Reading vs Luton Town FC (15th Sep 2020)

Match Report | Reading 0-1 Luton Town

Clark's first-half strike seals date with Manchester United...

The Hatters progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup after defeating Reading 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium this evening.

Town maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the season and will face Manchester United in the next round after Jordan Clark scored the only goal of the game midway through the first-half.

Nathan Jones made nine changes from Saturday’s victory against Barnsley in the Sky Bet Championship opener, with Sonny Bradley and Rhys Norrington-Davies the two remaining in the line-up.

The Hatters kept Reading’s Luke Southwood occupied during the opening exchanges, forcing him into a number of stops, including a top save to deny Danny Hylton, who directed James Bree’s perfect cross low to the right, but the goalkeeper got down well to deny the forward.

Town, however, got their deserved breakthrough in the 24th minute, taking the front through Clark on his first competitive start for the club. Rhys Norrington-Davies played a lofted cross into the box and the former Accrington Stanley man directed a brilliant looping header into the far corner.

It was more of the same in the second half as the Hatters maintained control of proceedings.

During the opening minutes of the second period Tom McIntyre sliced Andrew Shinnie’s cross narrowly wide of the post, the Reading defender inadvertently close to giving the Hatters a two-goal advantage.

Town’s best attacks were largely forged by James Bree, who produced a number of dangerous crosses and free-kicks, including one in the 64th minute where Hylton connected once more with a header but he saw his effort loop just wide.

Reading’s first shot on target came through Sam Baldock in the 71st minute but his tame effort following Dejan Tetek’s run was saved easily by James Shea.

Their best chance came shortly after as Sone Aluko sent a deep free-kick into the box towards Tom Holmes at the far post, but the centre-half’s header went right across the face of goal and Hylton managed to steer it behind for a corner.

Whilst Shinnie and Moncur later tested from distance, Town held their nerve during added time to book their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup.

Reading: Southwood, Watson, Bristow, McIntyre, Holmes, Araruna, Tetek, Aluko (Abbey 89), McNulty (Sackey 70), Baldock (C), Puscas (Melvin-Lambert 85).

Subs not used: Walker, East, Pendlebury, Ajose.

Town: Shea, Bree (Kioso 85), Lockyer (Cranie 90+3), Bradley (C), Norrington-Davies; Tunnicliffe, Moncur, Shinnie; LuaLua (Lee 72), Clark, Hylton.

Subs not used: Sluga, Cornick, Rea, Collins.

Goals: Clark (24)

Yellows: LuaLua, Bradley

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Nathan Jones' reaction to victory against Reading

Nathan Jones was pleased that a rotated Town side were able to book their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with a victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Another victory ensured his side maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the campaign with a glamorous home tie against Manchester United awaiting the Hatters next week.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Jones said: “It was another good game, we made a lot of changes because some of them need the minutes. We feel we have a strong enough squad to be able to do that and show the competition the respect it deserves. Delighted with another win, another clean sheet, I would have liked to score more because I thought we had enough opportunities to put it to bed a little bit earlier but it was a good run out and a lot of them have got a real 90 minutes there which they needed.

“I think we had a few chances like that, just before that Danny Hylton had a great chance, great ball-in from Bree and he’s probably caught it too well really, anything either side of the keeper goes in but he’s caught it so well and it has gone straight at the keeper.

“We’ve put another ball in, he’s come in from the right and I think we had one or two other chances like that, looping headers that we’ve got the first contact to and it has just narrowly missed the post. Balls were put in and they almost scored an own goal but look we’re very pleased with the goal and we’re pleased with the work rate, no injuries, 90 minutes, so they are all better for the experience.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLriQvNBuek – Nathan Jones post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et3U5Io8pt8 – match highlights

Clark scores the winner as Luton set up glamour Manchester United tie

Carabao Cup second round: Reading 0 Luton Town 1

Luton set-up a mouth-watering Carabao Cup third round tie against Premier League giants Manchester United after a 1-0 win at Championship rivals Reading this evening.

Jordan Clark scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half earning Town a first win at the Royals since August 1999, ending a run of six straight defeats in the process.

The visitors made nine changes for the clash, with boss Nathan Jones handing a first start to summer signings Tom Lockyer, Jordan Clark and James Bree, the latter making his second debut after rejoining permanently from Aston Villa.

Danny Hylton, Kazenga LuaLua and George Moncur were all in too, with only Sonny Bradley and Rhys Norrington-Davies retained from the weekend’s 1-0 win at Barnsley.

A bright start by Town on both flanks saw Moncur send an ambitious half volley harmlessly wide early on and Lockyer’s header easily gathered by Luke Southwood. The Reading keeper was then forced into a much better save when Hylton rose highest to meet Bree’s excellent right-wing cross on 15 minutes, spreading himself impressively to parry.

