Queens Park Rangers vs Luton Town FC (14th Sep 2019)

QPR 3 LUTON TOWN 2

Cornick and Collins net again, but Town can't complete fightback

The Hatters produced a spirited second half display to come back from three goals down, but ultimately couldn't find an equaliser and lost 3-2 to Queens Park Rangers at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this afternoon.

After going 3-0 down in the first half-an-hour due to goals from Eberechi Eze and Nakhi Wells, who scored a brace, the Hatters fought back with strikes from Harry Cornick and James Collins.

The latter scored his 49th goal for the club on his 100th appearance and despite controlling play in the second half, an equaliser narrowly avoided the Town's reach on a number of occasions.

The Town were swept aside in the opening exchanges by a Rangers team full of confidence.

Eze opened the scoring just three minutes into the game as he fired a 25-yard shot straight into the top corner.

Their lead was doubled just 17 minutes later when Toni Leistner’s lofted ball from centre-back went all the way over the top, into the path of Wells, who calmly found the bottom right corner with a left-footed strike.

Simon Sluga produced an outstanding save to deny Eze as he knocked the ball onto the bar but minutes later, QPR had their third just before the half-hour mark.

Eze played the ball through to Wells for his second, but even at 3-0 the game was far from over.

The Hatters were gifted a route back into the game in the 36th minute when goalkeeper Joe Lumley passed the ball straight to Harry Cornick but even with an empty net, the forward did very well to finish from 30 yards out.

Luton were in the ascendancy before half-time and good work from Kazenga LuaLua could have resulted in another goal back, but both Cornick and Collins couldn't latch on to his deliveries.

Just after the break, the Hatters got their second courtesy of Collins. Andrew Shinnie played a cross-field ball to Cornick, who knocked it back first time for the 28-year-old to score for the third league game in a row.

The end to end action continued as the Hatters withstood a flurry of QPR attacks, most notably when Jordan Hugill fired over from close range after good midfield play from Eze.

But it was Luton who were taking control and their search for an equaliser came agonisingly close in the 61st minute but on the stretch, Matty Pearson couldn’t get on the end of Shinnie’s free-kick.

The Hatters commanded second half proceedings but were fortunate when Hugill was guilty of firing over the bar from close range once again.

Substitute Elliot Lee almost made an instant impact from the bench as he played Collins through on goal but, centre-half Yoann Barbet produced a superb tackle to deny a shot on target with just seven minutes to go.

Sonny Bradley was pulled back by Grant Hall whilst racing through on goal in injury-time, but Moncur’s attempt at securing a last-gasp equaliser was denied by QPR’s wall, who stood firm at the free-kick and kept their three points intact.

TOWN: Sluga; Bolton (Galloway 58), Pearson, Bradley, Bree; Tunnicliffe, Shinnie, Brown, LuaLua (Moncur 66); Collins, Cornick (Lee 79). Subs not used: Mpanzu, Jones, Butterfield, Shea

Yellows: Shinnie

QPR: Lumley, Kane (Amos 69), Leistner, Hall, Barbet; Manning, Ball, Eze, Chair (Pugh 74); Wells (Mlakar 66), Hugill. Subs not used: Kelly, Cameron, Smith, Scowen

Yellows: Kane, Hall

Referee:Jeremy Simpson Attendance:16,186 (2,943 Hatters)

GRAEME JONES REFLECTS ON DEFEAT TO QPR

Hatters boss Graeme Jones was disappointed with his side as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.

The hosts were 3-0 up before the half-hour mark, before Harry Cornick got one back for the Town.

James Collins grabbed the visitors’ second just after the restart, but the Hatters were unable to find the all-important equaliser.

Jones said: “I thought we were very naïve with our start, I think their tempo in the one-v-one duels was stronger than ours, it’s the first time I have felt disappointed with the group. Then we made a few changes, we made a change at 30 minutes when it was 3-0, we have to take positives because I think any other group would have crumbled at that point.

“I don’t know what it was, the third goal went in on 25 minutes, we get it back to 3-2, we made a few tactical changes, we made a few personnel changes and we took a few risks at the end, but we could have quite easily have taken some thing from the game. it was a mountain to climb at 3-0 down – but sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn, today I am afraid it is time to learn.

“I can’t give you the reason for that [for the performance in the first 30 minutes]. I will have to look into the physical data and maybe it will give me a better explanation. But it was out of character, the character of the boys is not that. I just thought we started a little bit sluggish and a little bit naïve. I think Queens Park Rangers are a very good side, I said that pre-match, I think they proved that for 30 minutes. But again, you show people no respect, as we did for the last 60 minutes and you can see what we can achieve. We won the second half 1-0, but as I said, it’s a learning curve.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6BQApXPN7A – Graeme Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDgn9sRtYF4 – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5uIZ1e13cU# - Harry Cornick interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBIYp2JaaSc – Club footage highlights

Hatters just fail to fight back at Rangers

Championship: QPR 3 Luton Town 2

Luton saw their run of three straight wins ended by QPR this afternoon in a crazy game at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this afternoon.

