Newport County AFC vs Luton Town FC (21st Mar 2017)

PUBLISHED 22:29 21st March 2017 Hatters held by Exiles after Hylton's 24th of the season

NEWPORT COUNTY 1 (Rigg 29)

LUTON TOWN 1 (Hylton 5 (pen))

Att: 2,304 (311 Hatters)

The Hatters were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Newport County at Rodney Parade tonight after Danny Hylton’s early penalty was cancelled out by a stunning free-kick from the Exiles’ striker Sean Rigg before half-time.

Hylton had set the Town on their way to what promised to be a win that would take Nathan Jones’ men to within three points of third-placed Portsmouth, winning and converting the fifth-minute penalty that brought about his 24th goal of the season.

But Rigg’s 25-yard blast just before the half-hour ensured it would be a 12th 1-1 draw of the campaign for the Hatters, leaving the manager frustrated once again after a taking just three points from the last 12 on offer to keep the Town in fifth position.

Jones made four changes to his starting line-up from the one that drew 1-1 at home with Exeter on Saturday, with centre-halves Johnny Mullins and captain Scott Cuthbert returning after injury, and Isaac Vassell coming back in up front with Ollie Palmer in for his first Town start after nine substitute appearances since joining on loan from Leyton Orient at the end of January.

Vassell started on the right, with Palmer and Hylton right up top but it was County striker Rigg who had the game’s first attempt on goal in the second minute, curling just wide of the angle of post and crossbar from 20 yards.

It took just a few seconds for the Town to take the lead, however, when Palmer’s long throw caught the home defence unawares and Hylton raced clear into the box.

The top scorer cut back inside covering defender Sid Nelson, but the Newport man’s trailing leg caught Hylton as he slid and referee Charles Breakspear did not hesitate to point to the spot.

It was the third penalty Breakspear had awarded the Town against County this season after the two that Cameron McGeehan netted at Kenilworth Road in August, but there were no complaints from the hosts and Hylton calmly rolled the ball past goalkeeper Joe Day from 12 yards.

Newport tried to respond immediately with Darren Jones heading a deep free-kick over the bar, although that was a rare high ball into the box that Cuthbert didn’t get his head on in the early stages.

County went close again when the skipper finally did put a foot wrong and miscued a clearance, but Alex Samuel volleyed just wide after David Pipe had wrestled possession away from Cuthbert and Matt Macey.

The hosts were deservedly level in the 28th minute when, after Glen Rea had brought down Samuel 25 yards from goal, Rigg stepped up to crack a stunning free-kick past Macey.

With County taking a grip on the midfield battle on a difficult pitch, and Rigg being given a couple of further opportunities to try his luck from distance, it took until two minutes before half-time for the Town to register their second attempt on goal.

Cuthbert started the move, emerging from his own box with the ball after robbing Samuel to feed Hylton on the right. The Hatters goalscorer then played Palmer down the channel to spring the Exiles’ offside trap, but Day proved equal to his powerful angled drive, tipping it over the bar at full stretch.

At half-time Jones brought James Justin on at left-back, in place of Hylton, with Mullins shifting across to right-back and Sheehan inside to centre-half, with O’Donnell moving to the right side of midfield and Vassell up front alongside Palmer.

The Hatters started the second half brightly, with Sheehan sending a couple of free-kicks in from the right wing and Cook delivering a corner from the left that Cuthbert was primed to head home until former Hatter Mark O’Brien headed clear just in front of him.

It was County who had the first real sight of goal again though when Scott Bennett fired over from the edge of the box on 56 minutes, just before Justin dug out a cross from the left byline for Palmer, who headed wide at the far post.

Vassell did well out by the left corner flag to beat two Newport defenders and create space for a low shot that was blocked in the 64th minute, but Jones was soon forced into his second substitution, with Mullins pulling up injured and Olly Lee coming on in his place.

As the Town reshuffled again with Rea dropping into right-back and Lee replacing him in the holding role, and Newport sub Tom Owen-Evans was soon presented with a glorious chance to give the Exiles the lead on 69 minutes, but Macey produced a terrific fingertip save to keep the scores level.

