Luton Town FC vs Southend United (11th Oct 2014)

Town 2 (Lawless 17, Cullen 34) Southend 0

First half goals from Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen set the Town on their way to their fifth win in six matches as Southend were put to the sword at Kenilworth Road.

Lawless, making his first start of the season, put the Hatters in front with a wonderful curling effort after 17 minutes and Cullen doubled the lead 17 minutes later, taking Andy Drury’s pass after a mistake from home goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

And that, after 34 minutes, was pretty much that as the Town, after weathering an early second half spell of pressure from the Shrimpers, held onto yet another comfortable victory to push them up to fourth place in League 2.

Showing six changes to the side that exited the JPT on Tuesday against Crawley, John Still gave a debut to QPR loanee Michael Harriman at right-back, whilst Lawless was given his first start of the season.

After a relatively low key begging the Hatters burst into life after the 15-minute mark and after Drury and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu had combined well on 16 minutes, a minute later the Town were ahead in fine style. Scott Griffiths’ low pass upfield found Lawless. The midfielder then cut inside onto his right foot inside the penalty area and curled home a glorious shot into the top corner past Southend stopper Bentley’s despairing dive.

Lawless almost sniffed out a quickfire second moments later when in the Southend six-yard box, before Player of the Month Luke Wilkinson did well at the other end with a superb defensive clearance to deny the visitors an equaliser.

Mark Tyler had to be alert on 32 minutes when Kevan Hurst’s right-wing cross-cum-shot almost caught the keeper unware but two minutes later his opposite number gifted the Town a second goal. Bentley presented Drury with the ball following a kick from his six-yard box and after Drury poked the ball in Cullen’s direction the striker took one touch before slotting home his fourth goal of the season.

Chances after that goal dried up, and it wasn’t until after the break that the 9,000-strong crowd saw the best of the visitors. Shrimpers boss Phil Brown made a double change at the interval, introducing Barry Corr and Jack Payne, and the duo had the desired effect as the Town were pushed back in the opening 15 minutes of the second period.

Tyler got down bravely to snuff out Payne’s poke at goal just 30 seconds after the restart before the Town defence closed down the same man after a mazy run into the box two minutes later.

All of a sudden the game was now stretched, and the Town came within a whisker of making it 3-0 when Ruddock Mpanzu’s run and pass across goal was half-cleared to Griffiths who saw his first-time shot blocked.

Corr dragged a shot wide for Southend on 51 minutes before Jonathan Smith shot wide for the Town 30 seconds later as half-chances continued to fall to both teams.

Drury curled over a shot on the hour before Wilkinson sent a bullet header flashing just wide from a Drury free-kick six minutes later.

Southend’s threat had deteriorated as the half elapsed and the sting was taken out of the game on 68 minutes when a stoppage in play saw the visitors’ assistant manager David Penny sent to the stands for an off-the-ball altercation with Ruddock Mpanzu.

As time ticked down chances remained few and far between for both sides with the Town comfortably holding onto their two-goal lead. Lawless shot over on 78 minutes whilst Griffiths skewed another drive wide two minutes later.

Six added minutes were indicated but it matter not, the points were in the bag and the Hatters continue to march on.

Town: Tyler; Harriman (sub Lacey 90), Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Doyle, Smith, Lawless, Ruddock Mpanzu; Drury; Cullen. Subs not used: Benson, Wall, Guttridge, Stevenson, Walker, Justham.

Attendance: 9,238, including 1,033 from Southend.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/southend-gallery-1110-2010757.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kuz5PXmZbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvdahGa1vXE&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Luton Town 2 Southend United 0

First-half goals from Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen saw Luton triumph over promotion rivals Southend United this afternoon, with their fourth successive League Two win.

One of the most pleasing aspects for the hosts too was that although never at their high tempo best, they always kept a disappointing Shrimpers at arms length to emerge comfortable winners.

Hatters boss John Still made two changes from their last League Two clash against Stevenage on Saturday as on-loan QPR defender Michael Harriman was handed his debut, while a fit-again Lawless started his first game of the campaign.

There was precious little quality on display from either side in the opening 10 minutes, with the only chance of note, Conor Clifford’s drive flying wide.

Keeper Mark Tyler was called into action moments later, gathering Will Atkinson’s volley at the second attempt, but it was all fairly mundane stuff.

After offering nothing going forward themselves, Hatters were then in front with their first effort on target after 17 minutes as Scott Griffiths rolled the ball down the line for Lawless.

