Mansfield Town vs Luton Town FC (26th Aug 2017)

MATCH REPORT: MANSFIELD 2 LUTON TOWN 2

Hatters fight back from two down to take a valuable point

The Hatters fought back from two goals down at promotion rivals Mansfield this afternoon to take a valuable point home after a thrilling second half at the One Call Stadium.

Pre-season title favourites Mansfield had taken a two-goal lead with goals either side of half-time from Rhys Bennett and Lee Angol.

But Hatters boss Nathan Jones threw Luke Berry on for his debut and Harry Cornick as a third striker, and the changes paid off with James Collins and Danny Hylton – with his first goal of the season on his 50th Town appearance – netting in the last five minutes of normal time to level as the first part of the late drama.

Then, with five minutes of added time up, goalkeeper Marek Stech produced his second brilliant penalty save in the opening four matches of the season to preserve the point after captain Scott Cuthbert had been harshly adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.

Jones made one change from last week’s home win over Colchester, with Cuthbert returning to the starting line-up after missing the 3-0 win over the U’s at Kenilworth Road last Saturday through injury.

Cuthbert replaced Glen Rea at the heart of defence, while new signing Berry – whose move from Cambridge United was completed on Friday in time for him to be eligible for today’s fixture – was on the bench.

The hosts had the first sight of goal with just over a minute on the clock when former Hatters youngster Angol put Kane Hemmings in the clear to the right if the area, but his shot flew well over the bar into the travelling Town fans.

Then, seconds later, right-back Rhys Bennett’s cross caused consternation in the Town six-yard box as Angol went in to challenge Stech, with Jack Stacey’s clearance at the far post hitting Stags skipper Paul Anderson but, thankfully, again the rebound went over the bar.

Mansfield were looking strong in the opening ten minutes, and Alan Sheehan had to be alert to get back goal-side of Hemmings in the ninth minute as the striker looked to profit on another ball over the top, the Irish defender producing a perfectly timed tackle as the Stags man prepared to shoot.

Bennett had a free header from a Joel Byrom corner on 13 minutes that went well wide, then Sheehan had to get across again to deny the rampaging right-back before Anderson shot wide from the edge of the box with a quarter-of-an-hour gone.

The Hatters grew into the game and Sheehan, Olly Lee and Andrew Shinnie combined down the left for the latter to deliver a dangerous cross that James Collins couldn’t quite get on the end of.

Their first sight of goal came in the 18th minute when Shinnie set up Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu for a right-footed shot from 20 yards, but his effort was screwed well wide when a ball to Collins just to his right might have been the better option.

Mansfield took a deserved lead in the 23rd minute after Dan Potts had been shown a yellow card for bringing Angol down in full flow on the Stags’ right. Byrom whipped in a deep free-kick that travelled through a host of bodies in the penalty area and found Bennett waiting to prod home at the far post.

The Hatters fashioned a good chance for an equaliser on the half-hour when Olly Lee and Shinnie worked the ball into Collins on the left, but his strike partner Hylton was prevented from getting on the end of the low cross by a sliding challenge from David Mirfin.

At the other end Stech collected an Angol free-kick safely, then – after Shinnie had been brought down on the Hatters’ right by Anderson – Sheehan curled in a 37th minute free-kick that beat everyone and travelled just wide of the far post.

Town finished the half on the front foot, Shinnie cutting in from the left and firing a low shot that Logan got down to deal with at his near post, but it was the Stags who went in at the break with the single-goal lead.

The Hatters came out of the blocks quickly, Hylton nutmegging Mal Benning on his way to the right byline and cutting back an inviting cross for Collins, but the ex-Crawley man’s volley flew high into the Town supporters behind the goal just 40 seconds into the half.

Almost immediately Mansfield had another go, Stech flying across his goal to push a Jacob Mellis shot away, but Town were looking much more the part after the interval.

Olly Lee did extremely well on the right wing to feed Shinnie just inside the box, but the Scot’s cross-shot was blocked by Logan and Byrom turned the ball behind for a corner, which Lee delivered onto Potts’ head, although the left-back couldn’t keep his effort down.

Lee was starting to have a growing influence on the right, but it was his flick into space for midfield partner Shinnie that resulted in the on-loan Birmingham man picking up an injury that would soon end his afternoon, his studs appearing to catch in the turf as he attempted to turn.

Shinnie’s 58th-minute departure brought new signing Berry into the action for his Town debut as part of a double substitution, with Rea also coming on for Alan McCormack, the former Brighton man dropping into a back three, with Berry the furthest forward in a new five-man midfield.

