Oxford United vs Luton Town FC (16th Apr 2016)

PUBLISHED 18:00 16th April 2016 Pigott brace and Lee stunner sees Hatters take three points from the Kassam

OXFORD UNITED 2-3 LUTON TOWN

Joe Pigott’s first goals in Hatters colours coupled with Olly Lee’s superb volley gave the Hatters an 11th away victory of the season thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory at Oxford United.

Pigott tapped in from Benji Buchel’s mistake to equalise before Lee’s first-time effort secured a thrilling first-half comeback.

The striker finished the game with a clinical strike, giving the Town a victory after conceding first for the first time in almost two years.

Danny Hylton opened the scoring after just 90 seconds, while Chez Dunkley equalised in an end-to-end encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

Nathan Jones gave Alex Lawless his 200th Town appearance, in for Jonathan Smith who dropped out of the 18. A doubt over Jack Marriott’s fitness gave him a place on the bench, replaced by Pigott for the only other change.

But it was a disastrous start for the Hatters, conceding within two minutes as Hylton slotted confidently past Justham. The frontman was set by a perfect Kemar Roofe through-ball following a charge down from Lee’s attempted breakaway, a sucker-punch for a Hatters side looking composed on the ball in the opening stages.

The Town were getting forward at every opportunity, mostly through Pelly Ruddock, operating behind lone-striker Pigott, with his pace in behind.

It was from one of these runs where the visitors got their first chance. Ruddock hung a ball into the area for Pigott to knock down for the onrushing Lee, only for his volley to be charged down in the Oxford defence.

In Roofe, the hosts still held a valiant threat, with the Player of the Year nominee taking aim from distance, curling his long-range effort wide with Justham untroubled.

The Hatters had their first major chance on 20 minutes when Lawless picked out Stephen O’Donnell down the right, who in turn found Ruddock on the edge of the area. It seemed Ruddock, scorer against Dagenham, was unaware of the time he had, electing to scuff a first-time effort wide when a touch could, and probably should, have been taken.

The game reared up in intensity as Hylton seemed to lead with an elbow on Dan Potts, earning the striker a booking and an angry reaction from Alan Sheehan, pushing Hylton to the ground, although he escaped with just a word in the ear.

Despite their lead, goalscoring opportunities remained at a premium for Oxford, although Chris Maguire’s free-kick whistled just narrowly passed the post as half-time beckoned.

But just as the Town looked to go in with a deficit, calamity in the hosts’ back four gifted Nathan Jones’ side a leveller. Keeper Buchel made a mess of Dunkley’s backpass, falling over and gifting the ball to Josh McQuoid with a heavy touch. His pull-back met Pigott with the goal at his mercy, and the big striker couldn’t miss from a couple of yards to send his team back to terms at the break.

At least that’s what we thought. With a goal of superb quality, the Hatters went ahead in stoppage time. Pigott and O’Donnell combined in a clinical counter, and as the ball presented itself to Green on the right-wing, his sumptuous cross met Lee perfectly on the volley from 15 yards to send the travelling fans into delirium at the interval.

The Town started the second half in ascendancy too, denying Oxford any meaningful possession on the ball while looking to launch attacks of their own.

But the lead lasted just a few minutes. Dunkley rose the highest from Maguire’s free-kick to nod into the ground and then beyond Justham and square the game up once more at 2-2.

It was end-to-end thereon at the Kassam Stadium, with Green and Lee both having shots blocked after more excellent jinking work from Ruddock saw him reach the byline.

And in the blink of an eye, the Hatters were ahead yet again. Lee shaped for a shot on the edge of the area, but instead clipped a ball to Ruddock. He found Pigott, who earned himself a yard of space before unleashing a lovely curling finish beyond Buchel.

Nathan Jones introduced Cameron McGeehan for Lee, allowing everyone to get their breath back amidst a thrilling encounter in Oxfordshire.

