Notts County vs Luton Town FC (5th May 2018)

REPORT: NOTTS COUNTY 0 LUTON TOWN 0

The Hatters’ Sky Bet League Two promotion-winning season ended with a goalless draw at Notts County in front of almost 4,500 travelling fans on another memorable afternoon for Luton Town.

Nathan Jones’ men have had their League One slot for next season sorted for a fortnight, but they didn’t take their foot off the gas on a sweltering day in Nottingham and could have sealed a fifth victory in six unbeaten games to close the campaign, despite Danny Hyton’s second-half dismissal for two yellow cards.

As it was, a first nil-nil since the trip to Crawley in mid-October brought the season to a close with the Hatters’ 88 points and 94 goals taking the club back to the status they last played at a decade ago as runners-up to Accrington Stanley.

After the game, Jones and his squad celebrated with the fans – and received a terrific ovation from the home fans who had stayed behind to acknowledge their own side, who now have to face the play-offs with home advantage for the second leg of their semi-final guaranteed by a fifth place finish.

The Town’s first attack of any real intent started with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu deep inside his own half, killing the ball with a great touch and setting James Collins away down the right, but the striker’s whipped cross just eluded partner Danny Hylton in the six-yard box.

A minute later, with nine gone, it was the hosts’ turn to launch a counter-attack from deep, Jonathan Stead firing in a low cross that similarly just missed his onrushing team-mates after Jonathan Forte had set him away down the left from inside his own half.

The first shot on target came in the 11th minute, when Elliot Lee teed up his brother, Olly, for a 20-yard blast that County keeper Adam Collin did well to beat away.

Captain Alan Sheehan, who received a standing ovation from both sets of fans as he went to take his first corner of the game, had to be alert to prevent Matty Virtue getting on the end of a knock-down from Stead in the 17th minute, with Glen Rea on hand to clear the remaining danger.

The Hatters were making inroads on the home defence, however, and Elliot Lee set Jack Stacey racing past left-back Dan Jones, only for the Town right-back’s cross-shot to fizz across goal with Hylton and Collins both waiting for a tap-in.

The Town’s young players of the year did well in his normal defensive role in the 23rd minute to get a block on Stead’s shot, then Shea did well to hold a Jorge Grant effort from distance in the 25th.

Jones’ side were playing some lovely football, however, and after Stacey once again found himself in the Notts penalty area to get a shot away, this one deflected wide, Elliot Lee took the ball off Mpanzu on the edge of the box and fired in a right-footed shot that was tipped over by Collin.

After a spell of lengthy possession which the Town fans greeted with oles, Hylton got on the end of a 34th-minute cross from Colllins, but his flick ended up hitting the side-netting.

Hylton picked up a yellow card just before half-time and teams went in goalless at the break, but it was the Hatters who started the second half on the front foot, Elliot Lee carrying the ball from halfway and getting it back inadvertently when his attempted pass to Collins was half-intercepted, only to see his left-footed shot hit the side-netting too.

The 12-goal forward went closer still in the 54th minute, Collin getting down low at his near post to keep his stabbed effort out, before he sent a 25-yarder inches over the crossbar.

Town were reduced to ten men just before the hour when Hylton was shown a second yellow card after a coming together on the near touchline with Shaun Brisley, but it didn’t affect the way Jones’ side attacked.

After Olly Lee and Sheehan threw themselves in the way of a couple of County shots at one end, Mpanzu and Collins combined to release Stacey down the right once more, but the full-back’s shot once again went just past the far post.

Mpanzu was always carrying a threat, and with 71 minutes gone the midfielder burst along the right byline, but Collins couldn’t get a shot off from his cut-back and Notts’ defence cleared the danger.

Double player of the year Sheehan was having another inspired game at the heart of the Hatters’ defence, and the Irishman did well to block another effort from his former club when he threw himself in front of Lewis Alessandra’s 20-yarder soon after the County sub had come on.