Town looked to be on the end of a severe hiding, falling 3-0 behind within the opening 30 minutes, with Ebere Eze absolutely running the show for R's.

A cricket score looked on the cards for Rangers, but they were then kept out for the remaining hour, as Luton somehow clawed it back to 3-2 early in the second half and almost managed to nab a point.

The Hatters made one change to their side, Izzy Brown making his first league start since arriving from Chelsea on loan, Jacob Butterfield dropping to the bench, while James Collins, fresh from scoring on his international debut for Ireland in the week, lined up for his 100th appearance.

Town were to make a shocking start to the game though, behind on just three minutes, as they were the architects of their own downfall, starting with Brown needlessly giving the ball away outside his own area.

It was fed to Eze and he took aim from 25 yards, his shot bursting through the hands of Simon Sluga, who really should have done much better.

The hosts had settled far quicker than Town, going close again when Brown lost the ball once more upfield, Matty Pearson just about cutting out Jordan Hugill's cross, Ryan Tunnicliffe producing a heroic block from another thunderous Eze attempt.

Eze the R's star in the early stages and it took a wonderful block from Pearson to keep his side 1-0 down, with the midfielder threatening to waltz through.

Town were 2-0 down on 20 minutes, with a goal strike of alarming simplicity, a long ball sent forward from defence, Nahki Wells left completely unmarked to steady himself and easily beat Sluga.

With Luton clearly rocking, Sluga ensured they weren't 3-0 down as he profuced a magnificent save to tip Eze's blast from the edge of the box on to the bar, the rebound just about smuggled away.

Town were being torn to shreds at times in the opening half an hour, grateful to their woodwork again on, when it repelled Eze's close range header.

Luton threatened just the once, Harry Cornick escaping on the right, but with the angle against him, he couldn't find the target.

Rangers were now rampant, looking like scoring with every single attack, Ryan Tunnicliffe making a last-ditch block to prevent Hugill.

They were powerless on the half hour though, completely sliced open at the back, with Wells running through unchallenged to comprehensively find the corner, with a number of Town fans already heading for the exits.

Those who had left would have seen Luton give themselves a slither of hope on 36 minutes after a catastrophic error from home keeper Joe Lumley.

Way outside his area, he could only pass the ball to Cornick, who steadied himself, and from a good 30 yards, chipped into the empty net for his third of season.

The goal did little to stop Rangers' domination, Eze only just kept out by Pearson's intervention af full stretch.

The hosts continued dicing with danger at times, another pass picked off by Cornick, this time Luton unable to make the most of their chance.

Kazenga LuaLua's incisive pass almost saw Collins pull a second back, the home side's defence doing well to block the danger.

Wells then should have had his hat-trick on the stroke of half time, guiding a header wide when well placed as Luton went into the break, still with a glimmer of a chance of salvaging something.

That glimmer became even brighter just three minutes into the second period when a deep Kazenga LuaLua cross was met at the back post by Cornick, for Collins to turn home from close range.

The atmosophere changed instantly, with Town's away fans starting to believe the fight back was on, while the home supporters could scarcely decipher what they were witnessing.

Pearson made a crucial clearance from another whipped cross into the box, while Bradley stuck out a boot to make an important intervention from Yoann Barbet's long range volley.

Rangers might have been out of sight on 58 minutes, with the sublime Eze weaving his way through Town's defence yet again, setting up Hugill, who could only lift his shot over.

Jones altered his side in the search of an equaliser, Brendan Galloway and George Moncur replacing Luke Bolton and LuaLua.

Rangers should have been out of sight had Hugill had his shooting boots on, found all alone on the penalty spot, only to once more loft wide of Sluga's goal.

He was almost made to pay instantly, Collins denied by a wonderful last-ditch challenge, with Brown not far away from the edge of the box either.

With four to go, sub Moncur forced a decent stop from Lumley after cutting on to his right foot, as Town tried to ramp up the pressure, but they just failed to find the net again, leaving empty-handed.

Rangers: Joe Lumley, Todd Kane (Luke Amos 69), Grant Hall, Jordan Hugill, Ebere Eze, Dominic Ball, Ryan Manning, Ilias Chair (March Pugh 74), Nahki Wells (Jan Mlakar 66), Yoann Barbet, Toni Leistner.

Subs: Liam Kelly, Geoff Cameron, Matt Smith, Josh Scowen.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Luke Bolton (Brendan Galloway 59), James Bree, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Izzy Brown, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, Kazenga LuaLua (George Moncur 66), Harry Cornick (Elliot Lee 79), James Collins.

