Luton Town FC vs Southend United (5th Dec 2018)

LUTON TOWN 1 SOUTHEND UNITED 1 (2-4 ON PENALTIES)

Hatters pegged back at the death, then beaten in penalty shoot-out

The Hatters were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy at the second round stage tonight as Southend won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time at Kenilworth Road.

Town had taken an 81st-minute lead when teenager Arthur Read netted his first senior goal with a terrific left-footed shot from 20 yards out.

But the Shrimpers hit back with an equaliser two minutes from the end of normal time when Dan Potts threw himself in the way of sub Stephen McLaughlin's cross-shot, and deflected it past Marek Stech and into the top corner.

Lloyd Jones and Alan Sheehan both netted their penalties, with Southend matching them through Sam Mantom and Michael Kightly, but Aaron Jarvis and Danny Hylton saw their next two saved as the Shrimpers progressed by keeping up their 100 per cent record with McLaughlin and Shawn McCoulsky finding the back of the net to seal their progress to round three.

Nathan Jones had named a strong starting XI, prinkled with the youth of Read and Jarvis, and Luke Berry was back in the matchday squad, too.

Marek Stech was in goal with fellow members of last season's PFA and EFL League Two teams of the season Alan Sheehan, Dan Potts, Danny Hylton and Jorge Grant included in the team from the first whistle.

One of the other two selected in those prestigious sides, Berry, returned to the bench for the first time since August when he came on for the last few moments of the Carabao Cup tie at West Brom, after initially battling back from the dislocated ankle and broken leg he suffered at Colchester last Easter.

Since then the midfielder has had an operation on an old knee injury, but took his place among Jones' game changers for his first involvement at Kenilworth Road since March.

Town lined up with a back four of Frankie Musonda, Lloyd Jones, Potts and Jack Senior, with captain Sheehan anchoring the midfield. Arthur Read and Grant were either side of him, with Kazenga LuaLua at the tip of the diamond behind Hylton and Aaron Jarvis.

Southend started brightly, with Potts booked for a foul on Elvis Bwomono by the corner flag inside the opening two minutes, before centre-half Taylor Moore fired just over the crossbar after the free-kick was swung in.

Sheehan's deliveries from set pieces were soon causing consternation in the visitors' defence, his first inswinging free-kick finding Hylton, who was offside, before his first corner picked out Potts arriving free at the far post - in a move reminiscent of last season - but Moore got a tremendous block in with his head.

A minute later LuaLua was cutting in on his left foot after good work from Read, but his shot was deflected wide, before Grant sent a shot skidding along the wet surface, but inches wide of Mark Oxley's right-hand post.

Hylton's first real sight of goal came on 25 minutes when Jarvis flicked into his path, and the striker cut in from the left side of the area but dragged his shot wide of the near post.

The Shrimpers were soon enjoying another spell on the attack, left wing-back Stephen Hendrie firing narrowly wide from the left angle of the Hatters box, then captain Sam Mantom shot straight at Stech in the 36th minute.

Another Sheehan free-kick, after Grant fouled on the left, presented another opportunity for the Town as a spell of pinball in the six-yard box saw the ball break to the on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder on the edge of the box, but this shot was screwed wide.

Southend started the the second half as they did the first, on the front foot with Musonda forced to clear off his own line as Grant inadvertently turned a right-wing cross towards his own goal, then Dru Yearwood let fly with a 20-yarder that Potts threw himself in the way of and deflected wide.

Stech had his palms warmed again from outside the area by Shawn McCoulsky on 53 minutes, but a couple of minutes later Musonda curled a beautiful cross onto Hylton's head, but the striker's effort drifted wide as he appeared to be put off by Grant arriving just in front of him.

LuaLua was starting to influence the game in a big way and the ex-Brighton winger arced a deep cross towards Jarvis, but the 20-year-old striker's far post header lacked power and went tamely the wrong side of the upright.

The Town came closest to a breakthrough just after the hour when LuaLua fashioned space for himself on the left side of the box, but found Oxley's palms in his way. The Southend keeper could only parry the ball up in the air, however, and Hylton stretched to get a header in on goal from close range, but was denied by the crossbar.

Hylton was in the thick of the action in the 68th minute when he tricked his way past his man on the right byline and flashed the ball across the goalmouth, but neither Jarvis or Grant could get the final touch.

The goal came with nine minutes of normal time remaining when Sheehan's free-kick was headed clear, but only as far as the edge of the D where Read was waiting to lash in his first professional goal.

His evening was soon over, having stayed down for treatment after every outfield player had run to celebrate with him, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu coming on to replace him.

Jones made his second switch in the 87th minute when James Justin came on at left-back for Senior, and within seconds the Shrimpers were level, substitute Stephen McLaughlin's left-footed cross-shot seemingly heading well wide before it looped into the top corner off Potts.

LuaLua had a volley deflected behind as Town went in search of a winner deep in injury-time, before Southend broke and substitute Isaac Hutchinson almost steered McLaughlin's low cross in at the near post.

It went to penalties, with the Shrimpers proving spot on to go through 4-2 victors.

TOWN: Stech, Musonda, Jones, Potts, Senior (Justin 87), Sheehan (c), Read (Mpanzu 83), Grant, LuaLua, Hylton, Jarvis. Subs: Stacey, Berry, Lee, Shinnie, Isted.

Yellows: Potts, Jones, Hylton

Goals: Read 81

Penalties converted: Jones, Sheehan.

Missed: Jarvis, Hylton.

