Peterborough United vs Luton Town FC (6th Dec 2015)

PUBLISHED 16:55 6th December 2015 by Ross Lawson Town bow out to League 1 Posh

PETERBOROUGH UNITED 2-0 LUTON TOWN

The Hatters’ bid for their second successive Third Round appearance in the FA Cup was shattered by a 2-0 defeat away at League One outfit Peterborough.

Conor Washington’s first half strike had Posh ahead at the break before substitute Marcus Maddison sealed the Town’s exit just eight minutes from time.

Craig Mackail-Smith had hit the post on his return to London Road, Peterborough’s quality proved decisive in East Anglia.

Mark Tyler delivered a stellar performance against his old side, producing a string of saves to keep the Town in the contest despite Peterborough’s heavy shot count.

John Still opted for five changes from last week’s 3-0 defeat at Newport, drafting in Mackail-Smith and Paddy McCourt, while Sean Long, Marcus Okuonghae and Nathan Doyle – who captained in Scott Cuthbert’s absence – also started.

The Hatters began the first half on the back foot and perhaps should have been a goal down when Lee Angol spun Luke Wilkinson on the six-yard box before firing wide.

The Posh had an even better chance just a minute later when Harry Beautyman, on for the injured Jermaine Anderson, missed the target from three yards under pressure from Tyler, who was returning to his former ground after playing almost 500 games for the hosts.

The Hatters keeper was required again to thwart Conor Washington, who could have had a first-half hat-trick, blocking two close efforts after Angol had played him in from an excellent Michael Bostwick cross-field ball.

The visitors got their foothold midway through the half, with Jonathan Smith taking aim from 25 yards only for the effort to be deflected out for a corner.

It was from a corner where the Hatters proved troublesome on the 27th minute when Luke Wilkinson, who seemed to be tugged by a home defender, got a free run on his man but could only nod McCourt’s delivery over the bar when unmarked, eight yards out.

The Town were enjoying their best period of the first half, and good work from Alex Lawless and Olly Lee down the left saw the latter swivel on the edge of the area, but his shot was saved by Ben Alnwick, required too infrequently from a Luton perspective.

But the next attack saw Peterborough take the lead. Callum Elder and Washington linked up down the left flank, with the latter taking the ball into the area before jinking inside and out of Okuonghae and firing to the far post past a helpless Tyler.

Despite being a goal down, the Hatters were far from down and out in the first period, and came the width of the post away from equalising in the closing stages.

Excellent battling from McCourt and Lee saw the ball pinched back, with the latter releasing McQuoid to set up a three-on-two. McQuoid unselfishly laid it off to Mackail-Smith, but his 15-yard strike smashed the woodwork and kept the Town behind going to the break.

The hosts began the second half in a similar vain to the first, using their divisional advantage to knock the ball around with comfort, and almost doubled their advantage when Angol launched a fierce shot which Tyler did well to keep out.

Still the Posh remained a threat. Substitute Miles Addison was the latest to test Tyler with a long-range effort, while Washington had a glorious opportunity to net his second, beating the Hatters offside trap from an Oztumer reverse pass, cutting an effort right across the face of goal where Beautyman was inches away from converting.

The home side wasted yet another opportunity as Angol could only head wide from a central position twice in the space of five minutes, while John Still opted for a change in system with Cameron McGeehan and Danny Green coming on in place of Lee and McCourt.

The Posh, who notched 35 shots in the game, were showing why they are the top scorers across the top four tiers, but with just one goal separating the two sides, a moment of magic could bring the Town level in the cup tie.

And it almost came, too. Good hold-up play from Mackail-Smith saw him release Smith down the right, and with plenty looking for service in the area, Smith laid the ball into empty space and the chance was averted.

The ex-Posh keeper was a big factor in keeping the Hatters in the contest, tipping over a left-wing Elder cross that had looped off Lawless and was creeping under the crossbar until the right-hand intervention.

But there was nothing he could do to stop Maddison’s striking into the bottom corner. After a period of Hatters pressure, the substitute took advantage of space down the Hatters’ right, cutting inside to double the lead in the final ten minutes.

The Town battled to the final whistle, but were knocked out of the FA Cup at the second round stage for the second time in three years, losing their third successive game in all competitions.

