Swansea City vs Luton Town FC (27th Jun 2020)

MATCH REPORT | SWANSEA CITY 0-1 LUTON TOWN

Collins' 12th goal of the season moves the Hatters to within two points of safety!

James Collins’ second half strike earned the Hatters a vital 1-0 win against ten-man Swansea City in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon.

Collins’ powerful header with just over 15 minutes to play was the decisive goal in a game in where tempers flared as Swansea’s Jordan Garrick was shown a red card for throwing a punch towards the goalscorer.

The Hatters were good value for all three points as they stretched their unbeaten run to five matches and moved to within two points of safety.

Jones made three changes to the side that earned a point against Preston North End last weekend, with captain Sonny Bradley returning as well as Jacob Butterfield and Elliot Lee.

The latter was heavily involved in Town’s bright start to the game with some neat touches and interlinking play.

Simon Sluga stood tall to block Andre Ayew’s goal-bound effort in the 14th minute and the Hatters then made a break down field as Harry Cornick skipped past the challenge of Jake Bidwell down the right, made his way into the box, cut back on to his left foot but blazed over the bar.

Town continued to impress in the first half and Collins was inches away from latching onto Dan Potts’ cross five minutes before half time, as Woodman gathered the ball just ahead of the striker in the six-yard box.

Swansea came out the better side in the second half initially as Ayew went close once more but Sluga was quick off his line to smoother the shot.

Just before the hour mark Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu had the Town’s first shot on target from distance but Woodman was able to gather easily.

The game was far more end-to-end as play continued with Swansea coming close to taking the lead. Matt Grimes swung a corner in from the right which Ben Cabango got his head to, but he was denied brilliantly by Sluga, before Brewster headed over the rebound.

Shortly after the second half drinks break, and just after sub James Bree had almost made an immediate impact with a shot that Woodman saved, the Hatters took the lead in the 73rd minute through Collins’ 12th goal of the season.

Izzy Brown, also on as a game changer, produced an inch-perfect cross and the striker rose highest to power his header into the bottom corner despite Woodman getting a hand to it.

Tempers flared with ten minutes remaining as challenges went flying in and Garrick was sent off for aiming a punch at Collins after a huge melee just in front of the Hatters’ technical area.

There were nine minutes added on at the end of the match and the Hatters withstood late pressure from the hosts to come away from the Liberty Stadium with all three points.

SWANSEA: Woodman, Roberts, Cabango (Routledge 86), Wilmot, Bidwell; Fulton (Byers 58), Grimes; Kalulu (Garrick 45), Gallagher, Ayew, Brewster.

Subs not used: Mulder, Guehi, Rodon, Naughton, Dhanda, Dyer.

Yellows: Wilmot, Gallagher

Red: Garrick

TOWN: Sluga, Pearson, Carter-Vickers, Bradley (C), Potts (Cranie 90+7), Butterfield (Brown 59), Rea, Mpanzu, Lee (Bree 70), Cornick (Hylton 90+7), Collins.

Subs not used: Shea, Tunnicliffe, McManaman, Shinnie, Moncur.

Yellows: Butterfield, Rea, Mpanzu

Goal: Collins (73)

Referee: Andy Woolmer

NATHAN JONES | "THEY GAVE ME EVERYTHING AND THAT IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS GROUP"

Jones was full of praise for his players after the 1-0 win against Swansea...

Hatters boss Nathan Jones said the response from the group has been ‘phenomenal’ as Town picked up a vital three points on the road against Swansea City.

James Collins’ 73rd minute was the difference between the two sides and the Hatters were fantastic value for the victory, performing brilliantly from the first whistle.

Jones was under no illusions that the hosts were troublesome opposition as before play they were a point adrift of the play-off places, but he was very happy with how his side performed.

“They can hurt you, they are really good footballers, real quality at the top end. What they did to Middlesbrough last week for example, so we knew we had to be at it. They had a great week, the response from the group has been phenomenal and I thought we were excellent. Tactically we were very good, we made substitutions at the right time and that proved well so a great performance and a good day.”

The praise continued, as he said: “We come here as an away side against a side who are going for promotion, ex-Premier League side, with the talent they have, it’s an outstanding performance. Structurally we were excellent, we pressed at the right times, they gave me everything and that’s what I love about this group, absolutely love about this group.

