Rotherham United vs Luton Town FC (4th Nov 2020)

Match Report | Rotherham United 0-1 Luton Town

Collo's fifth goal of the season gives the Hatters a big three points!

The Hatters earned a well-deserved three points with a 1-0 win against Rotherham United in the Sky Bet Championship this evening.

James Collins’ volley in the 70th minute was the difference between the two sides at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as Town moved up to 9th position.

Manager Nathan Jones made six changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Brentford on Saturday, including a first start of the season for George Moncur and a return to the starting line-up for Harry Cornick, who missed the last four matches due to injury.

On a cold night in Yorkshire, Simon Sluga was on hand to provide two good saves during the first-half to deny the hosts an opener.

The first was particularly good, as he clawed away Jamie Lindsay’s effort from 20-yards, with a shot that was destined for the top corner if it wasn’t for his quick reaction.

Sluga denied the midfielder once more eight minutes later, at the near post this time as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

Town grew into the game as the half went on as James Collins found space in the box to deliver a cross towards Luke Berry, who left it for Moncur to hit first-time, but his low shot was saved by Jamal Blackman.

Further to that chance, Matty Pearson went close with a surging run forward and a well-hit low shot, but it went just wide of the target in added time.

The Hatters couldn’t quite believe they didn’t take the lead before the hour mark as a period of madness ensued.

Moncur crossed brilliantly for Collins but somehow the striker couldn’t turn the ball in from close range as it ricocheted behind for a corner.

Seconds later, Cornick stabbed the ball goalwards with Blackman stranded but Michael Ihiekwe managed to get back for Rotherham and cleared off the line.

Berry then tried his luck from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper was equal to it and turned it behind.

Fortunately though, it wasn’t long before Town did break the deadlock and earned a well-deserved opener.

Berry produced an inch-perfect free-kick into the box and Collins volleyed the Hatters in front for his fifth goal of the season.

Town had several attempts to try and extend their lead, first as Moncur broke through towards goal with a lung-busting run forward but his tame chipped effort went straight into Blackman’s hands.

Moments later, Berry produced some great work down the right-hand-side, cutting into the box and then back onto his right foot, before hitting the post.

The Hatters held out and won in Yorkshire for the third time this season, following victories against Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday prior to this evening's fixture.

Town are back on the road on Saturday when they travel to Huddersfield for the last game before the international break.

Town: Sluga, Cranie, Pearson, Bradley (C); Rea, Tunnicliffe, Berry, Morrell (Mpanzu 45), Moncur (Lockyer 89); Cornick (LuaLua 64), Collins.

Subs not used: Shea, Lee, Bree, Nombe.

Goals: Collins (70)

Yellows: Berry

Rotherham: Blackman, Harding, Ihiekwe, A. MacDonald, Mattock (Crooks 11); Jozefzoon (Ladapo 80), Wiles, Lindsay, Barlaser, Miller, Smith (Hirst 59).

Subs not used: Johansson, Wood, Sadlier, Vassell.

Yellows: Miller

Referee: Andy Madley

Nathan Jones' reaction to victory against Rotherham United

The gaffer spoke pitchside after victory against the Millers...

Manager Nathan Jones was in good spirits following the Hatters’ 1-0 victory against Rotherham United this evening.

Town moved up into 9th position just one point adrift of the play-off places following a well-deserved three points at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, after James Collins netted the only goal of the game.

The win put an end to a run of two games without a win and the gaffer, who made six changes for the match against Rotherham, was keen to praise his players’ second-half performance in particular.

“We’ve had a lot of people playing a lot of games,” the Welshman began. “We mixed it up slightly and we wanted that freshness. We didn’t quite get it, we got it second half.

“We only made one change at half-time and we got it second half, it proved to be a decent decision and coming here, these are the games we have to win, and we did. I’m really pleased and really proud of them, as I said, I thought we were excellent.

"I think they all were, they all stepped up. We stepped on a yard, we pressed a little bit higher, we won second balls, we got on second balls, aggressive with our headers and in the stuff we did and then we got a foothold in the game.

