Reading vs Luton Town FC (26th Dec 2020)

Match Report | Reading 2-1 Luton Town

Kazenga** LuaLua scores late on but the Hatters lose on the road...**

The Hatters' late comeback attempt was thwarted by high-flying Reading as they fell to defeat in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon.

The Royals took a commanding two-goal lead into the break but Kazenga LuaLua scored the Town’s first away goal in five matches late in the game, though it was too little too late at the Madejski Stadium.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes following the draw against Bournemouth last weekend, including Glen Rea – who returned to the side following his one-game suspension.

The Hatters failed to impose themselves in the first half as Reading controlled proceedings and took the lead early on.

Tom McIntyre scored his first professional goal in the ninth minute after a well-worked training ground routine resulted in him volleying past James Shea.

Reading had a second four minutes before half-time after Alfa Semedo played a neat one-two with Sam Baldock and calmly finished into the bottom corner.

There was, however, a chance for Town to pull themselves back into the contest as Martin Cranie was brought down by McIntyre and referee Matt Donohue awarded a free-kick and a yellow card to the defender.

The replays showed a different story as Cranie appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area but play continued and nothing came of the set-piece.

The gaffer turned to his substitutes at half-time and made three changes, with Rhys Norrington-Davies, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Danny Hylton all introduced for the second period.

The Premier League loanees were heavily involved and created a number of presentable opportunities, as Luke Berry saw his header saved by Rafael following Dewsbury-Hall’s corner.

Norrington-Davies then turned provider for fellow substitute Hylton, but the striker was unable to make proper contact and watched his header go wide of the goal.

With ten minutes left to play, the Hatters had another good chance as Dewsbury-Hall played a lofted free-kick into the box.

James Collins was the recipient but he miss-kicked his effort and Lockyer was then denied from close range too as the hosts managed to clear.

The Hatters reduced the deficit in the 90th minute through substitute LuaLua, who found the back of the net from 25 yards. An equaliser, however, proved elusive as attention now turns to Tuesday night when Bristol City travel to Kenilworth Road.

Reading: Rafael; Holmes, Esteves, McIntyre, Morrison (C); Rinomhota, Laurent, Semedo (Swift 67), Ejaria; Aluko, Baldock.

Subs not used: Southwood, Dorsett, Bristow, Watson, East, Onen, Olise, Melvin-Lambert.

Goals: McIntyre (9), Semedo (41)

Town: Shea; Cranie (Dewsbury-Hall 45), Lockyer, Bradley (C), Potts (Cornick 76); Rea (Hylton 45), Berry, Mpanzu (LuaLua 65); Clark, Moncur (Norrington-Davies 45); Collins

Subs not used: Sluga, Tunnicliffe, Pearson, Nombe.

Goals: LuaLua (90)

Yellows: Cranie, LuaLua

Referee: Matt Donohue

Nathan Jones' verdict on Reading defeat

The gaffer shared his thoughts after loss at the Madejski Stadium...

Manager Nathan Jones reflected on what could have been for his side following this afternoon’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Reading.

The Hatters fell short against the high-flying Royals, who scored two first half goals to condemn Town to a loss on the road, despite Kazenga LuaLua's late consolation.

“That can happen to you at this level, they are a good side and their second goal was a real, swift counter-attack and they scored with a great strike from a set-play.

“That can happen and I’m just a bit disappointed in the build-up to their second goal, we should have been better. We gave the ball away cheaply, let people run off us and that can’t happen because we get punished.

“We had enough of the game to score two goals today, we scored one, we had chances and should have had a penalty. Umpteen amount of crosses and opportunities around the box, it is just we have to show a little more quality in terms of our play.

On his decision with the starting line-up, the gaffer added: “We realise we have three games this week and we want to make the most of the home games, so we’ve had to make sure we mix the side up.

“At half-time we weren’t getting any impact so I had to make changes and they did. We brought on some quality, especially Kiernan and Rhys who I thought were excellent second half.

“Danny needs to find a bit of rhythm and I thought the subs made a good impact, Kazenga when he came on as well. We just need to be a little bit more fluent in terms of what we do and show a little bit more quality. If we had done that, then we would have got something from the game.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Q6zv4cFSY – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WbiKZCHsBM – Nathan Jones interview

LuaLua finally ends Luton's away drought but terrible first half condemns Town to defeat

Championship: Reading 2 Luton Town 1

Luton's woeful recent away form continued with a dismal Boxing Day defeat at Reading this afternoon.

The visitors went into the game looking to end a run of four matches without a win on their travels, three defeats included, where they had been unable to find the net as well.

Those hopes were all but ended after what was quite frankly a terrible first half display at the Madjeski Stadium though, Town finding themselves trailing 2-0 at the break.

Luton huffed and puffed in the second period, finally ending their long search for an away goal in the 90th minute through substitute Kazega LuaLua's long range drive, but with time soon running out, it ended up a mere consolation.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones made three changes from the goalless draw against Bournemouth, Glen Rea returning from his one match ban, joined by Jordan Clark and George Moncur, with Danny Hylton, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dropping to the bench.

The visitors were hit once more by an early goal, the third time in five matches they have conceded in the opening 10 minutes, as a well-worked corner routine saw Royals centre half Tom McIntyre completely escape the attentions of Clark to volley home Sone Aluko's corner from 12 yards with just nine on the clock.