Town: Tyler, Long, Lawless (sub Griffiths 77), Wilkinson, Okuonghae, Smith, Doyle, Lee (sub McGeehan 61), McCourt (sub Green 72), McQuoid, Mackail-Smith.

Unused subs: Justham, Hall, Guttridge, Williams

Attendance: 8,379, with 1,740 backing the Hatters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w11Hi8-eiSY

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-posh-2-0-town-2838183.aspx

FA Cup, second round: Peterborough United 2 Luton Town 0

Luton Town went out of the FA Cup with little more than a whimper this afternoon as they were totally outclassed by League One Peterborough United.

Quite how the visitors escaped having conceded just twice remains a mystery as the post match stats had Posh sending 34 shots at Mark Tyler’s goal, with the former Peterborough keeper making a host of excellent saves to keep his side in the game.

Hatters’ meanwhile, had just two efforts of note in the first half, Craig Mackail-Smith hitting the post and Luke Wilkinson sending a free header over, while after the break, sent absolutely nothing to even remotely trouble home keeper Ben Alnwick.

The visitors had made five changes for the game with Magnus Okuonghae, Paddy McCourt, Sean Long, Nathan Doyle and Craig Mackail-Smith in for Cameron McGeehan, Danny Green, Scott Griffiths who dropped to the bench, with Scott Cuthbert and Jack Marriott missing out completely.

Without Cuthbert, Doyle took the armband, while Tyler was given the nod to return to the side where he made 486 appearances, enjoying a warm ovation from all the 8,329 in attendance throughout.

Hatters were given a taste of what might have been though as the hosts had Lee Angol in the side, the striker moving from Luton to London Road in the summer after rejecting a new deal at Kenilworth Road.

Meanwhile, Posh’s pint-sized midfielder Erhun Oztumer, who dazzled with his close control and superb vision, was another that Hatters had let slip away, after he originally signed for Luton in the summer of 2014, only to fail a medical meaning the deal was never rubber stamped.

In what was to become a theme of the tie, United had the first real chance, Jon Taylor escaping on the left and his cross was sent wide by Angol, booed whenever in possession by the visiting fans, from close range.

Posh continued to create all the opportunities early on, Harry Forrester’s shot easy for Tyler, with Oztumer shooting over and Angol inches away from meeting another excellent delivery, then side-footing wide moments later.

Posh had another marvellous chance on 15 minutes, when sub Harry Beautyman, on for the injured Jermaine Anderson, was completely unmarked, but Tyler was out to block at his feet.

The ex-Peterborough stopper was having an inspired return to his old club, as a wonderful move saw Bostwick’s raking pass met on the volley by Michael Smith who crossed for the in-form Connor Washington to be denied brilliantly by Tyler’s legs, the keeper easily claiming the rebound.

Jonathan Smith had a sighter from range, his shot flicking off a home defender and behind for a corner.

With Luton finally enjoying a spell of pressure midway through the half, they had a glorious opening when Luke Wilkinson timed his run perfectly to meet McCourt’s corner only to direct a header over from six yards out.

Long was booked for scything down Angol, while Oztumer fired tamely at Tyler, when he should have made him work much harder.

The deadlock was broken on 32 minutes though as Okuonghae was beaten far too easily by Washington’s step-overs in the area and the attacker arrowed his effort into the top corner.

Hatters’ weakness in recent games has seen them concede goals in quickfire clusters and it almost came back to bite them when Oztumer brilliantly released Washington, whose aim was wayward this time.

Luton then had a superb chance to level when they won possession back high up the pitch and Josh McQuoid fed Mackail-Smith who went clean through against Ben Alnwick only to see his effort cannon against the post.

In the second period, it quickly became all Peterbrough as they were out of the blocks quickly, with Angol and Michael Bostwick having efforts from range, while Angol tested Tyler again and Wilkinson was alert to hack away.

The Luton stopper was frequently called into action, denying half time sub Marcus Maddison’s low drive, as the replacement adopted a shoot on sight policy, an awkard bounce forcing Tyler to shovel away.

Hatters’ over-worked keeper should have been picking the ball out of the net moments later as the hugely impressive Oztumer sliced open Town’s back-line once more and Washington was wasteful yet again, dragging wide of the target.

Posh were almost trying to keep Luton in the game, fluffing another golden opportunity on 65 minutes as the diminutive Oztumer stooped to direct his header past the posts.

