Mansfield Town vs Luton Town FC (17th Apr 2017)

PUBLISHED 18:51 17th April 2017 Hatters held at Mansfield as Hylton nets goal No.26

MANSFIELD TOWN 1 (Potter 23)

LUTON TOWN 1 (Hylton (pen) 51)

Att: 4,632 (892 Hatters)

The Hatters had to settle for a 17th draw of the season at play-off challenging Mansfield this afternoon as top scorer Danny Hylton netted from the penalty spot to cancel out Alfie Potter’s first-half opener for the Stags.

The Town's 13th 1-1 stalemate, combined with Portsmouth’s win at Notts County, means Nathan Jones’ side will have to go via the play-offs if the season is going to end with promotion to Sky Bet League One, with three games left to confirm a place in the end-of-season shoot-out.

Jones made two changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Leyton Orient on Friday, with left-back Dan Potts – missing for a month since suffering concussion in the goalless draw at Carlisle – and Isaac Vassell, who came off the bench to score the equaliser against the O's, returning to the starting XI.

The Hatters started relatively brightly, Hylton producing a couple of majestic pieces of control to try and get his team-mates into dangerous areas, without a clear-cut chance being created.

A huge shout for as penalty was waved away in the eighth minute when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu tricked his way into the area and fired in a shot from a tight angle that appeared to striker Stags captain Krystian Pearce’s hand.

Then, with a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock, Vassell raced onto a ball down the right and centred for Hylton, who on this occasion couldn’t quite get his touch right.

Mansfield were enjoying as much possession as the Hatters though, and they had what was probably a deserved lead midway through the half.

Hylton had just cleared a George Taft header off the line, as he guarded the right post, when a long-throw on the left was hurled in the centre-half’s direction.

Taft connected once more, this time heading it back for Potter, whose first volley was blocked by Potts, but the former Oxford and Northampton man made no mistake with his second from 15 yards.

The Town gathered themselves and began to get hold of the ball again, James Justin digging out a terrific right-wing cross that looked destined for Potts’ head before a combination of Hylton and Pearce managed to divert it away as they stretched to get to it in the six-yard box.

But it was mainly a period of both sides cancelling each other out as the Stags preserved the advantage until half-time.

As in the first half, the Hatters came out brightly and D’Ath met a Mpanzu right-wing cross with a header that Vassell looked to get on the end of, but couldn’t outmuscle Taft, then Mal Benning ventured up to the other end and cracked a left-footer that flew just over Stuart Moore’s bar.

By the 51st minute the Town were back on terms, Hylton attempting to flick a Justin cross past Taft, who could only halt his progress with the use of a hand. Ref Brown correctly pointed to the spot, and the Town top scorer stepped up to chip his effort nonchalantly down the centre of the goal as Stags keeper Jake Kean dived to his right.

Six minutes later the Hatters almost took the lead when Alan Sheehan traded passes on a short corner routine with D’Ath, and created space for a low left-footed shot that Vassell hurdled, but a defender blocked in the six-yard box, Glen Rea unable to keep his stabbed effort down from the rebound.

Town were in the ascendancy by this point and Mpanzu raced to the byline and clipped a lovely ball to the far post where Potts was denied by some calm defending by Rhys Bennett, before two chances arrived in the space of a minute.

First, on 65 minutes, Hylton crossed from the left but D’Ath couldn’t bend his neck enough to direct his header on target. Then, seconds later, Ollie Palmer – on as a substitute for Vassell – burst between two defenders on the Town right and whipped in a delicious cross that Hylton met with a firm header, but sadly it was too high.

Palmer was having an impact on the ground where he first experienced League football during two years as a Mansfield player, and in the 69th minute it was a foul on him to the left of the penalty area that led to Sheehan bending in another set piece, but the striker couldn’t find the finish inside the six-yard box.

The Stags got a foothold in the game again and Potts had to be alert to block a long-range shot from Taft, before making good progress up the left flank and crossing for Hylton, whose control let him down as he looked to spin Taft in the area.