Jones introduced his first sub, Harry Cornick, with just over ten minutes to go and the forward almost got on the end of another Jack Stacey cross, then another great move saw Collins play Mpanzu in on the left of the box, but the midfielder’s shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Sheehan went over to take again, and Rea met this one with a firm header that whistled just past the far post, before Rea’s long ball cleared the County defence and Collins looked to be in the clear, only for his first touch to let him down as he bore down on Collin in the home goal.

Grant fired a free-kick over the bar with 90 minutes up, after Sheehan was booked for a foul on the edge of the box, then McCormack hit one just wide as the Town finished the game comfortably.

Runners-up, automatic promotion secured. Job done for Jones and his team who now have an open-top bus tour of Luton tomorrow with their journey to League One complete. Come on you Hatters!

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Rea, Sheehan (c), Potts, McCormack (Downes 90+5), O Lee, Mpanzu, E Lee (Cornick 79), Collins, Hylton. Subs: Justin, Cuthbert, Jervis, Gambin, Stech (GK)

Yellows: Hylton, Sheehan

Reds: Hylton

COUNTY: Collin, Tootle, Hewitt, Virtue (Alessandra 74), O’Connor © (Husin 74), Grant, Forte, Brisley, Jones, Hall, Stead. Subs: Fitzsimons (GK), Duffy, Ameobi, Milsom.

Yellows: Jones, Hall, Hewitt

ATT: 12,184 (4,495)

REFEREE: Darren Handley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53EerQoHNE&

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebHGjeEU47Y&

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SOQSDRdoVM&

NATHAN: IT WAS A CLASS AFTERNOON ALL-ROUND!

Hatters boss Nathan Jones heaped praise on his own players, the 4,500 travelling Town fans, Notts County’s supporters, manager Kevin Nolan and the Nottingham club as a whole after today’s season finale at Meadow Lane.

After an entertaining 0-0 draw, the Welshman said: “Our performance today was a credit to the football club, and how we go about our structure. I’m amazed we didn’t score because normally we are lethal when we have that many chances, have that much possession, playing with that much quality. But we weren’t today, so credit to Notts County for how they defended.

“I’m proud of my team today. What a wonderful achievement, what a wonderful performance – and even when we were down to ten men, we were superb. To be fair, a touch of class, our fans were just on it. I’m so proud of our club, and a touch of class from Notts County as well."

Magpies boss Kevin Nolan and his assistant Richard Thomas personally delivered a couple of crates of beer and bottles of champagne to the visiting dressing room after the game to congratulate the Hatters on winning promotion.

“Kevin Nolan has a bit of class about him," said Jones. "He’s had a great career and he understands the game – he speaks normal. That rubbed off on his football club, because they’ve shown a touch of class today.

“They’ve cheered a good Luton side off, and they’ve got an opportunity to get promoted themselves. Our fans were wonderful, but a touch of class from Notts County today in terms of how they’ve handled everything – and the same with Kev, just wonderful.”

Jones was delighted that his side played a major part in a terrific encounter that should have brought about more reward, despite having Danny Hylton sent off just before the hour.

“It was a wonderful game,” said the Town chief. “Notts County had slightly more at risk, and let’s not say that they didn’t play their part in this game, because a point for them guaranteed home advantage in the second leg, which some consider an advantage.

“It was a great game and even with ten men, we had opportunities. It was a great occasion backed up by both sets of fans on a lovely day, in a great historic stadium. A wonderful, wonderful day, and a credit to the league.

“I’m proud of my players because they’ve trained like that. I actually pulled them in training yesterday and said ‘That’s why you’ve been promoted’, because yesterday’s training session was competitive as any one at Christmas, as any one in August or December, any time.

“It was so competitive, and that’s a credit to the environment, the culture and a credit to the individual’s motivation to keep doing well. It would have been so easy in a festival atmosphere to come here and let up, but we didn’t. It was as professional a performance as we could have put on and I’m so proud of them.”

Big decisions will be made on some of the players’ futures in the coming days, but contract talk can wait for Jones, who said: “We’ll enjoy tonight and tomorrow, because the players have earned it. We’ve got our end of season dinner on Wednesday, and then we have to start planning moving forward. That’s the nature of the business, the clinical edge of football, and we have to do that.