With 74 minutes played, O’Donnell and Cook combined to try to get Palmer into the right side of the area but the County defence stood strong, then Cook tried his luck from 20 yards seconds before Jones threw Jack Marriott on in his place with his final substitution.

Soon after County captain Joss Labadie was booked for simulation in the Town box, Vassell’s pace took him clear of O’Brien with eight minutes to go, and the former Hatters defender was shown a second yellow card for bringing him down in full flow.

The Hatters tried to take advantage immediately when Cuthbert met Sheehan’s right-wing corner, but couldn’t keep his header down, then ten-man Newport went up the other end with Samuel flashing an effort just wide before substitute Marlon Jackon did similar.

Samuel had another sniff in the 88th minute when Macey had to get down low to his right to make a save, but the Hatters had the best chance to settle it four minutes into time added on when Vassell stood up a great cross from the right and Palmer headed goalwards, but a combination of a home defender and Day managed to smuggle the ball away from the goalline.

TOWN: Macey, O'Donnell, Cuthbert (c), Mullins (Lee 68), Sheehan, Mpanzu, Rea, Cook, Hylton (Justin 46), Vassell, Palmer. Subs: Smith, Marriott, D'Ath, Famewo, Moore (GK)

COUNTY: Day, Butler, Jones, Labadie (c), Samuel (Owen-Evans 56), Bennett, Pipe, Nelson, O'Brien, Rigg, Bird (Jackson 85). Subs: Bittner (GK), Barnum-Bobb, Demetriou, Williams, Gordon.

Yellows: Rigg, O’Brien, Labadie, Pipe, Owen-Evans

Reds: O’Brien

REFEREE: Charles Breakspear

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side were naïve in their performance at Rodney Parade as they drew 1-1 with Newport County.

The Hatters took the lead through Danny Hylton as he converted from the penalty spot after just five minutes when he was brought down, but the hosts levelled the game through a well taken free-kick by Sean Rigg.

The result leaves the Hatters in fifth place with 60 points.

Jones said: “I am disappointed really with the result. We came here, it’s a horrific pitch, it’s a difficult place to come to and get any fluency. We picked a side to battle. We got off to a great start. And then we were the victims of our own downfall if I am honest. Not downfall, but we drew the game because we were a bit naïve in the end in a lot of ways and we keep making the same errors. It’s a bit frustrating.

“In the first half we were poor all over. We didn’t win our first headers, we didn’t get on seconds. We didn’t stick to the game plan, we were nowhere near. We should have had a penalty just on half-time, it’s a clear-cut penalty, absolutely clear cut. But that’s the only chances we had of any note in the first half.

“Second half we changed things, we were more on the front foot. We had some opportunities and some play, but I think a draw is a fair result and credit to Newport, they battled for their life. We showed plenty of endeavour, but we were naïve tonight, really naïve.”

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-football-league-two-newport-county-3637660.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u1bUEFe02o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XoO3jzHc3I

League Two: Newport County 1 Luton Town 1

Luton Town failed to take advantage of their game in hand as they dropped points for the umpteenth time this season in a thoroughly disappointing draw at struggling Newport County last night.

With matches starting to run out, Hatters knew a win was the only acceptable outcome against a side second from bottom in the table, notching just two victories on home soil this term.

It had all looked on course too after four minutes when Danny Hylton opened the scoring from the spot, but Luton were pegged back on 28 minutes, before a now all too familiar scenario of trying and failing to net a winner in the second period, ensured a 12th 1-1 scoreline of the season.

Town made four changes from Saturday's draw with Exeter as Scott Cuthbert, Johnny Mullins, Isaac Vassell and Ollie Palmer all came back in for Jonathan Smith, Jack Senior, Jack Marriott and Luke Gambin.

Sean Rigg sent an early effort from range narrowly wide, before Town won a spotkick on four minutes when Palmer's quick throw sent Hylton away.

The striker cut inside Sid Nelson to draw a reckless challenge from the centre half, with referee Charles Breakspear, who gave Luton both their penalties in the 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road, whistling in the visitors' favour once more.

Hylton stepped up to send Day the wrong way and comfortably notch his 24th of the season.

