Luton Town FC vs Sheffield Wednesday (12th Feb 2020)

LUTON TOWN 1-0 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

James Collins' first half strike gives the Hatters deserved win over Owls

The Hatters moved off the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship with a well-earned three points as they defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

James Collins scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half after he missed a penalty in the first minute of the match.

The result marks the second clean sheet Town have kept in the league this season, lifting them off the foot of the table and to within seven points of safety.

Graeme Jones made one change to the starting line-up following defeat against Cardiff City on Saturday, with captain Sonny Bradley returning in place of Cameron Carter-Vickers. Danny Hylton started amongst the substitutes, involved in the matchday squad for the first time since March last year.

The game kicked-off in the most remarkable fashion as the Hatters were awarded a penalty after 15 seconds. Izzy Brown played the ball through to Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu, who was dragged to the ground and referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot. Collins stepped up but smashed his effort off the bar.

After Wednesday regrouped and produced attacks of their own, Ryan Tunnicliffe had an effort on goal which Cameron Dawson did well to hold. Dan Potts switched play from the left which Tunnicliffe dummied and left for James Bree, who produced a low ball in towards the midfielder, which he caught on the half-volley but it was rebuffed by the goalkeeper.

Town continued to make chances and in the 18th minute, Mpanzu whipped a ball into the box for Collins, who chested down towards Brown, but he skewed his left-footed effort just wide of the post.

After missing a penalty in the early stages, Collins made amends by scoring the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Cornick caught the Owls at the back, rounded Dawson and squared the ball back to Collins, who fired into an unguarded net.

The striker had another presentable chance fall his way just after scoring his 10th goal of the season, but as Mpanzu’s miss-hit shot fell to him, he could only fire over the bar.

Simon Sluga produced a fine save to deny substitute Kadeem Harris on the hour mark, who struck well from outside the area.

Wednesday were pushing for an equaliser and came very close to getting it just a few minutes later. Harris this time turned provider and teed up defender Julian Borner, but from close range he could only head wide.

In the closing stages Town had the ball in the back of the net once more as Brown’s corner was lashed in by Potts, though a foul on Dawson before he fired home meant the goal was ruled out and celebrations were cut short.

The Hatters endured a nervy five minutes of added time but held on to gain a valuable three points with a game against Middlesbrough next up on Saturday.

TOWN: Sluga, Bree, Pearson, Bradley (C), Potts, Tunnicliffe, Rea, Mpanzu, Brown (Shinnie 90), Cornick (Hylton 68), Collins. Subs not used: Shea, McManaman, Carter-Vickers, Moncur, LuaLua.

Goals: Collins (23)

Yellows: Brown, Bree, Rea

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Dawson, Iorfa, Lees (C), Borner, Palmer (Murphy 71), Lee, Bannan, Da Cruz, Windass (Nuhiu 61), Forestieri (Harris 45), Wickham. Subs not used: Wildsmith, Pelupessy, Hunt, Urhoghide.

Yellows: Wickham

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 10,001 (1,018 away)

GRAEME JONES ON THE WIN OVER SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Hatters boss Graeme Jones felt his staff and players worked ‘their backsides off’ for tonight’s victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Kenilworth Road.

After James Collins missed a penalty in the opening two minutes, the Town regrouped and found what proved to be the winner as Harry Cornick picked out his fellow striker midway through the first half.

The result lifts the Town off the bottom of the table, now sitting in 23rd, seven points from safety.

Jones said: “What pleased me was the same level of performance that we got on Saturday but this time we got rewarded. The level of performance has been there for the last five games and I’ve got a group of players that I’m proud of, I love their honesty, people have been trying to fraction us many times, but the group is together and it’s such a powerful tool.

“I’ve not felt it in a dressing room really since I’ve played, I thought it had gone out the game. Results is one thing but performances are another and our performances have been totally acceptable.

“Nobody makes any excuses for us and the boys keep coming back. My staff work their backside off every single day, the players work their backsides off to try and keep the club in the Championship.

“I’m delighted with the standards because that’s all I spoke about in the dressing room on Saturday, can we learn our lessons and can we take our chances when they come along? There was only one but it was enough, we didn’t get one on Saturday.

“Then, can we manage the game better when we’re under pressure. We spoke about firstly can we do it on the ball with composure and quality. Human beings learn their lessons, that gives me enormous pleasure.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mAtFmWpbwE – Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSWTmyx3M4E – Match highlights

Collins bags the winner as Hatters move off the bottom with Owls victory

Championship: Luton Town 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Luton gave their survival hopes a massive lifeline by defeating Sheffield Wednesday this evening, as they moved off the bottom of the Championship for the first time since New Year's Day with a performance full of grit and desire at Kenilworth Road.

Going into half time 1-0 ahead, when they could and should have been out of sight, the Hatters then had to dig in after the break, as although never under incessant pressure, it was enough to provide the odd nervy moment.

However, unlike many matches this season, Town dug in superbly, with club record signing Simon Sluga keeping his first clean sheet since arriving in the summer, the shut out Luton's first in the league since October 19.

Results elsewhere went Hatters' way, both Stoke City and Huddersfield beaten at home, meaning the gap to safety was cut to seven points, rather than the 10 that had been staring at Graeme Jones' side prior to kick-off.

The Town chief made one change to the side who lost against Cardiff on Saturday, captain Sonny Bradley replacing Cameron Carter-Vickers.

There was a huge boost on the bench though, with the fit-again Danny Hylton back in the matchday squad for the first time since March 2019 after battling back from two knee operations.

