Luton Town FC vs Watford (17th Apr 2021)

Report | Luton Town 1-0 Watford

Collins nets penalty with first touch to seal first Derby win in over 18 years

James Collins came off the bench to score the winning penalty with his first touch and secure the Hatters a first derby victory over Watford for 18 years!

Nathan Jones' side wrote themselves into Luton Town folklore with a completely dominant performance against the promotion-chasing Hornets, recording the first derby win at home since August 1993.

The win mathematically guaranteed Championship football for next season, taking the Hatters onto 56 points - five more than last term with five matches still to play.

After making a vital contribution from the bench against Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, Jones brought Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Kazenga LuaLua into the starting XI, with Harry Cornick picking up an injury in training ahead of the game and Ryan Tunnicliffe on the bench.

Dan Potts was back in the matchday squad for the first time since he was injured during the home defeat to Swansea City over a month ago.

Youngster and ex-Watford man Dion Pereira was named amongst the substitutes as the Hatters welcomed their local rivals to Kenilworth Road for the first time in 15 years.

The Hatters started immediately on the front foot, Adebayo and Mpanzu winning challenges in the first 20 seconds before Bradley met a Watford ball forward with a firm volley over the visitors' back-line for Clark to run onto.

Adebayo met the wideman's cross from the right with a downward header, and Berry tried an overhead kick, but couldn't make a strong enough connection and Daniel Bachmann collected by his post.

It was all Town in the opening stages, Bradley firing over from the edge of the box after Watford struggled to clear a third-minute corner, then Mpanzu and LuaLua dancing past their men on either side of the box and crossing, without a finishing touch.

Bradley headed over from the Hatters' third corner of an opening nine-minute period that was played exclusively in the Watford half, then Berry fizzed another dangerous cross in from the left that flashed across Bachmann's six-yard box and past the far post.

The Hatters should have had the lead on 19 minutes when, after Clark was fouled to the right of the area, Dewsbury-Hall whipped in a low cross that again found Bradley. The captain stabbed a volley goalward and it was just too high for Naismith to turn in from a couple of yard out, ending inches the wrong side of the post.

Dewsbury-Hall was next to have a go, his low right-footed shot from 20 yards having Bachmann scrambling across his line, but it was narrowly wide once again.

Watford captain Will Hughes had their first shot in the 25th minute, gaining possession after a rare slip by Dewsbury-Hall in the middle of the Town half, but his 25-yarder flew safely over Simon Sluga's crossbar at the Oak Road end.

A minute later the Town were knocking on the door at the other end again, Clark and Mpanzu combining to send Bree racing to the right byline, and Bachmann did well to deny Berry racing in at his near post.

Bradley was booked for pulling Ismaila Sarr back and Philip Zinckernagel sent a short free-kick, knocked to him by Hughes, straight into Sluga's arms.

The Croatian released Adebayo and his arced ball over the Watford defence seemed to set Berry clear, but Bachmann raced off his line to deny the midfielder, who was penalised for handball when controlling it in any case.

With half-an-hour gone, Clark and Mpanzu were causing problems down the Town right again, the former sending in an inviting cross that begged to have an orange head on the end of it, then Pelly gathering the loose ball on his chest and volleying powerfully over the bar from six yards.

It was Bree's turn to drive at the visiting defence on 34 minutes, setting Clark free to deliver low into the six-yard box again, only for Bachmann to collapse on the ball.

Two minutes later it was Dewsbury-Hall's turn, after LuaLua had rolled the ball back into his path a couple of yards outside the area. The on-loan Leicester midfielder's first-time shot looked destined for ther top corner, only for the natural bend from left to right to take it millimetres past the far post.

Pearson headed over on the stroke of half-time as an opening 45 minute period in which the Hatters did everything but score drew to a close.

Watford made a change at the break, introducing Isaac Success for Zinckernagel, but it was as you were for Jones who would have sent his side out with instructions to keep up the intensity, work-rate and first-class passing game.