On a shocking pitch, which made any kind of passing football a lottery, Cuthbert was almost caught out when he sliced a clearance towards his own goal and when Matt Macey couldn't hold on, Alex Samuel hooked wide on the turn.

The hosts equalised through the half when a free kick some 30 yards was taken by Rigg and he fired it past Macey, who could only stand motionless and watch it fly past him.

Although it appeared to swerve slightly in the air, it appeared a costly error from the keeper after Luton had been working so hard, Cuthbert in particular, to try and maintain a clean sheet.

That saw the hosts with their tails up, as they were first to everything, especially in midfield, with Luton forced to dig in and remain on level terms.

On the stroke of half time, Town may have led 2-1 themselves, Palmer springing the offside trap to race clear cut in before seeing his angled shot tipped over by Day.

Hylton had further penalty shouts in stoppage time waved away by Breakspear, as the striker wasn't to reappear for the second period, replaced by James Justin.

Although Luton were the dominant force in terms of possession during the early moments of the second period, County went closest, Scot Bennett's 20-yard volley only just clearing the bar.

Justin reached the byline and crossed for Palmer to head wide as Town once again struggled to produce a clinical edge that has stunted their automatic promotion hopes.

Mullins was forced off on 67 minutes after what looked like a recurrence of his leg injury, as Town were indebted to a stunning stop from Macey to keep them level on 70 minutes, superbly keeping Tom Owen-Evans' shot out.

Breakspear then didn't endear himself to the home fans by booking Joss Labadie for diving in the area, while with seven minutes to go, he reduced the hosts to 10 men, former Hatter Mark O'Brien shown a second yellow for cynical lunge on Vassell who was clean through.

Despite the numerical advantage, it was the hosts who looked the more like scoring, Samuel and Marlon Jackson inches away with, with the former testing Macey low down.

However, in the final moment of stoppage time, Town should have won it, Vassell dinking over a cross, only for Palmer to see his header cleared off the line.

Hatters head to Colchester this weekend, in desperate need of a positive result if they are to have any chance of maintaining their swiftly dwindling hopes of automatic promotion.

Exiles: Joe Day, Dan Butler, Darren Jones, Joss Labadie (C), Alex Samuel Scot Bennett, David Pipe, Sid Nelson (Tom Owen-Evans 55), , Mark O'Brien, Sean Rigg, Ryan Bird (Marlon Jackson 85).

Subs not used: James Bittner, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, Mickey Demetriou, Aaron Williams, Jaanai Gordon.

Hatters: Matt Macey, Stephen O'Donnell, Alan Sheehan, Scott Cuthbert, Johnny Mullins (Olly Lee 67), Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Cook (Jack Marriott 77), Isaac Vassell, Danny Hylton (James Justin 46), Ollie Palmer.

Subs not used: Stuart Moore, Lawson D'Ath, Akin Famewo, Jonathan Smith.

Booked: Rigg 48, O'Brien 66, Pipe 89, Owen-Evans 90.

Sent off: O'Brien 83.

Attendance: 2,304 (311 Luton).

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Star man: Scott Cuthbert. Immense all night

Town chief Nathan Jones hit out at his side’s continued displays of naivety during the 1-1 draw with relegation threatened Newport County last night.

After taking the lead through Danny Hylton’s 24th goal of the season from the penalty spot inside five minutes, Hatters were pegged back midway through the half when Sean Rigg’s free kick deceived keeper Matt Macey who was left rooted to the spot.

Although disappointed with the manner of the goal, Jones was also exasperated that his side kept on giving the Exiles chances to pepper their area from set-plays, despite implicit warnings prior to the game.

He said: “Credit to Newport, they battled for their life and ours showed plenty of endeavour, but we were naive, really naive and that’s the disappointing thing as we’re not learning and that’s frustrating.

“I’ll have to see it again (the equaliser) before I comment, but the amount of free kicks we give away in the game are phenomenal.

“We say about it and they keep giving free kicks away, keep doing stupid stuff.

“Sides at this level want you to give them free kick and throw ins, so they can just smash it in your box and that’s the biggest naivety for me as we kept doing that.

