Luton Town FC vs Reading (21st Apr 2021)

Match Report | Luton Town 0-0 Reading

Another excellent point sees the Hatters into the top Championship's half

The Hatters moved into the top half of the Championship table with another point gained against a promotion chasing club with a goalless draw against Reading tonight.

Manager Nathan Jones named an unchanged starting line-up following a superb showing against rivals Watford on Saturday, with Elijah Adebayo fit enough to start up front after being forced off injured while winning the decisive penalty in the derby.

Harry Cornick was the only change amongst the substitutes as he replaced Dion Pereira, but Luke Berry pulled up in the warm-up, feeling the effects of a niggle from Saturday, and he was replaced 15 minutes before kick-off by Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Sam Nombe, who missed Saturday's win through illness, came on to the bench.

The Hatters started positively with similar tempo to that which bamboozled our local rivals on Saturday, Adebayo firing the first shot on Reading's goal from 25 yards with eight minutes gone, but Royals' keeper Rafael held on comfortably.

A couple of minutes later Kazenga LuaLua was tormenting visiting right-back Andy Yiadom, standing up a cross that just eluded Adebayo, who was soon looking to get on the end of a long, up-and-under clearance from Kal Naismith.

The Scot was in superb form again at left-back, and his marauding run forward almost brought reward for Jordan Clark in the 20th minute, the ex-Portsmouth man bending a beautiful cross that the former Accrington Stanley winger volleyed inches wide.

Town were oozing confidence after two successive wins had mathematically secured Championship status for a third season, dictating the rhythm of the game and keeping possession for long periods.

Reading started to enjoy more of the ball in the middle section of the half, without creating any openings, and it was Town who had the next attempt in the 33rd minute, when Tunnicliffe did well on the right and cut inside to feed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who saw his 25-yard shot pushed behind by Rafael.

LuaLua was soon tricking his way past Yiadom again, forcing the former Barnet man to trip him almost on the byline. James Bree whipped the free-kick in from a tight angle, and although his effort looked destined for the top corner, it just didn't have enough dip.

Bree and Tunnicliffe linked up well on the right and the former sent in a low cross that caused concern for Rafael, who couldn't gather, but Adebayo was too far from the six-yard box to take advantage and Tom Holmes was alert to the danger.

Goalless at the break, the start of the second half was even, with neither side registering a shot at goal in the opening 20 minutes until Reading's Michael Olise hit a left-footer high over Simon Sluga's bar.

Jones had just introduced George Moncur and Cornick for LuaLua and Clark, who had run themselves into the ground over the two games in five days.

Cornick's pace stretched the visitors' defence in the 74th minute, but his sideward pass for Adebayo was just too far in front of the striker and Rafael gathered.

Rafael had to be alert to push a Dewsbury-Hall effort behind in the 82nd minute, then Rea headed Bree's corner over the bar from close range as the Hatters sought that breakthrough goal.

Reading had a final attempt, but sub Jon Swift's injury-time free-kick was straight at Sluga, who gathered well to preserve his second clean sheet in as many matches and 11th of the season.

There was still time for Collins to have an effort smothered at the near post, trying to steer home Moncur's cut-back, then head Dewsbury-Hall's corner over, as the Hatters went right to the death.

They now head to Bristol City on Sunday in 12th, four places and six points better off than the Robins.

Town: Sluga; Bree, Pearson, Bradley (C), Naismith; Mpanzu, Dewsbury-Hall, Tunnicliffe (Rea 73); Clark (Cornick 64), LuaLua (Moncur 64), Adebayo (Collins 84).

Substitutes: Shea, Cranie, Potts, Nombe, Morrell

Yellows: Bradley, Collins

Reading: Cabral, Richards (Aluko 78), Moore (C) (Gibson 84), Holmes, Yiadom; Rinomhota, Laurent, Ejaria (Semedo 78), Olise (Baldock); Meite, Puscas (Swift 72)

Substitutes: Southwood, Esteves, Tetex, Onen.

Yellows: Yiadom

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Nathan Jones' reaction to the 0-0 draw against Reading

The gaffer felt his side could have earned more from this evening...

Manager Nathan Jones was disappointed his sides’ positive performance against Reading didn’t earn them three points, but the gaffer was pleased with a second successive clean-sheet.

Jones felt the Hatters had the chances to win the match but after collecting four points from Watford and the Royals this evening, it is a step in the right direction for the team after they moved up to 12th position.

“I thought we were excellent,” the manager began. “If I’m honest I’m a little bit disappointed that we didn’t win the game. Delighted with the level of performance, especially coming off the back of a high-level performance against Watford. We backed that up today against a wonderful football side that if you let them settle, they can hurt you.

"We went after them and I thought we controlled the tempo, we were aggressive in everything that we did and probably with a bit more quality we would have gone into half-time in the lead.

“Late on they threw every centre-forward they have in their squad on the pitch to try and win the game and fair play to them, but we had all the best chances, the better of possession and I was really pleased with the performance. It shows that we are evolving nicely and we showed real aggression. I am really happy with the performance, little bit disappointed with the result.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcdbcPw-1U8 – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzE6TFmwDH8 – match highlights

Hatters held to goalless draw at home by Royals

Championship: Luton Town 0 Reading 0

Luton played out a goalless draw with Reading at Kenilworth Road this evening as they severely dented the visitors' play-off chances.

