Luton Town FC vs Swindon Town (9th Sep 2017)

MATCH REPORT: LUTON TOWN 0 SWINDON TOWN 3

Captain Cuthbert sent off as Swindon take all three points from the Kenny

The Hatters suffered a first home defeat of the Sky Bet League Two season after captain Scott Cuthbert was shown a first-half red card before Swindon went on to net three without reply.

Cuthbert suffered double punishment for pulling Robins striker Keshi Anderson to the ground as he looked to get on the end of Luke Norris’ header across goal just after the half-hour mark.

The Town skipper was sent off and Norris netted the resulting penalty as the Wiltshire club racked up their third away win of the campaign, inflicting the Hatters’ first at Kenilworth Road in the process.

Boss Nathan Jones had made two changes following last week’s goalless draw at Lincoln, with midfielders Olly Lee and Andrew Shinnie returning to the starting line-up and Glen Rea and Luke Berry dropping to the bench.

Striker James Collins was fit to face his old club after limping off in the opening half-hour at Sincil Bank, and was hoping to add to his five-goal tally so far this season that had seen him nominated for the League Two Player of the Month for August.

After a cagey opening period, the Town had the first sight of goal with seven minutes on the clock, but Olly Lee’s volley from Jack Stacey’s right-wing cross was straight at Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swindon goal.

Two minutes later some crisp passing on the left saw Collins and Shinnie combine to get Potts in, but the full-back’s low centre appeared to be turned behind by Swindon captain Olly Lancashire just ahead of Hylton, although ref Graham Salisbury pointed for a goal-kick.

The Hatters were sharp in the tackle and getting plenty of possession in midfield, but had to be aware of the danger Swindon posed on the break, Sheehan mopping up superbly by heading one cross into the air, then keeping it in on his own byline and clearing up the left flank.

The Robins sounded a warning in the 20th minute when Lancashire got his head on a free-kick from the left, but couldn’t direct his effort on target – then Cuthbert followed Sheehan’s lead by getting a thumping header on another left-wing cross to avert any danger.

It took until just before the half-hour for the Hatters to fashion another opening, Stacey crossing from the right once again for opposite full-back Potts to volley at goal, but his effort flew wide.

Swindon went straight up the other end and won the penalty that led to the opening goal, Chris Hussey crossing from the left and Norris heading across goal – but referee Salisbury had spotted an infringement by Cuthbert and pointed to the spot.

Norris sent Stech the wrong way from 12 yards to give Swindon the advantage, and Jones immediately brought Rea on to play in Cuthbert’s position at the heart of defence, Shinnie the man sacrificed from an attacking role.

Within seconds there was an almighty appeal for a penalty at the other end as Collins went down under a challenge from Hussey, but all the ex-Swindon striker got for his troubles was a yellow card for his protests as Salisbury waved the appeals away.

Alan Sheehan was next into the book for bringing down Kaiyne Woolery in the 40th minute, but Stech punched Hussey’s free-kick away.

The Town regrouped well and Potts got a glancing header on right-wing corner from Olly Lee, but it flew across the six-yard box, before McCormack latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out, only for his right-footed drive to be deflected wide as the half-time whistle loomed.

Jones made a positive switch at the break in bringing Harry Cornick off the bench in place of Lee, as a third forward alongside Hylton and Collins.

The pacey front man was at the centre of the next penalty appeal on 47 minutes as his cross from the right byline appeared to striker Hussey’s hand, but once again Salisbury said no.

By the 51st minute Swindon had doubled their lead, Hussey picking up the ball 35 yards out and cutting inside Cornick before curling into the top corner unchallenged with the outside of his left-foot.

Swindon were looking ever more dangerous in exploiting the space as the Town kept three up front, and Stech had to gather two headers from Paul Mullin in as many minutes as the winger got on the end of crosses from the right, although both lacked power.

The ex-Accrington man put plenty behind his next opportunity, however, slamming home at the back post after Norris had got to the right byline and cut the ball back for him to net the third in the 62nd minute.

Potts became the third Town player to be shown a yellow card in the 68th minute for a foul on Woolery, and Jones made his third substitution in the 74th when he brought Berry on for his home debut.