“I don’t know what it is, just the naivety. Late on, we just kept doing it, ‘oh go on, try and get yourself a winner’ and at the end I’m delighted not to have conceded.

“It’s just frustrating, so frustrating, honestly.”

Defender Scott Cuthbert, who was magnificent on the night, also couldn’t hide his irritation at the amount of free kicks on offer for the home side once Town had moved in front.

He said: “With the pitch and conditions, you’ve got to play a certain way and we set up to play that certain way.

“I felt like we were comfortable and we just let them get back into the game, ground us down by giving stupid fouls away, bringing their big boys up.

“We wanted to stay solid and not give away any chances, but too many in terms of fouls around the box, long throws, corners, free kicks.

“When you’re giving them the attempts to pump the ball in the box, sometimes something’s got to give and unfortunately they’ve scored from a free kick.

“It’s disappointing from our point of view, as we just couldn’t get back into the game.”

Meanwhile, Luton won a number of free kicks themselves, but time and time again, sent them straight down County keeper Joe Day’s throat as boss Jones was heavily critical of his side’s final ball once more.

He continued: “We had enough set plays to put our head on the ball and score a goal. We have enough good deliverers of set plays, but we didn’t do that.

“How many set-plays did we have that we don’t look like scoring from? The work we do on them, I don’t know. It’s really, really puzzling and super super frustrating, it really is.

“Second half we were a little bit more on the front foot, had some more chances, but we got in good areas without capitalising on anything and when we do put balls in we don’t attack them with enough aggression or know how and we don’t pick people out.

“We’ve had enough opportunities, we broke away and we’re not picking out the right pass, the frustrating thing is we show them and it seems like they didn’t listen.

“We showed them on the video, showed them again, showed them again, we show them again and we show them again and we go through it in training, go through it in training and then we make the same mistakes.

“It’s a frustrating night, it really is and symptomatic of what we’ve been like as we create more chances than most sides, but sides nick one and we don’t seem to do that. We seem to have to play super well to win.”

The end result was yet another draw for the Hatters, their 14th of the campaign and third in four matches, a stat that Jones knows is far too high.

He added: “That’s not unlucky, that can’t just be unlucky. Look, we’re very rarely clinging on, it’s just a thing of capitalising.

“I’m disappointed with that as you’d rather have two wins, two defeats because at least you have more points.

“That’s been symptomatic, we’ve not been under massive amount of pressure to defend late on in games,

“The first half we were poor all over, we didn’t win our first headers, didn’t get on seconds, we didn’t stick to the gameplan, we were nowhere near.

“We should have had a penalty at half time as well, it’s a clear cut penalty, absolutely clear cut, but that was the only incidents of any note we had.

“Second half we changed things, we came out, we were more on the front foot and had some opportunities and some play, but I think draw’s a fair result.

“We’ve had too many draws and that’s cost us, and we’re where we are in the league because of that.

“But we’ve got to battle on, we’ve got eight more games and have got to try and go on a run. We don’t get beat very often, but we don’t half draw a lot of games.”

Hatters boss Nathan Jones has yet again challenged his side to show they want to be playing in League One next term as they were held to yet another 1-1 draw, this time at struggling Newport County last night.

Luton once more blew a great chance to make up ground on third placed Portsmouth, as they made it four matches without a win, drawing for the third straight match on Tuesday evening, failing to take advantage of their game in hand.

Speaking afterwards, a hugely disappointed Jones said: “It’s a horrific pitch, a difficult place to come to in terms of getting any fluency or anything, but we picked a side to battle, got off to a great start and then we drew the game because we’re a bit naive and keep making the same errors, so it’s frustrating.

“I’m disappointed with the players, I really am because it was an opportunity, a free game for them as we couldn’t have gone down anywhere, but we could have made big strides.

“We’ve got to do more, we’ve changed a few things, we’ve gone very positive to win the game, did that with three (upfront), they had opportunities to get it but it just wasn’t quite the case.

“It’s what they want to do now. Do they want to get promoted? Do they want to go on that run? And if they do they they’re going to have to show it as it’s getting to the real business end now.