The Welshman picked up possession, cut into the box and unleashed a lovely curling shot beyond Daniel Bentley and into the net for his first of the season.

Southend came close from a corner when Kevan Hurst’s corner drifted across goal and appeared to rebound off post before going away, while Clifford sent a free kick wide of the mark.

Tyler had to react well to shovel Clifford’s cross over the bar, before Luton made it 2-0 after an awful error from the visitors’ defence.

Bentley played a short pass to Cian Bolger and his clearance was pounced on by Drury, who teed up Cullen to slot past the advancing Bentley.

The visitors brought on Barry Corr after the break, plus the highly-rated Jack Payne at the break and the Southend midfielder looked to cause problems immediately, with some trickery on the ball.

However, with Southend committing men forward, that ensured there were spaces for Luton to slot into their counter-attacking style.

After being well shackled by Jerome Binnom-Williams in the first 45, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu then burst into life, slamming a cross across goal and Scott Griffiths’ follow up was charged down.

With the increased freedom, Hatters carved out a lovely one touch move as Nathan Doyle chipped in for Jonathan Smith only for the midfielder to shank his volley wide.

With Payne at the hub of their moves, the Shrimpers were a totally different proposition early on, Leonard driving off target when well placed.

Town still kept looking to kill the game off is possible as Lawless diverted Cullen’s cross into the stands, while Drury’s free kick didn’t come down in time.

Drury then floated in another set-piece as Wilkinson continued to prove so dangerous in the air, thumping a header wide.

The visitors then lost their discipline on the pitch and off it, as after bookings for Adam Thompson and Barry Corr, assistant boss Dave Penney shoulder charged Ruddock Mpanzu, as he went to take a throw and was sent to the stands.

The Luton midfielder and Drury were cautioned for their parts in the melee, with Lawless close to a third, belting over the bar.

Town were comfortable in seeing the game out though with Wilkinson once again to the fore. The defender, who was named League Two player of the month this week, is fast becoming Hatters’ signing of the summer and showed just why, blunting anything that came his way.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Michael Harriman (Alex Lacey 90), Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Andy Drury, Alex Lawless, Mark Cullen.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Wall, Luke Guttridge, Jim Stevenson, Charlie Walker, Paul Benson.

Shrimpers: Daniel Bentley, John White (C), Adam Thompson, Myles Weston, Will Atkinson (Jack Payne 46), Kevan Hurst, Cian Bolger (Ryan Leonard 43), Conor Clifford, Shaquile Coulthirst (Barry Corr 46), Gary Deegan, Jerome Binnom-Williams.

Subs not used: David Worrall, Michael Timlin, Lee Barnard, Paul Smith.

Booked: Atkinson 26, Thompson 65, Corr 67, Ruddock Mpanzu 71, Drury 71, Clifford 90.

Attendance: 9,238 (1,033 Southend).

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.

Hatters MOM: Luke Wilkinson. Player of the month gets better and better.

Hatters boss John Still thought his side were thoroughly deserving of victory as they comfortably saw off promotion rivals Southend United 2-0 yesterday.

Luton were never seriously threatened by their opponents, who had been fourth in the table going into the game, thanks to first half goals from Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen.

Still said: “I was very pleased, we played really well first half, we got into a groove.

“We got a fantastic goal, we got a little of bet of help with a goal, but I think in games against the best teams, games hinge on moments of magic or moments of poor play.

“We benefited with both and I don’t think anyone would say we didn’t deserve to win, I think we deserved to win comfortably against a really good side.

“When we play against the best teams with good support and get a favourable result, it doesn’t get better than that.”

The game threatened to spill over in the second period as Shrimpers assistant boss Dave Penney was sent to the stands after an altercation with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu as Still added: “It was really important that we stayed professional. I was disappointed we got a booking with Pelly and Dukes, but my opinion was the referee brought that on himself.

“It was so much our throw, it wasn’t even close and that’s what sparked it as people were saying if you can’t see that, what’s he going to see?

“But at the same time he (Ruddock Mpanzu) has to be a bit more sensible than get involved, but he did and there’s nothing you can do about it.

“The boys kept their composure well and the last 15 minutes we were getting fouled, not terrible fouls, football fouls.

“It actually helped us because it broke the game up. They wanted to get the game going, but with the game stopping all the time they couldn’t really get it going because they were fouling too much.”