Stoke City vs Luton Town FC (20th Feb 2021)

Match report | Stoke City 3-0 Luton Town

Defeat for the Hatters at the Bet 365 Stadium

A Nick Powell double and a third from Steven Fletcher made it two successive defeats for the Hatters as Stoke City took the points in the Potteries this afternoon.

Manager Nathan Jones made four changes from the midweek home reversal against Cardiff for his first return to his former club, with James Bree back in the starting XI after picking up an injury against Chelsea in the FA Cup.

After playing an hour midweek, Martin Cranie started at centre-half ahead of Tom Lockyer, who was ruled out through an ankle injury that forced him off against his hometown cliub, and after both starting on the bench in that game, Harry Cornick and Jordan Clark came back in to occupy the wide attacking berths.

George Moncur and Joe Morrell were named among the substitutes, whilst Tom Ince was unavailable for this fixture as he can't play against his parent club.

The ninth-placed hosts started brightly with Nick Powell firing inches over Simon Sluga's bar within 20 seconds of the kick-off, then Jacob Brown was soon the first into referee Robert Jones' notepad for an industrial challenge on Dan Potts.

Town looked solid and composed in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, and their first half-chance came on 18 minutes when Cornick crossed deep from the right and home keeper Angus Gunn seemed to misjudge the flight, but Rea couldn't direct his header on target.

City took the lead in the 20th minute when the Hatters conceded possession on the edge of the Stoke penalty area, and they broke swiftly, with Powell trading passes with Steven Fletcher before side-stepping an unprotected Sluga and virtually walking the ball into an empty net.

The Hatters tried to respond immediately, but Cornick's left-footed shot when Stoke could only head a Dewsbury-Hall free-kick clear to the edge of the box was well wide of Gunn's near post.

Jones soon switched formation, with Rea stepping out of the back three to his more usual holding midfield role.

It was tough going for the Hatters, but it was Rea's quick free-kick that brought a sight of goal for Clark three minutes before half-time, the wideman cutting in from the left and unleashing a shot that looked to be heading towards the top corner until it was blocked by the head of Harry Souttar.

Souttar got his head on a set-piece from Jordan Thompson in the early stages of the second half, after Rea had been booked for a foul on Powell, but Sluga was safely behind the centre-half's effort.

Gunn palmed away a 51st-minute cross from Collins as the Hatters attacked down the left. Rea quickly gathered the ball 25 yards from goal as Stoke struggled to clear, but his shot was always rising, before Mpanzu sliced well wide with his left foot moments later.

Fletcher sent a header wide just before Clark - head bandaged after being caught by Tommy Smith just before the break - took a Dewsbury-Hall pass in his stride, cutting in from the left, and fired in a low 20-yard shot that went just wide of Gunn's right post.

Sluga had to get down low to his left to push away a curling Powell cross before getting his body in line to hold a Joe Allen shot that was straight at him, just before the hour.

Clark had another go from outside the area on 61 minutes, this time straight at Gunn, but within a minute the hosts had doubled their lead when Allen stood a cross up to the far post and Powell rose above Bree to head into the top corner.

Jones made a double switch on 67 minutes, introducing Ryan Tunnicliffe and Morrell into the midfield, with Mpanzu and Bree withdrawn, Rea dropping back into cenytre-half and Cranie moving to right-back.

It was Stoke who added a third goal in the 78th minute however, when a mix-up between Cranie and Rea allowed City sub Sam Clucas to bear down on Sluga and, in carbon copy style to the opening goal, slip Fletcher in to his right to roll the ball into an empty net.

The Croatian keeper pulled off a point-blank save from Stoke sub Sam Vokes' header, before racing off his line to deny another, James McClean, as the hosts threatened to add to their winning margin.

An afternoon to forget for the Hatters, who will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when Millwall visit Kenilworth Road.

Town: Sluga; Bree (Morrell 67), Cranie (Hylton 83), Rea, Bradley (C), Potts; Mpanzu (Tunnicliffe 67), Dewsbury-Hall; Cornick (Moncur 83), Clark; Collins (Adebayo 83).

Subs not used: Shea, Berry, Naismith, LuaLua

Yellows: Collins, Rea

Stoke: Gunn; Smith, Souttar, Batth, Norrington-Davies; Allen, Thompson (Clucas 64), Powell (Mikel 64); Brown (Clarke 74), Tymon (McClean 74); Fletcher (Vokes 81).

Subs not used: Davies, Chester, Oakley-Boothe, Cousins.

Yellows: Brown

Goals: Powell 20, 63, Fletcher 78

Referee: Robert Jones

Nathan Jones' reaction to defeat against Stoke City

NJ hugely disappointed following defeat against the Potters...

Manager Nathan Jones pulled no punches in his reaction to the disappointing 3-0 loss against Stoke City this afternoon.

The Hatters fell to a second defeat in a row and have dropped down to 16th place as a result of the performance at the Bet 365 Stadium.

