Luton Town FC vs Reading (1st Nov 2022)

Report | Luton Town 0-0 Reading

The Hatters picked up another valuable point in the Sky Bet Championship with a goalless draw against Reading, who sit a place below them in the table. A seventh clean sheet of the season came despite losing both skipper Sonny Bradley and then Tom Lockyer from the heart of defence through injury, with three full-backs finishing the game as the back three.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes from the side that drew with Sunderland on Saturday, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu making his first league start since April after he was a second-half substitute at the weekend.

Bradley returned to the starting line-up, joining Lockyer and Dan Potts in the heart of defence, with James Bree and Amari'i Bell occupying the width.

The third and final change came up front, with Harry Cornick brought into the attack ahead of top scorer Carlton Morris, who was named amongst the substitutes.

The Hatters started well, Bree getting on the end of a long ball down the right by Lockyer to cut a cross back from the byline for Cornick, who pulled his fourth-minute shot across the face of goal.

Town looked to get another shot on goal on 14 minutes when Alfie Doughty clipped a free-kick into the Reading box after he'd been fouled in the middle of their half. Bradley got the first contact, nodding down for Allan Campbell, but the Scottish midfielder appeared to be impeded as looked to get his shot off from just inside the area

Two minutes later Adebayo forced a save from Joe Lumley after racing clear of the Reading backline, before then teeing up Doughty for a shot from outside the penalty area, which the visiting keeper once again got down low to his right to save.

Campbell was booked midway through the half for a late challenge on Tom Ince, the former Hatters loanee returning to Kenilworth Road once more playing under his dad, former England international Paul, for a third different club.

Bradley's night was over in the 27th minute when he won a header, but was nudged by Yakou Meite in mid-air and landed awkwardly with his knee giving way. After a five-minute delay, the skipper was carried off on a stretcher with the home fans singing his name and he was taken up the tunnel.

Luke Berry came on in his place, slotting into his usual midfield role with Doughty moving to right wing-back and Bree to right-sided centre-half.

Ethan Horvath produced a brilliant save with his right hand in the 35th minute, diving low to push a Meite effort away after Reading had pounced on a loose pass as the Hatters tried to play out from their own box.

Andy Carroll had been kept fairly quiet up to the 43rd minute, when he rose highest at the far post to meet a cross from Amadou Mbengue, and although the former England striker connected cleanly enough, his header went down into the ground and the right side of Horvath's post as far as Hatters fans behind that goal in the Kenny End were concerned.

Reading continued to ask questions as half-time neared, Potts and Berry both producing brave blocks in five minutes of added time as Ince and Baba Rahman tried their luck from outside the penalty area.

Carroll had the first sight of goal in the second half, again rising for a trademark header from an Ince cross from the right, but again the ex-Newcastle man was off target.

A minute later Berry looked to be in through the centre of the penalty area, but he couldn't quite take Adebayo's pass in his path, then the latter drove across the Reading box, evading a couple of challenges after great work by Bree down the right, but Mpanzu's thunderbolt shot from Cornick's lay-off was blocked by the face of Rahman.

Just before the hour Town lost another centre-half when Lockyer had to go off, still apparently feeling the effects of a clash of heads with Carroll a few minutes earlier. Cameron Jerome was the man introduced in his place, to play up front with Adebayo as Doughty moved to left wing-back, Cornick to the right and Bell to left-sided centre-half.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick fired a 25-yarder just wide of Horvath's right post on 65 minutes, just before Meite went into referee John Brooks' book for a late challenge on Bell, who had tidied up brilliantly as the last man with the Royals looking to punish the Hatters on the counter.

Bell was soon setting Jerome away with a raking crossfield pass, but Reading managed to smuggle the ball away from Cornick as he tried to meet the veteran striker's centre at the near post.

Reading introduced another Irish international, Shane Long, to play up front alongside Carroll with Meite making way in the 73rd minute, but it was Ince who called Horvath into action once more with a dipping 30-yard volley that the American flew across his line to push away.

Jones made two changes of his own with 12 minutes left as top scorer Morris came on for Adebayo, with Luke Freeman replacing Campbell, who had run himself into the ground as usual in midfield.

Freeman tried an 80th-minute volley, but didn't quite connect, and although it deflected off a Reading head for a corner, the Royals defended it well and the Hatters were still without a clear-cut chance in the second half.

