Mansfield Town vs Luton Town FC (23rd Jan 2016)

PUBLISHED 18:01 23rd January 2016 Town give Jones his first win in charge

MANSFIELD TOWN 0-2 LUTON TOWN

Two goals from two players making their first starts in League 2 since October – Paddy McCourt and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu – gave Town boss Nathan Jones his first win in charge.

The pair combined to set each other up for a goal in each half to give the Hatters their first ever league win at Field Mill at the 14th attempt.

It was nothing more than the Hatters deserved for a bright and determined performance against the Stags.

McCourt scored his first for the Town after seven minutes, rounding off a fine team move by side-footing home from Ruddock’s pass.

And nine minutes after the break McCourt turned provider when his cross found Ruddock who turned and belted home a stunning second to seal all three points and a sixth away win of the campaign.

It all began with Nathan Jones making six changes to the side for his first away game in charge of the Hatters.

Ruddock, Craig Mackail-Smith, Cameron McGeehan, Elliot Justham and McCourt all started – while Alan Sheehan was given his Town debut at centre-half alongside captain Scott Cuthbert. Paul Benson and Jack Marriott both dropped to the bench, which also included youth team captain Frankie Musonda. Mark Tyler, Ryan Hall, Magnus Okuonghae and Danny Green all missed out through injury.

And the much-changed Town side were celebrating after just seven minutes when their 360-minute goal drought came to an end thanks to McCourt. Alex Lawless’ superb angled pass over the Stags defence released Ruddock and his low cross across goal from the right was tucked home by the Northern Ireland international from 12 yards. In his first League 2 start since October it was McCourt’s first goal in Luton colours.

Buoyed by taking the lead it was almost 2-0 on 12 minutes when McGeehan raced goalwards unchallenged to fire a well-hit effort from the edge of the box that Mansfield keeper Scott Shearer had to tip over acrobatically.

Seven minutes later McGeehan had an even better opportunity to double the Hatters’ advantage. McCourt rolled a perfect pass from the left flank into McGeehan’s feet and after shifting the ball into position the midfielder’s shot was well-saved by Shearer, diving to his right.

To their credit, Mansfield continued to play some good football in their bid for an equaliser, but the Town defence held firm, marshalled well by Cuthbert Sheehan.

The hosts’ leading goalscorer Matt Green fired over the bar after on 42 minutes but a minute later the Town thought they should have had a penalty when Mackail-Smith went down in the box under a challenge from Ryan Tafazolli but referee Toner waved away the Hatters’ appeals.

It wasn’t until the second added minute at the end of the first half that the Stags seriously tested Justham’s goal when centre-half Krystian Pearce powered a header a yard over the crossbar following a right-wing corner.

Five minutes after the break the Town weren’t far away from making it 2-0 when a quick-thinking free-kick from McGeehan released Ruddock in the box but, before the Hatters man could get a shot away, he was denied by the covering Sean Kavanagh’s challenge.

However Ruddock, like McCourt also making his first League 2 start since October, wasn’t to be denied on 54 minutes when he doubled the lead with a goal of real class. He took down McCourt’s left-wing cross with a lovely first touch and then swivelled past his man to blast past Shearer high into the roof of the net.

With the hosts struggling to test Justham, the Town almost made it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go. Stephen O’Donnell raced onto a Ruddock headed-pass to bomb down the right and find Mackail-Smith but his first-time, goal-bound effort inside the penalty area was bravely-blocked by Pearce.

Two minutes later the hosts did threaten the Town goal but Green could only find the side-netting after initially getting the better of Cuthbert.

The Stags really should have made it 2-1 on 77 minutes only for Adi Yussuf to head over when unmarked in the box after a long throw was flicked-on into his path.

As time ticked down and the hosts begin to run out of ideas, Justham held a late shot from Clements in injury time, before Jones introduced Musonda for his League debut for the final seconds.

The youngster got involved immediately on his fleeting appearance before the final whistle was blown and the Town could celebrate a first League win at Field Mill in 84 years.

Notts County and Yeovil are next to visit Kenilworth Road. BE THERE.

Town: Justham; O’Donnell, Howells, Sheehan, Cuthbert; Smith, Lawless, McCourt (sub Lee 75), Ruddock, McGeehan, Mackail-Smith (sub Marriott 85).

Subs not used: King, Potts, Benson, O’Brien, Musonda.

Attendance: 4,245, including 739 Hatters in the away end.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-mansfield-0-2-town-2917236.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XegLJmwF0pg

League Two: Mansfield Town 0 Luton Town 2

Luton Town finally ended their seemingly never-ending 84-year wait for a league victory at Mansfield, and in some style too, with pretty much the perfect away performance this afternoon.