“They want to work hard, they love it, there is no pretentiousness about it, no super stars, they are phenomenal, and I love the group and they gave me that today. All it comes down to is our work as a football club, our work as staff and if we can do good work then they will want to follow that out and that is what is really pleasing.”

The clean sheet and the three points were extremely pleasing for the 47-year-old, but there was one disappointment he revealed.

“We defended superbly well, to limit Swansea to what we did shows that we defended well with real nous. The only tinge of disappointment is that we didn't have any fans here, because imagine 2,000 fans in that away end...it would have been a good day. It would have been one of those days where you could build bridges, you know!"

Games will continue to come thick and fast for the Hatters, who are back in action Tuesday night when they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United.

Facing the promotion chasers will by no means be an easy task but Jones and the players head there full of confidence, as he explained: “We need to get to a points total and that gives us an opportunity. We’ve got some big games coming up.

"It’s the toughest of starts, apart from Brentford, we’ve probably got the toughest of starts but we’ve embraced it, we haven’t cried about it, we haven’t been scared about it so we’re moving in the right direction. Four points in two games, I would have taken that all day long and now we go to Leeds trying to add.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWIboXt86MI – Nathan Jones post-match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGm3jogF3lM – Match highlights

https://issuu.com/swanseacityafc/docs/swans-19-20-luton-town-programme-v01 - programme

Collins heads the winner as Luton stun Swansea

Championship: Swansea City 0 Luton Town 1

Luton gave their chances of avoiding relegation an absolutely massive boost by stunning play-off hopefuls Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

James Collins' goal on 72 minutes, his 12th of the season, proved to be enough to decide the contest as manager Nathan Jones picked up his first win since returning the club last month.

It was no more than the visitors deserved either as they restricted a Swans side containing multi-million pound forward Andre Ayew, plus Liverpool loanee and England youth star Rhian Brewster, to very little in terms of genuine goalscoring chances, with a compact and solid display.

They were always a threat at the other end too, tidy with the ball at feel, playing some impressive one-touch passing moves, as you could never once tell the side pushing for the play-offs and the team who started the game at the bottom of the pile.

Hatters made three changes for the clash, Elliot Lee in for his first start since the opening day of the season against Middlesbrough, while Jacob Butterfield began for the first time since the reverse meeting with the Swans at Kenilworth Road in December.

Captain Sonny Bradley was also back too, as Martin Cranie, Izzy Brown and Ryan Tunnicliffe dropped to the bench, with Glen Rea making his 150th appearance for the club as well, with Town moving away from the diamond formation, pushing Lee and Harry Cornick on to the flanks.

Town made an impressive start to proceedings, looking more than a match for their opponents, who were attempting to get back into a top six spot with victory.

They forced some early corners, Butterfield swinging a deep one to the back post where Dan Potts rose highest to head into the side-netting.

City finally put some sustained build-up play together, with Jake Bidwell finding Ayew in the box, his close range attempt batted away by Simon Sluga.

Luton fashioned the best chance on 15 minutes with a quick break as Collins released Cornick, who did excellently to hurdle one challenge.

Breaking into the area, he cut back on to his left foot, but then from just outside the six yard box, hammered wastefully and disappointingly over the top.

The Swans eventually began to enjoy more of the ball, Town picking up bookings to Butterfield and Rea, but out of possession Luton kept their shape with real confidence and class, keeping their hosts at arm's length.

After the break, it was the Welsh side who began strongly, as some intricate approach play in the box saw Jay Fulton's clever backheel pounced upon by Ayew, but Sluga slid out well to bravely block with his legs, getting a whack in the process.

Ayew, who had commanded fees totalling almost £40m in his career when being bought by West Ham and Swansea, was becoming more and more of a threat, one low shot cannoning into Bradley and fortunately rebounding straight to keeper Sluga.

Town looked threatening at times though, particularly when Lee got hold of the ball in advanced areas, linking up well with Collins for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu to drill goalwards, Freddie Woodman hanging on.

Luton were then indebted to a marvellous save from Sluga to ensure it remained goalless as he leapt to his left to paw away Ben Cabango's header, with Rhian Brewster, who had been kept otherwise quiet, nodding over.

Boss Nathan Jones opted to bring on Brown and then James Bree for Lee with 20 to go, giving the Aston Villa loanee a more advanced role on the right and he was almost an instant hero, collecting Cornick's cross and seeing his shot blocked by Bidwell.