That would change in the 87th minute, after Yiadom had been booked for a foul on Morris, when Jerome nodded down into Potts' path, but the defender's right-footed volley flew just the wrong side of the post from 12 yards out.

Ince had another go with a minute left, Mpanzu blocking his 25-yarder, then Carroll headed a Tyrese Fornah cross across the face of goal and Fornah, the substitute, saw an effort from distance deflected over the bar in added time.

Neither side could find a way through, however, and had to settle for a point that keeps them level on 26 points just above mid-table, with the Hatters a place ahead in tenth on goal difference.

Att: 9,620 (926 away)

Reaction | Nathan Jones on Reading draw

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased with the defensive performance in a ‘hard-fought’ draw against Reading at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters had to contend with two further injuries, losing captain Sonny Bradley and Tom Lockyer throughout the 90 minutes as the Hatters had to settle for a point at home for the sixth time this season.

“It was a hard-fought point,” Jones said in his post-match press conference. “It was a robust Championship game and I thought we stood up to that. I thought we started really well, we had some good situations, a couple of opportunities but we just never demonstrated enough quality tonight.

“It was a tough, tough game. Reading are tough to play against, they sit in and have big, strong lads. They are direct, they play at their tempo, we tried to create our tempo in terms of everything but it was a real tough game.

“We had to defend our box with everything, all our centre-halves are out again which is reminiscent of last year. We had Harry Cornick at right wing-back, Bree and Bell at centre-half so they’ve really had to dig in. I’m proud of that performance in terms of the defensive side of stuff.”

The Welshman was also aggrieved after his side were denied a penalty in the first half.

“There is a stonewall penalty. He (John Brooks) is two yards in front of them, he’s looking directly at it, Lockyer gets away and he’s rugby tackled. The ball is delivered from the corner, it is crazy how he hasn’t given it. It was one of those games where he let a lot go for both sides but my biggest gripe is the penalty because it’s nailed on.”

Providing an update on injured-duo Bradley and Lockyer, the gaffer said: “We don’t know yet. When you knock someone who is going up for the ball, they can land awkwardly and that is what it was. It was a cheap little foul that you don’t want to see because it is very difficult, when they land it can cause a serious injury and hopefully it is not.

“It wasn’t concussion (Lockyer), he just had a real whack in the face. It wasn’t an elbow or anything, he headed the back of his head. It was an honest challenge in terms of everything, no malice in anyway, but Locks is in such good form at the minute. He’s aggressive, he wants to defend well and I’m really proud of him for how he’s playing at the minute.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIfhPIjIy9c – Nathan Jones post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQaz2IZ2EhA – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSyUX0zrLY – Amari’i Bell interview

Town's injury concerns rear their head again as Bradley and Lockyer are forced off in Royals stalemate

Championship: Luton Town 0 Reading 0

Luton were held to their sixth home draw of the season by Reading this evening, on a night where their defensive resources were stretched to the absolute limit.

The Hatters saw captain Sonny Bradley stretchered off in the first half with what looked like a serious ankle injury, before Tom Lockyer had to make way after the break due to a clash of heads with former Newcastle, Liverpool and England forward Andy Carroll.

That meant for the final half an hour, Town had a makeshift back three of James Bree, Dan Potts and Amari'i Bell, but to their credit, the trio managed to eke out a seventh clean sheet of the season and put another point on the board.

Home boss Nathan Jones made three changes from Saturday's draw with Sunderland, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in for his first start since April with Harry Cornick and Bradley recalled, Carlton Morris dropping to the bench, Jordan Clark and Henri Lansbury missing out completely.

Town made a good start to the contest, Bree getting to the byline and finding Cornick, who could only manage to send his effort out for a throw-in.

Striker Elijah Adebayo looked like his appetite had been whetted by being the main man upfront, behind most of Luton's promising attacks early on, outpacing the visiting defence to a ball over the top, unable to beat Joe Lumley at his near post.

The Royals keeper then made another smart stop on 16 minutes when Adebayo cleverly combined with Alfie Doughty whose left-footer was well gathered after zipping off the turf.

However, Luton were then dealt another injury blow on the half hour as Bradley landed awkwardly when contesting a header and immediately signalled something was wrong, the skipper stretchered off and Luke Berry coming on.

