Preston North End vs Luton Town FC (30th Oct 2021)

Report | Preston North End 2-0 Luton Town

The Hatters' five-match unbeaten run came to an end at Deepdale as two first-half goals gave Preston North End all three points.

Danish striker Emil Riis netted both, the first a stunning 27th-minute strike into the top corner and the second a penalty in added time at the end of the opening half, to inflict a first defeat on the Town since leaders Bournemouth beat them on September 25th.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes to the side that beat Hull last week to move into the play-off places, with Cameron Jerome starting up-front in place of Elijah Adebayo, who missed out through injury, as did Luke Berry, who was replaced in the heart of midfield by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Returning from suspension, Kal Naismith started on the left side of a back three, with Fred Onyedinma amongst the substitutes, while Danny Hylton was named on the bench for the first time since rescuing a late point against Bristol City.

After a fairly even and uneventful opening period, Preston fired the first warning shot on the Town goal with 18 minutes on the clock, although Tom Barkhuizen's effort from just outside the area flew high over the bar.

It was for a foul on the Preston wideman that Amari'i Bell became the first player to be shown yellow by referee Dean Whitestone, and by the 27th minute the hosts had the lead, Emil Riis arrowing a shot from a tight angle outside the right edge of the area inside the top corner of Simon Sluga's net.

Preston wasted another chance when Riis chose not to shoot, with Sluga off his line, but lay the ball back for Sean Maguire to have a go, only for Jordan Clark to get a block in.

Tom Lockyer and home midfielder Alan Browne both went into the book for their roles in sparking a melee after the Wales international had been fouled by the Preston captain, before James Bree's free-kick presented Glen Rea with the Hatters' first chance, Daniel Iversen saving the midfielder's header before climbing back to his feet to repel Naismith's follow-up.

The hosts extended their lead three minutes into first-half injury-time, when Riis netted his second goal, from the penalty spot, after Sonny Bradley had been penalised for a foul on Ali McCann.

Jones introduced Henri Lansbury and Admiral Muske at the break, for Rea and Bradley, and it was former Leicester youngster Muskwe who almost got the Town back in business within two minutes of the restart, Iversen flying across his line to turn his 20-yard volley behind for a corner.

Jerome flicked a Cornick long throw on moments later, but Preston managed to clear from inside their own six-yard box with no Town forward gambling at the far post, before exactly the same thing happened - this time with Naismith winning the initial header - on 57 minutes.

The Hatters were playing much more front-footed football, but it was Preston who had the next chance, Riis spurning the opportunity of a hat-trick just before the hour mark, firing wide of Sluga's near post after stealing a march on Bell.

Sluga made two good saves in the 65th minute, first to block Barhuizen's close range effort, then to tip over Patrick Bauer's towering header from the resulting corner.

Jones made his third and final regulation change with 20 minutes left, bringing on Onyedinma for Cornick, but within seconds it was Preston posing problems again, Naismith having to block bravely to keep a Josh Earl shot out, moments before Riis headed over the bar after meeting Barkhuizen's cross from the right.

The Hatters pushed to try to find a way back in, Naismith bringing a fine save out of Iversen with a long-range shot and Onyedinma headed narrowly wide, but ultimately couldn't penetrate a strong Preston backline and head into Tuesday's live TV game with Middlesbrough tenth place in the table.

Goals:

Preston: Riis 27, 45+3 (pen)

Attendance: 11,059 (989 Luton fans)

Nathan Jones | "We weren't at our levels"

Nathan Jones was disappointed his side couldn’t continue their momentum from last week as they were comfortably beaten by Preston North End.

Emil Riis scored a double in the first half, condemning the Hatters to a first loss in six matches and the gaffer wasn’t pleased with the manner of defeat, as he reflected post-match.

“We didn’t really look like scoring today, I have to be honest. We didn’t do the basics well enough, there was nothing in the game and then we have a chance to clear it on the edge of the box, we don’t.