Mansfield had brought top scorer Matt Green on with ten minutes to go and the former Birmingham frontman almost connected with a low cross from fellow sub Alex MacDonald, then Hylton did meet a right-wing corner from Lee with another header, but again it drifted the wrong side of the woodwork.

Moore had to turn away a powerful shot from MacDonald a minute into time added on, then Bennett headed over from the resulting corner and soon whipped a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box as the Town held on for a point.

TOWN: Moore, Justin, Rea, Cuthbert (c), Sheehan, Potts (O'Donnell 84), Mpanzu, Lee, D'Ath, Hylton, Vassell (Palmer 64). Subs: Smith, Gray, Marriott, Gambin, King (GK)

STAGS: Kean, Bennett, Benning, Pearce (c), Taft, Coulthirst, Potter (Hamilton 77), White (MacDonald 60), Byrom, Whiteman, Rose (Green 80). Subs: Jensen (GK), Collins, Howkins, Arquin

Yellows: Rose, Kean

REFEREE: Mark Brown

PUBLISHED 18:11 17th April 2017 The Hatters sit fourth after the draw with the Stags

Town boss Nathan Jones said he was “content” with the draw at Mansfield Town as the Hatters will now have to fight for a play-off place as both Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth secured automatic promotion from Sky Bet League Two.

The Stags took the lead through Alfie Potter’s rocket from inside the Town box in the first 45 minutes, before Danny Hylton scored from the spot in the second half after George Taft handled inside the area.

Jones said: “I think content is the word, not really happy. We wanted three points, but in terms of the scale of the game and what it means I think it’s pretty much a fair result, it’s not a bad result.

“We negated them to set-plays, that was it. They had no other threat apart from set-plays, we negated that because we controlled the ball, we didn’t go back to front and we didn’t allow them to build any steam up.

“The frustrating thing is we conceded from being sloppy from a set-play. The ball comes out, no one is marking on the edge of the box, people let a runner go and that’s frustrating. No matter how much work you do, that’s just a discipline.

“That’s the only thing. Apart from that we weren’t under any real pressure.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-league-two-mansfield-town-3679583.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9y1siQ2N-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zhhm46MRtw

League Two: Mansfield 1 Luton Town 1

Luton Town saw their slim chances of automatic promotion finally extinguished this afternoon, as they were held 1-1 at Mansfield Town this afternoon, their 17th draw of the campaign.

With Plymouth and Portsmouth both winning, then Hatters' whose hopes of overhauling either side were minimal at best, will now have to hopes they can do it through the play-offs.

However, finishing in the top seven remains by no means a certainty either, as Nathan Jones' side are just four points above Carlisle in eighth, with three games of the season to go.

The visitors made two changes for their trip to the One Call Stadium, with Jordan Cook missing out due to injury and Jack Marriott dropping to the bench, as Dan Potts in for his first start since suffering a head injury at Carlisle a month ago, Isaac Vassell back as well.

Hatters had strong cries for a penalty on seven minutes, when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu bamboozled his man and hammered goalwards, the ball striking Rhys Bennett, but referee Mark Brown signalled for a corner.

The hosts then had the better of territory and possession, with a number of testing deliveries from out wide, as Luton were thankful the official didn't spot Scott Cuthbert's rather blatant holding of George Taft from two corners, the second met by Krystian Pearce, with Danny Hylton hacking off the line.

However, Town's respite didn't last long, as with 24 minutes gone, the hosts led, a long throw headed backwards by Taft, for Alfie Potter to shoot at goal, Potts blocking one effort, but not the second, a left foot volley flying past Stuart Moore.

Hylton couldn't quite reach James Justin's cross, with the ball just flicked off his head, as Luton struggled to really get going in the first 45 minutes, sending nothing of note at Jake Kean's goal.

After the break, Mal Benning tried to make it 2-0 to the hosts, shooting over, before Town won a penalty on 50 minutes when a throw-in was flicked up Hylton and clearly handled in the area by Taft.

Hylton himself stepped up and after a stuttering run up, coolly dinked his attempt over Kean for his 26th of the season, the Stags keeper seeing yellow for tripping Town's forward as he went to retrieve the ball.

