Portsmouth vs Luton Town FC (28th Dec 2016)

PUBLISHED 17:55 28th December 2015 Hatters hold Pompey at Fratton Park

PORTSMOUTH 0-0 LUTON TOWN

The Town kept their first clean sheet in seven matches as they stubbornly held Portsmouth to a goalless draw at Fratton Park.

Caretaker manager Andy Awford made fives changes to the side that lost 2-0 at home to Wycombe on Boxing Day. Stephen O'Donnell came in for his first appearance since 26th September, while Ryan Hall started his first League 2 game since August. Jonathan Smith came back into the side in central midfield and there were also starts for Josh McQuoid and Jack Marriott as the Hatters lined-up 4-4-2.

And it was two of the new additions to the side that almost led to an early goal for the Hatters when, on three minutes, O’Donnell’s right-wing cross was volleyed wide by Hall from eight yards.

However, in truth, that was pretty much the best the Town could offer in an opening 45 minutes that was dominated by the hosts.

On five minutes Portsmouth striker Marc McNulty blasted a shot over the bar but as the half wore on the more Pompey upped the ante.

Caolan Lavery then saw a shot deflected behind on 18 minutes before Paul Benson diverted a header into the side-netting on the 20-minute mark at the other end for the Hatters.

Pompey came close three minutes later when Danny Hollands fed McNulty in the box but the home forward’s low shot was well-saved by Mark Tyler, diving away to his right.

Back came the Town, Marriott weaved down the left and into the box but could only see his square pass across the face of goal searching out McQuoid cleared from inside the six-yard box.

Enda Stevens was the man who made that vital clearance and 30 seconds later his cross up the other end put a chance on a plate for McNulty who was unable to slide home with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts continued to put the Town under pressure as half-time approached and Tyler was called into action again on 37 minutes with two key saves to deny Kyle Bennett’s low shot from the edge of the area before getting a vital glove on a Pompey follow-up.

Five minutes before the break Portsmouth – and their PA announcer – thought they had the lead when Davies’ 25-yard free-kick flew goalwards. The ball rustled the netting enough to give the impression the ball had beaten Tyler. The goal was celebrated and announced – but the ball had actually hit the side-netting.

The Town breathed a sigh of relief, and Hall then had a free-kick of his own at the other end for the Hatters which zoomed way over the bar but was celebrated tongue-in-cheek by the travelling Town fans.

Two minutes after the interval the Hatters created their first worthy opportunity: Benson’s flick-on sent Marriott away but his stabbed shot was blocked by Pompey keeper Brian Murphy who then pounced on the loose ball to deny Hall.

Back came Pompey. Jake Howells blocked Bennett’s shot from the edge of the box and from the resultant corner captain Michael Doyle flashed a header over the bar at the near post.

While the Town were still holding a threat on the break, Portsmouth continued to dominate. Scott Cuthbert did well to stick out a tackle in the penalty box to deny Lavery before Tyler then clung onto Matt Clarke’s bullet header from another Davies corner.

Awford sent on Cameron McGeehan and Craig Mackail-Smith for McQuoid and Marriott respectively and the Hatters almost threatened the Pompey goal on 67 minutes when Magnus Okuonghae nodded Hall’s free-kick wide.

On 71 minutes Mackail-Smith forced Murphy into a save when driving an effort from the edge of the box but two minutes later the Hatters had a superb double save from Tyler to thank to deny Pompey. Firstly the Town stopper thwarted Gareth Evans’ close-range shot before the 38-year-old did even better to block McNulty’s follow-up from five yards.

Pompey threatened with five minutes left on the clock when Doyle headed over before the Town then wasted a good opportunity from a free-kick won by Mackail-Smith when Hall failed to find a team-mate with a pass.

As five added minutes were added, the home side pressed for a late winner. Tyler needed to be alert to tip over a cross-cum-shot from substitute Gary Roberts before Clarke then headed wide from 10 yards in the fourth added minute – but that was the last chance and the Town could take heart from a well-earned point and first clean in seven matches.

Town line-up 4-4-2: Tyler; O'Donnell, Howells, Cuthbert, Okuonghae; Smith, Lawless (sub Long 77), Hall, McQuoid (sub McGeehan 62); Benson, Marriott (sub Mackail-Smith 68).

Town subs not used: Justham, McCourt, Guttridge, Wilkinson.

Attendance: 17,668, including 1,556 shouting the Town.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-pompey-0-0-town-2872080.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLX-xPyuGig

League Two: Portsmouth 0 Luton Town 0

Luton Town made sure they finally stopped the rot defensively with a confidence-boosting first clean sheet in seven games at promotion hopefuls Portsmouth this afternoon.

From the off, it was evident for all to see that was what Hatters had set out to do, with caretaker boss Andy Awford setting up his side to achieve the shut out, only their sixth of the campaign, by any means necessary.

Striker Paul Benson had mentioned recently an ugly 0-0 was just what the side needed, and with Awford bellowing out instructions to his players to slow down the tempo at every opportunity, in particular keeper Mark Tyler, it was clear they were trying to do just that.