“I’m bitterly disappointed," Jones began. “I thought we were inept in every single department today. We lost every individual battle, we showed no fight, no spirit or desire to win the game.

“That surprises me because we have got plenty, but to come into this game today, it has come out of absolutely nowhere. I’m really shocked by the ineptitude of the performance, people that we call leaders were miles, miles off today and looked weak. Not weak physically, but in their desire. I’m really surprised and I’m bitterly disappointed on every level.

“We haven’t done the basics right in both games (Cardiff and Stoke), we really haven’t, and if we don’t do the basis right then we are in trouble because we have to do those right.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgYGZDK5-UU – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga4RYP_tiPE – match highlights

Woeful defensive display sees Hatters hammered by Stoke

Championship: Stoke City 3 Luton Town 0

A shocking defensive performance from Luton saw the Hatters comprehensively beaten 3-0 at Stoke City this afternoon, with a display that was without doubt one of, if not their worst of the season.

Having received plenty of plaudits for their efforts on the road so far, picking up six clean sheets and keeping out the likes of former Premier League side Bournemouth recently, a repeat of that solid base never ever looked likely at the Bet 365 Stadium.

A pale shadow of themselves, Glen Rea in particular struggling throughout the 90 minutes, with a number of misplaced passes and missed challenges, allowed Stoke to walk the ball into the net not just once but twice, and had it not been for keeper Simon Sluga, the deficit might have been greater in the latter stages.

One shot on target was all Luton could muster at the other end too, with Angus Gunn the latest home keeper to enjoy an easy afternoon against the Hatters, who have now failed to score in nine games out of 16 away from home.

This all came against a Potters team who had struggled recently, going 11 games without a win before Tuesday night and had only managed to score more than once on four occasions on home soil, something that they managed to do this time with a worrying ease for those of a Luton persuasion.

The Hatters made four changes to the side, with Tom Lockyer and Matty Pearson missing out through injury, Danny Hylton and Kal Naismith dropping to the bench.

In came James Bree for the first time since the FA Cup defeat at Chelsea, plus Martin Cranie, Harry Cornick and Jordan Clark too.

The hosts had former Luton loanee Rhys Norrington-Davies starting, with the Sheffield United full back available following a three game suspension.

Lining up with three at the back, Rea in the centre of Sonny Bradley and Cranie, Town were almost staring at a deficit inside 20 seconds, Nick Powell shooting over from outside the box.

The hosts had much the better of the opening 10 minutes, forcing a number of corners, but Luton defended doggedly, with Stoke unable to test Sluga from their numerous set-plays.

With 17 on the clock, the Hatters almost had the breakthrough as a long cross into the box saw Potters keeper Gunn left in no-man's land, but Rea couldn't climb high enough to divert the ball into the empty net.

After looking like they were growing into the game, Town were then undone in disappointing fashion on 20 minutes as a ball forward was missed by Bradley, who slipped as he tried to challenge Fletcher.

That left the Scottish international with a clean run on Sluga, and he was incredibly unselfish to pass past the Croatian for Powell to just walk the ball into the empty net.

Luton looked for an immediate response, Harry Cornick firing wide from 15 yards, but City remained in the ascendancy, with Sluga doing well to beat Fletcher to a dangerous cross, the forward looked like he was destined to make it 2-0.

As the half wore on, it was becoming increasingly important that the visitors got through to the break without falling further behind, as they were clearly second best in the opening 45.

With moments to go, Town did have brief spell of pressure, Clark picking up a long crossfield pass and driving into the area, unleashing a fierce effort that was blocked by the covering Harry Souttar.

After the interval, Luton altered their formation, moving to a four man defence with Rea in the holding role, but he was booked early on for clattering Powell, the free kick seeing Souttar head straight at Sluga.

Rea tried to restore parity from 25 yards, slicing waywardly behind, as did Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the area.

Fletcher's powerful header was well wide for Stoke, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, whose passing had been off for large parts, found the run of Clark, although he snatched at his effort from 20 yards, dragging off target.

Sluga had to be alert to prevent Powell from doubling his and City's tally, a low cross missed by the swinging boots of Collins, turning it away from the bottom corner and then collecting Joe Allen's daisycutter.

Chances were now starting to be created at both ends, Clark's blast plucked out of the air by Gunn, but any realistic thoughts that Luton had of forcing a comeback were pretty much done on 63 minutes.

Joe Allen managed to send over a cross from the right and Bree didn't get off the ground, allowing Powell to climb highest and muscle his header into the net with Sluga rooted to the spot.

Boss Jones brought on Joe Morrell and Ryan Tunnicliffe for Mpanzu and Bree, the former on for his first Championship action in over two months, which saw Rea back into defence once more.

Luton might have conceded again with 15 minutes left, Sluga trying to shepherd the ball behind for a goal kick by the corner flag, only to lose out to Sam Clucas, the home sub's shot failing to roll into the empty net.

