Oxford United vs Luton Town FC (21st Jan 2025)

21/01/2025 OXFORD UNITED 3-2 LUTON TOWN

Hatters slip to defeat at Oxford

Town lead twice but can't end away hoodoo at Kassam Stadium

The Hatters twice led but were left to reflect on yet another defeat away from home as Oxford came out on top at the Kassam Stadium.

Matt Bloomfield’s side were good value for 2-1 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Tom Krauß and Mark McGuinness.

However, the Town conceded twice in a 10-minute spell in the second half to swing the game in the home side’s favour.

Despite threatening to pull the score back to 3-3 the Hatters couldn’t find a leveller and avoid their 11th successive away defeat in the Championship to keep them in the relegation zone.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions on a night that started so well when Krauß fired the Town in front after 11 minutes.

McGuinness was the creator of the opener, poking the ball into the German’s path and he took one touch before blasting a well-struck shot into the top corner.

Back came Oxford and the home side were level 12 minutes later. The Hatters failed to clear a cross from the left and Michal Helik was first to the ball to poke a shot beyond Thomas Kaminski.

But the Hatters soon restored their lead. Three minutes after the equaliser, Jordan Clark’s fine free-kick was floated to the back-post towards McGuinness and the centre-half craned his neck to brilliantly power a header past Jamie Cumming in the U’s goal.

The Town then had Kaminski to thank on 30 minutes to deny a deflected effort from Siriki Dembele on 30 minutes and again moments later from a low shot from 20 yards.

As half-time approached the Hatters upped the ante and a series of eye-catching passing moves brought applause from the away end. Once such passage saw Elijah Adebayo go close on 40 minutes.

After the restart Zack Nelson fired over on 55 minutes and Krauß saw a shot blocked from the edge of the box three minutes later as the Town went in search of a third goal.

However, on 59 minutes, the home side were level when a right-wing corner was met by Ciaron Brown.

Bloomfield made a quadruple change shortly after the goal with Carlton Morris, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Brown and Alfie Doughty introduced.

But while the Town’s reaction to being pegged back was good they couldn’t make their possession count and on 69 minutes Oxford led for the first time. A right-wing cross found its way to Greg Leigh who had the freedom of the Hatters penalty to nod past an exposed Kaminski.

Behind, the Town rallied but as time ticked down chances were at a premium as the hosts protected their lead.

Six minutes were added at the end of the 90 but the Hatters couldn’t find an equaliser and were left to reflect on what might have been.

Town: Kaminski, Hashioka, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Nakamba, Krauß (sub Mpanzu 61), Clark (sub Woodrow 81), Jones (sub Brown 61), Nelson (sub Doughty 61), Adebayo (sub Morris 61).

Subs not used: Krul, Walters, Andersen, Walsh.

Attendance: 11,035, including 1,478 backing the Town in a sold-out away end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnW26boKDqo – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0r58uuanO4 – Matt Bloomfield interview

Hatters let the lead slip twice as they fall to Oxford defeat

Championship: Oxford United 3 Luton Town 2

Luton Town somehow made it 12 straight away defeats as they let the lead slip not once but twice when beaten 3-2 at Oxford United this evening.

Having swapped ends 2-1 to the good thanks to goals from Tom Krauß and Mark McGuinness, an enterprising first half led those packed in the away end at the Kassam Stadium and watching on at home, to believe they were finally about to end their deeply embarrassing away day sequence. However, the visitors then fell back in to their woeful defensive ways after the break, Ciaron Brown poking home from a corner, Greg Leigh left in splendid isolation to win it.

Town had made two changes from Saturday's goalless draw against Preston North End, Elijah Adebayo replacing Carlton Morris upfront, Zack Nelson in for Jacob Brown, as the pair dropped to the bench. There they were joined by Alfie Doughty for the first time since early November, the wingback having finally returned from ankle ligament damage.

Luton made a bright start on the ball once more as manager Matt Bloomfield's work was already clear to see, not afraid to receive it in tight spaces with some neat interchanges, but also going long when needed, McGuinness's raking ball finding Adebayo who having got in front of his defender, couldn't get enough to loft over the advancing Jamie Cumming.