The Hatters might have left with all three points had they been able to take their chances, particularly Jordan Clark's in the first half, and then James Collins with the very last kick.

However they didn't as Town once more couldn't register a third successive win at Championship level, although did pick up another clean sheet, their 13th in the league this season.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones had named an unchanged side, before being forced into a late alteration, Luke Berry pulling up in the warm-up, with Ryan Tunnicliffe coming in, Sam Nombe replacing him on the bench.

As they had on Saturday, the hosts made a really bright start to proceedings, playing at an excellent tempo and looking to get at their opponents from the word go.

On eight minutes, Elijah Adebayo let fly from 20 yards, his deflected attempt well gathered by an alert keeper Rafael.

Town remained in the ascendancy, as they created another fine chance on 20 minutes, Kal Naismith bursting forward with real intent on the left, his wonderful curling cross volleyed narrowly wide by Jordan Clark.

Just after the half hour, Luton fashioned another opening, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's fizzing drive from 22 yards requiring Rafael to tip the ball behind, while James Bree's angled free kick couldn't locate the far corner.

Liam Moore drilled a free kick into the wall for Reading who had their best opportunity on the stroke of half time, George Puscas directing his free header wide of the target from eight yards.

In the second period, the game began to open up slightly, with Michael Olise getting on the ball for Reading, but with an hour gone, Town might have done better when Adebayo was sent away on the right, slicing behind on his right foot.

Olise hammered miles off target from distance, as Town brought on George Moncur and Harry Cornick to pep up their attacking outlets, Adebayo's cross overhit and flying behind.

Cornick almost created an opening with 15 to go, his determined run on the right leading to a cross that Rafael gathered in front of Adebay who hadn't quite attacked at the far post.

The Royals went close when Ovie Ejaria worked some space just outside the box, his drilled attempt deflecting behind with Simon Sluga left wrong-footed.

With nine minutes left, the Hatters thought they had opened the scoring when a crossfield pass saw Cornick and Mpanzu combine for an effort that Moncur drove at goal, Rafael reacting to turn the ball behind at his near post.

From the resulting corner, Luton ought to have led as well, sub Glen Rea rising highest to head Bree's set-piece over the top.

The Royals finally started to show some urgency, sending on a number of forwards including the experienced Sam Baldock, as they searched for a win which was essential for their own hopes of a top six slot.

They almost broke through in the closing stages, Sluga saving at the feet of last season's four goal nemesis Yalou Meite, Lewis Gibson's pot-sot drifting wide and John Swift's set-piece gathered at the second attempt by Sluga.

Then came Luton's late opportunities to snatch a stoppage time winner, Moncur stretching to pick out Collins whose toepoke was turned behind by Rafael.

From the resulting corner, he should have been the hero for a second game running though, all alone at the near post, only to sky his header disappointingly over.

The result did see the Hatters climb above Stoke City into 12th place, ahead of Sunday afternoon's trip to Bristol City.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Kal Naismith, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Glen Rea 73), Jordan Clark (Harry Cornick 64), Elijah Adebayo (James Collins 83), Kazenga LuaLua (George Moncur 64).

Subs not used: James Shea, Joe Morrell, Martin Cranie, Sam Nombe, Dan Potts.

Royals: Rafael, Omar Richards (Sone Aluko 78), Liam Moore (C Lewis Gibson 83), Michael Olise (Sam Baldock 78), Andy Rinomhota, Yakou Meite, Ovie Ejaria (Alfa Semedo 78), Andy Yiadom, Josh Laurent, Tom Holmes, George Puscas (John Swift 71).

Subs not used: Tomas Esteves, Luke Southwood, Dejan Tetek, Jayden Onen.

Booked: Yiadom 35, Bradley 43, Collins 90.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Jones left with a 'tinge of disappointment' as Luton can't earn Reading victory

Town held at Kenilworth Road by play-off chasing Reading

Luton boss Nathan Jones was left with a tinge of disappointment that his side hadn't picked up a third successive Championship win for the first time this season when held to a 0-0 draw by Reading at Kenilworth Road.

Buoyed by victories over Wycombe Wanderers and fierce rivals Watford, Town made another excellent start to proceedings, going closest through Jordan Clark's volley from Kal Naismith's cross, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's 22-yard effort was turned behind by Royals keeper Rafael.

After the break, Elijah Adebayo sliced wide, before late on, George Moncur was denied by another fine stop from Rafael, with Glen Rea heading and then an unmarked James Collins nodding into the stands from close range with the final kick of the game.

Jones said: “I’m delighted with the level of performance, just disappointed with the result as I felt we were the better side.

“We came out, we were aggressive, we moved the ball really well, created enough to have won the game, and limited a very, very potent team to very little.

“These are a very good side but they should have known before the game it was going to be a tough game and they definitely do now.

“We wanted to be aggressive and to go really after a team as if you let them settle they can hurt you.

"But we were absolutely excellent from start to finish, we were really aggressive, front-footed, some big, big performances out there.

“I'm really proud of the performance, there's just a tinge of disappointment and if we really want to do something then we have to win games like that.

"It sounds silly me saying that as these are a fantastic side and they don’t lose many games, they can out-pass you, outplay you, outscore you, but we were better tonight.”