With their tails well and truly up, Luton almost had a second when Sheehan played a short corner with Lawson D'Ath, and broke into the box where his shot deflected to Glen Rea who stabbed over.

D'Ath then came close himself, unable to beat Kean with his header from Hylton's whipped cross, before Sheehan made amends for gifting possession away with a crucial intervention at the back.

Former Stags striker Ollie Palmer came on to boos from the home supporters, but almost shoved those back down their throats with a wonderful run and even better cross, Hylton heading narrowly over from close range.

Just when it looked like Town would go from strength to strength, Mansfield, needing victory for their a few play-off hopes, managed to snuff out any late breaks forward by the visitors.

Hylton them almost won it for Luton with two minutes to go, directing his header from Olly Lee's corner past the post as Hatters were held once more.

Stags: Jake Kean, Rhys Bennett, Mal Benning, Krystian Pearce (C), George Taft, Shaq Coulthirst, Alfie Potter (CJ Hamilton 75), Hayden White (Alex MacDonald 60), Joel Byrom, Ben Whiteman, Danny Rose (Matt Green 80).

Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Lee Collins, Kyle Howkins, Yoann Arquis.

Hatters: Stuart Moore, Scott Cuthbert (C), Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan, James Justin, Olly Lee, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Lawson D'Ath, Dan Potts (Stephen O'Donnell 84), Isaac Vassell (Ollie Palmer 64), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Craig King, Jonathan Smith, Jake Gray, Luke Gambin, Jack Marriott.

Booked: Rose 43, Kean 51. Attendance: (4,632 with 892 Luton). Referee: Mark Brown.

Jones left content as Town pick up a point at Stags

Hatters boss Nathan Jones declared himself 'content' by his side’s 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town this afternoon.

Luton had fallen behind in the first half to Alfie Potter’s volley, before levelling five minutes in the second period through Danny Hylton’s 26th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Although the result meant Town could no longer achieve automatic promotion this season, with Plymouth and Portsmouth joining Doncaster in going up, when asked for his thoughts on the outcome, Jones said: “I think content is the word. I’m not really happy as we came, we wanted three points, but in terms of the scale of the game and what it means, I think a point is pretty much a fair result and it’s not a bad point.”

Although Hatters barely threatened home keeper Jake Kean in a low key first half, Jones refuted the suggestion that his side had been below bar.

He continued: “I think that would be a bit harsh. We negated them to literally set-plays, that was it.

“They had no other threat apart from set plays and we negated that as we controlled the ball, we didn’t go back to front and allow them to get any head of steam up.

“The frustrating thing was we conceded from being sloppy from a set play again. Second ball, ball comes out, no-one’s marking on the edge of the box, people let a runner go and that’s frustrating.

“As it doesn’t matter how much work you do, that’s just a discipline. But apart from that, I didn’t feel we were under any real, real pressure.

“We know they’re going to knock balls long, so it seems like you’re under a bit of pressure, but all they do is knock balls long, try and fight, try and get on second balls.

“We negated that and I can’t remember them creating much apart from late on where they just put it in the box.

“So it was quite a controlled performance. I thought second half we were the better ones, but first half, just never really had a killer instinct about us really.”

The closest Town came in the opening period was a back header from home defender Rhys Bennett which required a sprawling stop from his own keeper, as Jones was disappointed by their lack of a goal threat.

He said: "We got in real good areas and that’s what we said at half time, we need a bit more of a ruthless streak.

"As we counter attacked really well, Danny (Hylton) had one, but he wanted to take an extra touch. They want to score perfect goals, instead of sometimes just pulling the trigger.

"Apart from Cameron McGeehan, we don’t score from outside the box, because they don't want to pull the trigger and sometimes it looks wonderful, but we just want to win football matches.

"That's probably the only thing. We looked solid, we competed, these are a very physical front foot, energetic side, but we’re a good side. We don’t get beaten much, we just probably needed to have a bit more killer instinct first half, but I was pleased with the second half."

The result kept Hatters in fourth place, as although their gap to eighth was cut to four points, Jones still felt they were in a strong position with three games to go.

