Plymouth Argyle vs Luton Town FC (19th Mar 2016)

PUBLISHED 18:23 19th March 2016 Marriott on target again as Town win on the road again

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0-1 LUTON TOWN

The Town made it five wins in six away games under Nathan Jones with a fine victory at promotion-chasing Plymouth.

Jack Marriott poked home his 13th goal of the season following Paddy McCourt’s excellent pass to put the Hatters ahead at the break.

And a fine defensive rearguard in the second half saw off the threat of the Pilgrims as the Town enjoyed more success on the road – and a second successive victory at Home Park across two seasons.

It began with Jones making one change to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Crawley last weekend with Glen Rea, signed on-loan from Brighton on Thursday, picked to make his debut. The 21-year-old sat in a defensive midfield position in front of the back four in place of Olly Lee, who missed out through injury.

Plymouth, who had dropped down to fourth place in table at kick-off following Bristol Rovers’ earlier victory, began on the front foot and Dan Potts needed to be alert to head away a dangerous left-wing cross from Gregg Wylde on 10 minutes.

Shortly after that the Town were forced into a change when Craig Mackail-Smith went down injured and he was replaced by Paul Benson.

Argyle continued to have the best of the ball in the opening stages. Goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell smothered a deflected shot from Craig Tanner on 18 minutes before Oscar Threlkeld blazed a shot high and wide a minute later.

However, after that flurry of chances, the Town began to get a foothold in the game. On 22 minutes the Hatters came close to leading with a host of half-chances. Jonathan Smith – the only player who started in the corresponding fixture last season – saw a shot blocked, as did Marriott. With the ball still not clear Benson saw a close range shot tipped away by Luke McCormick.

The Hatters came even closer a minute later, Marriott seizing on a low corner into the box from the right to spin and strike a low shot at goal that bounced just wide of the post.

Last weekend the Town failed to capitalise on their dominance against Crawley and you worried that for all their possession that Argyle would punish their profligacy. Not so, as on 27 minutes Marriott was on target for the 13th time this season. McCourt was the orchestrator. Accelerating away from his man the Northern Ireland international burst forward to the edge of the box and spotted Marriott’s run into the box. The striker took the sublime in his stride and did the rest, bearing down on goal before slipping a sneaky left-foot finish beyond McCormick.

Behind, back came the Pilgrims – Mitchell dealt with shots from Threlkeld and Ben Purrington from the edge of the box, before Alan Sheehan bravely blocked a blockbuster from home skipper Curtis Nelson on 39 minutes.

As the break approached, Argyle upped the pressure but they found the Town defence in their path. Mitchell pushed over a long range dipper from Graham Carey a minute before the break.

At the start of the second half the Town were forced into another change, McCourt, who went down with a knock in the latter stages of the first half, was replaced by Danny Green.

However, the Hatters should have doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart when McCormick fumbled a Green cross from the left but with the goal at his mercy Rea shot wide on the turn.

Back came Plymouth and the Town were indebted to a fine save from Mitchell to deny Wylde’s shot on 51 minutes – even if the officials decided to give a goal-kick instead. It was a necessary and superb stop at the young keeper’s near post.

For the third time, however, the Hatters needed to make their final change due to an injury when Dan Potts went down midway through the second period. He was replaced by Magnus Okuonghae in defence and Sheehan shifted to left-back.

The Town then forced a chance – their first real sight of goal in a good 20 minutes – when Marriot teed up Stephen O’Donnell just inside the penalty area only to shoot tamely wide of the target.

As time ticked into the final 15 minutes the Hatters and Marriott came close to doubling their tally. The strike broke after his team-mates had cleared an Argyle corner and just kept running. Although he had Benson for company the goalscorer went for goal with a low left-foot shot that McCormick did well to turn around the post. From the resultant corner Plymouth then broke four-on-two – only for the hosts to mess up their numerical advantage in attack and substitute Jake Jervis could only, thankfully, blaze over the crossbar.

