Sunderland vs Luton Town FC (12th Jan 2019)

SUNDERLAND 1 LUTON TOWN 1

Collins' second-half penalty earns tremendous Town a point on Big Mick derby day!

The Hatters put a traumatic week behind them with interim manager Mick Harford masterminding a tremendous point as his side came from behind at his boyhood club Sunderland to make it 17 games unbeaten.

James Collins' 68th-minute penalty cancelled out Chris Maguire's opener, which came 16 minutes into a first half in which the Town performed magnificently, as they maintained second place in the Sky Bet League One table.

They did so despite playing the last 20 minutes, plus the majority of five added on, a man down after Danny Hylton was shown a straight red card after referee Lee Probert adjudged the striker to have caught Jack Baldwin in an aerial challenge two minutes after the leveller.

Almost 3,100 travelling Town fans gave Harford a reception he admitted brought a tear to his eye, singing his name before, during and especially after a game which had everything - lifting any fear or gloom that might have lingered since Nathan Jones' departure on Wednesday.

Big Mick, our much-loved former player, assistant, manager and current chief recruitment officer, stuck with ten of the players who appeared at Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup last Saturday.

The only change was in midfield, where Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu returned in place of Luke Berry, who dropped to the bench alongside new loan signing from Derby County, George Thorne.

That meant James Shea was in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, captain Sonny Bradley and James Justin. Alan McCormack achored the midfield with Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie and Elliot Lee ahead of him.

Hylton and Collins led the attack as the Hatters looked to extend their unbeaten run to 17 matches in league and FA Cup against their third-placed hosts, who start the match a point behind the Town in the Sky Bet League One table.

The Hatters started brilliantly, Lee firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area as they earned a succession of corners and a wide free-kick, which Justin whipped in from the left and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin needed help from his defence to clear.

Within seconds the home keeper was flying across his goal-line to claw away a shot from Shinnie that was heading into the top corner.

The hosts had the lead in the 16th minute, however, when Gooch's low cross from the right was blocked by McCormack, but the ricochet flew straight to Maguire, who lashed it past Shea from just inside the penalty box.

That one moment aside, the Town were playing well and dominating possession and attempts on goal.

They were almost level within four minutes when Shinnie slipped Lee in on the left side of the area, and the forward squared to his fellow ten-goal top scorer Collins, whose low shot was pushed away brilliantly by McLaughlin.

Mpanzu retrieved the ball and attempted to cut it back for Collins, but the home defence managed to smuggle it behind for a fourth Hatters corner.

That count had risen to five inside the opening 24 minutes when Lee played Justin to the byline on another lightning quick raid down the left, but the ball was intercepted at the near post.

The Hatters continued to play the better football as the half progressed and looked comfortable at the back, but the next chance didn't arise until 11 minutes after half-time, when Shinnie threaded a lovely ball through the Black Cats' backline for Justin to run onto.

With Hylton also looking to gather the ball just inside the area, the left-back took charge and looked to bend it into the top corner, but his effort was too high.

The equaliser the Hatters deserved came in the 68th minute when, after another incisive spell of possession, Collins' 25-yard shot bounced back off the foot of the post to Hylton, who was fouled as he tried to put the rebound in.

Collins took responsibility from 12 yards and scored empatically into the roof of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

Hylton's afternoon was soon over when referee Lee Probert showed him a straight red after an aerial challenge with Jack Baldwin.

There was a let-off in the 76th minute when a Maguire shot rattled the crossbar, then Charlie Wyke headed over with the goal at his mercy.

The Hatters dug in stubbornly, and superbly, almost taking the lead in the 86th minute when Shinnie stung McLaughlin's palms from the left side of the area, before sub Luke Berry volleyed over seconds later.

Stacey led a magnificent counter-attack at one stage with a marauding run through the middle, and the hosts had no answer to a defence magnificently marshalled by Pearson and Bradley, who even grounded each other as they clashed heads fighting to head a corner clear, Shea's only real late save coming from a tame header from sub Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka.

Sunderland were reduced to ten men deep into injury-time when Maguire saw red for a late challenge on McCormack, but by then the Hatters' resistance with ten men had already virtually confirmed a valuable point.

It's been some week. Now onto another massively important seven days with the third round replay against Wednesday under the lights on Tuesday - then the following day's council meeting regarding Power Court.