“We have enough quality to score goals at this level, we only scored one tonight but we hit the post, Collo missed a great opportunity, George could have had two goals tonight, so we’ve had a lot of opportunities tonight to win the game and as I said, we have won it but that doesn’t flatter us in any way.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZps3MWFnQ& - Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F3dIEFdJJk – Match highlights

Collins bags the winner as Hatters claim a terrific victory in Rotherham

Championship: Rotherham United 0 Luton Town 1

A sparkling second half performance saw Luton secure their third win on the road this season, as James Collins' 70th minute goal was enough to sink hosts Rotherham United.

The striker sprung into action, with a clever volleyed finish from Luke Berry's excellent free kick to decide the contest at the New York Stadium, propelling his side up to ninth in the table.

An away win had looked increasingly unlikely in the first period, with the Hatters definitely second best and lucky to be on level terms at the break, the Millers dominating proceedings.

However, they couldn't capitalise, as Town clung on and with a much improved display after the interval, managed to gain a third victory in Yorkshire this season, all by the same scoreline, 1-0.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones sprung some major surprises with his team selection ahead of the fixture, making six changes from the team who lost 3-0 to Brentford on Saturday.

In came George Moncur for his first league start since August 2019, with Harry Cornick also back from injury, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Joe Morrell, Berry and Collins all starting too.

That meant Tom Lockyer and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu dropped to the bench, joined by Sam Nombe and the fit-again James Bree, with Danny Hylton, Jordan Clark, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missing out completely.

Town lined up with a new-look back four, Matty Pearson and Martin Cranie the full backs, with Glen Rea partnering Sonny Bradley in the centre.

The visitors were indebted to Simon Sluga for keeping the scores goalless on 14 minutes, as the keeper made a superb stop to prevent Jamie Lindsay's 20-yard curler from finding the corner, moving across impressively to palm away at full stretch.

With the Millers causing a number of problems on either flank through Mickel Miller and Florian Jozefzoon in particular when isolating Cranie, it was the latter who teed up Wes Harding for a cross that Lindsay cleverly flicked goalwards, Sluga again to the rescue, tipping behind.

Luton had to wait until midway through the half to even threaten an opportunity, Berry's cross-shot blocked away, with Cornick's follow-up unable to pick out a team-mate.

They then enjoyed a first spell of concerted territory, Cornick unveiling some tricks to beat his man, his ball in deflecting off Angus MacDonald to keeper Jamal Blackman.

Sluga's next work was far easier, gathering Michael Smith's volley, after yet more good skill by Jozefzoon, the former Dutch U21 international on loan from Derby County, after costing the Rams £2.75m last season, while Dan Barlaser blasted a hopeful free kick into the empty stands from 25 yards.

The Croatian then collected another Smith header, but on 42 minutes, an under the cosh Hatters should have been in front.

Collins did excellently to burst into the box and pick out Moncur, who took his effort first time when he might have gone on, forcing Jamal Blackman to parry for a corner.

Another set-piece almost led to an opener for the visitors, as Sonny Bradley was picked out by Berry, only to head waywardly after team-mate Cornick got in his way.

With Luton finishing strongly, they were inches away on the stroke of half time through a very unlikely source, Pearson bursting to the edge of the box, his left footed skimmer flashing inches wide.

Hatters chief Jones brought on Mpanzu for Morrell at the break in a bid to pep up his side's energy in midfield, but it was United who began on the front foot again, Jozefzoon, as he had been before the interval the main tormentor, Smith putting another header over the top.

Town then started to gain the ascendancy themselves and had a glorious opening on 55 minutes, Moncur delivering a wonderful low cross that Collins somehow failed to convert from a matter of yards, the ball hitting a defender and going behind.

Within 60 seconds, the visitors had another fantastic opportunity, keeper Blackman failing to collect a deep cross, Cornick unable to beat the covering Michael Ihiekwe on the line.

Still Luton kept coming,enjoying their best spell of the game, Berry having a pop from 20 yards, Blackman able to turn the effort behind as the Hatters finally started to win the ball back in advanced areas and apply some real pressure.

