Luton Town FC vs Tranmere Rovers (15th Nov 2014)

Miller time as Town win again

Luton Town 1 (Miller 70) Tranmere Rovers 0

Substitute Ricky Miller struck the winner within five minutes of coming on to send the Town back to the top of League 2.

The summer signing from Boston celebrated his first Football League goal a week after opening his Hatters account against Newport County in the FA Cup.

And the frontman’s 70th-minute winner gave the Hatters their sixth straight home league win and make it 11 matches without defeat in League 2.

It was no more than Town deserved for an industrious performance against a dangerous Tranmere side, who would have snatched a last-minute winner if it wasn’t for the agility of the Town’s 37-year-old goalkeeper Mark Tyler.

The Town began showing one change to the side that beat Newport County last week, with Fraser Franks preferred at centre-half to Alex Lacey, who dropped to the bench.

Rovers, unbeaten in five games in all competitions under new boss Micky Adams, fired an early warning shot to the Town when Danny Johnson fired a fierce drive narrowly wide of Tyler’s right-hand post after just 60 seconds.

The visitors then had the ball in the net on seven minutes but Scott Laird’s calm finish was ruled out for offside as Rovers began the better. Tyler then had to be alert to race out to smother Johnson’s low shot 10 minutes.

But slowly the Town responded. Luke Guttridge began to pull the strings, and the midfielder almost conjured up an opening goal on 12 minutes when his cross-field pass was met at the back-post by Michael Harriman but the on-loan QPR man thrashed his volley wide of the target.

It was an open game, though, and Rovers called Tyler in action once more on 18 minutes when Max Power’s acrobatic volley from 25 yards flew goalwards, but the Town keeper was equal to the effort, diving down to his left.

Back came the Town and Guttridge was mighty close to making it 1-0 just before the half-hour when he connected with Franks’ wonderful right-wing cross in the six-yard box, only to see his volley tipped over the by Tranmere goalkeeper Petr Brezovan.

Tranmere responded by pushing the Town back for a five-minute spell as half-time approached. But it was the Hatters that ended the half the stronger with Mark Cullen shooting wide after a long kick from Tyler had bounced all the way down field and into the penalty area.

Visiting stopper Brezovan then needed to keep out a back-post volley from Guttridge four minutes before half-time after the midfielder had been found by a fine right-wing cross by Harriman.

It was more of the same for the Town after the break as they aimed to break the deadlock.

Four minutes after the restart, Jake Howells and Cullen combined in the box that led to Guttridge shooting wide, before Tyler was called into action at one end to keep out Power’s fierce drive.

Rovers, who arrived on Bedfordshire soil in search of a first league win since the end of August, had the Hatters under pressure as the hour mark approached yet failed to seriously test Tyler.

Luke Wilkinson saw a volley deflected away from its route to goal for the Town just before the hour and on 65 minutes John Still introduced Miller and Ruddock Mpanzu for Cullen and Nathan Doyle.

And, lo and behold, five minutes later one of the substitutions had the desired effect as Miller struck his first Football League goal. He took Jonathan Smith’s pass, waltzed past three Tranmere men before unleashing a left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area. At first it seemed destined for the bottom corner, only for Brezovan to get a hand to it. However, the visiting stopper’s efforts were not enough as the ball bounced delightfully over the line to give the Town the lead.

There were still a good 20 minutes left after the goal and it was the Town that looked the more likely to score again. One almost became two with three minutes left when Ruddock Mpanzu set-up fellow substitute Andy Drury to rifle a shot at goal that was deflected behind.

Knowing a win would take them to the top of the table, the Hatters had Tyler to thank for one last magnificent, contribution in the final minute. A ball lofted into the Town box was met by Rovers substitute Kayode Odejayi but the striker’s header was somehow turned away by Tyler at his near post.

Tranmere knew the game was up after that and in five minutes of stoppage time the Town came close to extending their lead when Howells thundered a vicious just narrowly wide of the target – and that was that.

The Hatters celebrated an 11th game unbeaten with their sixth successive home league win taking them back to the summit of League 2 – happy days!

