Luton Town FC vs Reading (7th May 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-0 Reading

Luton Town secured their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs with a 1-0 win over Reading at Kenilworth Road.

A moment of brilliance from Harry Cornick was the only goal of the game, as the forward stole the ball from goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to put Luton in front.

The win means the Hatters finish in 6th place in the Championship, securing their spot in the play-offs, where they will face Huddersfield Town.

Nathan Jones made five changes from Monday’s defeat away at Fulham. James Bree and Sonny Bradley returned to Town’s defence. Allan Campbell started in midfield, alongside Henri Lansbury and Jordan Clark. Cornick partnered Cameron Jerome up front.

The game kicked off with superb support from the Town faithful, and Jerome had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring with less than a minute played. After being put through by Clark, the 35-year-old’s effort was saved comfortably by Nyland.

The Hatters continued to threaten in the game’s early stages as Jerome headed the ball into Campbell’s path, but the Town Player of the Season couldn’t keep his volley down.

Campbell had another chance to give Town the lead, but the Scotsman’s header didn’t trouble Nyland.

Bradley was the next to threaten the Royals’ goal as he got on the end of Bree’s free-kick, but his header was claimed by Nyland.

Matt Ingram, making his home debut for the club, was called into action as he denied Ovie Ajaria’s effort.

Town continued to have efforts on goal, and Bree came within inches of the opener, but saw his free-kick go just wide of the post.

On the stroke of half time, Town went in front. Cornick reacted quickest as Nyland rolled the ball out, stealing the ball from the goalkeeper and passed the ball into the empty net for the opener.

Town were straight on the front foot in the second half, as Bree’s cross was perfect for Cornick, who couldn’t keep his header down.

Bree then had an effort goal himself, as the ball fell into his path. His curling effort was over the crossbar, however.

Jones' men continued to search for a second, with Jerome threatening next. The striker got beyond a Reading defender and saw his effort come out off the crossbar.

The Royals fought back with chances of their own, as Michael Morrison’s header was saved well by Ingram.

Goalscorer Cornick was replaced not long after the hour mark, with Admiral Muskwe coming on in Town’s first switch of the afternoon.

A superb piece of defender from Bradley kept the Hatters ahead. From a Reading corner, the ball fell for Morrison, whose blasted effort could’ve gone anywhere but for the Town captain blocking the ball for a corner.

Robert Snodgrass was Town’s second switch, with the 34-year-old replacing his countryman Campbell.

Both sides would have half-chances as the game went into its dying embers, with neither goalkeeper really threatened in the late stages.

With the game about to enter stoppage time, Danny Hylton was the third and final switch from the Hatters.

The victory secures Town’s place in the Championship play-offs, where they will meet Huddersfield, with the first leg taking place at Kenilworth Road on Friday night.

Goals: Town: Cornick (45’)

Att: 10,070 (1,032 away)

Nathan Jones reacts to Reading victory!

Manager Nathan Jones spoke of his tremendous pride after the Hatters secured their place in the play-off places with a 1-0 win against Reading.

Harry Cornick’s goal on the stroke of half-time was the difference between the two sides at Kenilworth Road and secured a date with Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.

Speaking post-match to BBC Three Counties Radio after the match, the gaffer said: “I’m just pleased we won the game so we didn’t have to rely on anyone else, as it is we’ve got to 75 points. If someone said at the start of the season you could have 75 points – which was in our presentation – we would have taken 75 points all day long.

“We’ve been magnificent all season with what we’ve had to contend with, it came down to the last game of the season but we were here two years ago to beat Blackburn to stay in the league, and now we have an opportunity to play definitely two games to get out of the league. What a wonderful place to be, I’m so proud of the whole football club.

“We’ve had to go through a lot of psychology here and show that we’re a wonderful football club. It’s not the manager, it’s not the CEO, it’s not just the board, it’s not just the fans, collectively we are stronger and that is what we have to keep doing.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaRqBF3cdrg – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmyyv057ApQ – post match scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rc2K5u2RDc – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGp12RE1gIU – Harry Cornick interview

Clever Cornick's quick thinking secures Luton's Championship play-off place

Championship: Luton Town 1 Reading 0

A moment of ingenious quick-thinking by Harry Cornick that wouldn't have looked out place in the World Hide and Seek Championships (yes it is actually a thing) saw the Hatters secure their place in the Championship play-offs this afternoon.

After an excellent first half display against a Reading side with nothing to play for, the only thing lacking for Luton was the final ball or finishing touch.

Then, with the clock ticking down to the break, visiting keeper Orjan Nyland, who had already made some decent saves to keep his side in it, competently gathered a left wing cross from Amari'i Bell before a home forward could turn it in.

Looking to launch the ball downfield ahead of the referee's whistle, the Norwegian dropped the ball the floor, but criminally hadn't checked his rear view mirror.

Had he done so, he would have noticed a lurking Cornick, who was quick to pounce, nipping the ball off his toes and slotting into the empty net for his 13th of the season with what proved to be the winner.

Going into the game, Town knew that victory was all they needed to cement a top six berth, although any kind of result would be enough depending on the outcomes at Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Millwall.

Although the Blades made the most of Fulham's title success by hammering the champions 4-1, both Boro and the Lions suffered defeats, which meant that whatever happened at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters would be above the dotted line.

They weren't to know that in the early stages though, as boss Nathan Jones made five changes from the 7-0 hammering at Fulham, given a huge boost with James Bree, Sonny Bradley and Allan Campbell all recovering from injury to take their place in the starting XI.

They were joined by Cornick and Jordan Clark, replacing the injured Fred Onyedinma, with Robert Snodgrass, Dan Potts and Danny Hylton dropping to the bench, Peter Kioso missing out on the squad.