He added: “It was important not to lose the game today, in terms of not to be three points off (eighth).

“So it’s a decent point. These are flying in terms of how they are and their energy.

“They have a manager who drives them on, so we knew it was a dangerous game to come in today, but I thought we acquitted ourselves fantastically well apart from one lapse in concentration, thought we deserved what we got.”

Danny Hylton again proved the main man for Luton Town, as his second half penalty ensured they left Mansfield with a point.

It was not enough to delay Portsmouth or Plymouth's promotion parties, however, as they both picked up victories and confirmed that Nathan Jones' side will have to do it the hard way, via the play-offs, if they want to play League One football next season.

The draw also ended a disappointing Easter weekend, with draws against bottom side Leyton Orient and fellow play-off chasing Mansfield meaning the gap between Luton and eighth is now just four points.

Alfie Potter's first half strike had given the Stags a first-half lead, after his initial shot was blocked.

In truth, it was a poor opening 45 with neither keeper put under any real pressure, but just five minutes after the break Hylton levelled from the spot.

Stuart Moore had to be alert to push Alex Macdonald's strike away in stoppage-time, as the Hatters held on for the 13th 1-1 draw of the season in League Two.

Jones made two changes to the side that drew with Leyton Orient; Jack Marriott and the injured Jordan Cook are replaced by Dan Potts and Isaac Vassell.

Playing as the deepest of the Hatters' midfield three, Olly Lee crunched into two early tackles, the first incensed the home support who wanted him booked.

But the first real incident of the game came in the Stags' box. Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu beat the full-back and opened up his body to fire in a shot that appeared to strike a hand, referee Mark Brown was not interested despite Luton's protests.

As you'd expect from any Steve Evans side, Mansfield put plenty of balls into the box. Cuthbert, Rea and Sheehan all got their heads to clear on numerous occasions and Hylton and Vassell continued to look dangerous on the break.

Hylton, usually Hatters' go to man in the opposition's box, had to be alert to clear a header off the line. However, Town were behind shortly after.

After clearing the first ball into the box, centre-back George Taft got his head to the second and knocked it down for Potter, his first effort was blocked by Rea, but he smashed the second home.

The hosts sensed blood and were on top of Luton, who continued to repel a number of balls into their box. A lack of composure on the ball did not help Jones' side either, gifting the ball back to Mansfield on one too many occasions.

Neither team really troubled the goalkeepers in a turgid first half; Justin's cross just evaded Hylton with Luton's best attack.

Danny Rose was booked for a late tackle on Alan Sheehan, right in front of a furious Steve Evans as the hosts went into the break ahead.

Just five minutes into the second half, Luton were handed a way back into the game.

Top scorer Hylton looked to flick the ball round Taft in the box, and the centre-back used his hand to stop the ball. Brown showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Hylton nonchalantly chipped the ball down the middle to equalise.

Keeper Kean was booked for tripping the striker as he tried to retrieve the ball and Mansfield were rocked.

Ruddock saw his cross tipped away by Kean, hit Bennett and bounce agonisingly wide of the post.

If the first half had been spent defending a barrage of crosses, the second saw Luton take on Mansfield at their own game.

The effervescent Hylton saw his fierce cross balloon off D'Ath's head and into the arms of Kean, before Ollie Palmer showed a different side to his game, beating two men and delivering for Hylton, who headed over.

Mansfield fought their way back into the game, though, and began to pepper the Hatters backline.

There were few clear-cut chances as the game entered the final stages with MacDonald's drive from 25-yards the closest either side came.

Luton: Moore; Justin, Rea, Cuthbert (C), Sheehan, Potts (O'Donnell 84); Lee, Ruddock-Mpanzu, D'Ath; Hylton, Vassell (Palmer 64). Subs: Moore, Gray, Marriott, Smith, Gambin.

Mansfield: Kean; Bennett, Benning, Pearce (C), Taft, Coulthirst, Potter (Hamilton 75), White (MacDonald 60), Byrom, Whiteman, Rose (Green 80). Subs: Jensen Collins, Howkins, Arquin

Nathan Jones called on his Luton Town players to stop trying to score the 'perfect goal' after their latest 1-1 draw at Mansfield.