Tyler was single-handedly keeping the hosts out at times, as Angol escaped Luton’s back-line with the keeper out bravely, while he then back-pedalled to tip over Callum Elder’s deflected cross.

The second goal that had been coming virtually since the whistle went eventually arrived with seven minutes left as Long got caught out upfield and from then on Hatters were always in trouble.

This time, Maddison kept his composure and produced an unerring finish in the bottom corner to give his sime some totally and utterly deserved breathing space as they finally put the tie to bed.

Posh: Ben Alnwick (C), Michael Smith, Jon Taylor (Marcus Maddison 46), Michael Bostwick, Erhun Oztumer (Andrew Fox 90), Ricardo Almeida Santos, Conor Washington, Jermaine Anderson (Harry Beautyman 5), Lee Angol, Callum Elder, Chris Forrester.

Subs not used: Dion-Curtis Henry, Jack Baldwin, Souleymane Coulibaly, Miles Addison.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Alex Lawless (Scott Griffiths 79), Magnus Okuonghae, Luke Wilkinson, Sean Long, Jonathan Smith, Nathan Doyle, Olly Lee (Cameron McGeehan 62), Paddy McCourt (Danny Green 72), Josh McQuoid, Craig Mackail-Smith.

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Ryan Hall, Luke Guttridge, Curtley Williams.

Booked: Long 28, Green 87. Attendance: 8,329 (Hatters 1,740). Referee: Nigel Miller.

Hatters MOM: Mark Tyler. Almost single-handedly kept his side in the game at times.

Peterborough United 2 Luton Town 0

If ever you could call a 2-0 win a thorough thrashing it was this as Luton were swept out of the FA Cup by a Peterborough side that were Barcelona to their Dog and Duck.

It was a Sunday afternoon stroll, a Harlem Globetrotters-esque exhibition orchestrated by one man who spun a sense of what could have been for the Hatters.

Playmaker Erhun Oztumer provided the kind of highlights reel that can induce nightmares in the short-term and a sense of regret for considerably longer.

It will be with remorse that Luton lament having signed the diminutive dazzler in the summer of 2014 before he failed a medical and the deal fell through. It was a sound decision at the time, but the number 10 now goes down as one-that-got-away.

The Londoner, who made the jump from non-league Dulwich Hamlet, didn't punish Luton with goals but he did everything besides, with flicks, tricks, pace and invention by the bucket-load to beat them into submission.

Conor Washington and Marcus Maddison scored in each half, but Oztumer rightfully claimed the man-of-the-match award and he should also be given an FA gong for player of the round. He was that good and Luton were comfortably inferior.

They must somehow try to wipe their memories of this mauling, which included 34 shots and 15 on target. There's is a squad, which we've been told numerous times has League One-quality players, but they came up dramatically short against a side that can truly lay claim to that calibre.

This was a chance for Hatters' hopefuls to elevate themselves to those prophesised heights – but none of them took it.

Even with five changes, four due to late injuries, Luton were handed a very harsh lesson that they are, in a mid-table League Two sense, where they deserve to be on current form.

On the rare occasion that Oztumer wasn't tearing Town a new one, Jon Taylor, Lee Angol, Washington and, in the second half, Maddison, sliced Luton open at will.

The only surprising thing was that the visitors traipsed in at half time one goal down, though it was a classy finish from Washington, who took full advantage of a Town's willingness to cede possession, even in their own penalty box. It was most peculiar considering the fragility which had seem them concede seven goals in their previous two games.

Washington himself could have had a first half hat-trick, while Mark Tyler – Peterborough's second most capped player – did what this London Road crowd and the travelling Town fans have witnessed so often over the years, a string of fine saves. On his first return since leaving this parish in 2009, the 38-year-old was the difference between 2-0 and a rout.

Some sentiment must have played its part in his selection, as Elliot Justham had been the Hatters' choice for the cups, but two point-blank range denials of Harry Beautyman and Washington, among numerous other interventions, maintained a midway point respectability. He was quite rightly serenaded by the home supporters as he emerged for the second period.

Yet, for all Posh's dominance there was a chance the other former United hero in Luton's ranks to square the tie before the break, but Craig Mackail-Smith hit the post on his first start since October 20.

Olly Lee and Luke Wilkinson both went close but, undeterred, Peterborough continued to carve the Hatters open and Washington turned Magnus Okuonghae – on only his second start for Luton – curling expertly inside the far post. The striker should have made it two in four minutes when he was sent clear on goal but lifted criminally over the bar.