Despite the goals, Justham rarely had a chance to test his glovework, but a good save from Liam Sercombe’s long drive kept the Hatters ahead, repeating the dose from Maguire, also chancing his arm from far out.

The Town, composed on the ball, were taking the sting out of Oxford’s attacks as the game headed into the final ten minutes.

The hosts thought they had their equaliser too, when James Roberts’ shot from the edge of the box cannoned off the post and away from danger. Back Oxford came, but the Hatters seemed to be weathering the storm, despite Hylton nodding narrowly over the bar after Zane Banton was introduced for the Hatters.

Nerves were shredded by the time the four added minutes were signalled, with Sercombe whistling a strike over the bar before Ruddock did brilliantly to win a free-kick and alleviate any pressure and seal the win for the Hatters ahead of Tuesday's trip to Carlisle.

Hatters: Justham, O’Donnell, Potts, Rea, Sheehan, Lawless, Lee (sub McGeehan 70), Green (sub Banton 83), Ruddock, Pigott, McQuoid (sub Howells 90+3)

Subs not used: King, Benson, Marriott, Musonda

Attendance: 8838, with 816 supporting the Hatters. Thank you for your fantastic support.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQcAK7jcJMM

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-oxford-2-3-luton-town-3062710.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNYQGa0HqAs

League Two: Oxford United 2 Luton Town 3

Striker Joe Pigott answered his critics in superb style with a brace as Luton Town came from behind to win a game for the first time in near enough two years at promotion-chasing Oxford this afternoon.

The on-loan Charlton forward had received some stick during the 1-0 triumph over Dagenham on Tuesday night, but repaid manager Nathan Jones’ faith in him in spades.

Once Luton had fallen behind in the opening two minutes, Pigott pounced after a defensive blunder from keeper Benji Buchel to tap home late in the first half and then with displayed all the reasons why Jones described him as a ‘wonderful technical finisher’ when United had made it 2-2.

Taking a high ball out of the sky, Pigott took a touch before bending a delightful effort beyond Buchel, putting Town in front once more, as Luton then confidently sawout the remaining half an hour to triumph after conceding first for the first time since April 21, 2014.

Victory was no more than the visitors deserved too as despite U’s moving ahead early on, they held their nerve commendably and were the more dominant team for long periods.

Hatters made two changes to the side as Alex Lawless came in for his 200th appearance, while Pigott partnered Josh McQuoid upfront, with Jack Marriott dropping to the bench and Jonathan Smith missing out completely.

Luton were breached within the opening five minutes as after winning possession back, Olly Lee dithered and saw his pass charged down with Keemar Roofe’s lovely pass bisecting Town’s centre halves to set Danny Hylton free, who easily beat the advancing Elliot Justham.

Hatters weren’t without their moments in the opening 10 minutes though, with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, in his advanced role once more, to the fore, while they looked a threat too, Pigott heading back for Lee whose volley was blocked by a covering defender.

Luton created their best chance on 30 minutes with another foray down the right, which was their best moments were coming from, particularly through the combination of Green and O’Donnell.

This time, Green won the ball back and sent O’Donnell scampering away, as the full back looked up to find Ruddock Mpanzu, who had time on his side, but opted to sidefoot first time and could only drag wide.

After their opener, bar a few long range attempts, Oxford didn’t appear anywhere near as dangerous, although Chris Maguire’s free kick was only narrowly wide of Justham’s goal.

Town were back on level terms moments before the interval though after a calamity in the home defence, when keeper Buchel took a heavy touch when clearing a regulation backpass and then under little pressure lost his balance.

McQuoid was quick to pick up the loose ball, look up and then find Pigott who coolly netted his first goal in Luton colours.

Pigott, with his gander up, hooked over, but life then got even better for the visitors moments later, as on the stroke of half time, O’Donnell rampaged forward and although his ball to Lee was cut out, possession was recycled to Green.

With Lee staying forward, the winger picked out his team-mate who volleyed superbly past Buchel to make it 2-1 at the break.