The Hatters’ intent did pay off on 10 minutes, Jordan Clark going on a powerful run through the middle and was brought down by Matt Philips for a booking. The set-piece was well delivered by the midfielder, just nodded away by the U's defence, but it was collected by Luton and McGuinness was able to get a sliding toepoke through to the unmarked Krauß.

He in turn needed no invitation to hit the sweetest of drives that flew past Cumming and into the corner of the net for his second goal for the club and the first of the Bloomfield era. The U's felt they should have had the chance to equalise from the spot on 19 minutes, dangerous right winger Przemyslaw Plachet doing brilliantly to weave his way into the box before going to ground under the challenge of Amari'i Bell. It looked a clear penalty from the vantage point in the press box, but referee Stephen Martin adjudged otherwise, waving the appeals away.

Oxford weren't behind for long though, as despite Placheta appearing the main threat, they got the leveller from the left hand side on 22 minutes. Siriki Dembele released Cameron Brannagan who sent over a cross that centre half Michal Helik was somehow left unmarked to fly-kick goalwards, Thomas Kaminski getting a strong hand to the shot, but could only push it on to the post as it dribbled over the line.

The scoring kept coming though, as with 26 minutes gone, Clark delivered a magnificent set-piece from deep which beat almost everyone in the area but for McGuinness at the back post. His header was fisted away by Cumming, only for the centre half to demand it had crossed the line, the official's watch agreeing, Martin whistling and pointing to the centre circle, much to the delight of those travelling supporters.

The U's didn't seem too fazed by the quickfire response though, particularly Siriki Demeble as he had one deflected cross that Kaminski needed to be alert to gather, the stopper then parrying away another more direct attempt from the attacker. Luton came on strong once more, playing without doubt some of the best football on the road this term, with the confidence flowing through the players.

One move on the left almost paid dividends, before some more neat flicks and tricks from Isaiah Jones saw Clark play in Adebayo, who should have applied the finishing touch to a quite dreamy move, only to delay as the U's were able to block. Town dug in well at the start of the second half, as although they still retained a forward threat, couldn't get out to test Cumming, restricting United to efforts from range, Placheta spiralling one over.

Nelson then had a pop from 25 yards, sending it into the car park, as Town broke well to win a corner on the right, showing an inventiveness to mix things up from the flag kick, Clark dragging to the edge of the box where Krauß's low drive was repelled. Out of nowhere, the hosts restored parity on 59 minutes, as a corner was diverted goalwards by Brown beyond the reach of Kaminski.

Bloomfield responded to the setback immediately with a quadruple substitution before the game restarted, Doughty back, joined by Morris, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Brown, with Adebayo, Jones, Krauss and Nelson making way. Doughty immediately showed what Luton have been missing, as playing in a far more offensive role, he was involved in the action on both the right and left flanks.

But just when it looked like the alterations would work, Town returned to their shambolic defensive ways that have haunted them this term, a deep cross from Will Vaulks saw Leigh somehow left completely unmarked eight yards out to easily bury his downward header beyond Kaminski, the hosts taking the lead for the first time on the evening.

Oxford sent on new signing Tom Bradshaw, whose back header was easy for Kaminski, but despite having 20 minutes to find an equaliser, all the puff appeared to evaporate from the Hatters, who stunned by the two goals, were unable to lift their chins off the floor and go again in the final stages. Never once getting close to the kind of zippy, one-touch football that was on display in the first half, they resorted to long balls into the box, while giving away soft free kick after soft free kick, as they tamely limped to yet another away defeat.

U's: Jamie Cumming, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, Przemyslaw Placheta (Hidde Ter Avest 80), Cameron Branagan (C, Ruben Rodrigues 90), Mark Harris (Tom Bradshaw 65), Matt Phillips (Alex Matos 65), Greg Leigh, Siriki Dembele (Louie Sibley 90), Peter Kioso, Michael Helik.

Subs not used: Matt Ingram, Sam Long, Ole Romeny, Idris Ell Mizouni.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Daiki Hashioka, Tom Holmes, Mark McGuinness, Amari’i Bell, Marvelous Nakamba, Tom Krauß (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 60) Jordan Clark (C, Cauley Woodrow 81), Isaiah Jones (Jacob Brown 60), Zack Nelson (Alfie Doughty 60), Elijah Adebayo. (Carlton Morris 60).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Mads Andersen, Reuell Walters, Liam Walsh.