The recent acquisition from Cambridge showed no hesitation in picking the ball up when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fouled 25 yards out, but his dipping free-kick was well held by Vigouroux in the Swindon goal.

Mullin went in search of his second as Swindon hit the Town on the break in the 79th minutes, but Stech was right behind his low shot.

Sheehan had a chance to get on the scoresheet when he sent a free-kick arcing towards the top corner after Collins had been sent sprawling on the right edge of the area by Hussey.

Vigouroux was in the right place once again, however, as the Town’s afternoon ended blank – but with the perfect chance to get straight back to form when Port Vale visit on Tuesday night.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert ©, Sheehan, Potts, McCormack, O Lee (Cornick 46), Mpanzu, Shinnie (Rea 32), Hylton (Berry 74), Collins. Subs: Justin, Gambin, E Lee, Shea (GK)

Yellows: Collins, Sheehan, Potts

Reds: Cuthbert

SWINDON: Vigouroux, Purkiss, Lancashire ©, Conroy, Hussey, Mullin, Dunne, Elsnik, Anderson (Gordon 82), Norris (Taylor 64), Woolery (Linganzi 85). Subs: Robertson, Brophy, Smith, Charles-Cook (GK)

Yellows: Anderson

Goals: Norris (pen) 32, Hussey 51, Mullin 62

REFEREE: Graham Salisbury

ATT: 8,455 (832 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tZ-AwT41us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4kYayb-1DY

NATHAN JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO SWINDON TOWN

Town boss Nathan Jones admitted being “shell-shocked” after his side slipped to a 3-0 home defeat to Swindon Town this afternoon.

Scott Cuthbert was shown a red card midway through the first half as he was adjudged to have hauled down Keshi Anderson in the penalty area, before Luke Norris broke the deadlock from the resulting penalty.

The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the break when Chris Hussey curled home in fantastic style just after the restart, then they rounded off the scoring when Paul Mullin fired in from close range just after the hour mark.

Jones said: “I am bit shell-shocked really, because we went down to ten men and it was my decision to be a little bit more positive.

“When we have been down to ten men before we have clawed the game back. I am just disappointed with the result.

“Obviously we have set ourselves up – we won our home game against Colchester, we had two real difficult games in the away games. That sets us up nicely for our home game today.

“We started OK in terms of moving the ball well, when we gave it away they had set up to contain us on the counter-attack and I felt we were trying to force the issue, and the penalty changed the whole course of the game. It’s just disappointing.

“We are going to need to be right back at it on Tuesday night, because we have missed an opportunity today, we really have and we don’t want to lose any ground. We are losing ground at the moment on teams above us. It’s early days, we are six games in.

“But it’s very disappointing and I am very disappointed today in terms of our performance. We will dust ourselves down, we will be back in tomorrow and we will go again.”

Cuthbert dismissal proves costly as Hatters hammered at home

League Two: Luton Town 0 Swindon Town 3

Ten-man Luton slumped to the biggest defeat at home under manager Nathan Jones as they were comprehensively beaten by Swindon Town this afternoon.

The game hinged on a decision just after the half hour mark when Luke Norris rose to head a cross back across goal, with Hatters defender Scott Cuthbert pulling back former Barton Rovers striker Keshi Anderson in the area as he went to score.

Referee Graham Salisbury brandished the Luton skipper a straight red and this time keeper Marek Stech couldn't provide the heroics, sent the wrong way by Norris's confident strike.

Hatters had not been the out and out dominant force before the incident, but certainly appeared the more likely of the two sides to score, however, once they fell behind, there was only one winner.

Two further goals in the second period confirmed the fact, as Luton's heads dropped badly, almost willing the final whistle to be blown in the final 20 minutes.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones made two changes to his side, as Andrew Shinnie and Olly Lee back in, with the hosts reverting to their diamond formation, Glen Rea and Luke Berry dropping to the bench.

It was the recalled Lee who should really have opened the scoring on six minutes, arriving perfectly to meet Jack Stacey's cross, only to tamely volley straight at keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

Town then opened up the visitors on the left, Shinnie spotting Dan Potts's run and from his low cross, Danny Hylton diverted wide.