“But it’s wonderful to be able to do it with the relative tranquillity of knowing we are going up, because it was a different kind of feeling time last year, or slightly later as it was. We’ll make the right decisions and then God willing, we can move the club forward.”

His final word went to the fans who have travelled in their number all season, with 4,495 in unbelievable voice as the manager stood with his squad and staff in front of the Jimmy Sirrel Stand celebrating a fantastic season with them at the end.

“Just wonderful, and they’ve given us everything,” he said. “They’ve got a side that gives them everything, then they respond and give it back. But they were outstanding and this division is going to miss our fans, for millions of reasons, but it’s going to miss our fans because we’ve been a breath of fresh air the way we travel.

“They stayed behind to a man, I don’t think one single person left the stadium, and that just sums our football club up. Magnificent. I’m a very proud man today of our football club and the way we go about our business.”

Hatters say goodbye to League Two with Magpies stalemate

League Two: Notts County 0 Luton Town 0

Luton Town ended their League Two adventure with an thoroughly entertaining goalless draw at a sun-drenched Notts County this afternoon.

To their credit, the visitors always looked like the side more likely to finish victorious, even when going a man down, striker Danny Hylton shown his first red card of the season on the hour mark, but try as they might, they just couldn't quite break through.

Naming an unchanged side for the fifth game in a row, the Hatters, cheered on by over 4,000 travelling fans, started brightly on what was essentially a free hit, with second place assured, Olly Lee, teed up by brother Elliot, tested Adam Collin from 20 yards, the keeper parrying to safety on 11 minutes.

The only slightly blemish in the opening period for the Hatters was a final ball, Elliot Lee twice not picking out a team-mate, James Collins' cross over-hit as well.

Hatters should have led on 20 minutes, Elliot Lee releasing Jack Stacey who got round the back of the home defence, but could neither pick out the bottom corner or the lurking Collins and Hylton as the chance went begging.

Stacey made amends with a fine block at full stretch on Jon Stead, with Jorge Grant's long ranger comfortable for James Shea.

Town's right back was swiftly involved at the other end again, bursting into the box and shifting on to his left foot, only denied an opener by a desperate last-ditch challenge.

Elliot Lee's fierce drive flew over via a County defender, while with the ole's coming out as Town worked the ball upfield, Collins crossed for Hylton to turn into the side-netting.

Luton should have been awarded a spot-kick on 35 minutes, Olly Lee hauled back after getting the better of Shaun Brisley, only for official Darren Handley to wave his appeals away.

Handley was involved once more just before the break, as with a drop ball waiting to take place, he cautioned Hylton for what looked like a show of dissent.

In the second period, Town got away once more on the counter, but despite Hylton taking up a superb position, Elliot Lee tried to thread Collins through, and when he got the ball back, missed the target.

He then went closer from Sheehan's free kick that caused havoc, firing in a volley that Collin blocked with his legs, before from further out, missed the top corner by a matter of inches from 25 yards.

With 59 minutes gone though, Luton were reduced to 10 men as Hylton went up for an aerial challenge with Brisley, catching his opponent in the face, official Handley reaching for his pocket to give Town's leading scorer his marching orders, ruling him out of the opening game in League One.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Town still took the attack to their hosts, Mpanzu and Collins combining to set Stacey away on the right as once more he missed the bottom corner.

County struggled to get a head of steam going at any stage, Jonathan Forte's header glancing wide, as Luton kept pressing, happy to commit men forward and at times looking like they had the extra player.

Stacey once again reached the byline, his delivery only just in front of the diving Harry Cornick, who had replaced Elliot Lee, while after Olly Lee's dummy, Collins laid in Mpanzu, Matt Tootle making a brilliant block.

Glen Rea's header drifted wide, with the Magpies only threats coming from set-plays, Grant's free kick almost swinging straight in.

Late on, Town had the chance of the game, Rea's long punt sent Collins clear, but bearing down on Collin, his touch let him down badly, the ball bouncing off his knee and straight through to a grateful Collin.

In stoppage time, Grant put a free kick over from the edge of the box and Alan McCormack's 25-yarder didn't test Collin, as both sides had to make do with a point, with County now hoping they will join Town in the third tier of English football via the upcoming play-offs.