Luton continued to dominate proceedings, another corner from the left met by Bradley simple for Southwood, as was Clark’s tame low effort from 20 yards.

There was no stopping the Hatters on 24 minutes though as they deservedly took the lead with a goal of real class.

Norrington-Davies swung over a cross and Clark leapt superbly to climb imperiously above his marker and power a header beyond Southwood for his first goal in Luton colours.

Town then comfortably held their opponents at arm’s length as Reading tried to find some continuity in their passing, Sam Baldock slicing into the empty stands on 39 minutes their onl real half chance at an equaliser.

After the break, home defender Tom McIntyre almost put Andrew Shinnie’s low cross into his own net, while Bree burst away on the right, Hylton glancing his delivery off target.

The right back was a constant threat all evening on the right flank from open play and set-pieces, arrowing a free kick into the box for Hylton’s looping header to drop inches wide.

Reading finally created an opening worthy of a chance when Dejan Tetek sliced through the visitors’ midfield, only to see Baldock sidefoot weakly at Shea.

The Royals began to look capable of grabbing an equaliser with their first real concerted spell of pressure, Tom Holmes’ header going across the six yard box where Hylton was able to poke behind.

Luton still kept an attacking threat of their own, Shinnie’s volley not missing by much and then Moncur drilling straight at Southwood from distance.

Despite having plenty of possession in the final stages, Reading never looked like forcing penalties, bar a late Lynford Sackey’s drive that forced Shea to gather at his near post.

Royals: Luke Southwood, Tennai Watson, Ethan Bristow, Tom McIntyre, Tom Holmes, Felipe Araruna, Dejan Tetek, Sone Aluko (Nelson Abbey 89) , Marc McNulty (Lynford Sackey 70), Sam Baldock ©, George Puscas (Nahum Melvin-Lambert 85).

Subs not used: Sam Walker, Ryan East, Oliver Pendlebury, Joseph Ajose.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree (Peter Kioso 85), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Sonny Bradley ©, Tom Lockyer (Martin Cranie 90), Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Jordan Clark, Kazenga LuaLua (Elliot Lee 72), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Glen Rea, James Collins, Harry Cornick.

Booked: LuaLua 61, Bradley 78.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Jones felt Hatters thoroughly deserved Royals cup win

Luton chief praises match-winner Clark for his first half header

Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt his side fully deserved their 1-0 Carabao Cup second round win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium this evening.

Summer signing Jordan Clark scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half, rising impressively to power a header beyond keeper Luke Southwood and into the net for his first strike in Town colours.

That was enough against a Royals side who had plenty of possession, but failed to ever really trouble James Shea, as Luton went through to face five-time winners and Premier League giants Manchester United in round three.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “We’d have liked to have put the game to bed earlier.

"Hylts (Danny Hylton) had a great chance, we had a number of opportunities, it’s gone across the box and we’ve had a number of shots that have been blocked and not quite finishing with aplomb, but I felt we thoroughly deserved it.

“We controlled the game really and didn’t really have a problem, they had a lot of possession second half without really hurting us in any way and I always felt we were strong.

“It was a good work out as they’re a very structured side, can cause you problems, have a ruthlessness, have some real good players in there with experience, with (Sone) Aluko, (Sam) Baldock.

"Real, real good players at this level, so it’s another good win.

“It’s another 1-0 win, away from home, clean sheet, through to the next round and there was always the carrot of playing Man United.”

Jones made nine changes for the game, giving a first start to match-winner Clark, plus recent additions Tom Lockyer and James Bree.

On his decision to do so, the boss continued: “I would have liked to have made 11 if I could have, not because I didn’t treat the competition with the respect it deserves, but we’ve got a strong enough squad.

“(Dan) Potts has been injured, so I’ve had to play (Rhys) Norrington-Davies again and Bree hasn’t been up to speed, so (Martin) Cranie’s played at right back.

“It shows we’ve got good strength in depth as structurally we were decent.

“We’ve come here against a tricky side in terms of how they play and I thought we defended and worked and got a real good 90 minutes into their legs, which will stand them all in good stead as we want to get them all up to speed for the Championship tests which are coming.”

Clark’s goal when it came was a superb leap at the far post from Norrington-Davies’ left-wing cross, although Jones felt Town could have added more to their tally.

He said: “It was a great header, a great ball in, Jordan’s come in, attacked it, a great header and we’ve had a few of those.

“In the second half, Hylts had a looping header, Sonny Bradley’s had a free header into the keeper’s hands and then we’ve put a ball in they’ve sliced and almost had an own goal.

“So there’s been a lot of situations that we would have liked to extend our lead to make it slightly less tricky late on, but I’m very pleased.

"We’re into the hat, a clean sheet and that’s always nice.”