Pilgrim pressure continued in the final 10 minutes and then into the six added minutes were added by the officials – but the Town defence held firm and another victory on the road was secured.

With no Good Friday home game it’s a nine-day wait for a game at Barnet on Easter Monday.

See you there.

Town: Mitchell; O’Donnell, Potts (sub Okuonghae 69), Cuthbert, Sheehan; Rea, Smith, McGeehan, McCourt (sub Green 46); Marriott, Mackail-Smith (sub Benson 15).

Subs not used: Lawless, Ruddock, Pigott, Justham.

Attendance: 7,793, including a superb 554 happy Hatters in the away end.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/portsmouth-gallery-2016-3016551.aspx

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

League Two: Plymouth Argyle 0 Luton Town 1

Luton Town breathed life into their play-off hopes yet again as Jack Marriott’s first half winner secured a third away win on the bounce at promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle this afternoon.

Marriott notched the only goal of the game, taking Paddy McCourt’s clever pass in his stride to beat Luke McCormick and make it five wins from six on their travels since Nathan Jones took over, with another hard-fought clean sheet, a fourth in that excellent run.

Once again, Hatters were made to work hard for the victory though, under a barrage of aerial pressure in the second period, but fantastically marshalled by Scott Cuthbert, the defence stood firm, and actually created the better chances as the game wore on.

Results elsewhere didn’t do Town any favours though as although they climbed a place to 12th, Leyton Orient’s 1-0 success over Morecambe kept the gap to the play-offs to six points.

Boss Nathan Jones made one change to the side from the 1-0 defeat against Crawley Town, new loan signing from Brighton Glen Rea making his Hatters debut in place of the injured Olly Lee.

A slow start on a difficult surface saw chances at a premium early on, Luton’s best opportunity when McCourt and Craig Mackail-Smith combined for Marriott’s shot that was charged down by Curtis Nelson.

On 10 minutes, Argyle went close too, with Craig Tanner nipping in to head goalwards, only for Dan Potts to get a crucial block and turn the ball behind.

Hatters were dealt a blow on 15 minutes when Mackail-Smith went down in a heap clutching his ankle while tracking back and despite receiving treatment, couldn’t continue, as Paul Benson came on.

Jonathan Mitchell made a routine stop from the lively Tanner, before Luton came to life on 20 minutes as Potts released Jonathan Smith on the left of the area.

He picked out Marriott with the striker’s shot charged down, but Luton won the seconds and Benson from a tight angle saw McCormick deflect with legs.

From the corner, Cameron McGeehan’s dummy allowed Marriott with a clear sight of goal, but frustratingly he dragged wide from a very decent position.

Hatters’ spell of pressure was rewarded on 28 minutes though, as McCourt was the instigator in chief, finding a yard of space and then driving at the box.

With the hosts’ expecting a shot, the Northern Irishman sent a wonderfully disguised ball to Marriott, who with his left found a minuscule gap inside McCormick’s near post for a 13th of the season.

Argyle tried to force an immediate response, Ben Purrington scuffing straight at Mitchell, with the keeper showing further exemplary handling from Graham Carey’s hit on 40 minutes.

Mitchell almost blotted his copybook moments later, as Carey took aim from even further out, with the on-loan Derby man nervously shovelling over the top.

Argyle ramped up the pressure with a number of crosses flying across the box, with Luton putting their bodies on the line, Alan Sheehan taking one full-bloodied attempt from Nelson square in the chest, but crucially ball the was repelled.

Town were forced into another change for the start of the second half as McCourt, who had required treatment in the closing stages of the first period, didn’t reappear and Danny Green came on.

The winger was almost behind a second goal just three minutes in as his cross was spilled by McCormick, as Rea reacted quickest only to spin and put his shot wide of the empty goal.

Plymouth then looked to step it up as was met at the far post by Gregg Wylde with Mitchell saving excellently low down, although a goal kick was awarded.

With the hosts enjoying easily their best spell, the game started to look similar to Luton’s performance at Leyton Orient, with the visitors conceding ground as they started to cling on somewhat.

