Luton Town FC vs Walsall (20th Oct 2018)

LUTON TOWN 2 WALSALL 0

Captain Rea and Grant on target as the Hatters make it 13 home games unbeaten

The Hatters moved up to seventh – one place outside the play-offs – in Sky Bet League One with a complete display against Walsall at fortress Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The Saddlers started the day in seventh spot, but Nathan Jones’ side leapfrogged them from tenth after captain Glen Rea and Jorge Grant scored in each half to secure a fifth home win of the season.

The victory stretched Jones’ side’s unbeaten run at Kenilworth Road to 13 matches in all competitions, dating back to last March when Accrington Stanley left Bedfordshire with all three points.

Fourth-placed Stanley are due in town on Tuesday night, but the Hatters will go into the encounter with renewed confidence after bouncing back from last week’s defeat at Barnsley with a top drawer performance in front of just under 9,000 creating another cracking atmosphere at the Kenny.

Top scorer of the past two seasons, Danny Hylton, made his return to the Hatters' starting line-up for the first time in nine weeks as Jones made two changes from last week’s defeat at Barnsley.

Also back in the team from kick-off was Andrew Shinnie, who returned to the Town midfield in place of James Justin. Harry Cornick was the man to make way for Hylton to make his 96th appearance for the club.

That meant James Shea was in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley and Dan Potts.

Rea captained the side from the midfield holding role, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Shinnie and Grant making up the engine room, behind a front two of Hylton and James Collins, who is the this term’s joint top scorer with four goals coming in his last four matches.

There was also a welcome return to the bench for the other man on four goals, Elliot Lee, after injury kept him out of last week's game at his former club Barnsley.

Town started brightly, Shinnie having the first attempt on goal in the sixth minute after a good spell of possession, although the Scot’s 20-yard shot after cutting in from the left was deflected wide.

Pearson went close soon after in a goalmouth scramble, and the Hatters dominated possession without really creating any clear-cut opportunities until Rea opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

The skipper probably didn’t know too much about it, but after the latest in a series of penetrative moves down the left, Potts’ cross was deflected behind and Grant delivered the corner that found Hylton’s head on the edge of the six-yard box.

The striker’s header was on target and as a Walsall defender looked to clear from by the post, Rea was on hand to turn the ball into the bottom corner for his first of the season.

The Hatters were orchestrating the play, patiently building moves with man-of-the-match Rea dictating, along with Shinnie and Grant, as they dominated the midfield.

Just after the half-hour, Grant called visiting keeper Liam Roberts into action with a shot on the turn from the edge of the box after another move that had started deep in the Town half, involving at least 15 passes.

Walsall sounded their first warning in the 34th minute, but top scorer Andy Cook’s header drifted just wide of the far post after Luke Leahy picked him out with a cross from the left flank.

Shea had to be alert to tip another dowanward header from Cook over the bar in the 42nd minute, after it had bounced up awkwardly, but it was a move in which the Hatters suffered in a more serious, with Potts pulling up with a groin injury as he went to prevent the Walsall attack from delivering the cross from the right wing.

The ever versatile Justin came on, slotting into Potts’ left-back role, and the Hatters saw out the half without any further alarms.

Ten minutes into the second half, after a lengthy delay for Justin to receive treatment after taking a ball flush in the face from point blank range after Mpanzu won a ferocious tackle right next to him, the Hatters had doubled their advantage.

Grant made it, driving down the left to be felled by Jon Guthrie, who was shown the game’s only yellow card for the foul. Grant picked himself up and bent a perfect 25-yard free-kick into the top corner for a carbon copy of his strike against Shrewsbury a couple of months ago.

Collins fired over from the left angle of the area in the 57th minute, then two minutes later – and the end of another spell of sustained possession – Justin cut in from the left and struck a shot low against the post, with Hylton’s rebound cleared off the line.

A short corner routine on the right led to the next chance on the hour, but Shinnie’s clipped first-time effort was headed clear in a crowded six-yard box and the ball wouldn’t come down for Rea – who was first to every ball in both boxes – to get another shot off.

Walsall made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, and within five minutes one of the replacements, midfielder Connor Ronan, was firing a 25-yarder well over the bar into the away fans in the Oak Road.

Referee Andy Woolmer played a key role in helping set up the Town’s next attack, the official getting in the way of Ronan’s pass in the centre circle, with Mpanzu and Grant pouncing on the loose ball to set Collins away in the inside left channel, but Roberts was equal to the forward’s low shot.