County: Adam Collin, Matt Tootle, Elliot Hewitt, Matty Virtue (Lewis Alessandra 73), Michael O'Connor (C Noor Husin 73), Jorge Grant, Jonathan Forte, Shaun Brisley, Dan Jones, Ben Hall, Jon Stead (Alan Smith 80).

Subs not used: Ross Fitzsimons, Richard Duffy, Shola Ameobi, Rob Milson.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (C), Alan McCormack (Flynn Downes 90), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Olly Lee, Elliot Lee (Harry Cornick 79), Danny Hylton, James Collins.

Subs not used: Marek Stech, James Justin, Luke Gambin, Jake Jervis, Scott Cuthbert.

Referee: Darren Handley.

Booked: Hylton 45, Jones 65, Forte 72, Hall 80, Sheehan 90.

Sent off: Hylton 59.

Attendance: 12,184 (4,495 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Jack Stacey. Defended excellently but was also one of Town's mains threats going forward.

Jones hits out at 'delusional' Cooper after County draw

Luton chief Nathan Jones hit out at the 'disrespect' shown to his side by Forest Green boss Mark Cooper last weekend after today’s goalless draw with Notts County.

The Rovers chief had insisted his side ‘absolutely murdered’ Town in the second period at Kenilworth Road during their 3-1 defeat, in a game he felt they deserved to win.

However, speaking to the press after Hatters ended their League Two campaign with an absorbing and entertaining stalemate at Meadow Lane which saw Danny Hylton sent off after an hour, Jones said: “That’s the best 0-0 performance I’ve seen from our team.

"From start to finish we were wonderful. I’m not going to speak about anything else, just our performance, our performance today was a credit to the football club.

“I’m amazed that we didn’t score because usually we’re lethal. We had that many chances, that much possession, we’re playing with that much quality, normally we’re lethal and we weren’t today so that’s credit to Notts County.

“For me, in charge of my football club, and I’m not, like Mark Cooper did last week, delusion-ally commenting on another team, we were excellent, we were outstanding.

"Because the disrespect we had last week from Mark Cooper and a Forest Green side that are not on the same planet as Luton Town was quite amazing, but that’s the last I’ll comment because I’m proud of my team today.

"What a wonderful achievement, what a wonderful performance. Even when we were down to 10 men we were absolutely superb.”

Jones was also quick to pay tribute to opposite number Kevin Nolan and hosts Notts County supporters too, as both he and his players were applauded off the field after celebrating with the 4,500 travelling fans.

He added: “It was a touch of class from our fans again. Wonderful. I’m so proud of my club. And then a touch of class from Notts County as well, which I expected from them and I expected from their manager.

"Kevin Nolan has a bit of class about him. He’s had a great career and he understands the game, he speaks normal.

"That rubbed off today on his football club because they showed a touch of class today.

"They’ve cheered a good Luton side off and they’ve got an opportunity to get promoted themselves. "Our fans were wonderful, but a touch of class from Notts County today.”

Hatters boss calls on Hylton to stop being a 'liability'

Luton chief Nathan Jones has called on striker Danny Hylton to stop being a 'liability' after the striker was sent off for the third time in his Luton career during the 0-0 draw at Notts County this afternoon.

Town's top scorer had been shown yellow by referee Darren Handley on the stroke of half time for what looked like dissent when disputing a drop ball.

Hylton was then dismissed with an hour gone after an aerial challenge on Shaun Brisley, as Jones said: "It’s just unnecessary. His second one you can see why. I just think it could’ve been handled better, in terms of the way he is, but he shouldn’t have put himself in that position.

"I did have a word with him at half time but, look, it’s Danny Hylton. I don’t know how many times we can just keep saying that until he learns, because he has to have responsibility.

"Otherwise, every time he’s on a booking I have to take him off. So if he gets booked after two minutes I have to change my game plan and it’s a liability, it really is.

"I’ve had to do it in the past and I should’ve done it today but I didn’t want to because he’s a wonderful player for us. "He works hard, he sets the tone and it’s just stupidity.”