The opening quarter-of-an-hour was a more even affair, but LuaLua had just gone past his man and called Bachmann into action with a low cross into his six-yard again when Xisco Munoz brought on Tom Cleverley for Carlos Sanchez on the hour.

The Hatters' next attempt came in the 68th minute, but it was one Naismith won't want to be reminded of as his 25-yard free-kick, after Clark had been fouled, landed on the roof of the Oak Road!

Adebayo got on the end of Dewsbury-Hall's deep free-kick soon after, but couldn't direct his prodded effort on target, then Bachmann had to push Bree's whipped-in free-kick from the left after LuaLua had been pushed to the floor by Kiko Femenia, the Watford right-back becoming their first player to be booked in the process.

Bradley headed over from the resulting corner, then Bree picked out Adebayo with another cross on the overlap, this time on his natural right side, but the striker's attempted volley ricocheted off his arm.

The former Walsall man was at the heart of the game's big moment in the 75th minute - and it woule prove his last involvement - as he read Achraf Lazaar's back-pass to Bachmann on the left side of the Watford area, got there ahead of the keeper, who wiped him out and was shown a yellow card by ref Ward.

Adebayo had to go off injured, and Collins came on in his place. The top scorer ran straight to pick up the ball to dispatch the penalty past Bachmann, who dived the wrong way, and ran off in celebration of his 12th goal of the season.

It was no less than the Hatters deserved, and as they came under the cosh at the other end as Watford sought an equaliser, Collins proved equally useful in his own box, heading clear after Clark and Dewsbury-Hall had thrown their bodies in the way of Watford efforts.

Femenia was soon seing red for a second yellow for another foul on LuaLua, then an offiside flag ruled out a 90th-minute header from former Hatter Andre Gray, who was in an offside position.

The Hatters, to a man, had been outstanding and managed to see the five minutes of added time out without an issue to confirm that Luton are 100 per cent safe in the Championship for another season.

And, two days after the seventh anniversary of securing a return to the Football League, we can definitely say that Luton are officially back!

Town: Sluga; Bree, Pearson, Bradley (C), Naismith (Potts 90+1); Berry (Rea 83), Mpanzu, Dewsbury-Hall; Clark, LuaLua, Adebayo (Collins 78).

Substitutes: Shea, Cranie, Tunnicliffe, Moncur, Morrell, Pereira

Yellows: Bradley

Goals: Collins (pen) 78

Watford: Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Sierralta; Lazaar (Gray 82); Sanchez (Cleverley 61), Hughes (C), Zinckernagel (Success 46), Sarr, Sema; Pedro

Substitutes: Foster, Cathcart, Gosling, Gray, Kabasele, Hungbo, Navarro.

Yellows: Femenia, Bachmann, Sierralta

Red: Femenia

Referee: Gavin Ward

Nathan Jones' reaction to victory against Watford!

The gaffer spoke proudly following victory against local rivals...

Manager Nathan Jones reflected on one of his proudest days in management after his side defeated rivals Watford at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

James Collins came off the bench in the latter stages and scored with his first touch to give the Town bragging rights on Derby Day!

“Today was all about us,” Nathan said. “For us to do what we did to them, we didn’t just win, we were totally dominant from start to finish. For me it was one of the most complete performances since I have been a manager, considering the opposition and the level.

"We have beaten sides 8-2, 7-0, 7-1 and 5-0 but this was a proper performance in terms of how we worked, how we pressed, everything about it. Doing the ugly stuff, moving the ball, it should have been three or four, if we had a clinical edge about us today.

“It is a significant victory because it is against our local rivals,” the gaffer continued. “We haven’t played here against them in 15 years and the level of performance we put in today was wonderful."

Jones was well aware of the importance of the fixture, saying: "Today, Luton Town totally dominated that game and I’m so proud of them, so proud of our club.

"I want to dedicate that firstly to Gary Sweet, he is a big Luton fan and what he has done with 2020, he has waited for days like this and our fans because imagine if there was fans here today.

