Port Vale vs Luton Town FC (30th Dec 2017)

REPORT: PORT VALE 4 LUTON TOWN 0

The Hatters' 12-game unbeaten run comes to an end at Vale Park

The table-topping Hatters suffered a rare blip at Port Vale this afternoon to end 2017 with a defeat - but they remain four points clear in Sky Bet League Two.

The Valiants ran out 4-0 winners, courtesy of a Johnny Mullins own goal, a Tom Pope brace and one from Ben Whitfield, as the Town’s club record 13-game unbeaten away run came to an end with a first defeat in 13 matches in all competitions.

But with second-placed Notts County losing at Swindon, Nathan Jones’ side’s lead at the summit was maintained, although the advantage over fourth place has been cut to nine points with Exeter scoring an injury-time winner against Barnet.

Jones freshened up his starting XI at Vale Park with four changes from the 5-0 Boxing Day win at Swindon, as midfielders Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Lawson D’Ath, with forwards Elliot Lee and Harry Cornick – both who scored from the bench at the County Ground – also starting.

The hosts had the first opening in the third minute as Nathan Smith blazed over the bar from a knock-down in the box, but the Hatters were soon looking to profit at the other end, Elliot Lee engineering space for himself on the edge of the box, only to see his shot blocked by Gavin Gunning.

Vale were looking a threat in the air, and from another Pope knock-down from a high ball into the Town penalty area, Cristian Montano took aim at goal – a brave block by captain Alan Sheehan keeping the Vale winger’s effort out.

The Hatters’ defence were well on their guard, and it was from a lightning quick counter-attack – after clearing a Vale free-kick – that Mpanzu burst to the left-byline and cut back a cross that home centre-half Smith blasted against Hylton, with the ball drifting just wide.

Cornick led the next charge down the right, with Elliot Lee slipping a low ball into the box that found its way to Hylton, but neither he nor Mpanzu could get a shot away as Vale scrambled clear.

The hosts were soon in front, when Whitfield reached the left byline and cut a dangerous ball back into the six-yard box, where an attempted clearance by Potts hit Mullins and went into the back of the net.

It was the first goal the Town had conceded in three matches, and the first time they’d not scored first in 13, but they looked to get straight back on terms when Cornick’s cross from the right drifted over Hylton to Mpanzu, whose shot from ten yards was deflected behind for a corner.

Vale called Stech into action on 33 minutes when Montano let fly from the edge of the box, then Pope headed another deep cross onto the roof of the net a minute later.

The hosts were having plenty of joy from pumping balls into Pope, and it was the former Bury striker who went close again in the 42nd minute, meeting a cross from Montano with a header that went inches wide of Stech’s right post.

It was a let-off for the Town, who went in at the break fortunate to be just one goal down without really threatening at the other end.

At the break Jones dropped Rea back into a back three in an attempt to deal with Pope’s aerial threat, with James Justin and Potts pushed forward to make a midfield four with Mpanzu and D’Ath.

The Town responded well to the new shape with Potts venturing up the left in the 50th minute after D’Ath spread the ball wide, then crossing for Hylton to lay it off for Justin to sting Vale keeper Ryan Boot’s palms from 15 yards

Montano fired over for the hosts in the 51st minute, then Jones made a double substitution, replacing D’Ath and Elliot Lee with Luke Berry and James Collins.

It was Vale who were soon on the attack again, however, a 25-yard Whitfield free-kick deflected just wide in the 58th minute before he set up Pope to double the advantage on the hour after a rapid break down the left.

The Town had the ball in the back of the net in the 68th minute, seconds after Andrew Shinnie had come on for Cornick, but an assistant’s flag for offside ruled Hylton’s effort out after Mullins had met a cross from the right.

Within two minutes Vale had added a third, with Pope pinching Rea’s short backpass to Stech and squaring for Whitfield to roll into an empty net.

Rea looked to make amends at the other end in the 75th minute when he fired a low shot from 25 yards that had Boot scrambling across his line to ensure it went wide of his left post.

The afternoon got worse for the Town in the 83rd minute when Pope scrambled in a fourth, despite Rea’s best attempts to get back and block with the linesman signalling the ball had crossed the line.

With five minutes to go, Sheehan curled a free-kick towards the far post that just eluded both Hylton and Potts as they looked to claw a goal back – but after a memorable recent run, it was an afternoon to forget for the Hatters as Vale deservedly took the points.

For Jones and his squad, they get the perfect chance to bounce quickly back into form when third-placed Lincoln visit Kenilworth Road for Monday’s New Year’s Day clash.