Swindon's only attempt from the first 20 minutes saw Olly Lancashire head a free kick narrowly wide from a decent position, as they looked to make use of Chris Hussey's dangerous delivery whenever possible..

Potts then wasted a glorious chance just before the half hour, as after making a superb run to meet Stacey's inviting cross, couldn't keep his composure at the crucial moment, volleying over.

However, out of nothing, Swindon had the lead on 32 minutes, Norris making no mistake from the spot, as Luton conceded the first goal for the fourth time this season.

Boss Jones reacted by bringing on Rea for Shinnie as Luton had strong penalty shouts of their own moments later, James Collins tumbling in the area, only for Salisbury to keep his arm by his side this time.

Luton made another switch for the second period, Harry Cornick replacing Lee and although he appeared to add some pep early on, Town were left facing a mountain to climb on 51 minutes.

True, there was no questioning the quality of Hussey's strike, curling beyond Stech with the outside of his boot from just inside the area, but the ease at which he strolled into that position was criminal, with Cornick letting him go and Town's defence just standing off and standing off.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts on 62 minutes as they were cut open once more, as although Sheehan was left complaining of a foul in the build-up, play went on, with Norris reaching the byline and cutting back for Paul Mullin to hammer past the exposed Stech.

Town were never really going to get back into it, and the worry was Swindon might rack up a cricket score, but fortunately that didn't materialise.

Berry replaced Hylton, with his free kick causing little problems for Vigouroux, with the underworked Robins stopper also parrying Sheehan's set-piece away, but Town's fight had gone as had a fair few home supporters by the time the whistle finally went.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan, Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Olly Lee (Harry Cornick 46), Andrew Shinnie (Glen Rea 33), Danny Hylton (Luke Berry 74), James Collins

Subs not used: James Shea, James Justin, Luke Gambin, Elliot Lee.

Robins: Lawrence Vigouroux, Ben Purkiss, Chris Hussey, Olly Lancashire (C), Paul Mullin, James Dunne, Luke Norris (Matt Taylor 64), Timi Elsnik, Kayne Woolery (Amine Linganzi 85), Dion Contory, Keshi Anderson (Kellan Gordon 81).

Subs not used: Chris Roberton, James Brophy, Harry Smith, Reice Charles-Cook.

Booked: Collins 34, Sheehan 40, Potts 67.

Sent off: Cuthbert 32.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

Attendance: 8,445 (832 Luton).

Hatters** boss concerned by his side’s ‘self destructive button’**

Hatters boss Nathan Jones expressed a serious concern with his side’s abilty to ‘self destruct’ after they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at home to Swindon Town on Saturday.

The hosts looked to have modicum of control on proceedings in the first half an hour, creating the best two chances through Olly Lee and Dan Potts, until captain Scott Cuthbert pulled back Keshi Anderson in the area to not only concede a penalty, but see a straight red from referee Graham Salisbury too.

It’s a worrying trend that Jones wants to see stamped out once and for all, as he said: “I’m more concerned with a certain self destructive button we have within us at the minute as that’s the biggest thing.

“We’ve always got a little error in us, even Mansfield we came back to 2-2, it wasn’t a pen, but that’s the thing, we could have lost that game.

“In terms of little free kicks we give away in bad areas when we’re not doing our jobs correctly and that’s the disappointing thing at the minute.

“It’s been symptomatic of us really in terms of a real great opportunity for us, two home games after two real tough away games to really get back to winning ways and we didn’t.

“We always seem to shoot ourselves in the foot, always seem to do something silly, and those are things we have to eradicate.

“It keeps happening when we give ourselves wonderful opportunities to go on runs and to build something, we don’t and that has to eradicate, because we won’t be where we want to be.

“It’s not the first time that’s happened since I’ve been here and when we play and when we’re at it we’re an excellent side, but sometimes we just do silly things.”

Jones was also heavily critical of his side for the manner of the first two goals conceded as well, as it was something he had warned his side about prior to the match.

The boss said: “In terms of what we do, the work and what we show them, the first goal’s even more disappointing, because their main threat comes from crosses.

“Their main threat has come from statistically their left back, so we allow him to go down the line, put a ball in.