The hosts were then almost the architects of their own downfall, Dan Potts selling Lockyer short and ex-Hatter Tom Ince finding Yakou Meite, who once scored four on this ground a few years ago, this time Ethan Horvath making a splendid save low to his right.

He might have been picking the ball out of his net just before half time when an unmarked Carroll met Junior Hoilett's cross at the back post, but the experienced frontman, who has made a career out of gobbling up those sorts of chances, fluffed his lines.

It was the same after the break, when Carroll got the run on Town's back-line to meet Ince's cross, only to be just as wasteful, diverting wide.

Referee John Brooks, who had already made a number of hugely questionable calls, particularly allowing Carroll's aerial nudges to go unpunished, carried on in such a manner after the break, the Premier League official roundly booed by an increasingly frustrated home crowd.

Luton's defensive woes worsened on the hour mark as after a clash of heads with that man Carroll, Lockyer tried manfully to carry on, but was on his haunches complaining of what looked like double vision, meaning his evening over.

Cameron Jerome took his place, with Luton's makeshift back three then setting up for the final 30 minutes to try and ensure they weren't breached.

While they got used to their new roles, the Royals continued to look the more likely, Jeff Hendrick arrowing narrowly wide from 25 yards midway through the half

Ince, who had looked a threat all evening, then almost had the opener in stunning style on 75 minutes, his well struck ambitious volley forcing Horvath to bat away.

Luton created their best chance of the half with four minutes left, Freeman not giving up in the centre and Jerome's knockdown volleyed narrowly over by Potts.

Reading might have won it too, Shane Long putting his close range header behind, Tyrese Fornah's 20-yarder arrowing over, with Hoillet's hopeful blast thankfully never testing Horvath.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, James Bree, Tom Lockyer (Cameron Jerome 60), Sonny Bradley (C Luke Berry 32), Dan Potts, Amari'i Bell, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Allan Campbell (Luke Freeman 78), Alfie Doughty, Harry Cornick, Elijah Adebayo (Carlton Morris 78).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Louie Watson, Casey Pettit.

Royals: Joe Lumley, Andy Carroll, Tom Holmes, Jeff Hendrick, Tom Ince, Yakou Meite (Shane Long 72), Baba Rahman, Ovie Ejaria (Tyrese Fornah 58), Andy Yiadom (C), Junior Hoilett, Amadou Mbengue.

Subs not used: Lucas Joao, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Dean Bouzanis, Nelson Abbey, Jack Senga-Ngoyi.

Referee: John Brooks.

Booked: Campbell 23, Meite 69, Doughty 70, Yiadom 85, Carroll 87.

Attendance: 9,620 (926 Royals).

Hatters boss left astonished as Luton aren't awarded an 'absolutely stonewall penalty' in Reading draw

Town chief can’t believe spot-kick was missed by the officials

Luton boss Nathan Jones couldn’t believe his side weren’t awarded what he felt was an ‘absolutely stonewall penalty’ in the first half of their goalless draw against Reading at Kenilworth Road this evening.

With the Hatters sending a corner into the box, Tom Lockyer appeared to be grappled to the ground by a Royals defender, with referee John Brooks, who had a night that can be best described as questionable, not blowing his whistle for a spot-kick.

An incredulous Jones said afterwards: “There’s a stonewall penalty, an absolutely stonewall penalty and it's right in front of him.

“You can't show them, but it’s mental, as it’s literally two yards in front of him, he's looking directly at it. Lockyer gets away and he's rugby tackled, the ball is delivered and he's rugby tackled, it’s crazy how he hasn't given it.

“I don't know how he hasn't given it, that's the biggest thing.

"It was one of those games where he let a lot go for both sides, he was a bit inconsistent, but my biggest gripe is the penalty, it was nailed on.”

Jones hopeful Bradley's injury isn't too serious as defender is stretchered off against Reading

Centre half will have a scan on his knee today

Luton boss Nathan Jones is hopeful that Sonny Bradley’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared after the centre half was stretchered off during last night’s goalless draw against Reading at Kenilworth Road. Having been recalled to the starting 11, Bradley went up for an aerial challenge with half an hour gone, and after appearing to be nudged when off the ground, caught his foot when landing, immediately signalling for help.

