Luton Town FC vs Southend United (21st Aug 2018)

HATTERS 2 SOUTHEND UNITED 0

Hylton and Lee on target as the Hatters record first win of the season

Hatters boss Nathan Jones saw his four changes to the starting line-up pay off tonight as his side recorded their first win of the season with goals from Elliot Lee and Danny Hylton seeing off Southend at Kenilworth Road.

With the old ground rocking as the 9,000-plus crowd made for a great atmosphere under the lights, the Hatters added to the point they picked up in their opening home match against Sunderland with a fine performance against the side that finished tenth last term.

The first change came in goal, where James Shea replaced Marek Stech for his first appearance of the season.

And with Alan McCormack injured and club captain Alan Sheehan on the bench, Glen Rea came into the side as skipper for the first time in a league match, having worn the armband in the Carabao Cup at West Brom last week, and was joined in midfield by fellow substitutes from the 3-1 defeat at Peterborough, Jorge Grant and Andrew Shinnie.

Lee, who got off the mark for the season with a goal in the second minute, was pushed up front to partner Hylton in place of James Collins, who was also on the bench.

The Hatters made a dream start when, with just 90 seconds on the clock, the first corner of the game produced the opening goal for Lee.

Jorge Grant’s delivery was headed clear by the Southend defence, but only as far as the edge of the area where Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fired in a shot that was deflected into the striker’s path, and he gobbled up the chance from close range.

Southend responded well, but it was the Hatters who came close to extending the lead in the ninth minute when Jack Stacey raced to the right byline and drove in a low cross that visiting defender Elvis Bwomono did well to clear from almost on the line, Hylton’s follow-up shot also blocked.

Southend thought they’d drawn level midway through the half when Tom Hopper climbed highest to meet Bwomono’s right-wing cross, and although his header nestled in the bottom corner of Shea’s net, referee Trevor Kettle was already blowing for a push.

The Town went straight up the other end and tested Southend skipper Mark Oxley, Stacey feeding Grant to unleash a vicious shot from right edge of box that the Shrimpers’ keeper had to tip over the bar.

Bwomono was proving a threat down the visitors’ right, and after wriggling past Potts he fired in a low cross that Shea did well to get down to and gather, but by the 33rd-minute he’d given away the penalty that saw the Town double the advantage.

The Hatters had patiently kept the ball for at least ten passes, Shea, Bradley and Pearson building from the back with input from Stacey and Rea, before the captain’s forward pass intended for Lee arrived at Grant’s feet 25 yards out, via the head of Southend centre-half John White.

Grant fed Lee into the box, but the Town striker was heading away from goal, his path on the byline having been blocked, when Bwomono bundled him over from behind. Kettle pointed to the spot and Hylton did the rest, sending Oxley the wrong way from the spot for his second goal of the season.

The Hatters were playing well, confidence boosted, and when Hylton won a corner on the left with his persistence, Dan Potts sent a header back towards goal that fell to Hylton, but the striker couldn’t turn in the six-yard box and Oxley gathered off his own player, Timothy Dieng.

Town were rampant at the start of the second half and might have gone three goals to the good at the end of another superb break in the 51st minute, Mpanzu starting it by tracking back in his own box and finding Rea, whose pass on the stretch found Hylton on halfway.

The centre-forward traded passes with Shinnie, the latter’s return ball a cute through pass for Hylton to race onto, but Oxley came tearing off his line to smother, regaining his footing to then save Shinnie’s follow-up attempt from 30 yards.

The ball was in the back of the Shrimpers’ net again six minutes later when Rea dispatched a firm header past Oxley from an inswinging Grant free-kick, but again Kettle had long since blown for an infringement and the Town’s celebrations were cut short.

Southend tried to make their way back into it by making all three substitutions by the hour, and they created a couple of quickfire chances, Jason Demetriou slicing wide when well placed on the right side of the area, then Simon Cox blasting over the crossbar from 18 yards.

Hylton was still posing a threat at the other end, Bradley instantly controlling his own towering header from a right-wing free-kick and crossing low for the striker, who turned his man smartly but could only finding the side netting.