Referee: Stephen Martin.

Booked: Phillips 10, Nelson 24, Krauß 38, Jones 50, Brannagan 83, Long 84.

Attendance: 11,035 ( Hatters).

Bloomfield left hugely frustrated by Town's inability to defend during U's defeat

Luton let the lead slip twice at the Kassam Stadium

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield couldn’t disguise his frustration with the manner in which his side defended during their 3-2 defeat against Oxford United this evening.

The Hatters had led 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to first half goals from Tom Krauß and Mark McGuinness, as they switched ends with a real chance of ending their 11-game losing run away from home, looking the better side and playing some impressive stuff at times. However, 45 minutes later, the visitors were left with their shoulders sunk once more having conceded to Ciaron Brown’s volley from a corner, before Greg Leigh was somehow left completely unmarked to nod home the winner.

It led Bloomfield to say afterwards: “There was some real good stuff, especially first half. We sunk a little bit too deep for my liking second half and ultimately invited a little bit of pressure. It's not what we wanted to do, but it’s frustrating as there were some good elements but we’ve come away with nothing because we have to defend our box better.

“It’s very disappointing and the game will never change. The two 18-yard boxes are the most important areas of the pitch, you have to defend one end with your life and you have to stick the ball in the net at the other end, that’s what the game comes down to. We scored two good goals tonight, I’m really pleased with those, but ultimately we didn’t defend our goal well enough and if you do that then you’re not going to win games.

“There was plenty to like about us, especially first half, plenty to like. A lot of the work we did on the training ground, the boys are implementing, they’re coming out and playing and we carried a threat about us. There’s some good stuff, but it doesn't matter, when we lose a game and concede goals like we did, it doesn’t matter as ultimately the game is about results and I’m here to win.”

Hatters boss not about to start publicly blaming individuals for Luton's abysmal defending

Town deliver a shocking defensive display at the Kassam Stadium

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield wasn’t about to start publicly blaming any individuals for the manner in which the Hatters capitulated during the second half of their 3-2 defeat against Oxford United last united.

The visitors looked good to end their 11-game losing streak on the road when referee Stephen Martin whistled for half time, leading 2-1 thanks to Tom Krauß terrific strike and Mark McGuinness’s close range header following Jordan Clark’s wonderful free kick, although United themselves had found the net when Michal Helik got the better of Tom Holmes to volley home.

However, they were soon reverting to type on the road, with centre half Ciaron Brown escaping Daiki Hashioka’s attentions to prod in a corner on the hour mark, and then the worst of the lost, home defender Greg Leigh left alone by absolutely everyone in the area 10 minutes later to head Will Vaulks’ searching cross beyond a gobsmacked Thomas Kaminski, who was rooted to the spot.

Bloomfield, who now knows the size of the task ahead, Luton staring at a second successive relegation, but this time back to League One, insisted the only way to turn things around is by putting the hard work in on the training ground, as he said: “I’m not going to come out here and start pointing fingers, that’s not the way I am, but ultimately when the ball comes into or box, we have to defend it. We have to get first contact, we have to be marking, we have to have the right numbers of bodies between the posts, we have to defend the crosses, we’ll get on the training ground and work.

“It’s the only way to do it. We’ve got to get on the training ground and we’ve got to work. We’ve got to keep working, keep doing the basics. Any successful winning football team does the basics well, and we have to do the basics better. I knew the job when I came, but it’s a fantastic football club, full of really, really good people, there’s a lot of work to do but we’ll do it.”

Luton could well be in danger of beginning to get cut adrift at the bottom if they don’t start to pick up some results, starting against Millwall on Saturday, a side they are now five points behind, the Lions held to a 2-2 draw by Cardiff City in midweek. A trip to Sheffield Wednesday then follows, before the Hatters have an unenviable February to consider, with trips to Sunderland and Watford, also hosting table-toppers Sheffield United too.

Going into that sequence with just one point from 18 and five defeats in six, Bloomfield is hoping that one badly-needed success will inject his side with the confidence that is severely lacking, as he added: “It's what we need to do and that’s the game. To rise up the table we need to put a run together, that’s ultimately what it comes down to. We need to get the first one, we need to get that on the board and then belief and confidence will grow from there, but we have to get the first one.”