Footage afterwards showed what looked like a serious ankle injury, but that wasn’t the case according to Jones, who said: “He landed awkwardly on his knee, we’ll scan it, we’ll give it 24 hours and see how it reacts, but because he's a big lad it can be difficult.

“There’s never any real consistency (with refereeing decisions) as they interpret it and then if they make a mistake they can interpret it that way.

“My biggest thing was, it’s not a bad challenge, but when someone is up in the air, in rugby that’s a red card, as when people are up in the air and they get whacked intentionally then they land awkwardly, they land on their neck, you can't do that and it’s a tricky one.

“We don’t know yet, it may be precaution but when someone goes up for the ball with the honesty to go for the ball and they get knocked, they can land awkwardly, and that’s what it was.

“It wasn’t a bad thing, it was a cheap little foul that you don’t want to see as it’s very difficult when you land, that can cause serious injury, and hopefully it’s not.”

Luton chief proud of makeshift back three for digging in to keep clean sheet against Reading

Injuries to Bradley and Lockyer forces the Hatters into defensive reshuffles

Luton boss Nathan Jones heaped praise on his side’s makeshift back three after they managed to hold on for a clean sheet during the latter stages of last night’s goalless draw against Reading.

The Hatters had started with Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley and Dan Potts in their normal positions, before Bradley was stretchered off after 33 minutes when landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge with a knee injury.

That saw James Bree drop into the back three and Lockyer slot into the centre, but after the break, Luton were then hindered even further, Lockyer having to go off after a clash of heads with experienced forward Andy Carroll.

Forced into another reshuffle, Jones moved Amari’i Bell to the left-sided centre half role, Potts in the middle and Bree to the right, as Harry Cornick dropped to right wingback, Alfie Doughty on the left.

With the Royals possessing the imposing Carroll upfront, plus Yakou Meite and then Shane Long on for the final quarter of an hour, Town managed to batten down the hatches, Ethan Horvath with an acrobatic save from ex-Hatter Tom Ince’s volley, while Long and fellow sub Tyrese Fornah were narrowly wide late on.

The match saw Luton make it seven games that they haven’t been breached in this season, as Jones said of the rearguard efforts: “Absolutely brilliant and we had to defend set-plays when they put it in the box.

“They’re far bigger than us, everyone had to put in a shift, everyone.

"Cameron Jerome when he came on was excellent, and Pottsy when he goes in there, Bree when he goes in there, Harry Cornick, Amari’i, they all had to put in real, real shifts.

“That’s what they give to this football club and that’s what I’m proud of.

“It’s probably the quickest back five you’ll see but not the biggest, but they’ve had to defend, because they put balls in your box.

“Andy Carroll is one of the best in the Premier League at attacking the ball, it was a real, real tough game as we had to defend our box with everything.

“We’ve got all our centre halves out again, reminiscent of last year, and they’ve had to really dig in and I’m proud of that performance in terms of the defensive side.

"We’ve never played with a back five like that before, they’re putting in mad shifts and I’m so proud of them for that.

“To keep a clean sheet in the Championship, another clean sheet in the Championship shows we’re a good defensive unit and we can do that.”

Although it was never a game that will register in the memory banks of the near 10,000 supporters who were in attendance, Jones was satisfied to see his side add to their points tally once more, as he continued: “It was a hard fought point, it was a bit of a robust Championship game and I thought we stood up to that.

“We started really well, had some real good situations, a couple of opportunities, but we just never demonstrated enough quality tonight.

“It was a tough, tough game, Reading are tough to play against.

"They sit in, they've got big, strong lads, are direct, they play at their tempo, we tried to create our tempo, but a real, real tough game.

“The game lacked a bit of quality, a lot of brawn and lacked a little bit of guile, but we take every point we can.”

Town were never quite at their best when being held to their sixth home draw from 10 games this term, but they still had chances, particularly in the opening 20 minutes, as they tested Royals keeper Joe Lumley twice, with Cornick putting a decent opportunity wide.

Potts then volleyed off target late on, as Jones added: “Eli had a chance, the keeper made a good save.

“Harry Cornick’s had a good chance, Alfie Doughty from a midfield area, so we started really well, started positively, it was just difficult to get any tempo tonight.

“They being the away side played at their tempo and no problem with that.

"We tried to generate tempo and that’s what is a bit more difficult at home, but we didn’t show the levels of quality we normally do, we didn’t play with real fluency.”