Hatters were then dealt their third injury blow of the afternoon as Potts was sent tumbling after being caught late as the stretcher was called for.

That saw Magnus Okuonghae on for the final 20 minutes with Sheehan moving to left back, while Town, who had been non-existent as an attacking force, had a great chance for a third.

Benson and Marriott combined for the onrushing Stephen O’Donnell, but with McGeehan on the overlap, he went for goal and was tamely wide.

Argyle then raided the bench for leading scorer Jake Jervis and Reuben Reid to enter the fray, the pair with 15 league goals between them this season.

However, it was Luton who once again had a splendid chance to grab a pressure-relieving second as Marriott sped away, but with Benson completely unmarked in the middle, went for the bottom corner, McCormick turning behind.

Plymouth then wasted a very presentable four on one chance as O’Donnell held his ground well to force a pass across goal, with Jervis eventually wastefully firing over.

For all their territory though, the Pilgrims couldn’t create anything clear-cut, as sub Jervis put his header from Carey’s cross off target, leaving Town to soak up the adulation from the 500-plus travelling supporters once more after another superb away day showing.

Argyle: Luke McCormick, Gary Sawyer, Curtis Nelson (C), Peter Hartley, Graham Carey, Gregg Wylde (Carl McHugh 83), Ben Purrington, Jamille Matt (Reuben Reid 73), Oscar Threlkeld, Jordan Houghton (Jake Jervis 73).

Subs not used: Josh Simpson, Louis Rooney, Jordan Foster, Vincent Dorel.

Hatters: Jonathan Mitchell, Stephen O’Donnell, Dan Potts (Magnus Okuonghae 68), Scott Cuthbert (C), Alan Sheehan, Jonathan Smith, Glen Rea, Cameron McGeehan, Paddy McCourt (Danny Green 46), Jack Marriott, Craig Mackail-Smith (Paul Benson 15).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Joe Pigott, Alex Lawless.

Attendance: 7,973 (554 Hatters).

Booked: Smith 59, McGeehan 77, Purrington 87, Rea 89.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Hatters MOM: Scott Cuthbert. Defender marshalled his side to another fantastic away clean sheet.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones hailed his side once more for another superb away performance as they triumphed 1-0 at promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Jack Marriott’s 13th of the season was enough to defeat the Pilgrims as Hatters bounced back from their 1-0 defeat against Crawley Town win a fifth game out of six.

Jones said: “I’m delighted, it was a different kind of performance from last week in terms of the domination factor, but we came here, I asked them for an away performance and they were outstanding.

“We wanted a fast start which we didn’t quite get, and they as the home team to come out of the blocks, but our keeper never had a save to make.

“I know they had a little bit of possession, and then worked on stuff to try and affect our shape, but I felt we were okay, no real problem.

“I felt we had the two best chances of the half, one we scored from, the corner Jack had an unbelievable opportunity and felt we had better chances first half.

“It was was a real good away performance, our keeper had one save to make second half which was offside anyway, and I thought it was a magnificent performance I really did and I’m really, really proud of them.”

The hosts dropped out of the top three before kick off for the first time since September and Jones felt Argyle might be starting to feel the pressure of their lofty position, as he continued: “It’s difficult for Plymouth and I spoke to their manager beforehand as he’s doing a wonderful job here. They’ve been up the top all season and that’s tough to do as they’re there week in week out to be shot at.

“Northampton have come with an unbelievable run and just springboarded everyone, but Plymouth have been there all season to be shot at and they’re having to learn to grind out results.

“Maybe it’s catching up with them a little bit, they’ve picked up one or two injuries, but they’ve got some really good players, really talented players and as I said, it’s just a frustrating time for them at the moment, but they’re a real good side.

“So for us to come here and win as not many come here and win, in the manner that we didn, I’m very pleased.”

The only frustrating aspect of the weekend was the victory didn’t close Town’s gap the top seven, as Leyton Orient saw off Morecambe, with Hatters remaining six points adrift.

