Swansea City vs Luton Town FC (5th Dec 2020)

Swansea City 2 - 0 Luton Town

The Hatters fall to defeat at the Liberty Stadium...

The Hatters put in a spirited performance at promotion hopefuls Swansea City this afternoon, but ultimately fell to a second successive Saturday defeat in south Wales.

Swansea won 2-0 with goals in the second and 89th minutes, but the Hatters controlled large parts of the match at the Liberty Stadium despite being reduced to ten men when Matty Pearson was sent off with 20 minutes to go.

The result sees the Hatters drop to 12th position in the Sky Bet Championship following defeat but they definitely won't be downhearted given the level of performance.

Manager Nathan Jones made two changes to the side that beat table-toppers Norwich in midweek, with both full-backs Dan Potts and James Bree making their first starts in the league this season in place of Rhys Norrington-Davies and Martin Cranie – the latter who suffered an injury in midweek, with the young Welshman rested.

Youngster Dion Pereira was named amongst the substitutes for the first time since joining the Hatters on a free transfer after leaving Atlanta United.

The hosts were in front inside two minutes when they worked the ball in from the right touchline to Andre Ayew, who laid it back into the path of Connor Roberts, whose shot took a deflection on its way into the top corner from just inside the area.

The Hatters gathered themselves, but were grateful that centre-half Ben Cabango directed a far post header straight at James Shea when goalscorer Roberts found him with an 11th-minute free-kick.

Jones made a tactical switch just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark, matching up Swansea's 3-5-2 by dropping Glen Rea into the middle of a back three and pushing Jordan Clark up front alongside Collins.

It almost paid immediate dividend when Clark laid Matty Pearson's pass off to George Moncur 30 yards from goal. Wednesday's opening goalscorer took a couple of paces towards the hosts' box and bent in a shot that kicked up off a surface that had been heavily watered just before kick-off, and had to be pushed onto the post by keeper Freddie Woodman.

Tom Lockyer, now playing on the right of the three centre-halves, then drove forward into Clark's previous right wing area and whipped in a cross that found James Collins' head, but the top scorer couldn't get a clean enough connection to send it goalward.

Town were now in the ascendancy and should have been level on 26 minutes when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's pressing forced Ayew into a loose pass back towards his own touchline, which freed Clark to cross low into the six-yard box. Cabango and Woodman reacted to cut it out, but the ball fell kindly for Luke Berry, who side-footed over with the goal at his mercy eight yards out.

Other than a 43rd-minute effort from Yan Dhanda that Shea dealt with comfortably, the Hatters dominated controlled the remainder of the half without being able to find the finish that would bring them back on terms going into the break.

The first real incidents of the second half saw Rea and Pearson both booked for a late lunges on Ayew, before Jones made a double substitution just after the hour, bringing Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee on for Dewsbury-Hall and Moncur.

Again, the switch almost paid off immediately when Lockyer swung a deep cross in to the City six-yard box onto Cornick's head, but the ball flew just wide of Woodman's right post.

The Town were well on top when they were reduced to ten men with just over 20 minutes to go, as Pearson attempted an overhead kick in the Swansea penalty area on 68 minutes, but home defender Marc Guehi got his head to the ball first before Pearson's boot connected with it.

Referee Leigh Doughty took two minutes before showing the Hatters defender a second yellow, resulting in the Town's first red card since James Collins was dismissed against Blackpool in April 2019.

Despite being a man down, it was Jones' side who continued to ask questions, City needing Ayew to clear off the line as Rea met Bree's 76th-minute corner with a thumping header.

Kazenga LuaLua was introduced for Berry with just under ten minutes of normal time to play, but despite the Hatters controlling possession and playing well, it was Ayew who sealed the points with a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner in the 89th minute.

Town: Shea, Bree, Pearson, Lockyer, Potts; Rea, Berry (LuaLua 82), Dewsbury-Hall (Cornick 62); Clark, Moncur (Lee 62); Collins.

Substitutes: Isted, Tunnicliffe, Galloway, Nombe, Morrell, Pereira.