"Results like this mean so much to me, so much to our players but even more so to the fans, to the consortium and Gary who heads it, lives it and breathes it. A really good day for us today.”

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/watford_e-programme_bcd - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz8w2EtOY0Q – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQeOyT-K-00 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyMkdHfuHU – reverse angle highlights

Collins on the spot with his first touch as Luton record famous win over arch-rivals Watford

Championship: Luton Town 1 Watford 0

Luton striker James Collins came off the bench to score with his first touch and secure a famous, famous win for the Hatters against arch rivals Watford at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, their first on home soil since 1993.

With 12 minutes to go, striker Elijah Adebayo beat keeper Daniel Bachmann to an underhit backpass, before being clumsily bundled over inside the area by the stopper for a penalty.

The forward couldn't continue after the challenge, with Collins brought on, as he went straight up to the spot to roll his shot beyond the keeper and find the net that, had their been supporters present, would have no doubt brought the house down.

With Watford reduced to 10 men late on due to Kiko Femenia's second booking, the Hornets thought had undeservedly salvaged a point in stoppage time, ex-Hatter Andre Gray turning home, only for the offside flag to be raised, as the points remained in Bedfordshire.

The Hatters made two changes for the clash, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Kazenga LuaLua both coming in after their impacts from the bench against Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, Ryan Tunnicliffe and James Collins dropping to the bench.

There was no place for the injured Harry Cornick, with Dion Pereira included, and after boss Nathan Jones called for an improved first half following the need to make changes at the break in Town's last two games, he got just that.

Hosting their sworn enemy for the first time since January 2006, Town were excellent from the opening whistle, maintaining their level of performance for the entire 45 minutes as the visitors barely got a kick.

Jordan Clark's cross from the right met by Elijah Adebayo, with Luke Berry twisting to volley, Bachmann holding on easily.

Skipper Sonny Bradley also curled off target when the ball broke invitingly to him just outside the area, while Luton had penalty appeals turned down when Clark went down in the area, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's effort deflected behind too.

Still the Hatters kept going, Bradley's header from James Bree's inswinging corner flying into the stands from close range.

Just before the 20 minute mark Luton went as close as they had, Dewsbury-Hall's fizzing free kick stabbed goalwards by Bradley and Kal Naismith flung himself at the ball, only to miss by a matter of inches.

Dewsbury-Hall then tried his luck from 20 yards, his right-footer falling a few yards wide, with the Hornets restricted to efforts from range, Will Hughes rifling over.

Berry almost timed his run to perfection to beat Bachmann at his near post following Bree's cross, but with half an hour gone, Town fashioned their best opportunity.

Dewsbury-Hall's crossfield ball was perfect for Clark, whose cross was cleared more up than away, allowing Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu to bring the ball down but blaze disappointingly over from eight yards.

Luton didn't let their foot off the accelerator either, Dewsbury-Hall cutting across an effort from outside the box that had Bachmann flying across goal, only just missing the target.

Changing ends, Jones would have been thrilled with his side's effort in the opening 45 minutes, although slightly frustrated that from their 12 shots, none had actually tested Bachmann.

After the break, the visitors improved, as they were always liable to do so, Luton unable to enjoy the kind of territorial dominance they had, with Hughes missing his kick from a decent position, Matty Pearson making an excellent block too.

Although keeping their opponents at arm's length, the Hatters struggled to create any really meaningful chances, Naismith's free kick landing on the Oak Road roof.

Former England midfielder Tom Cleverley came on and also failed to locate the target when the ball was worked to him on the edge of the box, while Adebayo couldn't quite turn Dewsbury-Hall's dipping free kick on target.

On 72 minutes, Luton finally had their first shot on target, Bree's free kick from the angle flipped over by Bachmann.

Town then upped the ante again, as a great break by Mpanzu saw the ball played to Bree, the full back dinking over the perfect cross, but Adebayo, rather than head home, went for the spectacular volley, and only ended up rather comically handballing it.