Hylton thought his chance for a third goal of the season had finally come in the 72nd minute when Stacey found him on the edge of the Walsall area, and after twisting his way past Guthrie, his shot prodded past the onrushing Roberts also beat the far post, by inches.

Walsall had another sight of goal a couple when Cook fired over, and Hylton was soon leaving the pitch to a rousing ovation, having completed 78 minutes on his return.

Shinnie, Collins and Cornick were soon combining to great effect on the right, with the latter’s cross headed just over by Collins after he’d made his way into the box.

Then, with five minutes of normal time left, Shinnie took a throw-in from Justin on the left and fired a volley that Roberts did well to push away – just as he did with Bradley’s volley from much closer in moments later.

Kazenga LuaLua came on in the 88th minute and was straight into the action, tricking his way past his man on the left and crossing deep for Cornick, who chested down and shot low towards the bottom corner, with Roberts again doing well to turn away with his foot.

Walsall threatened briefly in injury-time as Morgan Ferrier crossed from the left, but Shea was right behind Cook’s tame effort at the near post, and the Hatters’ unbeaten home run was safely extended ahead of Tuesday night’s visit of Accrington.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Potts (Justin 45), Rea (c), Mpanzu, Shinnie, Grant (LuaLua 88), Hylton (Cornick 78), Collins. Subs: McCormack, Lee, Sheehan, Isted.

Goals: Rea 19, Grant 55

WALSALL: Roberts, Leahy, Dobson (c), Guthrie, Devlin (Wilson 62), Cook, Ismail (Ronan 62), Ginnelly (Gordon 83), Kinsella, Ferrier, Fitzwater. Subs: Morris, Dunn (GK), Johnson, Osbourne.

Yellows: Guthrie

REFEREE: Andy Woolmer

ATT: 8,953 (504 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lQG4FGzY284

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXGeFEwh5sw

NATHAN JONES ON HIS SIDE'S "DOMINANT" PERFORMANCE AGAINST WALSALL

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side were dominant as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Walsall at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Unbeaten on their travels this campaign heading into the game, Dean Keates' side went behind 19 minutes in when Glen Rea bundled the ball over the line from close range, before Jorge Grant's excellent free-kick ten minutes after the restart ensured the Hatters made it seven Sky Bet League One games unbeaten at home.

Jones said: "I thought we were dominant from start to finish. After last week when we were slightly second best to a good Barnsley side, I thought today we were outstanding from start to finish.

"We asked for a reaction because I wasn't happy with a lot of things – I could have come out and said we were unlucky and we could have nicked a point from it, in all seriousness we could have done that. We were the away side so we had no right to dominate and they're a very good side. But I felt for where we want to be, we were off it.

"Then today we responded in magnificent fashion, these are a very good side, especially away from home. They were above us in the league, they had the best away defensive record – only conceded seven. We could have had three, four or five today. The chances we missed, I thought there keeper was outstanding. I am delighted."

Rea's goal capped off a superb performance in the engine room in midfield, as he helped the Town keep their third clean sheet of the campaign.

"He wasn't his usual self at Barnsley and it would have been quite easy for me to bring Alan McCormack back in," Jones continued. "But they earn trust and earn the odd off day. They earn that because I know they're going to respond and they did.

"I have got a good enough squad to have made wholesale changes today and I could have made a kneejerk reaction, but I didn't and it proved. It's good to have Danny back, Glen Rea was outstanding, but he was a part of a real good defensive display today from start to finish."

Hatters ease past Walsall to keep home run going

League One: Luton Town 2 Walsall 0

Luton picked up their most comfortable win of the League One season by some way, easing past a disappointing Walsall this afternoon.

The visitors somehow came into the contest unbeaten on their travels this term, but that record never looked like staying intact, as they were comfortably the poorest side to turn up at Kenilworth Road so far.

However, they were definitely made to look that average by an excellent Hatters performance, with the hosts having an extra bite to them, snapping into challenges, the work-rate from one to 11 catching the eye, with skipper Glen Rea in particular superb throughout.

Boss Nathan Jones made two changes from the 3-2 defeat at Barnsley on Saturday, the main one seeing striker Danny Hylton return for his first start since August 25.

Andrew Shinnie also came in, with James Justin and Harry Cornick dropping to the bench, joined by the fit-again Elliot Lee.

The recalled Shinnie went closest early on, his effort deflecting behind for a corner, while Town broke the deadlock on from a set-piece on 20 minutes, worked excellently by Shinnie's drilled pass out to Dan Potts.

From Jorge Grant's delivery, Danny Hylton's header wasn't cleared, with Rea of all people on hand to turn the ball over the line from close range for his first of the season.