Any thoughts of Hatters finally ending their long run for a come from behind win were shelved momentarily just five minutes into the second period when Che Dunkley rose highest to meet a free kick and head beyond Justham, who appeared slow to react.

However, as the game became an open and thoroughly entertaining contest, Oxford fluffed a fine chance to make it 3-2, with George Waring taking too long to set up Roofe, the ball crossing the goal-line.

Back came Town though, Ruddock Mpanzu dancing around two on the byline and Green having two shots charged down, while Lee was over from range too.

However, Hatters weren’t on level terms for long as Pigott displayed wonderful composure to beat Buchel for his second of the afternoon after 58 minutes.

Kenny was narrowly away from an instant leveller, his right-footer arrowing over, as Oxford started to gain some territorial ascendancy, Johnny Mullins off target at the back post, with Justham making smart stops from Sercombe plus Maguire.

Just when Town looked to have weathered the pressure, they were on the back foot again, home sub James Roberts shooting from 18 yards and Justham making an excellent stop, turning the ball on to his post and away.

Although Liam Sercombe zinged one over late on, Hatters could have gone on to add to their scoreline, as Ruddock Mpanzu was denied by Buchel, while subs Cameron McGeehan and Zane Banton both came on to add some valuable legs to proceedings.

The result couldn’t quite reignite Luton’s play-off chances though, as they remained six points adrift of AFC Wimbledon, who left it late to beat Crawley Town, with only four games remaining now, the first at Carlisle United on Tuesday night.

Oxford: Benji Buchel, Kemar Roofe, Johnny Mullins, George Waring (Jordan Bowery 61), Liam Sercombe, Danny Hylton, Jonjoe Kenny, John Lundstram, Chris Maguire (James Roberts 75), Che Dunkley, Jordan Evans.

Subs not used: Sam Slocombe, Jake Wright, Josh Ruffels, Jonny Giles, Josh Ashby.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts, Alan Sheehan, Glen Rea, Alex Lawless, Olly Lee (Cameron McGeehan 70), Danny Green (Zane Banton 82), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Josh McQuoid (Jake Howells 90), Joe Pigott.

Subs not used: Craig King, Frankie Musonda, Paul Benson, Jack Marriott.

Attendance: 8,838 (816 Luton).

Booked: Hylton 33, Kenny 75.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.

Hatters MOM: Joe Pigott. Ice cold in front of goal to bag a brace and led the line well all afternoon.

Jones thrilled the monkey is off Luton’s back as Town end two year run

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted his side finally got the ‘monkey off their back’ after coming from behind to win against Oxford United on Saturday.

Hatters had failed to triumph after conceding the first goal since their return to the Football League, as you had to go way back until a 4-1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the Conference on April 21, 2014, with recently crowned Championship Player of the Season Andre Gray on target.

Since then, Luton had gone behind in 38 games, taking just eight points in that time, losing a hefty 30 times.

But this time, although Oxford broke the deadlock in the opening two minutes, Joe Pigott netted twice, with Olly Lee on target too as boss Nathan Jones said: “I would have preferred not to, as we have fallen behind in other games and haven’t won the game.

“We could have done it at Barnet, should have done it at Barnet, but we didn’t, but if you’re going to be a top side in any league, in any division, in any country, then you have to be able to come from behind.

“You have to be able to keep leads when you’re under pressure, have to have the confidence.”

“I said to them at half time, we’re going to have to learn to be in front and when sides throw stuff at you and gamble up, especially in this league, when they go long and they fight and there’s a lot of random events, we then have to show quality, and impact, we have to do that, we have to learn.

“So it’s the monkey off the back again, we keep ticking boxes like that, but it was good to do it in this kind of game.”

Midfielder Alex Lawless who has been with the club ever since the poor sequence started, didn’t feel it was going to one of those days again when Hylton netted early on.

He continued: “I didn’t sense it, I felt as though we didn’t seem to show that that affected us, which is very good and a step in the right direction and it proved that way in the end.

“It was far from what we wanted and if anything, the complete opposite to what we had planned.