Town's inability to come back from going behind when away from home over the last few years is now becoming a real worry, and they struggled to get going in the first period, sucked into going long to James Collins, the striker unable to get any joy out of the Royals centre halves.

Reading's second corner on 37 minutes saw the hosts take it short, Aluko firing well over from outside the box, before Rea's awful ball across his own area went straight to Ovie Ejaria, the midfielder redeeming himself by sliding in to prevent the hosts fashioning a shooting opportunity.

Town's dismal first half offering was topped off as the hosts made it 2-0 on 40 minutes, requiring very little to double their lead as well.

A simple move through the middle after Luton gave possession away saw Sam Baldock pull away to the left, his through ball sliced Hatters' defence apart, finding the run of Alfa Semedo, who easily slotted past Shea.

The visitors should have had the chance to level before the break, with Martin Cranie taken out as he crossed the ball, referee Matt Donohue adjudging the offence had occurred just outside the area, although replays proved it was clearly just inside, meaning Town should have been awarded a penalty.

Moncur put the set-piece straight out of play, as although Luton finished the ball by winning some free kicks, they could never tested an underworked Rafael.

Jones showed his displeasure at the interval, making three changes, Dewsbury-Hall, Norrington-Davies and Hylton coming on for Moncur, Cranie and Rea.

The early stages saw Luton dominate possession, Reading happy to sit back with their advantage as Town passed eight hours with an away goal, Berry almost ending the drought, when his fierce drive was blocked.

Reading tried to win a penalty themselves with Michael Morrison going over the foot of Norrington-Davies, but official Donohue opted to wave play on, when should have produced a yellow card for diving.

The visitors did look improved with the changes, although that wasn't going take much such was the abject nature of their first half efforts, with Kazenga LuaLua also joining the fray midway through.

Norrington-Davies was beginning to get some joy on the left hand side, winning two corners, the second seeing Luton finally register a shot on target, Berry's header straight at Rafael.

With 15 to go, Norrington-Davies once more tried to create a way back into the game, his excellent cross met by Hylton who nodded against his shoulder and behind.

Another dinked set-piece by Dewsbury-Hall led to a mini moment of panic for Reading, with both Collins and Tom Lockyer trying to flick the ball in, Rafael smothering the danger.

With Boxing Day goalscoring specialist Harry Cornick thrown on to unfurl some previously unseen long throws, the Hatters saw Clark hammer one over the bar when losing his footing outside the area.

Town then did give themselves a lifeline in the 90th minute when LuaLua was afforded far too much time and space to unleash one of his trademark long range drives, which was misjudged by Rafael, unable to prevent the ball ending up in the net.

However, there was to be no great last hurrah, as Reading saw the three minutes of stoppage time out fairly easily, as Luton were left to rue their efforts in that opening 45 minutes.

Royals: Rafael, Tom Holmes, Tomas Esteves, Tom McIntyre, Michael Morrison (C), Andy Rinomhota, Josh Laurent, Alfa Semedo (John Swift 67), Ovie Ejaria, Sone Aluko (Tennia Watson 90), Sam Baldock.

Subs not used: Luke Southwood, Jeriel Dorsett, Ethan Bristow, Ryan East, Jayden Onen, Michael Olise, Nahum Melvin-Lambert.

Hatters: James Shea, Martin Cranie (Rhys Norrington-Davies 46), Dan Potts (Harry Cornick 77), Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 46), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Kazenga LuaLua 65), Luke Berry, George Moncur (Danny Hylton 46), Jordan Clark, James Collins.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Sam Nombe, Matty Pearson.

Bookings: Cranie 25, McIntyre 45, LuaLua 75.

Referee: Matt Donohue.

Jones felt Luton did enough to get something during Royals loss

Hatters chief believes a touch of class was missing from his side’s play

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side should have left the Madjeski Stadium with something from the game after falling to a 2-1 defeat at Reading this afternoon.

The Hatters found themselves 2-0 down at the break after a poor first half by the visitors, before improving in the second period, ending up with more shots on target than their opponents.

However, the only goal they could manage came in the 90th minute from substitute Kazenga LuaLua, which didn't give Jones' men enough time to force an unlikely comeback, as the manager said: “We’ve had enough shots, enough opportunities and enough crosses but we didn't really show that pure quality to score.

“When you get in that final third and put a ball on a plate for someone and the runs meets that and the quality to finish, we had enough situations where we should have got something from the game but we didn't.

"That's sometimes a little bit of quality, sometimes a little bit of decision making, and that's the disappointing thing as we should have got something out of the game today.”

Town’s efforts in the opening 45 minutes left a lot to be desired, Tom McIntyre breaking the deadlock from a set-piece inside the opening 10 minutes and then Alfa Semedo going clean through to score just before half time.

Jones added: “That can happen to you at this level, there are some good sides who can do that to you.

"The second goal is a real swift counter attack and they scored with a great strike from a set-play.

"I’m just a bit disappointed with the build-up to their second goal, as we could have been better.

"We gave the ball away cheaply, we let people run off us, and that can't happen as you get punished, but we had enough of the game to score two goals today.

"We scored one, we had chances, should have had a penalty, had umpteen amounts of crosses and opportunities around the box, we just have to show a little bit more quality in terms of our play.”