Peterborough United vs Luton Town FC (5th Apr 2022)

Report | Peterborough United 1-1 Luton Town

The Hatters had to settle for a point on their trip to Peterborough as Danny Hylton's opener was cancelled out by a late Jonson Clarke-Harris header for the bottom side.

Manager Nathan Jones made four changes from the team that faced Millwall at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, Fred Onyedinma came into the starting eleven after being on the bench for that 2-2 draw, while Peter Kioso was brought back into the heart of defence with Tom Lockyer missing out through injury.

The additional changes were in the forward roles, with Danny Hylton and Cameron Jerome both brought in to start in place of Henri Lansbury and Harry Cornick respectively, who featured among the substitutes.

The Hatters had James Shea to thank for keeping the scoresheet blank twice in the opening seven minutes, first to produce a brilliant save from Frankie Kent's header, clawing the ball onto the post when it seemed destined for the top corner.

Then, just seconds later, the former AFC Wimbledon keeper got down low to his left to push away a Jack Taylor shot from fully 25 yards, as the hosts came quickly out of the blocks.

Jerome and Adebayo started to make inroads into the Posh backline, the former driving to the byline and drawing a sliding challenge in the box from Ronnie Edwards, although referee Thomas Bramall wouldn't be drawn on Town appeals for a penalty.

Then the Town top scorer skipped on to an Allan Campbell backheel down the left, only to be fouled by Jeando Fuchs, earning the home midfielder the night's first yellow card.

Mpanzu would soon join him for a foul on Jonson Clarke-Harris, before the Hatters' first sight of goal came in the 18th minute, Onyedinma getting to the right byline and arrowing in a lovely cross that found Adebayo's head, but his effort was tipped over the bar by Dai Cornell.

Shea had to push another long-range effort from Taylor round the post, before ex-Hatter Jack Marriott got on the end of a sweeping Posh move in the 25th minute, only to find the Town number one in his way again.

Hylton had a penalty appeal waved away when Josh Knight challenged him in the area, then Jerome had to be replaced due to injury just after the half-hour, Henri Lansbury coming off the bench.

Peterborough had another attempt in the 38th minute when Knight crossed from the right, and although Bree produced a terrific clearing header, Kwame Poku followed up with a shot from the edge of the box that flew just wide.

Campbell soon fashioned a shooting chance at the other end, the ball flying the wrong side of the post after Posh struggled to clear a Naismith free-kick.

Adebayo won an almighty flick-on into Hylton's path on the stroke of half-time, but covering defender Knight managed to get a block on his shot and the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

The Hatters started the second half quickly, Hylton latching onto another Adebayo flick just seconds in and seeing his shot deflected wide for a corner, which Posh struggled to clear with Lansbury eventually attempting a curler that Cornell saved low to his left.

The quick start turned into a perfect start on 49 minutes when Lansbury set Onyedinma racing clear on the right, and his cross found Hylton inside the six-yard box to steer in his fourth goal of the season.

Peterborough mounted a response, with Marriott firing straight at Shea with 52 minutes played, but it was the Hatters who continued to pose the greater threat and were in control.

Poku fired a warning shot, but way too high, before some lovely football down the Town right between Lansbury, Bree and Adebayo led to Peterborough captain Kent being booked for a late, high, scything challenge on Bree on the right byline.

Peterborough survived that free-kick, and another from Bree - this time deeper after Onyedinma had been wiped out in full flow by Ricky Jade-Jones, before the Posh sub spurned a glorious chance with the goal at his mercy with just under quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Jones took Hylton off with ten minutes left, the goalscorer leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the 3,699 travelling Hatters, and predictable boos from the home fans. Captain Sonny Bradley made his return from injury in his place, racking up his 150th appearance for the club in the process.

The hosts grabbed an equaliser with three minutes remaining, however, when Clarke-Harris met Ward's cross from the right with a far post header that earned Posh a share of the spoils - and it could have been more had Taylor put his header on target and Clarke-Harris' shot not come back off the post in injury-time.

Thankfully for the Hatters, their goal remained intact to the final whistle and they stay fourth in the table ahead of next Monday's trip to Huddersfield.