“But we’ve got ourselves out of that and I’m sure it will make people want to go into the future to make it not happen again.”

Meanwhile, striker Joe Pigott couldn’t quite believe it had been so long for Town to achieve the victory, as he said: “Is it really? Blimey, what a stat that is, two years?

“I didn’t even think about that, well that’s that one ticked off then.

“It’s just the belief that counts and I didnt hear anything about it. Some people might think about it, but you just need to keep your head down and think it’s going to come good.”

Although delighted to end the sequence, Jones was frustrated by the start his side made once more, particularly, after putting so much preparation into the opening 10 minutes.

He added: “We had a horrific start. We plan our starts, but we did everything we could to hand them a good start and they got it.

“Then you’re thinking, the side they are Oxford, because they’re an excellent side, whatever happens, they’re an excellent side, probably for me the best side in the league.

“They have threats from everywhere they play, they can counter attack you, they have wide threats, central threats, combination, they score goals, they’re an excellent side.

“You’re thinking that goal might gee them up and do they go on? But we responded fantastically well, we scored mistake from the keeper, but we’ve had to suffer from people as mistakes have cost us and then we’ve scored some wonderful goals.

“I thought we deserved that, thought we were outstanding, hit them on the break, and apart from a little bit more ice cold quality which we ask, we’d have gone away and scored more.”

Jones hits out at ‘disrespectful’ Oxford pre-match comments

Hatters boss Nathan Jones hit out at comments made by Oxford United winger Callum O’Dowda and an article in the club’s programme that he felt were ‘disrespectful’ after Town’s 3-2 victory at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

Speaking to Shoot.co.uk before the game, O’Dowda, who missed today’s clash through illness, said: “They’ve got good individuals, but we know it’s a good time to play Luton at the moment. They haven’t picked up many points in the last few games so hopefully we can do a job there.”

However, during his post-match press conference, Jones revealed that interview had buoyed his side ahead of the match, saying: “I read a few things, an interview today from Callum O’Dowda that said, that it was a ‘good time to play Luton,’ those were his words.

“‘They’ve got some good players, but they haven’t picked up points lately’ which is true, but naivety for him, because that was my teamtalk done.”

Jones also went on to criticise a column written in the programme too, continuing: “I’ve read some comments today in their programme that I felt were disrespectful.

“Yes the season before I came, for whatever reason was a bit of a disappointment, but right now, we’re at it.

“Since I’ve come in, we’re in the top four or five point getters, and we’re building something.

“They’re two years down the line from where we are, because Michael Appleton, who’s doing a great job here, has been here not far off three seasons.

“He’s had two full seasons and one little bit, so he’s had time to gauge it like I have and then two years down the line they’re a fantastic side.

“In the programme, it’s we’re not going to do this, not going to do that, okay, but we’ve started something.

“We have as many points I would say as Oxford have since I’ve come here, since the sixth of January. I don’t think there’s too much difference and I’m proud of us today and proud of how we’re going along.

“I’m disappointed we’re not closer (to the play-offs), because we should be right at it now, right in the mix, we’re not because of our slight inconsistencies at times.

“But we’ve got a young group, an exciting group, a group that wants to work hard, and I’m proud of them.”

When asked about the pre-match comments, midfielder Alex Lawless added: “Extra motivation like that never harms anyone, and it would have only helped today.

“But I think you could see the determination in the lads today to want to win that game, so it was great.”

Hatters** boss lauds Pigott’s ‘unbelievable’ character**

Town boss Nathan Jones hailed striker Joe Pigott’s character after the on-loan Charlton frontman finally broke his duck for the club in some style at Oxford United on Saturday.

The 22-year-old had not scored in his previous 10 games for Luton, but was off the mark from close range late in the first half after Josh McQuoid pounced on a howler from keeper Benji Buchel.

Pigott, who had received some criticism from home fans during the 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek, then netted what proved to be the winner with a stylish finish just prior to the hour mark, and Jones now hopes supporters will now cut him slack.

