Southend United vs Luton Town FC (26th Jan 2019)

SOUTHEND UNITED 0 LUTON TOWN 1

Pearson's fourth goal of the season sends the Hatters top of League One

The Hatters went top of League One for the first time since 2005 with a 1-0 win at Southend this afternoon, while extending their unbeaten league run to 16 matches - the club's best for half-a-century!

Matty Pearson's first-half header proved enough to see off a Shrimpers' side who only really tested the Town's defensive qualities in the last 20 minutes, when James Shea made his only save of note and the goalscorer and his centre-half partner Sonny Bradley headed away every ball thrown into the box.

Interim manager Mick Harford masterminded a second win in his three league games in charge so far, following the 1-1 draw at third-placed Sunderland, to take the Hatters to their highest league position since relegation from the Championship in 2007, but top spot in the third tier for the first time since the title-winning season 2004-05.

Harford named an unchanged matchday squad from last week’s 4-0 home win over Peterborough, knowing that avoiding defeat would make it the best unbeaten league sequence since the 19 set over the end of 1968-69 and start of the 1969-70 campaign.

The starting line-up had Shea in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Pearson, captain Bradley and James Justin.

Just ahead of them, and returning to an old stomping ground, was former Shrimpers midfielder Alan McCormack, with Andrew Shinnie, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Luke Berry completing the diamond behind front men James Collins and Kazenga LuaLua.

The bench was also exactly the same as a week ago, with Dan Potts, George Moncur, George Thorne, Aaron Jarvis, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan and goalkeeper Harry Isted.

The game started very evenly, with the hosts content to let the Hatters have the ball at the back then trying to pounce on the counter attack when moves broke down - although the Town dominated possession.

Stacey was proving the best outlet down the right, and having already blazed one attempt over the scoreboard after good work by Mpanzu, the full-back broke through in the 19th minute to latch onto a lovely pass from Berry, but home keeper Nathan Bishop raced off his line to deflect the final shot inches wide.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, and it was the Town’s first headed goal since Danny Hylton completed his hat-trick against Accrington in late October, Pearson breaking free of his marker to stoop and direct Justin’s right-wing corner past Bishop for his fourth goal of the season.

Southend’s first effort on goal came four minutes later, but Stephen Humphrys’ header looped tamely into Shea’s gloves after Sam Hart’s left-wing cross had proved just too high for Bradley.

Town continued to dominate the ball, although Southend were starting to threaten on the break, Sam Cox wriggling free on the right side of the area only to see his low cross cleared, before Elvis Bwomono’s deflected centre from the same area had Shea scrambling to prevent a corner.

The Hatters began the second half well and almost doubled the advantage a minute in when Justin's free-kick found Bradley unmarked at the far post, but Bishop did well to save his left-footed volley at the foot of his post and prevent the ex-Plymouth man netting his first goal for the club.

LuaLua was starting to revel in the open space down the side of Southend's three centre-halves, jinking his way past John White and standing up a delightful cross that Michael Turner did well to turn behind for a corner under pressure from Collins.

LuaLua and Collins both played a part in the next positive move for the Town, together with Justin, helping tee up the outstanding Berry, who dragged his shot from the edge of the box well wide after a period of sustained possession.

A minute later, one short of the hour mark, Justin bent a shot just over the bar from 20 yards, then Southend started to have a spell of pressure, without creating a clear-cut chance.

The next of those once again fell to the Hatters, LuaLua teasing Bwomono on the left and delivering another inviting centre for Collins, whose header looped up onto the roof of the Shrimpers' net.

Shea was called into real action for the first time in the 72nd minute when Cox let fly with a beauty from 25 yards that the Town keeper did well to fly across his line and push around the post, as he looked to preserve a 13th clean sheet in 20 league and FA Cup matches.

At the other end Collins was off target again in the 76th minute after more fine work from Justin, who was having a blinder down the Town left, the top scorer firing over from 12 yards.

Southend started to mount some late pressure, raining balls into the Hatters penalty area - but the defence stood firm to ensure that Tuesday's top-of-the-table clash with Portsmouth will kick-off with the Town in pole position.

What a night it promises to be under the Kenilworth Road lights!

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley ©, Justin, McCormack, Mpanzu, Shinnie, Berry, Collins, LuaLua (Moncur 86). Subs: Potts, Thorne, Jarvis, Jones, Sheehan, Isted.

Yellows: Stacey, McCormack

Goals: Pearson 29

SOUTHEND: Bishop, Bwomono, Turner, Dieng, Cox, Yearwood (Kelman 69), Mantom © (McLaughlin 84), Moore, Humphrys, Hart, White. Subs: Kightly, Klass, Robinson, Kelman, Hutchinson, Smith (GK).

Yellows: Yearwood, Hart

REFEREE: Thomas Bramall

ATT: 8,460 (2,037 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kir_3xwp5AU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLG9u842Jq8

Town hit the top as Pearson's magic hat defeats Southend

League One: Southend United 0 Luton Town 1

Luton went to the top of the League One table for the first time this season after a confident 1-0 win at Southend United this afternoon.