Scorers:

LT - Hylton 49

PU - Clarke-Harris 87

Att: 10,941

Nathan Jones reacts to Peterborough draw

Manager Nathan Jones was left ruing what could have been after a frustrating night at the Weston Homes Stadium.

After Danny Hylton had put the Hatters in front early in the second half, the three points looked to be on their way back to Bedfordshire, but for Jonson Clarke-Harris’ late equaliser.

Giving his honest assessment after the match, Jones said: “We were one-nil up on 85 minutes and we just have to see the game out really and we didn’t do that. We had a warning just before, they’ve had a chance back-stick, then they’ve scored and to be fair they could have won it and we probably should have lost the game.

“We haven’t been anywhere near our best tonight but credit Peterborough. They are grafting, they needed a win and they went for it. They were really positive, really front-footed after a bad result at the weekend so they came out fight. To be fair you have to give them credit but we weren’t at the level, we showed one bit of quality tonight. The first time we won a first contact, the first time we got it down and showed any kind of quality, we scored.

“In the return game at Kenilworth Road we showed bags of quality, we scored three and should have scored more, but we didn’t show that kind of quality tonight. It’s tough coming away so any point is a good one especially as this point but I’m a bit frustrated, one we didn’t see the game out and two with the level of performance.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICjzhd9ERtA – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM-VF_IClCs – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n64tDgB9Wj0 – Danny Hylton interview

Two points dropped for Luton as Hatters concede late Posh leveller

Championship: Peterborough 1 Luton Town 1

Luton saw their play-off hopes take a dent as a precious victory was snatched from their play-off by a late equaliser for struggling Peterborough United at the Weston Homes Stadium this evening.

It had looked like Danny Hylton's fourth goal of the season just after half time would be enough for the visitors to gain all three points, but Jonson Clarke-Harris rose highest to head home with four minutes to go and earn the Posh what was a deserved share of the spoils.

The visitors made four changes for the clash, Fred Onyedinma coming back in after manager Nathan Jones admitted he hadn't been quite as bold as he wanted with his team selection against Millwall at the weekend, the winger scoring once and setting up two in the 3-0 win over United on the opening day back in August.

Also back in were Peter Kioso, Cameron Jerome and Hylton, with Tom Lockyer out injured, while Dan Potts, Henri Lansbury and Harry Cornick dropped to the bench.

Town were indebted to keeper James Shea for keeping them on level terms in the opening eight minutes as from a corner, he sprung to his left to somehow palm a Frankie Kent header that looked destined for the back of his net, making an absolutely terrific save, with a little help from his post too.

He was called into action again moments later, once more having to fly to his left, although this time it was to parry Jack Taylor's low daisycutter to safety.

Town started to grow into the contest, getting some joy on their left through Jerome and Elijah Adebayo, but it was the opposite flank where the first real opportunity came, Onyedinma taking on and beating his man, whipping over an inviting cross that was met by Adebayo, Dai Cornell tipping behind.

The hosts weren't afraid to have a pop from range, Taylor once more trying his luck and an unsure Shea having to shovel behind midway through the half, the keeper having a far easier task moments later when ex-Hatter Jack Marriott couldn't get enough on Joe Ward's right wing cross.

Luton were forced into a change on 33 minutes as Jerome appeared to injure his calf and was replaced by Lansbury, Hylton pushing further forward to partner Adebayo.

Posh looked the more likely going into the break though, a good move on the right seeing James Bree do well to beat Marriott to the ball, Poku slicing his volley wide.

Luton did create an opening too, Adebayo teeing up Allan Campbell, whose effort lacked the kind of conviction shown recently, not testing Cornell.

A flurry of chances on the stroke of half time saw Marriott's angled snapshot fly into the side-netting, with Adebayo immediately flicking on for Hylton, his effort repelled by a covering defender.

Luton made a fast start to proceedings after the interval, a number of shots drawing desperate blocks, with Lansbury's effort from outside the box straight at Cornell.

Jones' side were rewarded for their positive intentions just four minutes in too, with a quite magnificent pass inside the full back from Lansbury picking out Onyedinma.