Logan held a 25-yard free-kick from Sheehan after Hylton had been pushed by Krystian Pearce, and the Town were taking a firmer grip on the game, but it was the hosts who had the next attempt, Benning firing across Stech in the 70th minute, but safely wide from the Hatters’ perspective.

That wasn’t the case a minute later, however, when Angol burst into the left side of the penalty area and slipped his shot past the advancing Stech for the Stags’ second goal.

Hemmings was soon trying to increase the Mansfield advantage, but his left-foot half-volley was well wide, then Jones made his third and final substitution with 15 minutes to go – Cornick thrown on as part of a front three, with Olly Lee making way.

The recent signing from Bournemouth was the next Town player to have a go, his curling 84th-minute effort after cutting in from the left flank was always rising though.

A minute later the Town halved the deficit, Stacey racing to the right byline and sliding a terrific low cross into the six-yard box for Collins to ram home his fifth goal of the season.

Then, four minutes later and with just a minute of normal time remaining, came the leveller. Cuthbert took a short throw to Hylton and then the captain slung a deep cross to the far post, where Potts and Collins kept the ball live, the former delivering a delightful chip into the middle for Hylton to force the ball over the line.

Two minutes into five added on the Town looked to have created a chance to win it, Mpanzu flying down the right and eventually shooting wide after getting the ball back from Stacey.

Then, with five minutes of injury time up, came the late drama.

Will Atkinson threw a cross in from the right and referee Joyce pointed to the penalty spot after Cuthbert flicked the ball clear at the far post, penalising the centre-half for an apparent handball – although replays suggested it had been headed by the skipper.

Stech dived low to his left to keep out Jimmy Spencer’s penalty with another stunning save, then Danny Rose blasted the rebound over as the Town clung onto take a valuable, hard-earned point back down the M1.

TOWN: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert ©, Sheehan, Potts, McCormack (Rea 58), Mpanzu, O Lee (Cornick 75), Shinnie (Berry 58), Hylton, Collins. Subs: Justin, Gambin, Shea (GK), E Lee

Yellows: Potts, McCormack, Sheehan, Cuthbert, Berry, Stech

Goals: Collins 85, Hylton 89

MANSFIELD: Logan, Bennett, Benning, Pearce, Mellis (Digby 75), Angol (Spencer 90), Anderson ©, Atkinson, Mirfin, Hemmings (Rose 82), Byrom. Subs: Olejnik (GK), MacDonald, Taft, Sterling-James.

Yellows: Mellis, Benning, Hemmings, Byrom, Angol, Bennett

Goals: Bennett 23, Angol 71

REFEREE: Ross Joyce

ATTENDANCE: 4,665 (987 Hatters)

NATHAN JONES ON THE DRAW WITH MANSFIELD TOWN

Town boss Nathan Jones labelled this afternoon's draw against Mansfield "a wonderful advert for League Two" as his side fought from two goals down to snatch a point at the One Call Stadium.

Rhys Bennett gave the hosts the lead as he hammered home from close range, before Lee Angol doubled the lead with a smart finish past Marek Stech midway through the second half.

The Hatters fought back though as James Collins prodded in from Jack Stacey's cross with five minutes to go, with Danny Hylton levelling the score four minutes later. Marek Stech then made arguably the most important save of his short

Town career so far, diving to his left to deny Jimmy Spencer from the penalty spot deep into injury time, after Scott Cuthbert was deemed by the referee to have handled inside the box.

Jones said: "I thought it was a wonderful advert for League Two football. Credit it to them, it was a very difficult place to come to. They changed shape, matched us up and were the better side for 45 minutes.

"We didn't get to grips with it. We didn't get enough of the ball, we didn't play with enough energy. We didn't win the second balls. We didn't win the battle first half, second half we were better.

"We had to change shape which suited us a little bit more on the day and it caused them a lot more problems apart from on the counter for one goal. But after that I thought we were excellent. They could have nicked it, but 2-2 is a fair result. I thought the two sides had a right go.

"I think it was a bit of us not performing and them performing well in the first half. Credit it to them they matched us up and stopped us playing, they got in our faces. They won their second balls and they got a foot in.

"We were brave and got a foothold in the game and until half-time we didn't. I thought we reacted superbly in the second half and it was a magnificent comeback."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n966lHjYND8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcLIVgKVc-A

Stech saves from the spot to salvage a point as Town fight back

League Two: Mansfield 2 Luton 2.

Where to start!

With 10 minutes to go, Luton were looking down the barrel of their second away defeat of the season this afternoon, with what had been shaping into a bitterly disappointing contest at Mansfield.