Yellows: Rea, Pearson

Red: Pearson

Swansea: Woodman, Naughton, Guehi (Latibeaudiere 83), Cabango; Roberts, Cullen (Lowe 71), Grimes, Smith, Bidwell; Dhanda (Palmer 71), Ayew.

Substitutes: Benda, Manning, Fulton, Gyokeres, Routledge, Garrick

Goals: Roberts 2, Ayew 89

Yellows: Roberts

Referee: Leigh Doughty

Nathan Jones reflects on Swansea City defeat

The gaffer spoke following the 2-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium...

Manager Nathan Jones felt his team did enough to get a result against Swansea City this afternoon and was positive after the 2-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.

The Swans struck in the second minute and once again late on, in between Matty Pearson earning a second yellow card midway through the second period.

But despite the second successive weekend defeat in South Wales, the gaffer was upbeat on reflection of the 90 minutes.

“It purely flattered them two-nil. One is really later after we were chasing the game when we had as many attackers as I could have possibly brought on the pitch.

“But I thought apart from the first minute and a half, we were outstanding. Deflected shot, that can happen sometimes, but we’ve had the better chances, more possession, we pressed, I thought we were excellent, I really, really do.”

“I’m proud of the performance, it’s difficult to say you are proud of the performance when you lost 2-0 but that doesn’t tell the story of what has happened today.”

On Pearson’s sending-off, Jones added: “It’s a high foot but let’s not talk about the referee because the referee, his performance was no where near the level of my teams’ performance today so let’s leave it at that.

“We’ve been punished, outside of the box with two shots but everything else, we were excellent, we really, really were. That is the frustrating thing, because we deserved more from the game today, but you’ve got to take your chances. If you have an opportunity four yards out, you have to put it in.

“It’s an open goal, you just literally put it in and Luke would normally put that in 100 times out of 100, somehow it didn’t. We hit the post, had one off the line, Harry Cornick had a chance late on, if he gets in there earlier, he scores.

“In terms of level of performance, I’m very, very pleased but it’s difficult to say that when you have just lost two-nil.”

https://issuu.com/swanseacityafc/docs/swans-20-21-luton-town-digital-programme-v01/16 - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrJZofrbYY8 – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gti2Dcpiww – Extended match highlights (Swansea version)

Pearson sees red as Luton are beaten by Swans

Championship: Swansea City 2 Luton Town 0

Luton fell to a second defeat on successive weekend in Wales, beaten 2-0 by Swansea City this afternoon.

Unlike last Saturday, however, bar conceding in the first five minutes yet again, the performances were chalk and cheese, Nathan Jones' side most definitely deserving of a point at the very least, and with some better finishing, might have got it.

They didn't though, having to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men, after Matty Pearson was dismissed for his second booking.

The Hatters made two changes, both in the full back areas, Dan Potts in for his first start since the 1-1 draw with QPR on July 14, James Bree given a maiden Championship start of the campaign too, making his 50th appearance for the club.

Both Martin Cranie and Rhys Norrington-Davies missed out, while on the bench was recent U21 acquisition Dion Pereira.

Determined to make a better start then they had last week just 40 miles down the road in Cardiff, Luton didn't, conceding even earlier this time, breached in the second minute.

It was yet again a goal of alarming simplicity as well, the hosts able to transfer play down their right, with a cross into the middle seeing Andre Ayew tee up Connor Roberts, whose shot took a deflection to wrongfoot James Shea and find the net.

Matt Grimes' 20-yarder went over, as the Swans made a far better beginning to proceedings, Ben Cabango close to making it 2-0, heading tamely at James Shea from close range, as Town struggled to deal with a free kick.

On 15 minutes, Jones opted to switch his formation, dropping Glen Rea into the centre of three man defence, with George Moncur adopting a more central role at the other end.

It almost paid off instantly too, the midfielder shooting from 20 yards, his low attempt bouncing in front of Freddie Woodman, who palmed it on to the post.

A deep cross by Luke Berry was then glanced wide by Jordan Clark, as Luton looked a different side to the opening stages, Tom Lockyer setting off on a powerful run forward, his cross narrowly missed by James Collins.