SOUTHEND: Oxley, Bwomono, Hyam (Kightly 90+4), Turner, Yearwood (Hutchinson 87), Mantom (c), Moore, McCoulsky, Robinson, Hendrie (McLaughlin 68), White. Subs: Bishop (GK), Klass, Kelman, Howard.

Yellows: Yearwood

Goals: Potts (OG) 88

Penalties converted: Mantom, Kightly, McLaughlin, McCoulsky.

REFEREE: Darren Drysdale

ATT: 1,545 (121 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS8tjgoeOGE

Luton knocked out of the Trophy on penalties by Shrimpers

Checkatrade Trophy, second round: Luton Town 1 Southend United 1 (Southend win 4-2 on penalties)

Luton were knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy this evening after losing 4-2 on penalties to Southend United.

It had looked like the Hatters would be making progress in the competition after Arthur Read gave them the lead with his first goal for the club in the 80th minute.

However, Stephen McLaughlin's drive deflected off Dan Potts with three minutes to go ensuring spotkicks, as Aaron Jarvis and Danny Hylton both saw their efforts saved by visiting keeper Mark Oxley, while Southend netted all four attempts.

Town boss Nathan Jones made 11 changes from the FA Cup win at Bury on Sunday, including a first start for Hylton since his red card against Rochdale, while fit-again Luke Berry was on the bench.

Captain Alan Sheehan was pushed forward into the holding role, Potts partnered Lloyd Jones in the centre of defence, Frankie Musonda and Jack Senior occupying the full back berths.

Southend boss Chris Powell made just four alterations and that showed in the early stages as the Shrimpers enjoyed more of the possession.

However, Town started to wrest the ascendancy back, with Sheehan's set-pieces causing trouble, Potts' header well blocked by Taylor Moore.

LuaLua had an effort deflected behind for a corner, before Grant also took aim from 25 yards, his low drive not missing by much.

United threatened sporadically, Sam Mantom's long ranger easy for Marek Stech, while another Sheehan free kick caused problems, Grant eventually dragging disappointingly wide from the edge of the box.

After the break, the visitors began strongly once more, Theo Robinson's cross cannoning off Grant and would have dropped into his own goal, but for the vital intervention of the covering Musonda.

Potts then deflected Dru Yearwood's rasping daisycutter narrowly wide of the far post, with Jones heading the resulting corner over his own bar.

Shawn McCoulsky's tame attempt was straight at Stech, but Luton then created their best chance of the game on 55 minutes, when Musonda's lovely dinked cross was put wide by Hylton under pressure from his own team-mates, Grant and Jarvis.

The Hatters went even closer as LuaLua held up play inside the area and after finally manufacturing a sight of goal, saw his blast parried skywards by Oxley, with Hylton nodding the rebound against the bar from four yards.

Town thought they had won it with 10 minutes to go as a free kick was swung in by Sheehan and headed away to the edge of the box where Read met it first time, blasting beyond Oxley from 18 yards.

He was immediately replaced by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu after suffering cramp, before Southend levelled on 87 with a huge slice of good fortune.

Sub McLaughlin took aim with an angled drive from 20 yards, and it took a massive deflection off the outstretched Potts to leave Stech absolutely helpless.

Luton went close again, when the visitors made a hash of a routine clearance, as Mpanzu's cross was met by LuaLua, his shot deflecting over.

From the set-piece, the Shrimpers raced up the other end, McLaughlin escaping on the left and his cross was turned wide by Isaac Hutchinson.

That then led to spotkicks, as Jones was fortunate to be allowed to take his again after running up before the whistle went and Oxley saving well.

Official Darren Drysdale let him off though, Jones netting at the second attempt, and Sheehan scored as well, but Jarvis and Hylton both failed, McCoulsky putting the Shrimpers through.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Frankie Musonda, Jack Senior (James Justin 87), Dan Potts, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan (C), Jorge Grant, Arthur Read (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 82), Kazenga LuaLua, Danny Hylton, Aaron Jarvis.

Subs not used: Jack Stacey, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee, Andrew Shinnie, Harry Isted.

Shrimpers: Mark Oxley, Elvis Bwomono, John White, Taylor Moore, Michael Turner, Stephen Hendrie (Stephen McLaughlin 68), Luke Hyam (Michael Kightly 90), Sam Mantom (C), Dru Yearwood (Isaac Hutchinson 87), Theo Robinson, Shawn McCoulsky.

Subs not used: Nathan Bishop, Michael Klass, Charlie Kelman, Rob Howard.

Booked: Potts 2, Jones 34, Yearwood 65. Referee: Darren Drysdale. Attendance: 1,545 (121 Southend).

Jones felt youngsters did the club proud in Trophy exit

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt his much-changed side did the club proud despite going out of Checkatrade Trophy on penalties to Southend United this evening.

The hosts looked to be on their way through to round three courtesy of Arthur Read’s 81st minute goal, only for Stephen McLaughlin’s effort to deflect off Dan Potts and beat Marek Stech, before the Shrimpers won the shootout 4-2.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “We are disappointed, but I have to be proud of how we played.

“We’ve made 11 changes from our side that played on Sunday and I thought they did the club proud.

“We’ve got a lot of young ones out there, Arthur Read and Frankie Musonda making only their third and fourth appearances, Jack Senior, young (Aaron) Jarvis, so we’ve got a real young side, and they acquitted themselves very well.

“I thought we were the better side throughout. The first half was relatively even without either side creating too much, we caused them a few problems set-plays-wise and with a little bit more cutting edge in the final third we might have scored.

“But second half we might have scored, their keeper’s made some good saves, we’ve missed chances, hit the bar and then for them to equalise in the manner they did, it’s disappointing, but that’s the way it is.”