"We tried to be clever which happened four or five times today, and although I’m not sure he means to score from there, that was a big moment. Then they have the penalty just before half-time, with two of our players going to ground, it was cheap defending and that is what cost us.

“We were a mile off today, Jones continued. “The goal was maybe fortuitous, we could have done better with the penalty but we weren’t at our levels today. Preston contributed to that, I thought they were excellent and they done to us what we usually do to teams, which is the sad thing. We haven’t had a performance like that for a little bit but it brings us back down to earth.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCSiZWrp9q0 – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJPhPwUHtjM – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkyIkImWVyk – Kal Naismith interview

Below-par Luton see their five game unbeaten run ended with tame Preston defeat

Championship: Preston North End 2 Luton Town 0

Luton saw their five game unbeaten run ended in tame fashion as they produced a disappointing performance in falling to a 2-0 defeat at previously struggling Preston North End this afternoon.

The visitors could just never find their A-game at Deepdale, a number of players well below their best, as in the end they were comfortably beaten, making a similarly dramatic fall out the play-offs to their rise into the top six last weekend, slipping from sixth ahead of kick-off, to 10th.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones made three changes for the clash, Luke Berry and Elijah Adebayo missing out due to the injuries picked up at home to Hull City last weekend, and their absences, particularly Adebayo's, were keenly felt at Deepdale.

Fred Onyedinma also dropped to the bench, in coming Kal Naismith, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Cameron Jerome, with Danny Hylton and Henri Lansbury among the substitutes too.

A scrappy opening 15 minutes saw neither side do anything worthy of mention, barring one long throw apiece, as even the hosts' first effort moments later was barely worth recording, Tom Barkhuizen's ambitious volley flying well over the bar.

The hosts then took the lead out of absolutely nothing on 27 minutes, as a ball into the box was well cleared by Tom Lockyer, only for Mpanzu to be caught in possession, Emil Riis found unmarked inside the area, the angle appearing against him.

However, the Lilywhites top scorer showed just why he had 23 per cent record of his shots resulting in a goal this term, absolutely hammering a stunning effort into the top corner, with the home crowd almost shocked into celebration with a finish that was far in keeping from what they had previously witnessed.

Preston went close to a second shortly afterwards, as this time Riis turned provider, feeding Sean Maguire whose effort was charged down by Sonny Bradley.

Centre half partner Lockyer was then involved in a flashpoint on 38 minutes, as clearly annoyed by a challenge on him by Alan Browne, he reacted by shoving his opponent to the floor as both sets of players were involved in a melee, leading to yellows shown to Welsh international as well as the home skipper.

Although Iversen was the busier keeper, it was more often than not collecting Town's misplaced or overhit balls forward, as they could never link defence with attack, unable to really gain a foothold in proceedings.

They should have pulled one back with five minutes to go until half time, when James Bree's free kick was met by Glen Rea, heading straight at keeper Daniel Iversen, who also denied Naismith from the rebound too.

Rather than going in at 1-1, the visitors found themselves 2-0 down in first half stoppage time as Bradley made a rash and needless sliding challenge on Ali McCann, taking man and not ball, Riis stepping up to beat Sluga, just, from the spot.

After sprinting down the touchline to get his players in, Jones responded to the opening 45 minutes by making two changes, Lansbury and Admiral Muskwe on for Bradley and Rea, the latter almost pulling one back immediately, his snapshot excellent tipped behind by Iversen.

Bree hammered over on the angle after a spell of pinball in the area, while Riis finally had his percentage record dented when slipped through on the right, skewed wide of the target.

Now at least on the front foot, the Hatters were giving themselves half a chance of rescuing something, but Preston gradually regained the ascendancy, Sluga keeping the visitors in the game by blocking Barkuizen's close range shot and then tipping Patrick Bauer's header from the resulting corner over.