The future is bright, the future is definitely orange, Hatters!

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley (c), Justin, McCormack, Mpanzu, Shinnie, Lee (Berry 79), Collins, Hylton. Subs: Potts, Berry, Thorne, LuaLua, Jones, Sheehan, Isted.

Goals: Collins (pen) 68

Red: Hylton 70

Yellows: Lee, Shinnie, Collins, McCormack

SUNDERLAND: McLaughlin, Maguire, McGeouch, Wyke, Gooch (Mbunga-Kimpioka 79), Flanagan, O'Nien, Baldwin, James (Oviedo 87), McGeady (c), Power. Subs: Ruiter, Matthews, Oviedo, Ozturk, Dunne, Mumba, Mbunga-Kimpioka.

Goals: Maguire 16

Yellows: Flanagan, James

Red: Maguire 90

REFEREE: Lee Probert

ATT: 37,791 (3,081 Hatters)

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1i8xBP28-Q

MICK HARFORD ON THE 1-1 DRAW WITH SUNDERLAND

Town interim manager Mick Harford was proud of his staff and players after the Hatters picked up a point in an eventful game at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

The hosts took the lead just 16 minutes in when Chris Maguire converted from just inside the box, before James Collins equalised from the spot with 25 minutes to go after Danny Hylton was tripped.

However, Hylton was shown a straight red card for a coming together with Jack Baldwin, before Chris Maguire was also given his marching orders late on for a stamp on Alan McCormack.

The point takes Town to within four points of Portsmouth, who were defeated by Blackpool.

Harford said: "It was very, very eventful and I am proud of the players, the players were magnificent. They've gone out there, played a style of football, and Sunderland, that was above the level in terms of where we are. Exciting football, we could have been 3-0 up in the first 15, 20 minutes – the keeper pulled off some magnificent saves. We took a bit of pressure and they scored a goal that disappointed us a little bit, but we got in at half-time 1-0, we came out and in my opinion, dominated the game and got our deserved goal.

"Overall, the players, the staff, they've been amazing for the past few days in terms of what has happened at the football club and I am very proud of the players in terms of what they have done and what they have achieved today. 37,000 supporters here today and I think a lot of them will go away and say 'Luton Town are a good football team'.

"We're a group, we're a good group. They all want to contribute, they manage themselves basically. The team that went out there today, they managed themselves. You've got your senior players who know the routines of what we do and what we're about. So it's been a whirlwind, but we move on, the football club goes on and we're really looking forward to the challenge. But if we put in performances like that, then we will definitely be pushing for promotion out of League One."

Hylton off but Hatters hit back to draw with Sunderland

League One: Sunderland 1 Luton Town 1

Luton Town picked up an excellent point at fellow promotion-chasers Sunderland this afternoon as they bounced back from the shock departure of manager Nathan Jones in the week.

The Hatters players, who would have been clearly shocked when former boss Jones opted to leave Kenilworth Road for Stoke City on Wednesday, produced a performance full of guts, determination and no little skill, as they fully deserved their draw, and could be slightly disappointed not to come away with all three.

It had looked like the visitors were all set up to push for the victory once James Collins brought them level from the penalty spot on 68 minutes, only for Danny Hylton's red card soon afterwards to hinder their chances, as they saw off a barrage of late Sunderland pressure to stretch their unbeaten league run to 14 matches.

Interim boss Mick Harford made one change to the side that drew with Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup last weekend, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu coming in for Luke Berry.

The Hatters made a fine start, looking to have suffered no ill effects from the events in the week, as they settled quickly to their grand surroundings.

Elliot Lee fired narrowly wide from range, before James Justin's dangerous free kick was blocked by the legs of Jon McLaughlin who then made a fine sprawling save from Andrew Shinnie's measured 20-yarder.

However, the Hatters found themselves behind on 16 minutes when Hylton ran into trouble when trying to clear the ball, gifting possession back to the hosts, and after Lynden Gooch's effort was charged down by Alan McCormack, Chris Maguire beat James Shea from just inside the box.

Town almost drew level instantly when a lovely move on the left saw Shinnie find Elliot Lee on the overlap.

He pulled the ball back for Collins, who must have thought the net was going to ripple, but for McLaughlin to somehow stick out a glove and paw his close range attempt away, also repelling Mpanzu's follow up too.