“I’ve watched so many games of ours and watched all our clips this week and we’re a wonderful side when we played well. Tonight wasn’t that type of game as you can see the pitch, but we’ve just got to show a little bit more aggression and desire to get promoted and that lacked.

“We’ve got to have a bit more killer instinct about us and if we don’t, the season will not end how want it to end and we’ll have to do things another way and I don’t want to do that.

“So I put it on them now, it’s up to them, if they want it. If they think I’m not doing anything, they can come back at me.

“But for me, I think we need to step up as men, and we’ve got enough men there. We’re a young group, but we’ve got enough men, and I want to see that.”

Captain Scott Cuthbert was in full agreement with his manager’s views and called on the players to show they are capable of putting a run together before time runs out.

He said: “It’s up to us. I said before the game in the huddle there’s been so many what if’s. What if we’d have won this game? What if we hadn’t conceded late on? What if we’d have scored first?

“It’s too late for what if’s now. We’ve got to stand up and be counted for, we’ve got to win games.

“If we want to be in the top three at the end of the season we’ve got to win games.

“But it’s all right me sitting here saying that, we’ve got to show it as well and that’s what the manager’s saying.

“He wants to see it from us and pretty sure the squad we’ve got, such a quality squad, such a young squad as well that want to do well and I’m confident in the lads that we will.

“I’m confident we’ll show the reaction and in the next eight games that we want promotion, we want to get in the higher league.

“We’re good enough players and good enough team to play in the higher league, but we have to show that on the pitch and we have to start closing the gap on the top three.

“That starts on Saturday away to Colchester. We’ve just got to get maximum points and claw away at that top three, every point we can get closer to them come the end of the season.”

Luton Town held to 1-1 draw by 10-man Newport County in League 2

Danny Hylton's early penalty proved only enough for a point as Luton had to settle for a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Newport.

Hylton latched on to a quick throw from Ollie Palmer only to brought down in the box by Sid Nelson and he made no mistake from the spot with just five minutes gone, but Sean Rigg levelled for County with a free kick on 28 minutes.

Palmer forced a save from Exiles keeper Joe Day just before the break after being put away down the right by Hylton.

Hylton was replaced at half time by James Justin, but the visitors were fortunate to see Scot Bennett blaze a volley just over the bar around the hour mark.

Luton keeper Matt Macey was called into action to tip a curling Tom Owen-Evans effort around the post midway through the second half.

The Welsh outfit were dealt a blow when former Hatters defender Mark O'Brien was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Isaac Vassell nine minutes from time.

But deep in stoppage time Palmer had a header cleared off the line as the Hatters had to make do with a draw, which leaves them five points adrift of the automatic promotion places.

'Naive' Luton Town players told to prove they want promotion

Manager Nathan Jones has blasted his Luton Town side's naivety and challenged them to prove they really want promotion.

The Hatters were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Newport County last night, blowing their chance to make up ground on the top three with their game in hand.

It also means, despite Jones urging his side to go on a winning run, they have taken just three points out of the last 12 at a crucial stage of the campaign.

He said: "We showed plenty of endeavour but were really naïve tonight, and we're just not learning. I'm disappointed with the players as this was a big opportunity, we could have made big strides.

"It's really really puzzling and super frustrating because we're a wonderful side when we play well, we just need to show a bit more aggression and a bit more desire to get promoted.

"Do they want to get promoted? Do they want to go on that run? If they do they're going to have to show it as it's getting to the real business end now.

"We work hard, we don't shirk responsibility, but we're just a bit naïve. We keep making the same mistakes, which is a bit frustrating."

Luton got off to a dream start when Danny Hylton put them ahead from the spot just five minutes in, but a Sean Rigg free kick midway through the first half earned Newport a share of the spoils.

Jones added: "It's a difficult pitch to get anything going on in terms of fluency. I picked a side to battle and we got off to a great start, but we were victims of our own downfall if I'm honest.

"First half we were poor all over, didn't win the first headers, didn't get our seconds and didn't stick to the game plan. We should have had a clear cut penalty just before half time too, but those were our only incidents of note in the first half.

"Second half we came out on the front foot and had some opportunities and had some play, but I think a draw was a fair result. Credit to Newport, they battled for their lives."