It is the 13th League Two game this season that the Hatters have drawn 1-1 and their inability to find a winner or close a game out has ultimately cost them an automatic promotion place, with Plymouth and Portsmouth both confirming their promotion this afternoon.

Town fell behind to Alfie Potter's first half strike, before the ever-reliant Danny Hylton equalised from the spot shortly after the break.

Jones' side were never at the races in a tepid opening 45, the boss did not think it was a poor start to the game, however.

"We negated them to literally set-plays, they had no other threats," Jones said. "We negated that because we controlled the ball and we didn't go back-to-front and allow them to get any momentum and so on.

"What's frustrating is we conceded from being sloppy at a set-play, again. The ball comes out and nobody is marking on the edge of the box, people let their runner go. That's frustrating, with the amount of work we do it's just a discipline thing.

"That's the only disappointing thing. Apart from that we didn't feel we were under any real pressure.

"We know they're gong to knock balls on so it seems like we're under pressure; all they do is knock the ball, fight and try to get on the second balls, but we negated that.

"I can't remember them creating much apart from late on when they got it in the box again. It was a controlled performance. Second half we were the better team; first half we just never really a had a killer instinct about us."

Town never tested Mansfield keeper Jake Kean, although Danny Hylton did miss a good chance from close-range.

Playing the ball on the floor and keeping possession is part of Jones' mantra, but his side's reluctance to shoot from outside of the area further frustrated Jones.

"We got in real good areas and that's the trouble," he added. "We need a ruthless streak. We got in some great areas and counter-attacked really well.

"Then they want to take an extra-touch and score the perfect goal; sometimes just pulling the trigger will do. We don't score from outside the box, apart from Cameron McGeehan. They don't want to pull the trigger.

"Sometimes it looks wonderful but we just want to win football matches. We looked solid, we competed. They're a physical, front-foot, energetic side, but we're a good side and we don't get beaten much. We just need more of a killer instinct."

Nathan Jones: Plymouth and Portsmouth are a year ahead of Luton

Nathan Jones believes Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth are a year ahead of Luton after they secured automatic promotion from League Two.

Both Derek Adams and Paul Cook are coming to the end of their second full seasons at their respective clubs and have bounced back from play-off disappointment last season with impressive campaigns.

Jones, on the other hand, only joined Luton halfway through last season, in January, and although he is disappointed at missing out on a top three spot, does not think his side are underachieving this season.

"Congratulations to them [Plymouth and Portsmouth]. They're further down the line than we are," Jones said.

"Both managers there have been together for two years now, in terms of recruitment and groups they've got. They're experienced groups, both of them, so we're a year behind them.

"I want us to realise where we've come from. Yes, I wanted to go up automatically. Yes, my goal was to win the league or go up automatically. We haven't been able to do that.

"The sides that have gone up - congratulations to those three, because they've been together, regardless of their budget, which has helped, but they're sides that have been together.

"They've been able to get experience of that level. They narrowly missed out last year, both of them, and they've gone one step further."

The Town boss is confident his side are heading in the right direction, however, as he continues to 'evolve' the squad.

Promotion via the play-offs would mean they a year ahead of Plymouth and Pompey, according to Jones, and he feels his squad would be fine in League One if they got there.

"If we go up this year through the play-offs we'll be a year ahead of them," Jones added. "At the minute we're a year behind them; in terms of our recruitment and transforming the side into the team we want and the squad we want. It's a work in progress, and that will continue.

"I love my group and they're a good group, but we want to improve on every level. We're constantly evaluating who we'll take forward.

"To come in and go up automatically would be fantastic, but we're a work in progress. To where we were in 18th to being fourth now - I'd defy anyone to say we're underachieving.

"What we want to do is to try and get up. Next year we'll be a good side whatever league we're in. Hopefully we can get up through the playoffs, which will benefit the young group we've got.

"We've done really good work up until now – getting a team from 18th to fourth.. We've done that in just over a year. With another window and another summer, we'll be where they are in terms of squad and everything."