Then, out of nowhere, James Collins made it 2-1 with five minutes to go, before Danny Hylton stooped to head home in the 89th minute, as the strike pairing looked like they had rescued a point, or given Town a platform to steal a stunning victory.

However, the action didn't stop there, as in stoppage time, Scott Cuthbert was penalised for handball inside the area, giving Mansfield the chance to win it from the spot.

But, Marek Stech proved to be Hatters' hero yet again, as he repelled Jimmy Spencer's tame spot kick, with Danny Rose volleying the rebound over, as Luton emerged with a point on what became a truly breathless 90 minutes at the One Call Stadium.

Going into the game, Town made one change to the side who beat Colchester, with Cuthbert returning for Glen Rea, while new signing Luke Berry was handed a place on the bench.

Both teams were heavily tipped by the bookies to be promotion challengers in the summer, but it has to be said, the Stags lived up to their billing of title favourites during the first half, with a direct display that Luton failed to deal with.

The visitors were the architects of their own downfall at times, giving away free kick after free kick, as they were just never able to impose themselves on a physical and clearly up for it Stags.

Mansfield had a sighter on four minutes, new signing Kane Hemmings rifling over the top, before Lee Angol just couldn't quite reach Rhys Bennett's cross, Jack Stacey's clearance hitting Paul Anderson and fortunately missing the target.

It took Luton a good 20 minutes to fashion a chance, with the ball rebounding into Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's path, but his effort was wayward, with Collins screaming for a pass.

Mansfield then got the goal they fully deserved on 22 minutes, although Town will not be pleased with the ease in which they did, a free kick swung into the area where Rhys Bennet poked it beyond Stech.

Stags looked for a second, Angol's free kick straight at Setch, as Alan McCormack and Jacob Mellis's constant nibbling at each other eventually wore out the patience of referee Ross Joyce, who booked the pair for some off the field argy bargy.

Finally Town made their former keeper Conrad Logan work on the stroke of half time, Andrew Shinnie's shot easily gathered.

After the break, Luton tried to gain some immediate momentum, Hylton nutmegging his man on the byline and crossing for Collins to volley over.

Stech had to remain alert though get a strong hand behind Mellis's drive though, but Luton already looked like they had more about them, with their opponents already beginning to retreat.

Shinnie's cross shot parried by Logan and put behind, with Dan Potts powering a header over from the corner, while Jones introduced Berry for a hugely impressive cameo in a double switch, as Glen Rea came on too, Shinnie and McCormack making way.

Town now had a monopoly of possession, Mansfield only offering the meekest of threats, with Angol trying to run the play down in the corner, despite a full 20 minutes of play remaining.

It looked like Luton's chances of gaining anything from the game were blown on 71 minutes though as Rea's heavy first touch saw him give the ball away with his second, and Angol was sent away to slide the ball under the advancing Stech.

That looked like it would be that, but Mansfield hadn't reckoned for Luton's fighting spirit, with Stacey sprinting down the wing and his inviting cross was turned home by Collins on 85 minutes.

Now with their tails up, Luton sensed a leveller and they got it just four minutes later as Dan Potts sent over the most perfect delivery for Hylton to nod home from a yard out.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu wasn't far away from making it an ever better turnaround, before Luton were thankfully to their giant Czech in goal, after Cuthbert was adjudged to have handled.

Stech got down low to repel Spencer's penalty, and then saw Rose waste the rebound to ensure Luton left with a point to their name, which in the end, felt like all three.

Stags: Conrad Logan, Rhys Bennett, Mal Benning, Krystian Pearce, Jacob Mellis (Paul Digby 75), Lee Angol (Jimmy Spencer 89), Paul Anderson (C), Will Atkinson, David Mirfin, Kane Hemmings (Danny Rose 82), Joel Byrom.

Subs not used: Bobby Olejnik, Alex MacDonald, George Taft, Omari Sterling-James.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan, Alan McCormack (Glen Rea 58), Olly Lee (Harry Cornick 75), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie (Luke Berry 58) Danny Hylton, James Collins.

Subs: James Shea, James Justin, Elliot Lee, Luke Gambin.

Booked: Potts 22, McCormack 33, Mellis 33, Sheehan 56, Benning 67, Hemmings 72, Byrom 73, Angol 82, Berry 90, Stech 90, Spencer 90.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Attendance: 4,665 (987 Luton).

Jones praises Town's 'superb' reaction in Mansfield draw

Luton boss Nathan Jones lauded his side’s ‘superb’ reaction as they fought back from 2-0 down with just 19 minutes to go, to draw 2-2 at Mansfield Town yesterday afternoon.