“We said (Luke) Norris at the back stick, don’t let him get in between our centre halves and our left back, he did.

“Then when it came back, we gave a foul, so I don’t think there’s any more information I can actually give them and that’s the disappointing thing.

“The second, we let him come inside quickly, no-one presses him, we back off, we back off and next thing we know, someone actually realises he’s going to have a shot, ball’s in the back of the net.

“It’s not great, not good play from us. So we can dissect the fact and say we we’re down to 10 men, but we didn’t do the basics right and it’s cost us. Fair play to Swindon, they deserved the win.”

Jones was also disappointed with the manner at which his side’s heads clearly dropped after falling 2-0 behind, as Robins easily notched a third shortly afterwards to further compound Luton’s misery.

He added: “I was disappointed with a lot, that was one point, one factor there and think it just deflated them.

“We said next goal is going to be vital, maybe I shouldn’t have said that, maybe we should have defended it better, but it was always going to be key the second goal.

“Because 2-0 down with 10 men is difficult to claw back, 1-0 you’ve always got a chance, you can nick something, but we never really defended well enough in certain areas to do that.”

Jones not blaming official for Town's defeat

Hatters boss Nathan Jones refused to blame referee Graham Salisbury after his side were heavily beaten 3-0 at Kenilworth Road yesterday afternoon.

The match official was roundly booed by home fans for his performance during the game, sending off Luton skipper Scott Cuthbert for pulling back Robins striker Keshi Anderson in the area and awarding Swindon a penalty, before failing to give Town two spotkicks of their own.

However, when asked about his performance and whether he felt Cuthbert was rightly dismissed, Jones said: “I don't want to get in trouble. I can sit here and dissect performances from officials and it might not be a positive outcome, but I'm more concerned with my team really.

“I've looked at the video and it's not really conclusive, but there wasn't too much complaining from Scott.

“I can't say it's a bad decision, I can't say it's the right decision, as it happens quite quickly, but there wasn't too much complaining.

"Once he has given that, it's a difficult decision and that changes the game a bit.

"I'm disappointed in terms of we started brightly, Swindon set out to sit back and hit us on the counter attack which they did at times in the first half.

"We had a few opportunities and we are, I wouldn’t say totally in control of the game, but we were moving the ball well enough.

"Then out of pretty much nothing really, they've got the penalty and the sending off and then the game changes. It's a difficult uphill task, but fair play to Swindon, they've come here, they've got the result and they've deserved it."

Jones did think his side were unlucky not to earn a penalty of their own when a cross appeared to handballed by a visiting defender inside the area moments before the Robins made it 2-0 in the second period.

He continued: “The boy moves his arm towards the ball, but I don’t think we were going to get a pen, not today.

"He does move his hand, it’s come in, it could be deemed a pen, but if I stand here and literally say we could have had this, we could have had that, a lot of things could have happened today.

"There were a lot of disappointing performances out there and I'm not just talking about certain people, but this happens.”

Jones had made a quickfire substitution when Cuthbert was dismissed, bringing on Glen Rea for Andrew Shinnie, while he also brought Harry Cornick on during half time too, Olly Lee making way, but a double strike within 11 minutes from Swindon put the result beyond doubt.

The boss added: “We got into half time, wanted to get there and felt we had a little bit of a positive substitution to try something different because they blocked up central areas.

"We wanted to go with a little bit more width and give ourselves an opportunity of winning the game, but it didn’t prove like that.

"We knew the second goal was going to be vital, if we got it the place would be bouncing and we’d be on the front foot, but the manner of the goal and how it came about, and the time, just killed the game.

Credit to them, they saw the game out, we huffed and puffed second half without really being a real threat as in the past we’ve made positive substitutions when we’ve been down to 10 men and won both games, we did it at Newport here and did it at Crewe away.

"In hindsight,probably we wouldn't have done it, but it's not made us more open as what we've down is play with three up front that drop back into a four, so we’re being a bit more secure if anything, leaving just one up top.

"But it wasn't to be. We had a gamble and it didn't pay off. Ihe end I was more concerned about not conceding more and it looking a little bit more embarrassing."