The visitors hadn’t tasted success at either Field Mill or now the newly-named One Call Stadium, since matches between the two sides began in 1932, but the destiny of the points was never in doubt from the moment Paddy McCourt side-footed into the bottom corner on seven minutes.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu then extended Hatters’ lead in superb fashion 10 minutes after the break, thundering an effort into the top corner, as Luton completed a first victory of 2016 and Nathan Jones’ reign to boot.

If this is what Jones has in store for supporters of a Hatters persuasion, then it could, just could, be the start of something special at Kenilworth Road, as the way Hatters went about their victory, was hugely pleasing on the eye.

That’s not to say the visitors didn’t put their foot through the ball when required, but gone is the direct approach of recent times, as time and time again, Luton played the ball out from the back, and with McCourt, Ruddock Mpanzu and Cameron McGeehan going forward, goalscoring chances are never too far away.

Coupled with a new-found defensive solidity too, as new signing Alan Sheehan looked composed and classy alongside Scott Cuthbert, success might well be around the corner.

The new Luton chief had made a hefty six changes to his side for the clash at the One Call Stadium, bringing midfielder Ruddock Mpanzu in for his first start since October 24.

Meanwhile, McCourt, Elliot Justham, Craig Mackail-Smith, Cameron McGeehan and new signing Alan Sheehan came into the Town starting 11, as Danny Green (ankle), Mark Tyler (back) and Ryan Hall (ankle) were injured, while Paul Benson and Jack Marriott dropped to the bench, with Magnus Okuonghae missing out completely.

Justham easily handled Chris Clements’ long ranger early on, before Luton were in front with their first shot on target, ending a four game drought in the process.

Alex Lawless’ dink over the top was perfect for Ruddock Mpanzu whose low cross was side-footed confidently in to the bottom corner by McCourt, for his first goal for the club.

Hatters pressed for a second with McGeehan winning possession back in the home half, driving forward and seeing a fierce shot flipped over by Scott Shearer.

The recalled midfielder then came close on 18 minutes too, wonderfully found by McCourt’s vision, but with time and space, could only fire weakly for Shearer to palm clear.

Stags striker Matt Green spun well to fire over, but he was well contained by a Hatters side utilising the counter-attack to a tee, content to let their hosts have the ball in front of them and bide their time as the home fans’ frustration grew.

Crucially, Luton were always a threat on the break too, with Mackail-Smith’s hanging cross headed at Shearer by Jonathan Smith.

Mansfield had been restricted to efforts from range, Reggie Lambe shooting at Justham, while Town had calls for a penalty rejected on 43 minutes when Mackail-Smith was barged over by Ryan Tafazolli, with a goal kick given.

Stags threatened once more before the interval, Krystian Pearce leaping highest to meet a corner, heading over the top.

In the second period, the main question was whether Luton would look to try and protect their lead, something they had been guilty off too often earlier in the season, or go for a killer second.

An early corner suggested otherwise, before a quick free kick by McGeehan almost saw Ruddock Mpanzu away, but he couldn’t sort out his feet out in time, with the danger cleared.

However, the midfielder did find the net in simply stunning fashion on 54 minutes, taking McCourt’s cross out of the sky, brushing off a defender and rifling beyond Shearer into the roof of the net.

The goal symbolised everything that a fully-fit Ruddock Mpanzu can bring to Luton, as his pace and power is at times unplayable, and the fact he got stronger as the game wore on, will do his confidence wonders too.

Hatters were then happy to soak up the pressure, by keeping their hosts at arms length, as Mansfield were reduced to half chances at best, Green finding the side-netting.

When they did have a clear sight of goal, Lambe could only direct his free header over, as Town might have extended their lead even further, with McGeehan’s determination to cover every blade of grass, another huge positive.

Jones was even able to give young centre half Frankie Musonda his professional debut in the closing stages to put the gloss on what was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Stephen O’Donnell, Jake Howells, Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan, Alex Lawless, Jonathan Smith, Paddy McCourt (Olly Lee 75), Cameron McGeehan, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Frankie Musonda 90), Craig Mackail-Smith (Jack Marriott 84).

Subs not used: Craig King, Dan Potts, Paul Benson, Mark O’Brien.

Stags: Scott Shearer, Mitchell Rose (Matty Blair 56), Krystian Pearce, Adam Chapman (Jack Thomas 83), Chris Clements, Matt Green, Ryan Tafazolli (C), Nicky Hunt, Reggie Lambe (Adi Yussuf 59), Sean Kavanagh, James Baxendale.

Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Lee Collins, Chris Beardsley, Craig Westcarr.

Booked: Clements 26, Sheehan 65.

Attendance: 4,245 (739 Luton).

Referee: Ben Toner.

Hatters MOM: Paddy McCourt