The Hatters looked like they would come away from the One Call Stadium empty-handed after Lee Angol added to Rhys Bennett’s opener to give the hosts breathing space.

However, Town had other ideas though, as James Collins and Danny Hylton both scored in the final five minutes to make it 2-2, while Marek Stech saved a stoppage time penalty to ensure a point for the visitors.

Jones said: “I thought it was a wonderful advert for League Two football in terms of everything.

“It’s a very difficult place to come to, first and foremost, credit to them, they changed shape, matched us up, and were the better side for 45 minutes.

“We didn’t get to grips with it, didn’t get hold of the ball, didn’t play with enough energy, didn’t win the second ball, didn’t win the battle really first half and they were better.

“They stopped us playing, they’ve gone in our faces and got on second balls and just had a little bit more of a footing in the game.

“Every time we got it down and were brave and played, then we got a foothold in the game, until half time we didn’t.

“I wouldn’t say we were lucky to be 1-0, because all they had was set plays to put in our box, but I thought we reacted superbly well second half and it was a magnificent comeback.”

Jones made three changes in the second period, bringing on Luke Berry for his debut, plus Glen Rea and Harry Cornick too, as he continued: “Second half, we had to change shape, which suited us a little bit more on the day and we caused them a lot more problems.

“We got hit on the counter for one goal, but I thought after that we were excellent.

“The game changers that came on were excellent, Luke Berry looked bright, Glen has fitted in as he does anyway, then H gave us a real impetus and a forward thinking-ness, and a real bit of guile as well.

“So, I was very, very pleased with that, and after being 2-0 down, you’re delighted with 2-2 and especially with right at the end and them getting the penalty and Marek saving it.

“We don’t like chasing the games, but it happens sometimes as we conceded from that set play, and then fair play to them, they countered, they’ve got good quality, we know that and they took it well.

“But the reaction from my players after that was absolutely magnificent, we knew if we got one, we would push and push and push and look for another one and we got that.

“At the end, we probably could have nicked it, but we also could have lost it with the penalty decision.”

Hatters** boss felt it was never a penalty**

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt it would have been a travesty had Luton been beaten by the penaly he felt never was at Mansfield yesterday afternoon.

With time almost up and the Hatters hauling themselves back from 2-0 down to 2-2, it looked like their hard work would go to waste when referee Ross Joyce adjudged captain Scott Cuthbert had handled a high ball into the area.

The skipper was booked for his protestations afterwards, but keeper Marek Stech was to prove the hero of the hour, saving Jimmy Spencer’s penalty, his second successive stop from 12 yards, while Danny Rose blasted the rebound over too.

Jones said: “It’s not a pen, he’s headed the ball, we’ve looked at it and he’s headed the ball.

“It was a difficult game for the referee today, I mean a really difficult game, there’s a lot goes on when you play Mansfield, a lot goes on in the game that is a distraction at times.

“It was all good natured and driving the team forward though, but Marek pulled off a fantastic save as he has done on three occasions now.

"We’re delighted with that as it would have been an absolute travesty if we would have lost the game.

“We’d have felt aggrieved if we had lost it on that penalty, especially after everything that has gone on and it would have been very, very harsh if we had lost the game."

Striker Danny Hylton was also unsure over whether the spotkick should have been awarded, saying: “I don’t quite know if it was a penalty.

“Scotty said it definitely didn’t hit his hand, the referee said it definitely did, so we’ll have to have a watch later.

“Thankfully Stechy’s been brilliant since he’s come in, made some unbelievable saves and he did his job today and got us a point.”

Stech's spot kicks heroics cap astonishing Luton comeback at Mansfield

Mansfield Town 2 Luton Town 2

The finest Hollywood script writers would be hard pushed to pen a less believable ending to Luton Town's game at Mansfield Town.

Two goals down with five minutes remaining, the Hatters, who had been second best all afternoon, suddenly found a second gear and pulled level with two goals in three minutes from James Collins and Danny Hylton.

But all that good work looked unbelievably to have been undone when, in the final minute of stoppage time, Scott Cuthbert was penalised for handling a cross from the right.

However, keeper Marek Stech wrote himself straight into Hatters folklore by diving to his left to keep out Jimmy Spencer's spot kick before being booked for celebrating wildly with his team-mates.

Over the 90 minutes, it's hard to argue that Luton deserved it from a game dominated by and large by the hosts. But based on the character and determination shown in those final few minutes, it was a point well earned.

Luton started with new signing Luke Berry on the bench, while skipper Cuthbert went straight back into the side following a fortnight on the sidelines with injury.