Defender Matty Pearson's header after 29 minutes was enough to separate the sides, as Town leapfrogged long-time leaders Portsmouth who were in FA Cup action, drawing 1-1 with QPR.

The Hatters might have won by more, as they squandered a number of good openings, particularly in the second half, but it mattered not, as Southend barely tested keeper James Shea until a few set-pieces late on.

With Sunderland also not playing, it means that Luton are now four points clear of Barnsley, who climbed up to third by beating Rochdale 2-1, ahead of Tuesday's crunch clash with Pompey at Kenilworth Road.

Interim boss Mick Harford named an unchanged side for the trip to Roots Hall, Elliot Lee not recovering in time to make the squad.

It was Luton who dominated the early stages in terms of possession, but despite all their touches of the ball, Jack Stacey's cross shot that flew over was their only real threatening moment.

The full back then almost gave Town the lead on 19 minutes, as found by some wonderful vision from Luke Berry, he raced into the area, home keeper Nathan Bishop quickly out to make a crucial block with his outstretched leg.

Luton then had the advantage on the half hour, when James Justin's corner was met by Matty Pearson, who powered his downward header beyond Bishop and in for his fourth of the season.

It was also the first time that Town had scored a header in just over three months, since Danny Hylton's effort against Accrington.

United's only real opportunity of note in the opening period saw Stephen Humphrys' tame header give Shea the simplest of saves.

After the break, Town almost had a second instantly, Justin's deep free kick volleyed goalwards by Sonny Bradley, Bishop saving with his legs.

The game then opened up a touch, Blues defender Sam Hart hammering one over, while Kazenga LuaLua's wonderful cross was put behind before James Collins could pounce.

Berry dragged well wide, before Justin went a lot closer, his curler from 20 yards only just missing the target with Bishop beaten.

LuaLua, who was a constant menace, running himself into the ground, the dug over another cross that Collins put over under pressure from the home defence.

United carried a sporadic threat, Simon Cox sending in a swerving potshot from 25 yards that needed palming behind by Shea.

The visitors should really have had breathing space with 14 minutes to go when Justin did superbly to get round the back of Elvis Bwomono on the left and find Collins, but he hammered disappointingly into the stands.

Late on, Southend might have snatched an undeserved leveller, with a few free kicks causing the odd moment of panic in Town's back-line, but they stood firm in front of a superb travelling support number over 2,000 to climb to the summit.

Shrimpers: Nathan Bishop, Elvis Bwomono, Michael Turner, Timothee Dieng, Simon Cox, Dru Yearwood (Charlie Kelman 69), Sam Mantom (C, Stephen McLaughlin 84), Taylor Moore, Stephen Humphrys, Sam Hart, John White.

Subs not used: Ted Smith, Michael Kightly, Michael Klass, Theo Robinson, Isaac Hutchinson.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, Luke Berry, James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua (George Moncur 86).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan, Aaron Jarvis, George Thorne, Dan Potts.

Booked: Yearwood 28, Hart 65, Stacey, McCormack

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Attendance: 8,460 (2,037 Luton).

Harford thrilled as Hatters reach the summit

Interim boss Mick Harford couldn’t hide his delight as he led the Hatters to the top of League One with a 1-0 victory at Southend United this afternoon.

Matty Pearson’s goal on the half hour was enough for Luton to leapfrog previous leaders Portsmouth, who they now meet at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday evening.

Harford said: “I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled.

“They’ve got to catch us now, people want to beat us now and it’s a big challenge for us to stay there.

“But just having a chat with the lads, they’re determined to stay there, they’re absolutely thrilled and they’re going to embrace the challenge of being top of the league.

“I’m just so happy for the football club and where it’s been, so happy for the fans with the rollercoaster ride they’ve been on.

“They’re a unique set of fans and Luton Town’s in a good place at the moment.

“We’ve just got planning for a new stadium, the team’s top of the table, we’ve come here, put in a great performance against a good Southend team and two and a half thousand fans have gone home happy.

“We’re looking forward to a full house on Tuesday, we’re in a good place.”

With over 2,000 fans cheering on the Hatters at Roots Hall, leading to some wonderful scenes at the end as Town celebrated reaching the summit, Harford continued: “I can’t thank them enough for their support, especially for the players and myself and the club.

“They’re a unique bunch of fans and their support today was brilliant and definitely played a part in getting us over the line.”

The result meant it was 16 Football League games unbeaten for Luton, the first time they have achieved such a sequence since 1969-70, and on the display, Harford added: “It’s a great result.

“I thought it was an absolute top performance, in terms of coming down here against a good team, they make it very, very difficult for you, they’re just on the back of a 4-0 win at Bradford, we knew it was going to be tough.

“The first half we played very, very well, in possession, keeping the ball, creating chances.

“We got in the lead, deservedly so, I thought we maybe just took our foot off the gas a little bit then, invited them on a little bit.

“But overall, defensively we weren’t really troubled and thought it was just a good all-round away performance.”