Hatters should have been level on 26 minutes when the home side lost the ball, allowing Clark to scamper down the wing.

His ball in the box caused panic in the hosts defence and from six yards out, Berry somehow side-footed over the open goal in a shocking miss.

With the game settling down into a highly watchable affair, Shea was needed just before the break, showing secure handling when Yan Dhanda's 20-yarder bounced just in front of him.

After the interval, Swans appeared to start getting to grips with Town's shape, dominating possession in the early stages, but couldn't quite grab that second goal to put the game to bed, the visitors seeing both Rea and Pearson booked for late challenges.

With an hour gone, Luton brought on Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee, the switch almost working instantly, Cornick heading Lockyer's deep cross over at the far post.

Just as Town appeared to be readying a grandstand finale, they were reduced to 10 men, as from Bree's corner, an unmarked Rea scuffed his volley, with Pearson going for an overhead attempt, connecting with defender Marc Guehi rather than the ball, belatedly shown a second yellow by referee Leigh Doughty.

Despite being a man down, Luton didn't allow it to affect them, and were inches away from a deserved leveller, Rea meeting Bree's corner once more, only to see Ayew retreat and clear his header off the line.

However, they couldn't create that last opening, even with Kazenga LuaLua on, as Swans had the points in the bag with a minute to go, Ayew bursting forward and blasting a low snorter behyond Shea.

Sub Jamal Lowe rifled over as City sensed a scarcely deserve second, which didn't materialise during stoppage time, leaving Luton glad to see the back of the Severn Bridge for another season.

Swans: Freddie Woodman, Marc Guehi (Joe Latibeaudiere 83), Korey Smith, Matt Grimes ©, Andre Ayew (Viktor Gyokeres 90), Liam Cullen (Jamal Lowe 71), Yan Dhanda (Kasey Palmer 71), Connor Roberts, Jake Bidwell, Kyle Naughton, Ben Cabango.

Subs not used: Steven Benda, Ryan Manning, Jay Fulton, Wayne Routledge, Jordon Garrick.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Tom Lockyer, Glen Rea ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Elliot Lee 61), Luke Berry (Kazenga LuaLua 81), Jordan Clark, George Moncur (Harry Cornick 61), James Collins.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Brendan Galloway, Sam Nombe, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Joe Morrell, Dion Pereira.

Booked: Roberts 45, Rea 52, Pearson 59.

Sent off: Pearson 69.

Referee: Leigh Doughty.

Jones: I got my formation wrong at Swansea

Hatters boss takes some of the blame for defeat in Wales

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted he got his formation wrong during the opening stages of the 2-0 defeat at Swansea City this afternoon.

The Hatters lined up in a 4-3-3 system, but conceded a soft goal inside two minutes, with Connor Roberts’ effort deflecting past James Shea.

With the hosts on top, Town then swapped to a back three and almost instantly were the better side, having by far the better of the rest of the first period, George Moncur hitting the post and then Luke Berry somehow missing an open goal.

Town continued to have the better of things after the break, but then saw Matty Pearson sent off with 20 minutes to go.

Still they went close, Glen Rea's header cleared off the line, before Andre Ayew sealed the win late on.

Speaking afterwards, Jones was annoyed he hadn't gone with a different shape, saying: "It’s a very fortunate first goal and we’ve had the better chances, so to say it's hard luck or to blame the ref, blame this, blame that, we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

“Me, tactically, because we contemplated matching them right up from the start, so we worked on two things.

“One starting like we did and then two going to a shape.

"So one thing worked well and I’m kicking myself really as we should have started that way and been really brave and gone after them.

“We were after about eight or nine minutes and from then on we were very good.

“I probably got it wrong for the first five, six minutes, but once we changed, we were the better side.

“If we play like that week in week out with that desire and I make sure I'm tactically right, because we toed and froed about what shape to play.

“We contemplated it, we lost Rhys (Norrington-Davies) yesterday which means were asking big things from Dan Potts, who's trained five days.

"They gave me everything and I'm really proud of as that performance.

"We deserved more, but there are learning curves from that, one for me tactically, but two you have to take your chances.”