In the 72nd minute Potts sent Lee clear, the striker cutting in from the left and forcing Oxley into another excellent save, then – seconds after James Justin had been introduced for the impressive Grant – Oxley had to come racing off his line again.

Just 15 minutes were left when Lee and Rea combined deep in the Hatters’ own territory for the latter to release Justin, who played a beautiful first time pass into Shinnie’s path, only for Oxley to smother on the edge of his box again, then did his best to put Stacey off as well.

Four minutes later it should have been three when Hylton robbed Hyam in the centre-circle and fed Justin on the right side of the area. Oxley raced out once more, and Justin – who was running riot on both sides of diamond – tried to square to Mpanzu waiting in the six-yard box, but centre-half John White got back to clear.

Lee left the pitch to a standing ovation, and the announcement that he’d been chosen as match sponsors’ man-of-the-match, to be replaced by Harry Cornick, but Southend sounded a warning with just under five minutes of normal time to play when Robinson rattled in a volley that shook the advertising boards behind Shea’s goal.

Still the Hatters keeper hadn’t had a save of any real note to make, and it ended up proving a comfortable first win in the third tier for Jones’ men.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Rea ©, Mpanzu, Grant (Justin 73), Shinnie, Lee (Cornick 83), Hylton (Collins 90+3). Subs: Jervis, Gambin, Sheehan, Stech (GK)

Goals: Lee 2, Hylton 33 (pen)

Yellows: Rea

SOUTHEND: Oxley, Bwomono (McCoulsky 61), Coker, Turner, Dieng (Hyam 46), Hopper, Cox, McLauglin (Robinson 61), Mantom, Demetriou, White. Subs: Kightly, Bishop (GK), Kyprianou, Hendrie

Yellows: Hyam, Demetriou

REFEREE: Trevor Kettle

ATT: 9,086 (916 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UafduR5kBw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_bkbCaQqoo

NATHAN JONES ON THE 2-0 WIN OVER SOUTHEND UNITED

Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted with the result at Kenilworth Road this evening as the Hatters defeated Southend United 2-0 in Sky Bet League One.

Man of the Match Elliot Lee opened the scoring just 90 seconds in as he fired home from close range, before Danny Hylton made it two from the penalty spot after Lee had been upended.

It marked the Hatters first win of the new season, moving Jones' team up to 15th in the third tier.

The gaffer said: "The ground was rocking, it really was. It was a pleasing result in a lot of ways. A first clean sheet in the league which is an important thing, then a couple of changes which were gambles. I thought we were magnificent from start to finish.

"Southend are a very direct and very physical side, an energetic side, they get on seconds, they try to get it in your box, we defended – especially the back four – magnificently.

"James Shea didn't have a shot to save, for all their play and all their crosses they didn't have a chance and that was a credit to the centre halves, the back four and Glen, how we defended and how those front of them press.

"We put in a proper shift today, which is in complete contrast to the first 45 minutes at the weekend, against Peterborough we were shambolic defensively. Whereas today we went from shambolic to brilliance.

"We knew that 45 minutes on Saturday wasn't us, we were nowhere near the levels, it was more second half when we were, and ironically we had less possession and less play and less chances today, but it was probably our most convincing win."

Hatters up and running after defeating Southend

League One: Luton Town 2 Southend United 0

Luton Town are up and running in League One after a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Southend United this evening.

The Hatters were dominant for large periods of the match and the only disappointment was that they weren't out of sight, missing a number of glorious chances in the second half.

Boss Nathan Jones showed he isn't afraid to make big calls, with four changes from the 3-1 defeat at Peterborough on Saturday to face a side who had quite frankly atrocious record at Kenilworth Road in recent times, now without a win in 14 visits since 1964.

Out went the injured Alan McCormack, Glen Rea taking over and given the armband, but joining him were Alan Sheehan, Marek Stech and James Collins, as Jorge Grant, Andrew Shinnie and Elliot Lee all came in.

Hatters quickly transferred play up the other end, Jack Stacey finding Grant whose effort was tipped over by Oxley.

Luton had the luxury of a second goal on 33 minutes when a lovely passing move out of defence led to Grant sending Lee through, who was unnecessarily tripped by Elvis Bwomono.