Jones added: “It is (disappointing), but we’ve got to keep going game by game, we can’t think about play-offs, we can’t think about this, we haven’t mentioned that.

“We were disappointed with last week and I asked for a bounce back and away performance in our presentation. We bounced back emphatically, and in terms of an away performance, that’s just wonderful.”

Plymouth Argyle 0 Luton Town 1

A 1-0 Jack Marriott-inspired away win is becoming a thing of beauty for Luton.

And there was no small sense of déjà vu at a Home Park scoreline which served them well last term.

On that occasion it was a controlled, classy performance, but this 2016 edition came courtesy of one moment of quality followed by a magnificent stubbornness.

In fact, the Hatters inflicted on Plymouth what Crawley had dealt them last week – and my word it's great when the boot is on the other foot.

The only difference here was that Luton had the best chances to complement a resilient rearguard of the Leyton Orient vintage from a fortnight ago. That's now five away wins out of the last six and the Nathan Jones-led celebrations at the final whistle matched those in East London.

That's because, despite Argyle's dominance of the ball, they only fashioned one clear-cut chance. Keeper Jonathan Mitchell nipped that in the bud with a smart save and was rewarded with a goal-kick. It was that kind of game.

Indeed, the odds kept piling up against Luton as they were rocked by three ankle injuries to Craig Mackail-Smith, Paddy McCourt and Dan Potts. But under boss Jones, they are made of sturdier stuff these days and the Pilgrims could not find a way to pick them apart.

It was a gloriously satisfying way to win a football match – as was Marriott's decider. The striker's 28th minute finish was cool, but Paddy McCourt's genius reverse-pass through-ball was ice-cold and deadly.

For a performance full of ruthlessness and desire, the only annoyance – though out of their control – was that the victory moved them no closer to the League Two play-offs in term of points, with six still the gap.

While Plymouth gorged themselves on 62 per cent possession they did nothing with it in the opening 20 minutes. The Hatters, in contrast, saw Paul Benson denied by goalie Luke McCormick at close quarters after Jonathan Smith and Marriott both had shots blocked.

From the resulting corner Marriott should have done better than to pull a shot wide when the Argyle defence parted, but he wouldn't pass up his next chance.

McCourt skipped past two Plymouth midfielders but looked to have ran into green wall before a sublime piece of vision and skill fed in Marriott who coolly notched his 13th of the season.

Jones said: "Our shape worked today. We got Paddy in a good area and when he's in that area he can unlock anything with the ability he has, and he did."

The hosts were reduced to long range efforts with Mitchell comfortable, when the likes of Alan Sheehan wasn't taking point blank thunderbolts to the chest to typify their warrior mode.

And, it perhaps should have been more comfortable, as Rea – handed his Hatters debut in a holding midfield role as the only change from last week – should have made it 2-0 when McCormick fumbled a cross and, though the Brighton loan man had to swivel, he aimed wide. That was the defender in him.

Then, through counter attacks, Stephen O'Donnell screwed a shot wide with Cameron McGeehan free, while Marriott also broke free but went it alone with Benson screaming for the ball – even if the goalscorer did force McCormick into a save.

It mattered little as, even despite six added minutes, 1-0 to Luton is an away day score you can take to the bank.

Plymouth Argyle: McCormick; Sawyer, Nelson, Hartley, Carey, Wylde (McHugh, 82), Purrington, Matt (Reid, 73), Threlkeld, Tanner, Houghton (Jervis, 73) Unused subs: Simpson, Rooney, Forster, Dorel

Luton Town: Mitchell; O'Donnell, Potts (Okuonghae, 67), Cuthbert, Sheehan; Rea, Smith, McGeehan, McCourt (Green, 45); Marriott, Mackail-Smith (Benson, 15) Unused subs: Lawless, Justham, Ruddock Mpanzu, Pigott

Referee: Darren Bond Attendance: 7,973 (554)