Unlike Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Wycombe, Luton did test home keeper Brian Murphy on one occasion, but it was all about the other end for Town, with captain Scott Cuthbert impressively marshalling the back four, who grew in confidence as the game wore on.

Earlier, Awford had sprung a number of surprise changes for the fixture against the side he spent all his career at and managed last term, with Ryan Hall and Stephen O’Donnell in for their first league starts since August and September respectively.

Jonathan Smith, Jack Marriott and Josh McQuoid all came in too as Cameron McGeehan, Sean Long and Craig Mackail-Smith dropped to the bench, with Danny Green and Olly Lee missing out completely.

Hatters fashioned a great chance early on when O’Donnell’s cross was met by Hall who prodded wide of the target, although Pompey looked bright too, with Marc McNulty rifling over the top.

However, under the vocal orders from an increasingly exasperated Awford, the visitors tried to stifle their opponents in the first half, never over-committing going forward, as McNulty eventually forced Tyler to palm his low shot away.

Marriott was causing the odd moment of consternation in the home back-line as he broke away on the left and poked across goal, although Enda Stevens hacked clear.

The Pompey defender was then in action at the other end, racing down the flank to send over a cross that was missed at full stretch by McNulty from a yard.

Tyler was called upon to parry Bennett’s rasping drive, while the rebound was dinked over as he quickly stuck out a glove to knock the danger away once more.

A dreary first half was enlivened by a moment of hilarity when Ben Davies’ free kick brushed the side-netting on its way behind with half of the home fans celebrating what they wrongly thought was the opener.

Pompey’s PA announcer was clearly not paying attention either as he awarded the goal to Davies, leading to much mirth from the both sets of fans, plus home boss Paul Cook.

Luton supporters were up themselves moments later when Hall’s free kick went well over, only for the visiting faithful to indulge in some pretend scenes of jublilation, earning an appreciative ovation from the home stands.

Early in the second period, Hatters had what could be classed as their first shot on target in well over two hours of football as Marriott got a toe to Paul Benson’s flick-on ahead of keeper Murphy, who bravely collected the loose ball before Hall could pounce.

Portsmouth captain Michael Doyle then spurned a glorious chance, heading over the top from close range after escaping Luton’s defence from a corner, with another set-piece seeing Matt Clarke head at Tyler.

Hatters brought Mackail-Smith on for Marriott who had worked manfully but got precious little out of Adam Barton all afternoon and the sub had Luton’s first serious attempt, curling straight at Murphy.

Luton were thankful to Tyler though with 17 minutes to go as Evans escaped at the back post with the keeper out to block and then react quickly to repel McNulty’s blast too.

From Pompey’s 13th corner, in a game where Luton didn’t win a single one of their own, Doyle sent a flick header wide, while Luton fluffed a decent opening with time running out.

Mackail-Smith won a free kick from the home defence, but symptomatic of their almost non-existent attacking play, Hall fired meekly into the first defender and O’Donnell’s follow-up came to nothing too.

Luton almost suffered another stoppage time disaster as Davies’ volleyed cross was met by Clarke, but this time there was to be no heartache as he glanced wide.

Attention now once again turns to matters behind the scenes as Hatters’ supporters will be waiting to see if a new manager is in place before their side’s next game, a trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Pompey: Brian Murphy, Ben Davies, Enda Stevens, Michael Doyle (C), Marc McNulty (Adam McGurk 76), Caolan Lavery (Gary Roberts 63), Adam Barton, Matt Clarke, Kyle Bennett (Conor Chaplin 84), Gareth Evans, Danny Hollands.

Subs not used: Alex Bass, Jayden Stockley, Ben Tollitt, Ben Close.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Stephen O’Donnell, Jake Howells, Magnus Okuonghae, Scott Cuthbert, Josh McQuoid (Cameron McGeeehan 62), Alex Lawless (Sean Long 77), Jonathan Smith, Ryan Hall, Paul Benson, Jack Marriott (Craig Mackail-Smith 68).

Subs not used: Elliot Justham, Paddy McCourt, Luke Guttridge, Luke Wilkinson.

Booked: Lawless 38, Doyle 67, Okuonghae 70, O’Donnell 80.

Attendance: 17,668 (1,556 Luton)

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Portsmouth 0 Luton Town 0

Rarely will an ugly, scrappy, skin-of-the-teeth stalemate have seemed so beautiful.

The high-fives between Luton players and the hung heads of Pompey players said it all as Hatters caretaker boss Andy Awford returned to old stomping ground Fratton Park to frustrate Portsmouth and claim a first clean sheet in seven matches for the boys from Bedfordshire, and only a sixth of the season.

It wasn't pretty though. They time-wasted, they frustrated, they suffered, they hung on and they called on goalkeeper Mark Tyler to get them out of the brown stuff on numerous occasions, but in current circumstances that will do nicely.

Forget, for a moment, that they barely strung two passes together, let alone attacks. Nor that it was as poor an attacking performance as they've put in all campaign – albeit against a Pompey side that are the most miserly home team in the division – this is the sort of rearguard performance that Luton have been crying out for. It's the kind that can galvanise and repair battered confidence.