An end-to-end affair saw Miller go close for the Millers, Pearson able to get a crucial block on his close-range effort.

Luton then did get the goal that their second half display deserved on 70 minutes.

Kazenga LuaLua, on for Cornick, won a free kick on the right that Berry whipped in for Collins to get across the near post and volley past Blackman for his fifth of the season.

Hatters simply had to extend their lead five minutes later, when Mpanzu fed Moncur who ran clean through from half-way, but faced with Blackman, could only chip tamely at the keeper who simply stood his ground and caught the woeful effort.

Town continued to press though, Berry beating his man in the area and Blackman as well with an angled drive, but not the woodwork, Collins unable to twist his body in time for the rebound.

Rotherham weren't out of the contest either though, Barlaser scooping a very presentable opportunity over the top from 12 yards, sub George Hirst sending a hopeful 22-yarder across goal and then directing a header well wide.

However, it was Town who finished strongly, seeing the game out in a real professional manner to claim yet another three points on the road.

Millers: Jamal Blackman, Joe Mattock (Matt Crooks 11), Ben Wiles, Mickel Miller, Jamie Lindsay, Wes Harding, Michael Ihiekwe ©, Angus MacDonald, Michael Smith (George Hirst 59), Dan Barlaser, Florian Jozefzoon (Freddie Ladapo 80).

Subs not used: Viktor Johansson, Richard Wood, Kyle Vassell, reddie Ladapo, Kieran Sadlier.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Martin Cranie, Glen Rea, Sonny Bradley ©, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Joe Morrell (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 46), Luke Berry, George Moncur (Tom Lockyer 89), Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua 64), James Collins.

ubs not used: James Shea, Elliot Lee, James Bree, Sam Nombe.

Booked: Miller 77, Berry 90.

Referee: Andrew Madley.

Jones impressed with Town's ability to bounce back from a poor first half and seal Millers triumph

Hatters boss Jones felt his team were nowhere near it in the opening 45 minutes

Luton chief Nathan Jones praised his side for the manner in which they bounced back from a poor first half performance to win 1-0 at Rotherham United this evening.

A Town team containing six changes including both George Moncur and Ryan Tunnicliffe in for rare starts, saw the visitors produce a poor opening 45 minutes, under the cosh for long periods, grateful to a superb save from Simon Sluga for keeping them level, although they did still create the best chance, Moncur denied by Millers keeper Jamal Blackman.

However, the second period saw Luton dominate proceedings, missing two glorious opportunities through James Collins and Harry Cornick, before Collins bagged what turned out to be the winner on 70 minutes, volleying home Luke Berry’s free kick.

Moncur then missed another sitter, while Berry was denied by the post, as Town could and should have won by more, with Jones saying: “I’m definitely pleased with the second half performance, any win on the road in the Championship is a good win, but first half we were nowhere near the levels.

“We made six changes, one or two enforced but the rest were to freshen up, so we could come here with energy as we knew these are an energetic side.

“They play on the front foot, so we knew we’d have to combat that, and we didn’t do that first half.

“Ironically we had the best chance of the first half, a glorious chance for George, but second half was more us.

“We were front-footed, we took the game to Rotherham and I thought we were excellent

“It was tight towards the end, but we should have been out of sight, without being disrespectful to anyone.

“We hit the post, George has had another chance, Collo’s had a point blank opportunity, we should have been two or three up by the time we go into injury time and that's the only, not disappointing thing, but the thing we need to learn from that.”

Jones made one change to his side during the break, bringing on Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu for Joe Morrell as when asked just what he said to the players during the interval to bring about such a dramatic change in fortunes, he added: “I just wanted them to go back to the game-plan.

"We made six changes so that we’d had more energy and win the battles which we didn’t.

“Joe was a bit unlucky, as physically he's not like Pelly, so we made the changes and just did second half what we hoped we would do from the start.

“As you know against Rotherham you have to be front footed because they test you, they’re aggressive, they work hard, they're in your face, they were better than us first half.

“But second half, I thought we were excellent and just a tinge of disappointment we didn't score more.”