After the break, Hatters saw James Justin's inswinging corner hit the bar and bounce behind, before the defender had another fine opportunity on 56 minutes, picked out by Shinnie's pass in behind broke, but impeded slightly by team-mate Hylton, fired over.

The Hatters then won a penalty on 68 minutes when Collins' 25 yarder cannoned off the inside of the post and Hylton picked up the rebound, cutting inside his marker, brought down by Tom Flanagan in the act of shooting.

Referee Lee Probert, who already hadn't endeared himself to the home fans, thought about it, before awarding the spotkick and Collins held his nerve to confidently make no mistake, hammering his effort past McLaughlin.

Just as they looked like they could go and win it, Town were hit with another moment of apparent indiscipline from striker Hylton.

Going up for an aerial challenge with Jack Baldwin, he was shown a straight red card by Probert, his second dismissal of the season already.

That saw Luton then have to batten down the hatches for the final 15 minutes, although they were almost breached, Aiden McGeady's swerving blast beating Shea but crashing against the bar, Charlie Wyke heading the rebound over.

Despite having a numerical disadvantage, Luton remained a threat, the excellent Jack Stacey setting off on a long busting and pressure relieving run, Shinnie winning a free kick that was cleared to him, firing an effort on target that McLaughlin punched over.

From the resulting corner, Justin's ball back in saw substitute Luke Berry volley narrowly over.

Late on, the hosts pumped cross after cross into the box, with sub Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka heading straight at Shea while Max Power hammered over from 25 yards.

In stoppage time, the hosts were also reduced to 10 men as Maguire fouled McCormack, Probert dismissing the home player and cautioning Town's midfielder.

Wyke headed Sunderland's final chance, as Town's players and Harford went to the 3,000 plus away fans as one, celebrating their point and a hugely positive end to a highly turbulent week.

Black Cats: Jon McLaughlin, Chris Maguire, Dylan McGeouch, Charlie Wyke, Lynden Gooch (Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka 79), Tom Flanagan, Luke O'Nien, Jack Baldwin, Reece James (Bryan Oviedo 87), Aiden McGeady (C), Max Power.

Subs not used: Robbin Rutter, Adam Matthews, Alim Ozturk, James Dunne, Bali Mumba

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (Luke Berry 79), James Collins, Danny Hylton.

Subs: Harry Isted, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan, Kazenga LuaLua, Dan Potts, George Thorne.

Booked: Flanagan 43, Lee 45, Shinnie 62, James 75, Collins 80, McCormack 90.

Sent off: Hylton 70, Maguire 90.

Referee: Lee Probert. Attendance: 37,791 (3,081 Luton).

Proud Harford hails Town's players for Black Cats point

A proud Luton interim boss Mick Harford hailed his players for the manner in which they hit back to earn a point in their 1-1 draw at Sunderland this afternoon.

The Hatters legend, who was taking charge of the side after former manager Nathan Jones left to join Stoke City in the week, saw Town trailing at half time to Chris Maguire's strike.

However, they were level midway through the second period through James Collins' penalty, and although Danny Hylton was dismissed shortly afterwards, they held on for a well-deserved point.

Speaking afterwards, Harford said: "It was very, very eventful, and I’m proud of the players.

“The players were magnificent, they’ve just gone out there, played a style of football that for my opinion, and Sunderland was above the level, in terms of where we are, some exciting football.

“We could have been 3-0 up in the first 15, 20 minutes, as the keeper pulled off some magnificent saves.

"We took a bit of pressure, they scored a goal which disappointed us a bit, but we got to half time 1-0, we came out again, and in my opinion, dominated the game.

"We got our deserved goal, but overall the players, the lads who have been working with the staff, Kevin (Dearden), they’ve been amazing over the last four or five days in terms of what’s happened at the football club.

"But I just cannot say to you guys how proud I am of the players in terms of what they’ve done and what they’ve achieved today.

"37,000 people here and I think a lot of the supporters will go away and say Luton Town are a good football team.

“We’re a group, we’re a good group, they want to contribute, they’re good lads, they manage themselves basically.

"The team that went out there today, the senior player who know the routines of what we’re about, what we’re doing.

"So it’s been a whirlwind and we move on, the football club moves on and we’re just really looking forward to that challenge.

"If we put in performances like that, then we’ll definitely be challenging for promotion out of League One, I was so proud of them today."