Awford, Paul Benson and Craig Mackail-Smith had all talked in recent weeks of this kind of result and, as poor viewing, as it will have been for 1,556 travelling Hatters fans, it must also have been blessed relief.

It's a platform that their side and their new manager, whoever that may be, can now build their 2016 upon.

There were five changes from the Boxing Day Wycombe defeat including Stephen O'Donnell and Ryan Hall who were brought in from the wilderness for their first starts since September and the first day of the season, respectively.

The two combined in the third minute and the latter wasted the full back's cross and shanked wide. Any hope that the chance would be the start of a display of front-foot football from the visitors were quickly dashed as the Hatters set up their blockade, with Scott Cuthbert atoning for the mistake that cost them last time out with a headache-inducing number of headed clearances.

Tyler produced two sprawling saves in a matter of seconds, first to beat away a Bennett curler and then to thwart Marc McNulty at the back post.

Town fans had something to celebrate, albeit mockingly, when Hall blasted a free-kick over the bar at them in the Milton End. That was because, moments earlier, the Fratton Park PA announcer had wrongly called Ben Davies' free-kick as a goal before having to retract the claim. The travelling support wouldn't let him live it down. Well, they had to get their kicks from somewhere!

The Pompey man was then denied by a timely block from Josh McQuoid as Town battled their way to the break all square.

There was little in the way of a second half response from Luton but a Jack Marriott toe-end early on was bravely blocked by goalie Brian Murphy, which at least ended 137 minutes without a Town shot on target. To call it a chance, however, would be clutching at straws.

There was one golden opportunity though and fell to Magnus Okuonghae, but the centre back headed wide from Hall's free-kick, while substitute Craig Mackail-Smith drew a routine save from Murphy. Cue more mocking cheering from Town's fans.

A second double stop for Tyler – even better than the first – kept McNulty and Gareth Evans at bay.

With five nervous minutes added on at the end, Gary Roberts' cross-cum-shot needed the goalkeeper to tip over his bar and then Matt Clarke glanced a header wide after Davies' bullet cross.

It was a match that won't live long in anyone's memory, but it could be the start of better things to come and, after a rotten 2015 like Luton's, it's a step in a less disappointing direction.

Portsmouth: Murphy, Davies, Stevens, Doyle, McNulty (McGurk, 77), Lavery (Roberts, 64), Barton, Clarke, Bennett (Chaplin, 87), Evans, Hollands

Unused subs: Bass, Stockley, Tollitt, Close

Luton: Tyler, O'Donnell, Smith, Cuthbert, Lawless (Long, 78), Benson, Hall, Marriott (Mackail-Smith, 68), Okuonghae, McQuoid (McGeehan, 62), Howells

Unused subs: Justham, McCourt, Guttridge, Wilkinson

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 17,668 (1,556)

Caretaker boss Andy Awford denied Luton were negative as they scrapped to a 0-0 at his former side Portsmouth.

The Hatters were on the back foot throughout and needed goalkeeper Mark Tyler to come to their rescue on a few occasions, while offering next to nothing on an attacking front.

After the poor 2-0 Boxing Day defeat to Wycombe, the 43-year-old made five changes and they at least showed some fight to secure a first clean sheet in seven matches.

"We weren't negative, we weren't settled for a point. I came here to win but we certainly came here not to lose. We've achieved that goal," Awford said.

"You've got to grind results out sometimes. All the best teams do that. When they're not playing so well they grind results out and take a point away from home. We were hoping we might be able to nick it on the counter."

The result took the Academy and Development manager's tally to one win, one defeat at one draw while in temporary charge of first team matters.

Awford, who spent the best part of two decades at Fratton Park as a player and numerous backroom roles, including manager, said: "I'm delighted with the point. It's a tough place to come and no-one knows more than me what a difficult place it can be to play in.

"As an opposition, I thought the lads stood up to it really well. They showed bags of character, bags of resilience and they fully deserved their point today. It was a good point."

Not scoring against League Two's most miserly home defence was perhaps understandable, but the shut-out was only Luton's sixth of the season and it moved them up one position to 14th in the division.

"I thought the whole back four were outstanding today. I thought they deserved their clean sheet with Mark Tyler," Awford said.

It was the Luton caretaker's first return to Fratton Park since his sacking as manager in April and on the experience he said: "It was weird doing an overnight stay for a Portsmouth game when I live 20 minutes up the road. That was quite a different thing.

"We're all professional, we all know the law of the jungle. It wasn't just another game for me. It's a different squad that Paul [Cook – Portsmouth boss] has got there, it's a different staff, so it's not me players there anymore, so it's totally different.

"If I'd have only left a couple of weeks ago it would have been a bit different but there's been a lot of time gone on and I wish them well, it's a fantastic club, is Portsmouth."

Awford admitted he had no idea if he'll be in charge for Town's trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday, saying: "I still don't know what's going to happen. I'll take it game by game and that's another one notched off so we'll see what happens.

"I'll just prepare every day until I'm told differently. If someone comes in before that game and takes over the work we've done, then that's fine with me."