Luton could have had the most perfect of starts inside 30 seconds as Izzy Brown picked up possession in his own half, burst forward and found the run of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who was tugged back in the area.

Referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot, but top scorer James Collins could only blast his penalty against the bar and over.

The miss definitely settled down Wednesday, who began dictate proceedings, sending in a number of dangerous crosses, Town just about clinging on.

Gathering momentum themselves though, Luton fashioned another decent opening on 12 minutes when Ryan Tunnicliffe dummied Brown's crossfield pass and then met James Bree's cross on the half volley, his effort just too close to keeper Cameron Dawson.

Collins was off target again, with a flick header from Brown's corner, before the pair should have combined for the opener on 19 minutes.

Mpanzu's deep cross was unselfishly chested back by Collins to the onrushing Brown, who just had to put it either side of Dawson, which he did, but proceeded to clip the outside of the post, when the net should have been bulging.

Finally the deadlock was broken on 23 minutes though.

Town pressed the visitors' defence, Collins forcing Dominic Iorfa into an error, Harry Cornick racing on to the loose ball, beating Dawson and then squaring to Collins who slid home his 10th of the season, relief etched all over his face when celebrating.

Collins should have been enjoying an 11th goal moments later as Luton broke on the right, the cross scuffed by Mpanzu for Collins, who falling back, diverted over the bar.

Fernando Forestieri curled one narrowly wide as the Owls tried to find a response, but Town still hunted a nerve-relieving second, Glen Rea's 20-yard daisycutter well handled by Dawson.

After the break, the impressive Matty Pearson made a stunning last-ditch block to prevent Kieran Lee's goalbound effort from levelling as the Owls began with an added thrust to their play.

Sluga was called into action on the hour, as with Pearson's rather strange clearance across his area seized upon by half time sub Kadeem Harris, he sprung to his left, parrying the 22-yard drive away.

He should have been picking the ball out of his net on 64 minutes though, Harris digging out a lovely cross from the left, and Julian Borner somehow directing his free header wide from just eight yards out.

Bree's free kick was easy for visiting keeper Dawson, before Hylton's introduction was met with huge cheers, the striker on for the first time since March 23, 2019, and his maiden Championship appearance in place of Cornick.

Iorfa looked to atone for his error, heading wide when left unattended inside the area, while Hylton almost had an assist with one of his first touches, Mpanzu unable to gather his pass.

Town thought they had a second with 10 minutes left, as Dan Potts slammed home when Brown's corner wasn't cleared, but the goal was ruled out for an apparent infringement on Owls keeper Dawson.

Inside the final 10 minutes, and with the pressure starting to mount, Hatters showed a different side to their game that had been missing this term, running the clock down efficiently and ensuring they would not be breached.

In stoppage time, sub Atdhe Nuhiu sliced off target, as the final whistle was met with roars of approval from both home supporters and players, knowing they can go to Middlesbrough this weekend with renewed optimism.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Izzy Brown (Andrew Shinnie 90), Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 68), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Callum McManaman, Kazenga LuaLua, George Moncur, Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Owls: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer (Jacob Murphy 71), Kieran Lee, Barry Bannan, Julian Borner, Tom Lees ©, Connor Wickham, Dominic Iorfa, Alessio da Cruz, Fernando Forestieri (Kadeem Harris 46), Josh Windass (Atdhe Nuhiu 61).

Subs not used: Joey Pelupessy, Joe Wildsmith, Alex Hunt, Osaze Urhoghide.

Booked: Wickham 31, Brown 43, Bree 78, Rea 90.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 10,001 (1,018 Owls).

Jones thrilled Town's performance levels were finally rewarded

Hatters chief hails the squad's togetherness after beating Sheffield Wednesday

Hatters boss Graeme Jones was elated his side finally got the rewards they deserved by beating Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

James Collins’ goal midway through the first half saw the Hatters climb off the bottom and move seven points adrift of safety, with both Stoke City and Huddersfield Town also losing.

Despite going into the game on the back of two defeats and knowing another loss would see them 10 points behind the dotted line, Hatters did as Jones asked pre-match, maintaining their standards throughout to seal a crucial three points.

Jones said: “What pleased me was it was the same level of performance we got on Saturday, just tonight we got rewarded.

“The level of performance has been there for the last five games and I’ve got a group of players that I’m proud of, I love their honesty.

“People have tried to fraction us many, many times and the group’s together and it's such a powerful tool.

“I’ve not felt it in a dressing room really since I've played, I thought it had gone out of the game.

“Results is one thing, performances is another, and our performances since Birmingham at home, where we learnt our lessons, have been totally acceptable.”

After demanding his side took their chances following the 1-0 defeat to Cardiff on Saturday, it looked like Town would pay the price again, Collins missing a penalty inside 60 seconds and Izzy Brown striking the outside of the post from close range.

However, Collins then turned in Harry Cornick’s cut back on 23 minutes for his 10th of the season, with what proved to be the winner.

On whether he thought it would be another fixture in which Town couldn't take their opportunities, Jones added: "It’s just another variable against us, I can give us a list now if you want, nobody makes any excuses and the boys keep coming back.

“My staff work their backsides off every single day, players work their backsides off, to try and keep the club in the Championship.

“So I’m delighted with the standards, as that's all I spoke about in the dressing room on Saturday, but can we learn our lessons, can we take our chances when they come along?

“There’s only one, but one’s enough, we didn't get one on Saturday.

“Then it’s can we manage the game better when we’re under pressure, on 60 minutes?

“We spoke about firstly, can we do it with ball and composure?

"If not, we need to gain territory, so human beings learn their lessons, that gives me enormous pleasure."