Danny Hylton made the full back pay, hammering his penalty into the net to double Town's advantage.

After the break, Luton had a glorious chance to kill the game off as Grant sent Hylton clean through, but with Lee set for a tap in, the forward tried to dink Oxley who got a block in and then saved Shinnie's follow up.

Rea thought he had put real daylight between the sides, his imperious header from Grant's free kick flying in, Kettle's whistle sounding again.

The visitors had a spell of real possession, Jason Demetriou off target, while Simon Cox met sub Theo Robinson's low cross, skying his effort.

Town appeared to have weathered the pressure, Hylton into the side-netting, before Lee wriggled round a marker in the area to test out Oxley's reflexes.

Luton should have sewn up the points on 73 minutes though, James Justin, on for Grant, sliding a wonderful ball through to Shinnie, who one-on-one with Oxley, failed to beat the Shrimpers keeper.

The Hatters wasted another fine chance with 10 to go, Hylton picking out Justin away, who tried to find Mpanzu, but John White got back to divert over his own bar.

Justin was running riot on the left, his low cross slashed well, well wide by Mpanzu, as all Southend had to show for their efforts was Robinson's attempt which didn't threaten Shea, as they failed to score for the sixth game in a row at Kenilworth Road.

Luton though, now have a great chance to build on this when entertaining Shrewsbury Town at the weekend.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Dan Potts, Glen Rea (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant (James Justin 73), Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 83), Danny Hylton (James Collins 90).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Jake Jervis, Alan Sheehan, Luke Gambin.

Shrimpers: Mark Oxley (C), Elvis Bwonomo (Shawn McCoulsky 61), Ben Coker, Michael Turner, Timothee Dieng (Luke Hyam 46), Tom Hopper, Simon Cox, Stephen McLaughlin (Theo Robinson 61), Sam Mantom, Jason Demetriou, John White.

Subs not used: Michael Kightly, Nathan Bishop, Harry Kyprianou, Stephen Hendrie.

Booked: Rea 65, Hyam 68, Demetriou 89.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Attendance: 9,086 (Southend 916).

Jones explains his decision to make four changes

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt it was a case of going back to basics after deciding to make four changes for the League One clash with Southend United last night.

The Town chief made some big calls, opting to drop club captain Alan Sheehan, striker James Collins and goalkeeper Marek Stech to the bench after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Peterborough, while Alan McCormack missed out through injury.

In came James Shea, Glen Rea, Jorge Grant and Andrew Shinnie, with the move paying off as Town picked up a first victory of the campaign, triumphing 2-0.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “First of all, performance levels on Saturday weren’t good enough first half.

“I thought James Shea didn’t have that much to do in terms of saves, but he kicked well, his decision making was good, he looked a calming influence.

“The two centre halves (Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson) were absolutely magnificent, won every header, defended the box fantastically well, against a very, very good pair.

“(Tom) Hopper and (Simon) Cox are very good at this level, trust me on this one, so that was a magnificent, the back four, everyone.

“Then we worked really hard, we looked solid, we looked strong.

"Yes we had to defend a few crosses, they put crosses in from absolutely everywhere, so we had to defend the first ball as that was as direct a team that has come here for a long time and we did that, so I’m delighted.”

On the three who were amongst the substitutes last night, Jones continued: “Alan McCormack was enforced and Glen Rea came in and did magnificently, he was a rock, but the other three are difficult as they’re big players.

“Marek Stech, Alan Sheehan and James Collins have been big players and done magnificently well and for different reasons we felt we needed to change things.

“In hindsight it’s proved to be the right one, but who’s to say if I’d gone with the others it wouldn’t have been the same result anyway.

“But they’re good players, they worked hard, they’re fantastic pros and I’m glad I was able to change it up with the the quality we did and I’m glad we got the result.”

Striker Elliot Lee, who was pushed upfront alongside Danny Hylton with Collins making way, hadn’t been too shocked to see the selection, adding: “I’m not sure we were surprised, after the way we conceded goals in the first half at Peterborough, I think there had to be a little change.

“It’s good to mix it up, we’ve got a great squad, great competition, so why not use it? Why not use different people and see what the best formation and the best side is.

“We’ve got great competition, so lets use it.”