Town were then caught out badly on 80 minutes when Cranie's pass to Rea saw the defender get into an awful mess when trying to leave the ball and block off Clucas, crumpling into a heap on the floor.

That allowed Clucas to go clean through on Sluga, passing the ball around the keeper for Fletcher to become the second player to walk into the net.

Stoke almost had another too, Sluga pulling off a stunning reaction save to claw away Sam Vokes' close range header, as Jones brought on Hylton, Elijah Adebayo and George Moncur, with the game already long gone.

Sluga came to the rescue in the closing stages once more as some further dreadful defending saw James McClean through after a five on one attack, but the keeper spread himself bravely to deny the Irish international.

The final whistle sounded, a blessed relief for the Hatters as they miserably trudged off the pitch, with the only consolation being they remained eight points clear of the relegation zone, although that buffer will surely be trimmed if they produce any more repeats of this horror show.

Potters: Angus Gunn, Joe Allen ©, Danny Batth, Tommy Smith, Jacob Brown (Jack Clarke 74), Steven Fletcher, Nick Powell (John Obi Mikel 64), Jordan Thompson (Sam Clucas 64), Josh Tymon (James McClean 74), Harry Souttar, Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Subs not used: Adam Davies, Sam Vokes, James Chester, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Jordan Cousins.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree (Joe Morrell 67), Dan Potts, Martin Cranie (George Moncur 83), Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Ryan Tunnicliffe 67), Jordan Clark, Harry Cornick (Elijah Adebayo 83), James Collins Danny Hylton 83).

Subs not used: James Shea, Kal Naismith, Kazenga LuaLua, Luke Berry.

Bookings: Brown 8, Cranie 26, Collins 31, Rea 47.

Referee: Robert Jones.

Angry Luton boss Jones labels Town's error-strewn performance as 'inept' following awful Potters defeat

Hatters manager frustrated with the mistakes that allowed Stoke to romp to victory

An angry Luton manager Nathan Jones branded his side’s error-strewn display as ‘inept’ as they were hammered 3-0 at his former side Stoke City this afternoon.

The Hatters, who have so often been rock solid and hard to beat on the road this term, showed absolutely none of the qualities at the bet365 Stadium, allowing the hosts to romp to a victory that really should have been by more, such was their dominance.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “When you come back to your old club you really want your players to step up and to really battle and to put on a good performance, but we were miles off today.

“It was probably our worst performance I’ve ever had as Luton manager and coincidentally it’s come at my old club, so I’m very, very disappointed.

“We lost every single battle and let’s credit Stoke, they were better than us all over today in every single department, no complaints, but I'll have to look at us because we were inept in certain things.

“The leaders, the strong ones that I like to rely on, were nowhere near today and we didn't do the basics right.”

Stoke’s first goal came on 20 minutes following an error by captain Sonny Bradley, who failed to cut out a ball to Steven Fletcher and was then beaten by the attacker, whose pass allowed Nick Powell to virtually walk the ball over the line.

After the break, a Joe Allen cross saw Powell rise above a flat-footed James Bree at the far post to make it 2-0, before Glen Rea’s woeful mistake allowed Sam Clucas to go clean through on Simon Sluga, setting up Fletcher to net from a few yards out as well.

Jones continued: “They were better than us without creating massive amounts, they were better than us, but it took a massive error from our captain to give them the lead.

“If we get in at nil nil it's different, but even then I signed Nick Powell for this football club and I signed him for lots of good reasons, but not for his aggression on the back stick and even he showed more aggression than my right back to score and that’s summed up the day for us.”

“I’m disappointed from the first minute to the last, there’s not anything I can look back on and think 'we did okay there.'

"Probably just after half time for about 10-15 minutes we looked in the contest, without creating anything, without having any cutting edge, without having anything, so today we were well beaten and that's the disappointing thing as regardless of tactics, we didn't do any of the basics right.

“They've turned in their most inept performances since I've been Luton manager and I include four years of games in that.

“This doesn't happen often to us, today, there was absolutely no hiding place, no shielding, we were miles, miles off it today.”

Both Rea and Bradley struggled throughout the afternoon, with Rea in particular giving the ball away on numerous occasions, after being moved from defence to midfield and then back into defence once more.

Jones continued: “They’re your two leaders, the ones you need in games like these and they were miles off it today, but they were in good company as there were another eight that were miles off it as well.

“We didn't do anything well, we looked weak all over, we lost every battle and when you lose every battle you're never going to win the game.

"When some of the Stoke players with the quality they have get their tails up, they're going to hurt you.”

Town only have a few days to get over this performance ahead of home match with Millwall on Tuesday night, as Jones added: “We’re in tomorrow anyway as we've got a game Tuesday.

"It’s not a knee-jerk, nothing panic, just structure and then let's go again.”'