments, and then hopefully we take them.

"But it's another point, another solid performance, it's just now we need to win a minimum one of these next two games.”

It had looked like Potts had given Town a two-goal lead just moments into the second half, jumping highest to nod home James Bree’s corner, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push on keeper Lumley.

The Town chief added: “It’s a block on the keeper, it’s real shame because the referee didn't see any of their blocks, but saw ours, and that's a real disappointing thing.

“We've had some glorious chances, in terms of Harry's clean in, Pottsy right at the end and those are the ones you've got to take, but they’ve given me everything.”