The goal saw Walsall try and commit a few men further forward, but any threat was easily dealt with by Luton, who nearly extended their advantage, Grant spinning his man to shoot low at Liam Roberts.

It took the visitors 34 minutes to fashion anything resembling a chance, top scorer Andy Cook's header drifting wide.

Luton were dealt a blow just before half time when Potts pulled up holding his groin and was stretchered off, Justin taking his place.

Shea turned Cook's downward header over the top, while in the second period, Town had another injury scare, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's clearance clattering into Justin's face, as it looked like the replacement was out cold, although thankfully he recovered sufficiently to carry on

Luton had breathing space on 55 minutes when Grant was felled 25 yards from goal by Jon Guthrie and the midfielder took the free kick himself, arrowing his effort beyond Roberts and into the net, for an almost exact replica of his effort against Shrewsbury.

Now with the bit between their teeth, it was almost 3-0 moments later, Justin scuffing against the post and Hylton's follow up hacked off the line.

The visitors, who still offered barely anything upfront, saw sub Connor Ronan crack one hopefully over from 25 yards.

Hylton was inches away from the goal he so desperately wanted on 72 minutes, found by Stacey's pass, he beat his man in the area, but dragged just off target.

Cook blasted over from 20 yards more in hope than expectation, as Luton came on strong for the closing stages, as they looked to extend their advantage.

They could have too, the hard-working Collins leaping well to head over, Shinnie's blast ungainly parried by Roberts.

Sonny Bradley went close, before Mpanzu showed the extra bite that had been apparent in the hosts all afternoon, taking man, ball, the whole lot, to stop a Walsall counter in hits tracks.

Sub Cornick was denied the icing on the tackle, excellently taking down fellow sub Kazenga Lualua's cross, Roberts repelling well with his legs.

In stoppage time, Shea was able to threw his cap on Cook's attempt at a consolation, as the Hatters moved up to seventh, now just three points away from the play-offs, with a home game against fourth-placed Accrington to come on Tuesday.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts (James Justin 45), Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant (Kaenga LuaLua 88), Andrew Shinnie, James Collins, Danny Hylton (Harry Cornick 79).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Alan Sheehan, Elliot Lee, Alan McCormack.

Saddlers: Liam Roberts, Luke Leahy, George Dobson (C), Jon Guthrie, Nicky Devlin (Connor Ronan 62), Andy Cook, Zeli Ismail (Kane Wilson 62), Josh Ginnelly (Josh Gordon 83), Liam Kinsella, Morgan Ferrier, Jack Fitzwater.

Subs not used: Kieron Morris, Chris Dunn, Connor Johnson, Isiah Osbourne.

Booked: Guthrie 54

Referee: Andy Woolmer.

Attendance: 8,953 (504 Walsall).

'Complete' Hatters give Jones the reaction he wanted

After asking for a reaction from last weekend's defeat at Barnsley, Luton boss Nathan Jones labelled his side's display against Walsall during their 2-0 win this afternoon as the 'complete performance'

The Hatters chief had been left frustrated by the manner of the 3-2 loss at Oakwell, stating Town were second best on the day, but that feeling was completely reversed when speaking to the press after witnessing goals from Glen Rea and Jorge Grant down the Saddlers.

Jones said: "I thought we were pretty dominant from start to finish, I asked them from a reaction after last week, because I felt we were just off the levels.

“Maybe I'm being too honest or maybe really harsh on my team, but last week I know the levels we put in week in week out and I know where we want to end up, and last week were a little bit off it.

“So I gave credit to Barnsley for that, but today we reacted in superb fashion, These are an excellent side on the road, haven't been beaten, conceded seven goals and without being too disrespectful, we could have doubled that tally today.

“I thought we were excellent in terms of our application, how we worked, how we defended our box, as they're a threat.

"They have a front four who are a real, real threat and that was as complete a performance as we've had here for long, long time.”

With home keeper James Shea largely a spectator for the majority of the match, Jones thought the margin of victory should have been greater, adding: "Not one (save) of note, he's had to tip one over that was a looping thing, they've crossed it, he's had a little nick at it and it's straight into his arms, but their keeper has been far busier.

"Danny's (Hylton) put one last the post, we've hit the post, he's (Liam Roberts) made a great save from Sonny Bradley, but the situations we got in, we were very good today.

"We bounced back with not just the win, the clean sheet, scored two goals, could have scored more, but the level of performance throughout was excellent. "That's what we're more accustomed to and that's what I'm very pleased with."