He took the ball on, looked up, and put it on a plate for the lurking Hylton, who bundled his effort over the line.

Posh didn't let their heads drop though, Marriott's low attempt skidding off the turf but into Shea's gloves at his near post, while he could watch Poku's speculative attempt fly in the packed stand of away fans behind him.

As Luton looked to keep the hosts at arm's length for the remainder of the game, with Onyedinma in particular giving his markers a torrid time, they went close to what have been a victory sealing second, Naismith crowded out.

Town were given a huge let-off with 12 minutes to go, a pinpoint cross from the right met by the completely unmarked sub Ricky-Jade Jones, who got his feet all wrong and somehow sent it out for a goal kick.

Sprung into action by that miss, Jones brought on club captain Sonny Bradley for his first outing since January to shore up the defence for the closing 10 minutes.

It didn't work though, the hosts level with four minutes to play, Joe Ward sending over another top drawer delivery from the right and Clarke-Harris showed how it was down, arrowing his downward header into the bottom corner.

From a winning position, Town should have been trailing in stoppage time, a brilliant cross from the left this time met by Taylor in splendid isolation, as he powered his header wastefully over the bar.

That led to some really nervy moments for the 3,600 travelling fans, as Posh might have won it with virtually the last kick, Clarke-Harris's drive from 25 yards thudding against the foot of the post and away.

The Hatters did manage to see out the final few seconds, staying fourth in the table as they are now three points clear of sixth place going into a bitterly tough period of fixtures, travelling to Huddersfield next Monday and then hosting Nottingham Forest on Good Friday.

Posh: Dai Cornell, Ronnie Edwards, Frankie Kent (C, Sammie Szmodics 73), Jack Taylor, Jonson Clarke-Harris. Josh Knight, Jack Marriott (Ricky-Jade Jones 68), Kwame Poku, Harrison Burrows, Joe Ward, Jeando Fuchs.

Subs not used: Will Blackmore, Reece Brown, Jorge Grant, Bali Mumba, Emmanuel Fernandez.

Hatters: James Shea, Fred Onyedinma (Harry Cornick 90), Amari'i Bell, James Bree, Peter Kioso, Kal Naismith (C), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Allan Campbell, Danny Hylton (Sonny Bradley 82), Cameron Jerome (Henri Lansbury 32), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Robert Snodgrass.

Bookings: Fuchs 15, Mpanzu 16, Marriott 41, Kent 69, Jones 75, Adebayo 90.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Hatters boss admitted his side were second best during Peterborough draw

Hatters boss reacts to 1-1 draw at struggling Posh

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted his side were fortunate to leave with a point during this evening’s 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Peterborough United.

Despite not being at their best, the Hatters were in pole position to claim a victory needed to boost their play-off hopes, leading through Danny Hylton’s goal early in the second period.

However, the hosts missed a glorious chance to equaliser through substitute Ricky-Jade Jones, before Jonson Clarke-Harris levelled, heading home an inviting cross with four minutes to go.

Jack Taylor then powered a free header over the top, and Clarke-Harris hit the post from range in stoppage time, as in the end, Luton were fortunate to leave with a point.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “You can look at it, we were 1-0 up on 85 minutes, so just got to see the game out really and we didn’t do that.

"We had a warning just before, the delivery, they’ve had a chance back stick, then they’ve scored and to be fair they could have won it, we probably should have lost the game.

"We haven't been anywhere near our best tonight, but credit Peterborough, they’re grafting, they needed a win, they went for it, they were really positive, really front-footed.

"They’ve had a bad result on the weekend, they’ve come out fighting, so give them credit, but we weren’t at the levels we were.

"We showed one bit of quality tonight, first time we won a first contact, first time we got it down, first time we showed any kind of quality we scored.

"If we’d have done that a little bit more as in the return game back at Kenilworth Road we showed bags of quality, score three and should have scored more, but we didn’t show that kind of quality tonight.

"It's tough, coming away, any point away is a good one, especially at this stage of the season.

"But I’m a bit frustrated that one we didn’t see the game out and two with the level of performance as they were probably better than us tonight.”