He said: “I’ve kept faith in him and he’s responded. The kid has shown some wonderful character, some unbelievable character and I’m proud of him.

“I don’t want to harp on too much about it, but I’ve had Joe and I believed in Joe. A few years ago he scored 44 goals in a season for me (at Charlton), albeit in a development league, but still the technique at whatever level it is, has to be there.

“He’s done well and scored goals wherever he’s gone, Charlton’s first team, he did, when he went to Southend, Southend fans love him because of what he did at Wembley.”

“So he hasn’t turned into a bad finisher or a bad player overnight, sometimes it’s confidence, sometimes it’s a little bit of body language and he’s a slouchy one, as I said, he’s an inbetweener at times, but he showed he has real, real quality, real quality.

“Now we haven’t seen the best of Joe, I kept saying it, but he’s kept plugging away and young players sometimes need that.

“He’s inexperienced, but he has ability and he showed in his finishing as he led the line against a very good Oxford side.

“The second one I thought he should have volleyed it, but he knows better, and when he’s confident, when he gets a run of games, he’s a top finisher, he’s one of the best I’ve worked with. So give the boy a little bit of time.”

Jones calls on Hatters fans to trust his recruitment policy

A passionate Luton chief Nathan Jones has called on the club’s fans to trust his recruitment policy at Kenilworth Road.

The Town boss has signed four players so far, Alan Sheehan, Jonathan Mitchell, Glen Rea and Joe Pigott, all on loan deals to the end of the season, although Mitchell has since returned to parent club Derby after he was recalled as cover.

Jones insisted there is a clear strategy behind anyone that he brings into the club going forward and wants supporters to have full faith in any future additions, as he said: “I haven’t brought in anyone here that has weakened our squad, the four I brought in have been outstanding players.

“We’ve brought in Alan Sheehan who’s been outstanding, we’ve bought in Jonny Mitchell who’s outstanding, Glen Rea, for a young lad, outstanding and then Joe, who has taken a little bit more time to settle.

“I need the fans to trust me, that when we bring a player in, he won’t be someone that’s going to end up costing us money in the long run, he won’t be someone that we can’t play or can’t use, or proves to be ridiculous, it won’t be that.

“We’re bringing value here, bringing young quality, we’re bringing quality, whether it’s young or old, so just bear with us, trust us to do it right.

“Everyone we bring in, there’s actually a process to who we bring in, there’s a structure to who we bring in.

“We don’t bring in people that are no good to Luton, that are short term fixes, that we don’t see taking us forward, that are not better than what we have here, that’s recruitment, and that’s what we do.

“We’ve got 30 odd players here and we’ve got a lot of players that we really can’t use. That’s not going to happen anymore and that’s what we’re saying about people we bring in.

“So whoever we bring in, they may not hit the ground straight away, but they will be good for Luton Town, I promise you and just trust my judgement.

“I haven’t come from the club I’ve come from, on the brink of the Premier League to just do things willy-nilly and have a little gamble up or a little play at this. This is my life, this is what I do, this is what we do.”

Jones was making the plea after some fans had been quick to get on the back of striker Pigott who was signed on loan from Charlton Athletic.

He failed to score in his opening 10 games and received some stick during the 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge, but showed just what he is capable of with a fine brace at Oxford United on Saturday helping to seal a 3-2 victory.

The boss added: “He’s a goalscorer, he thrives on those things and he’ll come good, I know he will.

“He responded against the best side in the league with two clinical, clinical finishes and if our final ball had been a bit better he’d have got a hat-trick.

“He did need a first goal but it doesn’t help with a lot of negativity surrounding it because he’s a good young player.

“We want to get there and it takes time to build that, so I’m saying to the fans, it’s not going to happen over night, we’re a good side, got good young players, got a philosophy, got a way of playing now, and we’re going to do them proud.

“The ones that really believed it from the beginning can pat themselves on the back, the ones that just cheer when we win, okay, we need to educate them, we need to get them with us because we’re building something.”