TOWN: Stech, Justin, Mullins, Sheehan ©, Potts, Rea, Mpanzu, D’Ath (Berry 54), Cornick (Shinnie 67), Hylton, E Lee (Collins 54). Subs: Cook, Gambin, Famewo, Shea (GK)

PORT VALE: Boot, Davis, Kay, Harness, Pugh, Pope (Barnett 87), Montano, Smith, Whitfield (Worrall 76), Tonge, Gunning (Anderson 57). Subs: Lainton (GK), Denton, Forrester, Turner

Goals: Mullins (OG) 23, Pope 60, 83, Whitfield 70

REFEREE: Tom Nield

NATHAN JONES ON THE 4-0 DEFEAT TO PORT VALE

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side were second best throughout their 4-0 defeat to Port Vale at Vale Park this afternoon.

Dan Potts' clearance found the back of his own net after it deflected in off Johnny Mullins midway through the first half, before Tom Pope netted on the hour mark to double the home side's advantage.

Ben Whitfield then added the third from Pope's pass before Vale's top scorer this season made it 4-0 with a close range finish eight minutes from time.

Results elsewhere see the Hatters remain top of the table and four points clear of second placed Notts County.

Jones said: "We were poor. We were second best from start to finish. We had a spell in the second half for about six or seven minutes that we looked like the team we are, and then apart from that we were second best.

"Apart from the first goal, the goals are horrific in terms of defending. But look, we didn't deserve anything from the game. I could come here and say the pitch was awful, there were three errors and [if we hadn't conceded those] then we could have got something from the game. We wouldn't have.

"They were better than us all over the pitch, won the second balls, they outworked us, they outcompeted us. We didn't handle Pope all afternoon and we got what we deserved.

"I freshened up the team because we've got four games in a week, and it's a big ask. So that might have upset the equilibrium. The pitch is awful here, it's really difficult to get any sort of football going, we knew that, but we just didn't defend well.

"They outfought us, they outbattled us, they worked harder than us. They were more dangerous than us, Pope was more of a threat than anyone else on the pitch, and they thoroughly deserved to win the game.

"I can't stand here and defend my team. We haven't lost in three months, we've got a game now to react quickly, but we were nowhere near today, absolutely nowhere near."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3WZket7Gc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUtzfn-LDKg

Hatters' unbeaten away run comes to a crashing end

League Two: Port Vale 4 Luton Town 0

Luton's record breaking away run came to a shock and abrupt end this afternoon, as they were totally, utterly and comprehensively defeated by an impressive Port Vale side.

Going into the game, the Hatters hadn't lost on their travels in any competition since August 12 against Barnet, going 12 matches unbeaten in that time.

However, with boss Nathan Jones making four changes in what is a frenzied Christmas period, it proved to be too many, with his side clearly second best throughout.

Striker Tom Pope was virtually unplayable for the hosts, giving Town's back-line a torrid, torrid time, while winger Ben Whitfield caught the eye too, as Town suffered the biggest defeat of Jones's reign, beating the 4-1 reverse at AFC Wimbledon back in February 2016.

The Luton chief's wholesale alterations, saw Lawson D'Ath in for his first league start of the campaign, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee all starting, as James Collins, Andrew Shinnie and Luke Berry dropped to the bench, Olly Lee missing out entirely.

On a dreadful pitch that cut up from the very early stages, Vale should have led on three minutes, when a free kick dropped at the feet of a surprised Nathan Smith who volleyed wastefully over.

Elliot Lee had a fierce effort charged down, while Pope quickly showed what a dominant force he was is in the air, winning yet another header for Cristian Montano, whose shot was bravely blocked by Alan Sheehan.

Cornick, who appeared Town's only major threat in the opening stages, then charged forward as Luton finally had an opportunity of note, with Lee tackled inside the area after taking up possession and neither Hylton nor Mpanzu able to convert.

Luton fell behind on 23 minutes though when Pope flicked on and Whitfield beat Sheehan to deliver low, as Dan Potts's attempted clearance cannoned off Johnny Mullins to cross the line, Town conceding the opening goal for the first time in 12 matches, since beaten 3-0 at home by Coventry on October 28.

Mpanzu's blast was deflected over for a corner and a short set-piece routine saw Sheehan find Mullins, who failed to get any kind of connection.

Vale then grasped the bit between their teeth, Montano's blast drawing a sharp parry from Marek Stech.

Town's keeper should really have been picking the ball out of his net again on 42 minutes, Montano escaping on the left all too easily and stood the ball up perfectly for Pope, who rose well, but somehow directed his header wide.

After the break, Hatters changed to a 3-5-2 formation, Rea moving alongside Mullins and Sheehan at the back, as Jones tried to counter the obvious aerial threat of Pope.

It led to a slight improvement, Hylton teeing up James Justin to shoot straight at Ryan Boot on the angle.

Jones then made a double switch on 54 minutes, bringing on Collins and Berry for D'Ath and Lee, with the visitors giving themselves over half an hour to get back into the game.

