Reading vs Luton Town FC (9th Nov 2019)

READING 3 LUTON TOWN 0

Hatters suffer a fourth successive defeat at the Madejski Stadium

The Hatters suffered a 3-0 defeat to Reading in what proved to be a disappointing afternoon at a rain-soaked Madejski Stadium.

Reading scored two first-half goals in the space of eight minutes through Michael Morrison and Ovie Ejaria, before Garath McCleary came off the bench to score their third with just over ten minutes to go.

The fourth successive defeat means Town remain a place above the relegation zone as they now go into the two-week international break.

With four changes to the team that lost to Nottingham Forest the previous week, including Lloyd Jones coming in for Sonny Bradley for his first league start for the Town, the Hatters started the game on top and had the best chance of the opening exchanges, which fell to captain for the afternoon Martin Cranie.

After Harry Cornick won a free-kick on the right, Jacob Butterfield delivered and the ball found its way to Cranie at the back post, who took a touch out of his feet before firing a left-footed effort on goal which Rafael was able to beat away.

Town were again pushing forward early in the game as Butterfield turned defence into attack with a lofted ball out wide for Cornick. From there, the winger progressed forward before crossing deep for Collins, who headed wide on the stretch, although referee Andy Woolmer penalised the striker for a foul.

Reading then created chances of their own and took advantage. Omar Richards wiggled his way into the box and fired a right-footed shot on goal, which Shea did well to turn behind.

But from the resulting corner, Reading took the lead through Morrison’s second goal of the season as he headed John Swift’s corner beyond Shea's reach into the top corner.

The hosts then doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Ejaria curled the ball in from the edge of the box. After receiving the ball out wide on the left, he made space to unleash a shot and his effort found the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection.

The intensity petered out in the second half until the 68th minute, when Puscas brought a fine save out of Shea.

Town tried to get back into the game and had a handball claim turned down with 15 minutes to play. Second-half substitute Alan Sheehan’s corner was whipped in to the six-yard box and as several players challenged for a header, everyone in an orange shirt appealed for a penalty, but referee Andy Woolmer was unmoved.

Shortly after, in the 79th minute, Reading wrapped up the three points as substitute Garath McCleary won the ball from Sheehan and raced forward to finish calmly past Shea.

The win was Reading’s third consecutive home victory under Mark Bowen as they remain unbeaten since he took over. They push up to 17th, while the Hatters stay in 21st place with Leeds United up next at Kenilworth Road in a fortnight's time.

TOWN: Shea, Bolton (Sheehan 45), Cranie (C), Jones, Pearson, Potts, Tunnicliffe, Butterfield (LuaLua 69), McManaman, Cornick (Shinnie 58), Collins. Subs not used: Sluga, Lee, Mpanzu, Bree.

Yellows: Bolton

READING: Rafael, Morrison, Miazga, Moore (C), Yiadom, Swift, Ejaria (McCleary 64), Rinomhota, Richards, Baldock (Loader 80), Puscas (Meite 69). Subs not used: Walker, Loader, Howe, Blackett, Pele.

Goals: Morrison (22) Ejaria (30) McCleary (79)

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 15,251 (2,097 Hatters)

GRAEME JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO READING

Town boss Graeme Jones said his side were “outclassed” in their 3-0 defeat to Reading this afternoon at the Madejski Stadium.

Jones said: “It was very, very disappointing. I think we got outclassed, outplayed and outfought."

The manager went over to the travelling Town fans immediately at the final whistle, and he said: “I love the fans, I love what they are and I’m not here to hide because I know today wasn’t good enough. Nobody needs to tell me, it’s a realisation of where we are because that is what we’ve got, but I’m not disappearing down the tunnel.

“Me personally, I work my backside off every day to try and make Luton as good as we can be and at the minute it’s not working, so I wanted to face it up for that reason, nothing else.

“Last week we were short and this week we were short. Now I’m in a privileged position that I’ve seen every single one of our players play Championship football and I know everybody’s capabilities, I know what the league is and I’m very, very clear about where we are and what has to be done.

“We have to negotiate six weeks first [before January]. I’m not a fool I know the game, I don’t kid myself. But if we do well enough to get to the January transfer window, we need to be stronger because you’ve seen Reading who are close to us at the table, how strong their individuals are and how much quality they’ve got and today, we were short.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwr2XmYkKaI – Graeme Jones interview

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

Woeful Hatters easily beaten by Reading

Championship: Reading 3 Luton Town 0

Struggling Luton slipped to their fourth successive league defeat with a woeful and worrying display at Reading this afternoon.

Prior to the game, it looked like the Royals might potentially be one of the sides, like Town, facing a battle for their Championship survival this term, sitting just two places and one point above the Hatters.

However, that possibility appeared way, way off by the full time whistle, with the ease in which Reading controlled the fixture, and the insipid nature of the visitors' performance, leaving the displays that earned wins at Barnsley and Blackburn a distant memory.

The main bone of contention for anyone of a Hatters persuasion at the game, was the confused nature of the visitors' efforts and a seeming lack or urgency, particularly after the break when 2-0 behind, Royals keeper Rafael Cabral having the easiest of afternoons, barely touching the ball.

