Luton Town FC vs Sheffield United (28th Aug 2021)

Report | Luton Town 0-0 Sheffield United

The shares are spoiled at Kenilworth

The Hatters turned in an excellent performance but were ultimately held to a goalless draw by Sheffield United at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Nathan Jones made three changes from the team that lost 5-0 at home to Birmingham last week, Reece Burke coming in to make his competitive debut in defence and Gabe Osho, who started the first two league matches of the season, returning in the midfield holding role.

After coming off the bench against Birmingham, Fred Onyedinma started in attack, providing support to Harry Cornick and Elijah Adebayo.

The visitors started brightly, with George Baldock heading wide in the opening minute, before a lengthy hold-up for Elijah Adebayo to receive treatment after a heavy landing after challenging for an early header.

Kal Naismith was booked on five minutes for a late challenge on Oli McBurnie, who was the next Blade to have an effort on goal, his 20-yard shot whistling past Simon Sluga's left post.

Adebayo had shaken off any potential injury by the time he spun Chris Basham, nutmegging the Blades centre-half and sending a low into the near post area, but the visitors' defence dealt well with the danger.

Adebayo had the Hatters' first sight of goal on 18 minutes, at the end of a fine Town passing move, but couldn't keep his header down from Harry Cornick's right-wing cross.

United keeper Wes Foderingham had to be alert to keep out a header from his own player, McBurnie, as a long throw from Cornick caused concern in the Blades' box on 34 minutes, but there was little more goalmouth action before the teams headed in level at the break.

The Hatters began the second half firmly on the front foot, Adebayo winning the ball off John Egan and forcing the United centre-half into a foul, although ref Andy Davies should have let play go on with Onyedinma in possession inside the visitors' penalty area.

The Blades cleared Bree's free-kick, but the Hatters recycled the ball, twice, Naismith first picking out Adebayo at the far post but the striker couldn't get a clean connection on the ball.

Cornick retrieved possession and laid it back for Osho to stand up a perfect cross for Naismith at the far post, but the Scot's header back across the six-yard box went unanswered until Allan Campbell arrived to fire into the side-netting.

McBurnie sent a reminder that his aerial threat was still present, meeting sub Jayden Bogle's right-wing cross with a 55th-minute header that flew over the bar.

Town had the ball in the net in the 58th minute when Naismith picked out a run from deep by Onyedinma, who finished well past Foderingham only for a linesman's flag to rule it out for offside.

They were a lick of paint from opening the scoring a minute later when Adebayo pressured Foderingham into a poor clearance, with Cornick controlling the ball and firing against the crossbar.

Then, in the 66th minute, Onyedinma fired a shot into the side-netting after another spell of good possession around the visitors' penalty area.

It was all Luton at this point, with the visitors taking every opportunity to break the momentum and slow the game down, with goalkeeper Foderingham receiving treatment for an injury when all three United subs had been used.

He was deemed fit enough to carry on, but Town's Scottish midfielder Campbell was not after going down inside the final ten minutes. Jones brought Glen Rea on in his place, with Admiral Muskwe introduced in place of the impressive Onyedinma.

The tide was still moving towards the visitors' goal, and Bree whistled a late shot just past the post after Cornick picked the right-back out with a lovely switch of play in the 87th minute.

But ultimately there was no way through and the Hatters had to settle for a seventh point of the season - and third clean sheet from five matches - to head into the international break in 12th position in the Championship table.

Nathan Jones pleased with Sheffield United draw

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased with the response to last week’s defeat with a battling performance against Sheffield United this afternoon.

The Hatters were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw in a game that could and maybe should have seen Jones’ side take all three points but nevertheless, the gaffer was happy with what he saw: “After coming off the back of that last week which was really harsh in terms of our performance because we know we were well beaten but to respond like we did today I felt we were the better team.

“They had more possession than us but it was all in front of us, but we had the better chances and I am delighted with the response. They have some wonderful players and they’ve been a top two Championship side or a Premier League team for the last three seasons, so it shows we are competing, and we are constantly punching above our wait.

"To respond in the manner that we did and after we’ve taken a few punches on the chin this week, really proud of the group, really proud.

“We’ve hit the bar, Elijah had a glorious chance first half, Fred is clean through, scored but it is brought back for offside. Real good situations, we had the better opportunities and going up against a massive club and a side that has come down from the Premier League, shows that we are competing at this level and we are establishing ourselves and that is a positive thing.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ykEm6VVN84 – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4U0RYiI6YY – Reece Burke interview

Hatters dominate second half but can't find a way through against blunted Blades

Championship: Luton Town 0 Sheffield United 0

Luton Town ensured that there was no lingering memories of last weekend's 5-0 hammering by Birmingham City with a confidence-boosting goalless draw against Sheffield United this afternoon.

After a quiet first half, the Hatters came out for the second period with some real verve and aggression, dominating their former Premier League opponents for large periods, looking the most likely to score, with Fred Onyedinma's goal disallowed for offside and Harry Cornick crashing against the bar.

The most important part of the afternoon was how Town approached the game following their humiliating reverse against the Blues, boss Nathan Jones making three changes, summer signing Reece Burke coming in for his debut to partner Kal Naismith in the heart of defence.

He was joined in the starting line-up by Onyedinma and Gabe Osho, with Tom Lockyer, Admiral Muskwe and Peter Kioso dropping out, Dion Pereira joining them on the bench.

Former Hatter Rhys Norrington-Davies, who was roundly booed throughout, started for the visitors, who might have led inside the opening two minutes, an unmarked George Baldock heading over at the far post.