Town had a magnificent chance to settle any nerves inside the opening 60 seconds, when Clark nipped in to win the ball and and found Jerome, who was clean through, but couldn't beat Nyland, the keeper diving to his left to save what was ultimately a rather tame attempt.

The striker then nodded down for Campbell who tried his luck from 20 yards, but on the run, couldn't keep his effort down.

Clark's return certainly upped Town's intensity in the midfield areas, winning the ball back on countless occasions, while he created anther decent chance, dinking the ball over for Campbell, who caught in two minds, could only head straight at Nyland.

The chances kept coming though, Bree's magnificent set-piece from the right met by Bradley at the far post, his header unable to get past the gloves of Nyland.

Jerome continued to see plenty of the ball, unable to pick out Cornick after escaping on the right, before leaping well to meet Reece Burke's cross, heading over.

Reading began to have a decent spell though, with the impressive Ovie Ejaria breaking into the box on the left, his deflected effort repelled by the body of Matt Ingram.

With news filtering through of Middlesbrough going behind at Preston, Bree went close from a free kick, his effort not missing the bottom corner by too much.

On the stoke of half time, Town had the lead with Cornick's brilliantly opportunistic strike, meaning any worries during the break were simply swept away.

After the interval, Cornick looked to double his tally from a more conventional method, only to see his header fly over the bar.

Rather than be happy with one, Luton chased a second that would surely have killed off their opponents, and they were whisker away from doing so.

First a cross was cleared intro the path of Bree, who 25 yards out, had more time that he might have thought on his hands, curling wide, before Jerome's clever skill made an opening, but his luck wasn't in, rattling against the crossbar.

Reading then went close again, Michael Morrison reaching a deep delivery at the back post, his header saved by the body of Ingram, while Yakou Meite dragged wide on 70 minutes.

With the Royals starting to look capable of rescuing a point, Bradley made a terrific block, throwing himself bravely in the way of Morrison's blast, the centre look looking a dead cert to make it 1-1.

The centre back then tried his luck from far further out, Ingram able to watch it slice into the stands and preserve a clean sheet on his home debut, some effort after having to go through the mill at Craven Cottage on Monday.

With Millwall conceding to Bournemouth, then it meant the final few minutes, plus stoppage time, could be played out in what was quickly becoming a party atmosphere, as no matter what happened, the Hatters were assured of the play-offs.

Now it’s the small matter of Huddersfield Town over two legs, starting under the Kenilworth Road lights on Friday, as Luton look to extend their season even further, with the dream of a trip to Wembley to take on one of Nottingham Forest or Sheffield United at the end of the month and playing top flight football once more, becoming a real possibility.

Hatters: Matt Ingram, James Bree, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley ©, Kal Nasmith, Amari'i Bell, Henri Lansbury, Allan Campbell (Robert Snodgrass 78), Jordan Clark, Cameron Jerome (Danny Hylton 90), Harry Cornick (Admiral Muskwe 66).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Royals: Orjan Nyland, Tom Holmes (Kelvin Abrefa 84), Michael Morrison ©, Tom McIntyre, Yakou Meite (Rashawn Scott 74), Terrell Thomas, Ovie Ejaria, Lucas Joao, Baba Rahman, Junior Hoilet (Tom Dele-Bashiru 78, Josh Laurent.

Subs not used: Dejan Tetek, Luke Southwood, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Nelson Abbey.

Bookings: Rahman 41.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.

Attendance: 10,070 (1,032 Royals).

Jones: It's pure 'relief' to lead Luton to a top six spot after beating Royals

Hatters** manager on achieving a play-off place after beating Reading**

Luton boss Nathan Jones described his immediate emotion as one of pure ‘relief’ after masterminding the Hatters to a place in the Championship play-offs this afternoon.

Harry Cornick’s superbly innovative winner on the stroke of half time, hiding behind Reading keeper Orjan Nyland and then robbing him of the ball before slotting into the empty net, was enough for Town to secure a 1-0 victory and a top six berth in only their third year back at this level.

Rather than a huge show of euphoria at the final whistle though, when asked what he was feeling, Jones said: “It’s relief at the minute.

“Every time we get promoted, or we do something, it’s relief.

“It was a little bit more euphoric when we stayed up against Blackburn (in 2020), but today, I’m just so proud, so proud of the group.

“I’m really pleased we didn’t rely on anyone else, lose the game and it be an anti-climax, we had to do it ourselves.

“To get to 75 points which we predicted, it’s a wonderful Championship season.

"Success for us realistically is making sure that we don't go out of the league, well we might have an opportunity to go out of the league, just at a different end.

“I thought we had a really good start, a tinge of disappointment that we didn't get an early goal as that would have settled everyone and then the second goal would have settled everyone even more.

“But it doesn't make a difference, we know we can keep clean sheets, we know we can defend our box.

“They had one chance really, the header late on, and that front four is as good as any in the Championship.

“If (Yakou) Meite, (Lucas) Joao, (Ovie) Ejaria and (Junior) Hoilett are at it, you will struggle to contain those.

“I thought we defended really well, limited them to very little, had some really good chances and I’m really pleased.”

It had looked like Luton would be facing Nottingham Forest in the play-offs when the Reds took the lead in stoppage time at Hull City, only for the Tigers to level moments later as it finished 1-1.

It means the Hatters will instead take on Huddersfield, as the Terriers defeated Bristol City 2-0 to finish third.

Jokes added: “I won’t be thinking about that now.

"We’ll have a night tonight, I’ve got a lot of family up, so we’ll have a night.

"I’m hoping to stay awake past eight o’clock, I doubt it will happen but we’ll see and then we can start preparing tomorrow for a massive game, absolutely massive game.

“It didn't matter who we had, I don't care who we play now and if in gods will, we get to the final, I won't care who we play there either.”