Town, who had just started to impose themselves on proceedings, then broke the deadlock on 70 minutes, when a good move on the right saw Brown deliver a pinpoint cross from out wide.

There was still plenty to do though, and Collins did it superbly, rising above his marker to power a downhard header that Woodman couldn't keep out.

City looked for a leveller, giving Luton a few nervy moments, Carter-Vickers slicing a cross narrowly over his own bar and then Sluga backpedalling to tip a cross behind.

What had been a good natured game changed in a mad few seconds as a number of sliding challenges went in, before a flashpoint saw Swans' half time substitute Jordon Garrick throw a punch and receive his marching orders as both sets of players clashed.

Mpanzu was also booked as both Luton's bench, along with Jones, tried to calm down proceedings, with Danny Hylton pulling Collins away from any further involvement.

The incident saw nine minutes of stoppage time added, Hatters having to make two changes, cramp finally getting the better of Potts, Cranie on and Hylton replacing Cornick.

Luton's game-management was absolutely spot on though, Swansea unable to create anything meaningful, Conor Gallagher curling narrowly wide from the edge of the box, as Hatters made it four points from six since the Championship resumed, and stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Swans: Freddie Woodman, Jay Fulton (George Byers 57), Matt Grimes ©, Aldo Kalulu (Jordon Garrick 46), Rhian Brewster, Ben Wilmot, Andre Ayew, Connor Roberts, Jake Bidwell, Conor Gallagher, Ben Cabango (Wayne Routledge 87).

Subs not used: Erwin Mulder, Marc Guehi, Joe Rodon, Nathan Dyer, Yan Dhanda, Kyle Naughton.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts (Martin Cranie 90), Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Butterfield (Izzy Brown 59), Elliot Lee (James Bree 69), Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 90), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Callum McManaman, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur.

Booked: Butterfield 30, Rea 33, Wilmot 45.

Sent off: Garrick 86.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.

Jones: Swans win was an outstanding away performance

Reaction from Town chief to victory at the Liberty Stadium

Luton boss Nathan Jones described his side’s performance during the 1-0 win at Swansea City this afternoon as ‘outstanding’.

James Collins’ second half winner saw Town move off the bottom of the Championship, leapfrogging Barnsley who were held to a goalless draw by Millwall.

Up against a Swans side who were looking to break back into the play-offs and had attacking threats such as Andre Ayew and Rhian Brewster in their ranks, the Hatters held their own throughout and deservedly claimed all three points thanks to Collins’ towering header from Izzy Brown’s cross.

A thrilled Jones said: “We knew it would come down to moments, we made changes at the right time and then a great ball in, great goal, we’re delighted and I think we deserved it.

“To come here as the away side who were bottom of the league going into the game, Swansea flying high looking for the play-offs with some of the players they have, it’s a wonderful performance.

“We came here to win a football match and that’s what we did.

“How we did it, we have a gameplan, we stuck to it, they were brilliant, made the right decisions and were excellent.

“As an away performance, from a side going into the game bottom of the league, with all we've had to contend with, to a side like Swansea, ex-Premier League, to limit them to what they had is an outstanding away performance.”

The Swans best chance saw Ben Cabango’s header from a corner superbly palmed away by Simon Sluga on the hour mark, as Jones continued: “It was wonderful and he was called upon.

“We said we’ll give him a reward today if he kept a clean sheet, so he’s had that, which is good.

“That would have been a poor goal for us because we felt that was an area we could exploit today in terms of our size, so to be done from a set play, I would have beyond raging.

“When you need your keeper he's called upon, he's an international keeper so he's expected to do that.

“From a man they were wonderful and it's difficult to say that, because as a manager you always fear the worst, but I felt we were excellent, were very soiled and I didn’t see us losing that game today.”

Although many had the match down as home banker, particularly with Luton bottom of the division and Swansea hammering Middlesbrough 3-0 last weekend, Jones always had faith in his side.

He added: “We had that belief before we came into this game.

“We have to instill that belief and what results do is compound that and rubber stamps that and that's what today will do.

“If we had no belief, why come here? Why risk a chance of going down?

“I could be sitting in my home, sitting in my garden enjoying a barbecue, that’s not us.

“We believe that we’re not in the position that maybe we should be, but now we've got to pick up those points to prove that.”

Elliot Lee: I thought my Luton career was over after not being given a chance by former boss Graeme Jones

Striker didn't trust the ex-Hatters chief after making just one start in the league this term

Luton striker Elliot Lee thought his Luton career was going to come to an end this term after being frozen out of the team by former boss Graeme Jones.