United dominated the early parts in terms of possession, Osho, in the holding role, with a commanding header clear from the first corner, a real shot in the arm to the home supporters who had witnessed last weeks' hammering, where Luton's back-line looked nervous every time the ball entered their box.

Striker Oli McBurnie sliced a decent opportunity wide from just outside the area, but Luton finally began to grow into the game, a free-flowing attack saw Elijah Adebayo fail to sort his feet out in time.

Hatters then switched the play to the right for Cornick to send over a wonderful cross that the striker headed over after beating his marker impressively.

The visitors lost Baldock to a foot injury on the half hour, Jayden Bogle on in his place, with Town's best opportunity seeing McBurnie's glancing header from Cornick's long throw bounce into the grateful gloves of Wes Foderingham.

A quick start to the second period saw the Hatters, clearly charged up by Jones, out of the blocks swiftly, John Egan booked for tripping Adebayo, referee Andy Davies whistling before realising Onyedinma was free in the area.

Naismith's driven cross was just too strong for Adebayo to turn in, before Osho's dinked delivery saw Nasimith head across the six-yard box rather than go for goal, Allan Campbell unable to apply the finishing touch.

United were still in the contest though, McBurnie getting up well to meet Bogle's cross, the ball hitting his shoulder and flying wide. Luton thought they had taken the lead on 56 minutes when a long punt from Naismith was controlled sublimely by Onyedinma, who went through to poke past Foderingham, only to see the flag raised and his effort ruled out for offside.

With an hour gone, Town had their best opportunity, Adebayo doing superbly to close down Foderingham, his clearance going straight at Cornick, who beat the keeper from eight yards, but not the woodwork.

A Naismith daisycutter was well gathered by Foderingham, while Onyedinma had a crack on his left foot into the side-netting, before slipped through by Adebayo, he couldn't beat the keeper from an acute angle.

Foderingham's tactical injury break did exactly what it was planned for, a mysterious cramp that required treatment soon disappearing, serving to puncture Luton's momentum going into the final stages.

Jones' side did muster a final chance with three to go though, James Bree letting fly from outside the box as it curled agonisingly wide, while even later, the Blades appealed for a penalty when Sander Burge went over under pressure from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, but thankfully for Town, Davies was unmoved and the spoils were shared.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Amari'i Bell, Reece Burke, Kal Naismith, Gabe Osho, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Allan Campbell (Glen Rea 84), Fred Onyedinma (Admiral Muskwe 84), Harry Cornick, Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: James Shea, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Tom Lockyer, Dion Pereira, Peter Kioso.

Blades: Wes Foderingham, George Baldock (Jayden Bogle 30), John Fleck, Chris Basham (Luke Freeman 46), Sander Berge, Oli McBurnie (Rhian Brewster 68), Billy Sharp ©, John Egan, Oliver Norwood, Ben Davies, Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Subs not used: Oliver Burke, Jack Robinson, Michael Verrips, Ben Osborn.

Bookings: Naismith 4, Egan 47.

Referee: Andy Davies.

Attendance: 9,774 (1,036 Blades).

Hatters boss proud of his side's character as Town bounce back from Blues debacle to keep a clean sheet against United

Reaction from Town's manager to goalless draw at Kenilworth Road

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was left with a real sense of pride in his side’s performance as they bounced back from last weekend’s drubbing at the hands of Birmingham City by keeping a clean sheet during this afternoon’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield United.

Following a match that Town were breached five times, as the Blues looked a threat every time they sent the ball into Luton’s box, against the Blades, recently relegated from the Premier League, it was a completely different story.

Bar one early chance for George Baldock and a second half header by Oli McBurnie, centre halves Reece Burke, on his debut, and the outstanding Kal Naismith made sure they cleared everything that came their way, ensuring Simon Sluga kept one of his more simple clean sheets of the season.

They were backed up by an excellent display from Gabe Osho in the holding role, his first outing as a defensive midfielder, as the Blades didn’t even threaten from set-plays, an area Town had looked increasingly suspect from the previous weekend.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “I thought we did enough to win the game but what I’m really pleased with and what shows what we have here is just how we bounced back from last week.

“We had to take one, and the underlying thing is we’re constantly punching above our weight at this level.

"So now and again we’re going to take one on the nose and sometimes we have and it’s about how we react and we reacted fantastically well.

“We bounced back, we don’t often go very long without winning and having defeat after defeat and that shows we have massive amounts of character.

"Today we went toe-to-toe with Sheffield United, one of the favourites for the league, and these will click as they’ve got some fantastic players, but I thought we were excellent from start to finish.

“We did all the basics well, pressed well, denied them, they had one chance in the first minute, but apart from that, very little.

"We had the better chances, scored a goal which is probably onside (through Fred Onyedinma), then had another opportunity that the ref’s brought back early when Fred’s in.

"Elijah’s (Adebayo) had a great chance, Harry (Cornick) hit the bar, I really thought it was a good performance from us.

"We bounced back and I’m proud of the club today.”

Although Town have conceded eight goals in the second tier this term, they have still managed three shut-outs from their opening give games, as Jones added: “There’s not many that keep three clean sheets out of five, not many that keep 60 per cent clean sheets in the Championship.

“You have to do well and we've played a variety of teams.

“We’ve gone away to Barnsley which is a tough tough place to go, gone away to West Brom, obviously we haven't kept a clean sheet there, but it’s the accumulation of them and then you have the performance we did against Birmingham.

“But we bounced back fantastically well and it shows that we’ve got one, good players, but two, great, great characters, so I'm really pleased.