The error should have been punished but Mackail-Smith erred in front of the fans he bagged 99 goals for at the peak of his career.

The outstanding Oztumer finished the half with an effort from distance and then a stunning lofted through-ball to Washington, who couldn't make the most of the gift.

There was no noticeable change to Town's approach after the break, no clearly defined masterplan to stem the blue tide, bar that old reliance on Tyler, who duly kept out Angol and Maddison.

Not for the first time, Oztumer scythed Luton open with a reverse pass, which alone deserved a goal. But Washington, in acres of space ten yards from goal, was wasteful. The diminutive maestro then was equally profligate – but it was the only foot, or head in this case, that he put wrong all game.

While Angol was off target – a small relief for Luton – a Maddison grass-cutter ripped into the net to confirm Posh's passage into the third round.

And, just to seal that sense of regret, Oztumer was subbed late on in order to receive the standing ovation his masterful display deserved.

Peterborough: Alnwick, Smith, Taylor (Maddison, 45), Bostwick, Oztumer (Fox, 90+2), Santos, Washington, Anderson (Beautyman, 5), Angol, Elder, Forrester

Unused subs: Henry, Baldwin, Coulibaly, Addison

Luton: Tyler, Smith, Lawless (Griffiths, 78), McCourt (Green, 72), Okuonghae, Lee (McGeehan, 61), Long, Mackail-Smith, McQuoid, Doyle, Wilkinson

Unused subs: Justham, Hall, Guttridge, Williams

Referee: Nigel Miller

Attendance: 8,329 (1,740)

No complaints from John Still after the player that got away torments Hatters

John Still had no complaints as his Luton side crashed out of the FA Cup as a player that slipped Town's transfer grasp pulled the strings for former side Peterborough.

Erhun Otzumer was the star man in a 2-0 second round victory for United that could have been a rout, Posh were that dominant.

Conor Washington and Marcus Maddison scored either side the interval but the tricky number 10 was a constant menace, showing Still what he could have got, had he not failed a medical in 2014 with a deal already agreed to take him from non-league side Dulwich Hamlet.

"We'd actually signed him, but he failed the medical," the Luton boss said after their third straight defeat in all competitions.

"In view of the [injury] situation with Danny Spiller and Garry Richards, the club didn't feel that was the right thing to do, so we didn't sign him."

The Oztumer-inspired Peterborough side also had former Hatter Lee Angol up front for his first meeting with Luton since snubbing a new deal in the summer, having never played for the first team but rattling in the goals on a loan spell in the Conference.

Town keeper Mark Tyler, who moved in the opposite direction in 2009, said: "I thought Lee played really well and Oztumer is a good little footballer, her gets in that space, but their rotation in midfield is quality.

"Everyone knows their jobs, Lee dropped in there in the second half, but we all knew how good Lee Angol was. He did really well and Boreham Wood last year, so I think he's found his right club here and looks like he's fitted in really well."

Tyler was a busy man, on his first return to the ground where he played most of his 485 games as a Peterborough goalie. His former side had 34 shots, with 15 on target, but the 38-year-old custodian pulled off some fine saves to keep the score respectable.

Still said: "It was a fair result, the right result, but I thought we competed really well. They've been free-flowing lately and scoring lots of goals so we knew we'd have to do our fair share of defending.

"We felt we could break at them, Craig [Mackail-Smith] hit the post, but they had other chances so I'm not moaning about that. It was just a hard exercise of trying to keep in the game for as long as we could. In that last little bit of the game I thought they were just getting a bit nervy and they scored the [second] goal."

Despite suffering a third defeat on the spin, in which they've conceded nine goals and not scored in their last two, manager Still insisted their performance could pay dividends as they turn attention wholly on their League Two campaign.

"I thought we stuck to the task well," he said, adding: "They're on a rich vein of form, playing well. Our confidence is obviously a touch low, but I think we'll gain a lot of confidence from that today. I think when the boys came off they felt very positive about it and it's back to work this week.

"It's always about concentrating on the league. You do as best as you can in the cups, particularly this competition, but [it's] what I always say; at this level we're not going to win the FA Cup.

"We might get a great draw, we might not, but we're in a competition in the league where we feel that if we can get it right that we can progress in it, so that's our bread and butter."