The 25-year-old, who was back in the team for the 1-0 win at Swansea City this afternoon, only made one league start under Jones, that coming on the opening day of the season, Town holding Middlesbrough to a 3-3 draw.

He then played another 34 minutes in three Championship clashes over the next 10 months, with seven appearances in total, including four starts in the cup competitions.

It had looked like Lee's three year stint at Kenilworth Road would be ended in the summer, until Jones left the club during the coronavirus pandemic, replaced by former Hatters chief Nathan Jones, who immediately put the attacker on the bench for 1-1 draw against Preston and in the side at the Liberty Stadium today.

Lee clearly felt so too, saying: "One hundred per cent yes.

"I love playing for this club and I’ve been through some great times – League One, League Two, I’ve absolutely loved it.

“It wasn’t just a shame I wasn’t playing, it was the way it was ending.

“We didn’t deserve to be where we are. If Nathan Jones hadn’t left we’d be in a much better position.

“We sort of lost our way, I think Danny Hylton said it recently, we lost our way.

"The dressing room wasn’t the same as it was.

"You can say I might be bitter because I wasn’t playing, but I think a lot of the lads would say that.

"I'm not being bitter, just because I wasn't in the team.

"I wanted Luton to stay up because we deserved to stay up.

"We'd all put in the hard work, League Two, League One and we deserved to be in the league, so it's good that the positive atmosphere is back."

On just how difficult a campaign it has been for Lee, who has now played 101 times for the club since signing for the second time from West Ham in July 2017, continued: "It’s very tough, it’s a side of football not many people see.

"I wouldn’t mind if I was coming into training and giving my all and if I did something I’d be given a chance.

"There were a lot of things that went on and no matter what I did in training it wasn’t going to be enough to play on a Saturday or Tuesday and that’s where the motivation for a player is 'well, what else can I do?’

"But that’s in the past now and I'd like to think I've become a stronger person, stronger player for it and I’m so happy the gaffer is back now."

Asked if he had spoken to Jones about why he wasn't even included in the match-day squad, Lee said: "There were a few chats.

"It’s a tough one to say but let’s just say the chats weren’t very honest from his side and I’m happy I now have a manager I can trust.

"I think you need a chance to be given trust.

"It’s not so much the manager not trusting the players, is that I didn’t trust him.

"It’s a strange one, I don’t want to dwell too much on what happened in the past but I’m happy I’ve now got a manager I can trust and he trusts me.

"I’m very happy the gaffer is back."

Now that Jones has returned, it has seen Town claim four points from six since the Championship started again and Lee felt his influence was already clear.

He said: "It’s not just on the pitch as the reason why you’re seeing positive results.

"It’s a better atmosphere in there now and you might think I’m being bitter because the old manager didn’t pick me, but it’s not at all.

"I care about this club and it wasn’t going in the right direction under the previous manager and it’s great to have Nathan back because he brings a positive atmosphere.

"Now you’re seeing the results on the pitch."

Lee celebrated his recall by playing 70 minutes as Town took the three points, playing in a wide left role as Jones switched his formation around from his usually favoured diamond system.

He said: "It was a great feeling and I was told yesterday (Friday) I was starting.

"Being in the changing room afterwards with the three points is a great feeling and one I’ve missed.

"I’ve been through a lot of dark times this season and not a lot of people will see that side of football. I’m very happy to be back in the fold and I've definitely missed that season.

"I can play up top, as a 10 and from the left.

"When you’ve been out of it as long as I have it’s just great to be a part of it, I’ll play left back if I have to.

"I just want to give my all for this club, for the manager and for the boys. Hopefully it’s enough to stay up."

Lee, like a number of out of contract players, have agreed to stay for the final month of the season with Luton having a further seven games remaining.

It was something he always intended to do once Jones was reappointed, saying: "I just want to play and help Luton.

"There have been no talks – I’ve just signed a month to help out and I just want to get through these seven games and help the club stay up and we’ll talk after that.

"I know I haven’t got long left on my contract here and I don’t expect much from that, but I’m thankful to be given a chance in the team by a manager I trust.

"I’d like to think I put in a performance out there to prove I can play at this level and to prove I'm worthy of playing in this team.

"I’m delighted with the three points and it's a real positive atmosphere out there"