Mansfield started the season as the only team ahead of the Hatters in the bookies' odds for the League Two title, and they showed why with a dominant first 45 minutes as the visitors failed to get to grips with the game.

Kane Hemmings, signed only this week on loan from Oxford United, blasted over after beating the offside trap before Jack Stacey and Dan Potts made vital clearances, and it took until 20 minutes in for Luton to register a shot on goal as Pelly-Rudock Mpanzu drilled wide from the edge of the area.

Minutes later, however, Mansfield took the lead when a free kick swung in from the right was not dealt with and turned in by Rhys Bennett at the far post.

Luton responded by creating a couple of half chances towards the end of the first 45, with Hylton being crowded out and Andrew Shinnie seeing a tame effort saved at the near post, and the same player tested former Hatter Conrad Logan, between the sticks for the hosts, with a cross shot for the first chance of the second half.

Stech did well to palm away from Jacob Mellis at the other end, and just before the hour mark, manager Nathan Jones rolled the dice with a double substitution, bringing on Berry for his debut as well as Glen Rea, the duo replacing Shinnie and Alan McCormack.

But it made little difference as Luton still struggled to make the breakthrough, and there was a warning for the Hatters when Mal Benning blasted across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

The warning was not heeded, however, and Mansfield had their second with just under 20 minutes remaining, sub Rea giving the ball away and former Hatter Lee Angol charging through before slotting the ball calmly past Stech.

Hemmings almost made the game safe soon after as his shot from outside the area whizzed just wide of Stech's far post, but just when the result seemed in the bag for the Stags, Luton's flying full backs inspired the comeback.

First, Stacey tore up the right, played a neat one-two and crossed for Collins to poke home from a few yards out, and then Potts put a ball in from the left for Hylton to apply the finishing touch.

A frantic five minutes of injury time saw both sides push for a winner, and it looked like the hosts had got it when the referee pointed to the spot, but Stech proved to be the hero once more.

HATTERS: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts, McCormack (Rea), Mpanzu, Lee. O (Cornick), Hylton, Collins, Shinnie (Berry). Subs: Shea, Justin, Gambin, Lee. E.

Luton showed character and desire in Mansfield comeback, says manager

Manager Nathan Jones praised the character and desire of his Luton Town side following their stunning comeback at Mansfield Town this afternoon.

The Hatters came back from two goals down with strikes from James Collins and Danny Hylton in the last five minutes before Marek Stech's last gasp penalty save preserved the point.

Luton had been second best for much of the game, but somehow found something from deep within to clinch what looked for much of the game an unlikely share of the spoils.

Jones said: "We don't like chasing games but it happens sometimes, and the reaction from my players was absolutely magnificent. We knew if we got one we would push and push for another, and at the end we could have nicked it, but we also could have lost it with the penalty.

"The manner of that comeback. To show that character and those levels of fitness, that desire and a little bit of craft as well – because they weren't just long balls, we carved our way through with some great play.

"Both of our full backs turned into wing backs with the change in shape and both provided assists for our centre forwards, who are in excellent form. They were two wonderful balls in – Collo couldn't miss, and Pottsy could have blasted it but clipped it into an area which invited Hylts to get on the end of it.

"To be 2-0 down we're delighted with 2-2, especially with Marek saving the penalty at the end. He pulled off a great save and we were delighted as we would have been aggrieved if we had lost it on that penalty after all that had gone on. It would have been very very harsh.

"It's not a penalty as he's (Scott Cuthbert) headed the ball, but it was a real difficult game for the referee, there was a lot going on. When you play Mansfield a lot goes on in the game which is a distraction at times, but it was all good natured."

For all that, Jones admits his side could have made it easier for themselves had they shown up for a first half dominated by the hosts.

Mansfield could and should have found themselves more than just a goal up at the break and will be kicking themselves for losing their stranglehold on the game.

Jones added: "It's a very diffcult place to come to and they were the better side for 45 minutes. We didn't get to grips with it and didn't get hold of the ball. We didn't play with enough energy, didn't win second balls and didn't win the battles first half.

"Second half we changed shape which suited us more and caused them a lot of problems. We got hit on the counter but after that we were excellent. We could have nicked it, but 2-2 was a fair result as the two sides had a right go.

"They got to the second balls and got in our faces, but once we got it down and were brave and played we got a foothold in the game. Second half was more us but first half we didn't do ourselves justice, and that's what cost us really.

"Man for man they were better than us in the first half. We actually started the second half well and then decided to make the change, and it was a good change in the end because it gave us a real foothold in the game and we created a lot more."