Town boss Graeme Jones made four changes to his side, the most surprising seeing captain Sonny Bradley dropped from the squad, with Lloyd Jones in for his full league debut after arriving in January 2018.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Izzy Brown failed to recover from his hamstring injury, while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, despite being named sponsor's man of the match last week dropped to the bench, along with James Bree, who paid the price for his part in Nottingham Forest's two goals last weekend,.

Luke Bolton, Jacob Butterfield and Callum McManaman came in, but Luton were under the cosh possession and territory-wise in the opening stages.

However, Jones' men had the first real chance on eight minutes, Butterfield's deep free kick finding Martin Cranie at the back post and he was denied by Rafael Cabral.

Matty Pearson then had to be alert to make an impressive intervention with Sam Baldock finding space in the area, deflecting his attempt behind.

With a quarter hour gone, Town then created another decent opening, as Butterfield's dink released Harry Cornick who did well to bide his time and fashion a cross that was headed wide by a diving Collins.

Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria had some bright moments for the Royals, one nutmeg on Butterfield saw him find striker George Puscas, who could only loft over the bar.

Omar Richards went close after walking through a few half-hearted challenges and hammering goalwards, Shea reacting well to parry behind on 22 minutes.

It was from the set-piece that Town were breached again though, with another goal of real ease, Michael Morrison outjumping his markers to direct a header beyond Shea and into the net.

The second followed on the half hour with a goal that started with Town on the front foot, Bolton beating his man and getting into a decent crossing position before losing the ball.

That left a yawning gap at right back and Reading took full advantage, moving forward quickly, with Ejaria allowed to cut in and size up a shot that found the far corner from 20 yards via a slight defection.

Shea parried from Baldock after he wriggled free again as the Royals looked capable of running riot, with the striker firing into the side-netting in the 38th minute.

A poor first half saw Bolton taken out of the firing line at the break, club captain Alan Sheehan given his first league action of the season and a first Championship game since January 1, 2008, when at Leicester City, he came on for Bruno N'Gotty after 62 minutes of a 3-1 defeat at QPR.

Reading could have put the game beyond doubt, John Swift thumping over after Butterfield's weak clearance as Jones kept ringing the changes, Andrew Shinnie on for the quiet Cornick and Kazenga LuaLua replacing Butterfield.

Puscas might have widened the hosts' advantage, his powerful header at the back post drawing a fine save by Shea, clawing it away, as Luton just couldn't force anything noteworthy.

In fact the closest they came in the second 45 was from a corner sent in by Sheehan that saw Town's players to a man cry for handball, but no penalty was given by referee Andy Woolmer.

With 12 minutes to go, the three points, that had long been safe, were firmly locked away when Sheehan lost the ball in defence, Garath McCleary racing clear to easily beat Shea.

Precious little happened after that, Town couldn't even muster a shot on target to notch a consolation, with referee Andy Woolmer mercifully ending proceedings,leaving Luton to lick their wounds over the international break.

Reading: Rafael Cabral, Michael Morrison, Matt Miazga, Liam Moore (C), Andy Rinomhota, Sam Baldock, John Swift, Ovie Ejaria (Garath McCleary 64), Andy Yiadom, Omar Richards, George Puscas (Yakou Meite 70).

Subs not used: Sam Walker, Danny Loader, Teddy Howe, Tyler Blackett, Judilson Gomes.

Hatters: James Shea, Luke Bolton (Alan Sheehan 46), Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Lloyd Jones, Martin Cranie ©, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jacob Butterfield (Kazenga LuaLua 69), Callum McManaman, James Collins, Harry Cornick (Andrew Shinnie 58).

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Bree, Elliot Lee.

Booked: Bolton 25.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.

Attendance: 15,251 (2,097 Luton).

Luton boss concedes Town were 'outclassed, outplayed and outfought' by Royals

Town chief Graeme Jones conceded his side were ‘outclassed’ during their 3-0 defeat at Reading this afternoon.

The Hatters were 2-0 behind with just 30 minutes gone after goals by Michael Morrison and Ovie Ejaria, as they weren't able to muster a shot afterwards, the Royals adding a third through Garath McCleary late in the second period.

Jones said: “It’s very, very disappointing. I think we got outclassed, outplayed, outfought, that’s it.

“I don’t want to concede the goals we did, but lets go down to detail on it. A set-piece, we’re in possession in the final third, so transition, a counter-attack, and then a mistake.

“So, lets not think about organising, or units, or tactical, everybody needs to take responsibility.

"Every individual, me included and we need to do something about it as we've got a really, really heavy period coming up.

"They are in tomorrow, there's no hiding place, there's no rest for anyone.

"We have a responsibility to this football club and those supporters who turned up today again and supported the group.

“I can assure you we're doing our best, at this minutes in time, we're a little bit short.

After the game, Jones went over to the 2,097 travelling fans by himself and on what the gesture was, he said: “I don’t apologise, but I love the fans, I love what they are, I’m not here to hide, I know today wasn’t good enough, nobody needs to tell me.

“It’s a realisation of where we are, because that’s what we’ve got, but I’m not disappearing down the tunnel.

“Me personally, I work my backside off every day to try and make Luton as good as we can be and at the minute it’s not working.

"So I wanted to face it up for that reason, nothing else.”