TOWN: Tyler, Harriman, Howells, McNulty, Wilkinson, Franks, Doyle (sub Ruddock Mpanzu 77), Smith, Guttridge (sub Drury 77), Benson, Cullen (sub Miller 65). Subs not used: Lacey, Griffiths, Walker, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 9,061, including 378 singing for Tranmere.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/tranmere-gallery-2085601.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EieszStGtD0&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-OFHQi-3CU&list=UUQoDXQ4Z2Ie3fTPrpjfT97w

League Two: Luton Town 1 Tranmere Rovers 0

Hatters substitute Ricky Miller proved to be the matchwinner as he fired Luton back to the top of the table this afternoon.

The summer signing from Boston United had only been on the pitch for a few moments when he took Jonathan Smith’s pass to squeeze his curler from 25 yards past giant Tranmere keeper Petr Brezovan.

However, Luton were also indebted to a simply marvellous save from Mark Tyler in injury time, as he got down wonderfully to turn Kayode Odejayi’s header around the post.

Earlier in the game, Rovers had looked anything but a side who hadn’t won since August 30, 11 games ago, and sitting second bottom in the table.

Luton lined up with the same 3-5-2 formation that had seen off Newport County in the FA Cup the previous weekend, albeit with Fraser Franks in for Alex Lacey, his first appearance since August 19.

Tranmere started well with Danny Johnson’s snapshot inches wide early on from distance.

The visitors did had the ball in the net after seven minutes, but Marc Laird was adjudged offside, while an incisive pass put Johnson through as Mark Tyler raced off his line to block with his legs.

Hatters took a good 10 minutes to get going, as Luke Guttridge dug out a wonderful cross and Michael Harriman volleyed wide at the back post.

Tyler was then called into a comfortable enough save at the second attempt from Town boss John Still’s one to watch beforehand, Max Power’s speculative volley

Luton showed just what a threat they can be on the half hour as Franks’ glorious raking cross from the right was met by Guttridge on the volley and touched over by Petr Brezovan.

The chance of the half fell to Cullen soon afterwards though as Tyler’s kick forward beat the entire Rovers defence, but faced with just Brezovan to beat, he dragged wide.

Guttridge then had another volley pounced upon by Brezovan as both sides were goalless at the break.

In the second period, Luton fashioned a lovely chance through Jake Howells and Cullen, but Guttridge’s side-footer was wayward and just too far in front of the diving Benson.

A jinking run from the unorthodox Armand Gnanduillet almost created the opener for Rovers as he reached the by-line and pulled back for Power to unleash a blast that Tyler palmed clear.

Town then broke immediately though and Cullen almost played in Gutttidge as he was crowded out just as he went to shoot.

A corner almost saw Luton in front with the unmarked Luke Wilkinson’s volley crashing against Gnanduillet and away.

Boss Still then brought on Ricky Miller and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu after 64 minutes and it was Miller who broke the deadlock in some style.

He cut in from outside the box, transferred the ball to his favoured left foot and curled beyond Brezovan, who despite getting a big hand to the ball, couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.

Chances then fell to both sides in the closing stages as Marcus Holness diverted a corner just wide and Johnson glanced narrowly past the post.

Another sub from Still almost paid dividends too as Andy Drury replaced Guttridge and on being teed up by Ruddock Mpanzu drilled goalwards with a Rovers body managing to deflect it for a corner.

Howells’ rasping left-footer flew into the crowd too, but it was veteran keeper Tyler who saved the day quite literally, showing magnificent reflexes to deny Odejayi.

With Wycombe not playing until Monday, the result saw Luton leapfrog their rivals back into top spot as they confirmed their aspirations to win back to back promotions this term.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Fraser Franks, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Michael Harriman, Nathan Doyle (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 64), Jonathan Smith, Luke Guttridge (Andy Drury 77), Jake Howells, Paul Benson, Mark Cullen (Ricky Miller 64).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Alex Lacey, Luke Rooney, Scott Griffiths.

Rovers: Petr Brezovan, Liam Ridehalgh, Max Power, Michael Ihiekwe, Marcus Holness (C), Marc Laird (Kayode Odejayi 73), Janoi Donacien (Danny Holmes 67), Steve Jennings, Armand Gnanduillet, Danny Johnson, Josh Thompson (Evan Gumbs 73).

Subs not used: Abdulai Bell-Baggie, Jame Rowe, Luke Pilling, Jake Kirby.

Booked: Benson 86, Power 90.

Attendance: 9,061 (378 Tranmere).

Referee: Lee Collins.

Hatters MOM: Michael Harriman - was up and down the right flank all afternoon.