Rather than boost the Hatters though, it led to Vale fully grasping the ascendancy, inches away from moving 2-0 in front as Whitfield's deflected free kick didn't miss by much, with Stech rooted to the spot.

However, Luton's mountain got that little bit steeper on the hour mark when Rea was caught out of position by Whitfield, who picked out Pope perfectly, the striker's first touch good and second even better, beating Stech to find the bottom corner.

With 20 minutes to go, it was game over, when a long ball forward saw Rea make a horrible error, selling Stech woefully short with a backpass.

Pope took advantage and then repaid the favour to slip in Whitfield who had no problems in finding the open net.

Although Luton looked to try and shut up shop, they conceded once more with 20 minutes to go, Rea once again missing a clearance, a looping header beating Stech and although Pope hit the post, his second effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by the referee's assistant.

Comprehensively beaten on the day, results elsewhere did go in Town's favour, as they remained four points clear of Notts County, losing 1-0 at Swindon, while Exeter, now in fourth, are nine points back too.

Luton only have to wait just over 24 hours before they get the chance to put it right too, facing Lincoln City at Kenilworth Road on New Year's Day.

Vale: Ryan Boot, Joe Davis, Anthony Kay, Marcus Harness, Danny Pugh, Tom Pope (Tyrone Barnett 87), Cristian Montano, Nathan Smith, Ben Whitfield (Dave Worrall 75), Michael Tonge, Gavin Gunning (Tom Anderson 56).

Subs not used: Rob Lainton, Tyler Denton, Anton Forrester, Dan Turner.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Justin, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Alan Sheehan (C), Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Lawson D'Ath (Luke Berry 54), Harry Cornick (Andrew Shinnie 67), Danny Hylton, Elliot Lee (James Collins 54).

Subs not used: James Shea, Akin Famewo, Luke Gambin, Jordan Cook.

Referee: Tom Nield.

Attendance: 5,523 (Luton 1,175).

Jones blasts Vale's second half goals as 'horrific'

Hatters boss Nathan Jones brandished the three second half goals that Luton conceded during their 4-0 defeat at Port Vale this afternoon as ‘horrific’.

Town had been trailing 1-0 at half time to an unfortunate own goal from Johnny Mullins, before they were breached three more times after the interval, with the back-line, in particular Glen Rea, making a host of errors.

Jones, who had shuffled his pack and made four changes for the clash, said: “We were poor, we were second best from start to finish, we really were.

“We had a spell just after half time for about five or six, seven, eight minutes, that we looked like the team that we are, but apart from that we were second best all over.

“The goals are horrific, apart from the first goal, the goals are horrific in terms of defending, but we didn’t deserve anything from today’s game.

“I could come here and say the pitch was awful, there was three errors, otherwise we would have got something out of the game, but we wouldn’t have.

“That’s what I listen to when we do that to teams, but they were better than us all over the park.

"They got second balls, they outworked us, out-competed us, we didn’t handle (Tom) Pope all afternoon and we got what we deserved.”

After Mullins had unluckily got in the way of Dan Potts’s clearance to put through his own net, Luton uncharacteristically fell apart in the second period, with Rea having a 45 minutes to forget.

First, he was beaten all too easily by Ben Whitfield, Vale’s winger crossing for Pope to make it 2-0, while he then produced an awful backpass which was pounced on by Pope to set up Whitfield to gift the hosts their third.

Rea, who in his defence, has been excellent of late, also missed his clearance that led to the Valiants’ fourth goal, although whether Pope's effort crossed the line or not was unclear.

Jones continued: “To be fair they had a couple of chances first half, we were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half time.

“But for the first one, the ball went to Pope he flicked it on, we didn’t win the header as we didn’t all afternoon, we didn’t go with Whitfield, as we didn’t all afternoon and that goal was coming.

“Then second half, I can’t explain the errors. We gifted them goals, in terms of slipping, in terms of not defending properly, or passing directly to them, so when you do that you don’t stand a chance.

“We could have stopped those three goals going in, but we didn’t deserve anything from the game.”

The performance was polar opposites to what Luton produced during the second half at Swindon on Boxing Day just four days earlier and when asked why that was, Jones added: “One, I freshened up the team with four games in a week, because it’s a big ask, so that might have upset a bit of equilibrium, but the pitch is awful here.

“It really is difficult to stand up and get any kind of football going.

“We knew that, but we just didn’t defend well. They outfought us, out-battled us, worked harder than us, they were more dangerous than us.

"Pope was more of a threat than anyone else on the pitch and they won the game and thoroughly deserved to win the game.

“I can’t stand here and defend my team. We haven’t lost in three months, so hopefully it’s a one off and we’ve got a game now quickly to react to that.

“But we were nowhere near today and credit to Port Vale, they’re in good form today and deserve the win today, comfortably.”