However, the striker was then quickly involved in the game's major incident on 75 minutes, racing on to an ill-judged backpass, as he was cleaned out by keeper Bachmann.

Referee Gavin Ward, who had fine game himself, pointed to the spot, but having been injured in the challenge, Collins was brought on.

After the Hornets' Francisco Sierralta was cautioned for an attempt to damage the penalty spot, Collins showed no signs of nerves, and with his first touch, coolly sent Bachmann the wrong way to break the deadlock.

Hughes sliced well wide of an instant reply, while with two minutes left, Watford were reduced to 10 men.

Femenia, who had already been booked for a needless push on LuaLua, did exactly the same when the attacker chased a long ball forward, and was shown a second yellow by Ward.

Late in the game, Gray thought he had salvaged a point, netting from a corner, but the linesman's flag meant it was the Town players celebrating, as at the final whistle, the fans who were no doubt watching up and down the country, and abroad as well no doubt, could do exactly that.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Kal Naismith (Dan Potts 90), Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luke Berry (Glen Rea 83), Jordan Clark, Elijah Adebayo (James Collins 77), Kazenga LuaLua.

Subs not used: James Shea, Joe Morrell, Martin Cranie, Ryan Tunnicliffe, George Moncur, Dion Pereira.

Hornets: Daniel Bachmann, William Troost-Ekong, Philip Zinckernagel (Isaac Success 46), Joao Pedro, Achraf Lazaar (Andre Gray 83) Ken Sema (Joseph Hungbo 79), Will Hughes ©, Kiko Femenia, Ismaila Sarr, Carlos Sanchez (Tom Cleverley 60), Francisco Sierralta.

Subs not used: Ben Foster, Craig Cathcart, Dan Gosling, Andre Gray, Christian Kabasele, Joseph Hungbo, Marc Navarro.

Booked: Bradley 29, Femenia 72, Bachmann 75, Sierralta 75, Berry 80.

Sent off: Femenia 88.

Referee: Gavin Ward

Jones dedicates Town's win over the Hornets to the Hatters board and supporters

Town chief felt performance was up there with the best he's seen

Luton boss Nathan Jones dedicated the Hatters’ first home win over their sworn enemy Watford in almost 30 years this afternoon to the club’s board and supporters.

Not since 1993 had Town come out on top against the Hornets, when goals from Kerry Dixon and Paul Telfer secured a 2-1 success at Kenilworth Road back what was then the new Division One.

However, James Collins’ penalty with 12 minutes to go, his very first touch of the ball, saw Luton finally end that run, and deservedly so, as Jones said: “That was a big, significant win, a big, significant performance but what a thoroughly deserved win, a wonderful performance from start to finish as it was deserved.

“We were totally dominant in that game, probably as dominant a performance as we’ve ever had here and I know we’ve had sevens and eights, but judging by the opposition I’m so, so delighted.

“I want to dedicate that to Gary Sweet (chief executive), to the 2020 consortium for the work they’ve done and also our fans, because I know how much that means to everyone here.

“A big win, a win against your rivals and we’ve waited quite a long time.

"It’s 15 years since they’ve played this game, and we’ve been at different levels for 15 years.

“Now we’re at the same level, I don’t know how long for, but all we can do is play who is in front of us and I think we were absolutely magnificent, I’m so proud of the group, the club, everything.”

Town started the contest magnificently, creating chances for Luke Berry, Sonny Bradley, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Kiernan Dewsbury, but couldn’t take any of them to drive home their complete and utter dominance.

Although the second half was more even until Collins netted from the spot, Jones added: "We should have have been further ahead, if there were fans here, that could have been four, five or six, you just never know, but I think the level of performance was outstanding.

“They are a top side and they should be as of what they are, ex-Premier League and so on, and you still have to win games, and they've done that.

"I’m sure they will do it (go up), but today, they got dominated by a wonderful Luton team and I’m so proud of that.”