Oxford United 2 Luton Town 3

A piece of history, new stadium plans, maiden goals and fresh hope – what a week it has been for the future of Luton Town Football Club.

Hatters fans would have been fearing the worst when Danny Hylton put Oxford ahead within two minutes because their team, for two years, had not won after conceding the first goal – April 21, 2014 to be precise and that was back in the Conference.

Here, against a promotion-chasing side, that monkey on their back was gloriously removed with two goals in four late first half minutes and then, more decisively with Joe Pigott's sublime 58th minute winner.

Like buses, you wait for ages and then two turn up at once. The striker's spell on loan from Charlton since January had not been one to remember – until this double.

He broke his duck when United keeper Benji Büchel made a hash of a backpass and the forward was on hand to turn in quick-thinking Josh McQuoid's centre.

They'd deserved something after recovering from their early setback but Town's joy quickly doubled when Danny Green picked out Olly Lee and the midfielder delivered the killer blow. It was his third of the campaign and they've all been crackers.

But the Yellows are a team in League Two's second spot for a reason and they came steaming back with a 51st minute header from Che Dunkley. Still Luton didn't crumble.

Then, as if his first goal had wiped away four months of nerves and derision, Pigott pulled the ball down and, in one fluid movement, slotted into the bottom corner. Boss Nathan Jones has been promising that the 22-year-old was a technical finisher and here was the evidence.

In a touching moment after the final whistle, Jones physically pushed the player forward to take the applause of the 816 travelling Town fans – some, perhaps, doing so while tucking into a slice of humble pie.

The only disappointment was that, despite this victory Luton moved no closer to the play-off positions as results elsewhere keeping them six points adrift with four games remaining.

But while hopes of breaking into that top seven were not, realistically, on the agenda, the significance of this result, this performance, can form the blueprint for next season.

All the unwanted records have been chalked off under Jones. No league wins at Mansfield? Dispensed with. No first half home goals in nine games? Done. And dusted? That horrific Football League record – five days short two years – of capitulation after conceding.

The slate is now clean and Jones will set about constructing a team that, next term, can challenge consistently – one that lives up to the grand ambitions laid out on Friday, when further plans for a new stadium in Power Court were unveiled as part of a huge £1.5 billion investment in the town.

For now we must be content with nods to that not-to-distant future in 2020. A third straight substitute appearance for 19-year-old youth team graduate Zane Banton and a late returning cameo for Jake Howells – after a knee operation – continued the home-grown promise, while the recent re-emergence of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu as a playmaker caught the eye.

The former West Ham man just needs to add composure to his all-action presence as he could have scored in the first half if he'd have realised the acres of space afford him, instead of scuffing wide. But save that analysis for another day. This was a day for positives.

Alongside that display was a milestone 200th appearance for Alex Lawless and he added some grit to the heart of the Hatters midfield which, along with saves from Elliot Justham and dogged defensive displays, meant Town saw off Oxford's late surge, handing Northampton the title.

Though the Hatters backline still would have been disappointed by the horror start they dug in and began to command possession without cutting Oxford open. That was until Büchel's goalkeeping gaffe and a grandstand first half finish.

Even when Che Dunkley headed the hosts level at 2-2, early in the second half, the Hatters looked dangerous on the counter and they struck the killer blow with a good break and an even more glorious Pigott finish.

For Jones' Luton it could be a wonderful beginning.

Oxford United: Büchel, Roofe, Mullins, Waring (Bowery, 61), Sercombe, Hylton, Kenny, Lundstram, Maguire (Roberts, 77), Dunkley, Evans

Unused subs: Slocombe, Wright, Ruffels, Giles, Ashby

Luton Town: Justham, O'Donnell, Potts, Rea, Lawless. Green (Banton, 83), Ruddock Mpanzu, Lee (McGeehan, 70), McQuoid (Howells (92), Sheehan, Pigott

Unused subs: King, Benson, Marriott, Musonda

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Attendance: 8,838 (816)