Subs: James Shea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Butterfield, Lloyd Jones.

Booked: Kane 47, Shinnie 65, Hall 90

Referee: J Simpson.

Attendance: 16,186.

Jones left disappointed by 'naive' Hatters display

A disappointed Luton boss Graeme Jones felt his side looked naive in their 3-2 defeat at QPR this afternoon.

The Hatters found themselves trailing 3-0 inside the opening half hour, with Ebere Eze and Nahki Wells (2) on target.

Although Town mounted a fightback to almost steal a point, Harry Cornick and James Collins scoring, Jones said: “I thought we were very naive with our start, their tempo in the one v one duels was stronger than ours and it’s the first time I’ve felt disappointed with the group.

“Then we made a few changes, made a change after 30 minutes at 3-0, we have to take the positives because I think any other group would have crumbled at that point.

“I don’t know what it was, maybe the third goal went in on 25 miunutes, we get back to 3-0, made a few tactical changes, made a few personnel changes and took a few risks at the end and could quite easily have taken something from the game.

“It was a mountain to climb at 3-0 down, but sometimes you win and sometimes you learn and today I’m afraid it’s time to learn.”

When asked if he could put his finger on the Hatters’ shocking start to the game, Jones added: “I can’t give you the reason for that.

“I’ll have to look at the data, that will give me a better explanation, but it was out of character as the character of the boys is not that.

“I just thought we started a little bit sluggish, a little bit naive.

“I thought Queens Park Rangers are a very good side, I said that pre-match.,

"I think they proved that for 30 minues, but again you show people no respect, as we did for the last 60 minutes and you can see what we can achieve.

“We won the second half 1-0, so it’s a learning curve.”

Hatters chief doesn't like that losing feeling

Town boss Graeme Jones wasn’t happy to experience that losing feeling during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at QPR.

The Hatters found themselves trailing by three goals with just 28 minutes gone, Ebere Eze and Nahki Wells (2) on target.

Harry Cornick and James Collins ignited hopes of a fightback, but try as they might Town couldn’t find a late equaliser to leave the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium empty-handed.

Jones said: “It’s difficult as we lost the game.

“There’s no getting away from it, we lost the game, so today we’re losers, and that feeling I don’t like.

“There’s a way to lose, I didn’t like how we lost the first 30 minutes, so we need to improve and I can assure you we will.”

After a first half in which the Hatters were second best, on what he told the players during the interval, Jones said: “I deal with all half times, it’s in the privacy of that room.

“We made one or two tactical changes, I let one or two know I was disappointed with what I saw in the first half, that’s the role as a manager, it’s nothing complicated.

“I think the key for me was the reaction of the boys.

“The reaction of the boys was just exceptional, but we can’t be naive, we can’t come to Championship clubs and start a game that way, that’s the learning curve.”

Although Luton were much improved once Rangers had gone into an ultimately insurmountable lead, Jones knows they can’t keep performing for parts of the game if they want to be a success in the Championship this term.

He added: “Sixty minutes doesn’t win you a game, it needs to be 90 minutes.

“So I’ll reflect, watch the game in detail, we’ll discuss it on Monday with the whole group.

“We’ve got to face it, we’ve got to face the 30 minutes and then I’m sure there’ll be positives and pats on the back and praise.

“We won the second half 1-0, so we got a clean sheet second half.

"We put a lot of things right, but we have to know where we went wrong, and have to know how to put it right in order for it not to happen again.”

Luton chief won't point any fingers after QPR defeat

Luton boss Graeme Jones was refusing to point fingers at any of his players after their 3-2 defeat against QPR on Saturday.

The Hatters found themselves trailing 1-0 inside just three minutes at Loftus Road, as they got off to the worst possible start, Izzy Brown giving the ball away and Ebrechi Eze’s strike 25-yard drive bursting through keeper Simon Sluga’s hands for a goal that Town's Croatian stopper should have definitely dealt with.

Jones then saw his side cut open twice more with real ease by their hosts, as they could have been out of sight by the half hour mark, the woodwork denying Eze on two separate occasions.

Luton did mount a valiant fight back that came up just short, but on the first goal and Town’s defending in general, Jones said: “You know the modern day ball, the modern day ball was moving, I don’t want to dig out any individuals.

“I pick players, so I take responsibility for the players that I pick.

“We should have got out and blocked it, we give the ball away in central areas where they’ve got a lot of bodies, so there’s always more than one mistake that leads to a goal, so we’ll analyse it.

“One of them (Nahki Wells’ first goal) came from (Toni) Leistner, the sweeper, the clip, that’s disappointing.

“But that was the situation we were in, you always want to keep clean sheets and score goals every week, it makes my job nice and easy, but it’s not.

“Sometimes you have to take it on the chin, nobody said this was going to be easy coming into the Championship, but we’ll learn from today.”