Midway through the second period, Jones brought on Onyedinma, but a point was beginning to look beyond the Hatters on this occasion, despite their previous successful attempts at hitting back from behind on the road this term.

In fact, the hosts continued to look the more likely, Barkhuizen picking out the unmarked Riis who put his header over the top, Ben Whiteman's 25-yard free kick not missing the bottom corner by much.

Sluga then ensured Town's goal difference didn't take any more of a hit, standing up well to prevent Scott Sinclair from making it 3-0 when he went through.

Luton almost maintained their record of scoring in every away game this season, when Naismith's hopeful 25-yarder was deflected, Iversen pulling of a quite stunning save, somehow flipping it over the bar.

From the corner, Onyedinma pulled off at the back post as his downward header flew inches wide of the target, Town unable to manage a late consolation.

Lilywhites: Daniel Iversen, Sepp Van Den Berg, Ben Whiteman, Patrick Bauer, Alan Browne ©, Ali McCann (Ryan Ledson 90), Andrew Hughes, Emil Riis (Brad Potts 90), Sean Maguire (Scott Sinclair 75), Tom Barkhuizen, Josh Earl.

Subs not used: Declan Rudd, Greg Cunningham, Daniel Johnson, Jordan Storey.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley © (Admiral Muskwe 46), Kal Naismith, Amari'i Bell, Glen Rea (Henri Lansbury 46), Jordan Clark, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Harry Cornick (Fred Onyedinma 70), Cameron Jerome.

Subs not used: James Shea, Danny Hylton, Reece Burke, Allan Campbell.

Bookings: Bell 24, Lockyer 38, Browne 38.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Jones has no complaints as he felt his Town side were brought back down to earth by Lilywhites loss

Reaction from the Hatters manager to 2-0 defeat at Deepdale

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side were brought back down to earth after turning in a poor performance to lose out 2-0 at Preston North End this afternoon.

The Hatters had one into the contest sitting sixth in the table and looking to establish their position among the play-offs chasers, only to find themselves down in 10th place at the final whistle, as their five game unbeaten run was ended.

A scrappy opening to the clash saw Lilywhites leading score Emil Riis score out of nothing with 27 minutes gone, his angled drive flying into the top corner after Luton failed to clear

Town were then architects of their own downfall in first half stoppage time, skipper Sonny Bradley needlessly diving in on Ali McCann to concede a penalty that Riis tucked away under the body of Simon Sluga for a 2-0 lead they never really looked in danger of losing.

Jones said “We didn’t really look like scoring today as we didn't do the basics well enough.

"There was nothing in the game and then on the edge of the box we have a chance to clear it, we don’t, we try to be clever, which happened three, four, five times today, they rob it, I don't think he means to score from there, but that was a big moment.

"The penalty obviously right on the stroke of half time, two of us going to ground, cheap defending and that’s what cost us, but we were a mile off it today.

"The goal was a bit fortuitous, we could have done better with the penalty, but we weren’t at our levels today and Preston had to contribute to that.

"I thought Preston were excellent, in terms of what they did and they did to us what we normally do to teams, and that’s the sad thing.

"But we haven't had a performance like that for a little bit, so it brings us back down to earth a bit.”

The boss made two changes at the break, taking off Sonny Bradley and Glen Rea for Admiral Muskwe and Henri Lansbury, but although home keeper Daniel Iversen made excellent saves from Muskwe and then Kal Naismith's late deflected effort, Jones felt they didn't deserve anything from the contest.

He added: “They were better than us in midfield, the back three let the ball bounce far, far too many times, the midfield players were going to ground, we got booked as we were going to ground.

"We were then petulant and had a lack of discipline, so there was no control today and we were second best all over.

"I've got no complaints, yes, we huffed and puffed and if we'd only got an early goal but realistically we didn't have it and I can't remember one person playing well today, I really can't.

"People didn't jack the towel in, they kept going right until the end and that' the group we’ve got, but we weren't our usual selves today.”