Swindon Town vs Luton Town FC (26th Dec 2017)

REPORT: SWINDON TOWN 0 LUTON TOWN 5

Hatters equal record away league victory with second-half super show at Swindon

The Hatters produced a second-half super show as Nathan Jones’ team a Boxing Day knockout blow to Swindon – with five goals in 36 minutes after a blank first period making it another memorable afternoon for table-topping Town.

James Collins got the ball rolling with a stunning first against his old club for his 11th of the season in the 48th minute, before Danny Hylton soon added his 15th to put his side in total control.

An own goal from former Luton star Matthew Taylor and further strikes from substitutes Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee saw the Town go nap – or more – for the fifth time this season, equalling the club’s record away victories in the EFL, against Exeter and Colchester, and taking the goals scored tally to 58 in 24 league matches.

An eighth league game unbeaten helped the Hatters maintain their four-point lead over Notts County at the top of the Sky Bet League Two table, and crucially, the gap over fourth-placed Wycombe has now increased to 11 points.

Jones named an unchanged side, with exactly the same starting XI and bench that beat Grimsby 2-0 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

Marek Stech was in goal, behind a back four of James Justin, Johnny Mullins, captain Alan Sheehan – who was also returning to his former club – and Dan Potts. In midfield was Glen Rea, Luke Berry, Olly Lee and Andrew Shinnie, with Hylton and Collins in attack.

Swindon had the first sight of goal in the fourth minute, right-winger Paul Mullin firing an angled shot straight at Stech, seconds before Hylton skipped past former Hatter Taylor on the right edge of the area and went down, but referee Gavin Ward waved away appeals for a penalty.

The Town had started well, winning three corners in the first six minutes with Hylton almost getting on the end of an inviting low cross from Olly Lee at the near post.

But Swindon called Stech into action again in the seventh minute, the Czech tipping James Dunne’s 20-yard effort over before Robins skipper Olly Lancashire headed the resulting corner wide.

Hatters were dominating possession, and it was from a Sheehan free-kick on the left in the 12th minute that their first chance came, Rea and Potts both closing in on a great delivery into the six-yard box only for the latter to volley over at full stretch.

It was Swindon keeper Lawrence Vigouroux who was at full stretch in the 16th minute as Collins collected a loose ball just inside his own half and attempted to chip him from 45 yards out. The former Swindon man’s effort was almost perfect, only for the hosts’ goalie to back-pedal and tip it over the cross bar as it was about to drop in.

Stech launched a lightning break in the 24th minute after he caught Rea’s skied clearance inside his six-yard box, then rolled a brilliant ball out down the middle of the pitch for Shinnie, who played Olly Lee down the right, only for the midfielder’s cross looking for Hylton to be turned behind.

Swindon then launched a counter attack of their own from Sheehan’s corner, Kaiyne Woolery bursting down the Robins’ right before crossing for Keshi Anderson, who thankfully – for the Hatters – couldn’t quite make it at the far post.

Rea fancied his chances just after the half-hour, as Justin’s right-wing cross was only half-cleared by the Swindon defence, but the former Brighton midfielder’s 25-yard drive flashed a foot wide of Vigouroux’s right post.

Berry was next to have a go in the 37th minute, with Potts collecting a pass from the midfielder on the left, playing inside the area to Hylton, who couldn’t get his shot away but intelligently laid back for the former Cambridge man, although his curling shot from 22 yards was always rising.

It remained goalless until the break, but it wasn’t long into the second half that the Hatters’ run of scoring first in matches was extended to a 12th game.

Shinnie won possession just over halfway with a perfectly-timed tackle, then Olly Lee spread the ball wide to Collins on the right. The striker controlled in an instant, then cut inside his man before bending a beautiful left-footed shot around Vigouroux and just inside the post.

It was a second goal in as many games for the former Robin, and the Town soon doubled their lead with Hylton rounding off a terrific 55th-minute move down the left involving Rea, Shinnie and Berry, who played Potts in to deliver a perfect cross for the leading scorer to head home from six yards.

Ten minutes later it was three to the dominant Hatters, and the goal owed everything to Rea’s determination and ability to break up play. Hylton lost possession 35 yards from goal, but the holding midfielder won it back with a crunching challenge and the ball rolled straight back to Hylton.

Hylton played Collins in on the right of the area, and the striker zipped a low cross towards Olly Lee, who was steaming into the six-yard box to tap in – only he didn’t get the chance as former Hatter Taylor got there first and steered it into his own net.

Cornick, who had come on as a sub for Shinnie in the aftermath of the third goal, was soon in on the act, picking up a loose ball from a Swindon headed clearance 25 yards from goal and picking his spot with another curling effort into the top corner that left Vigouroux rooted to the spot.

The Hatters were in clinical form, with goalkeeper Stech a virtual spectator for the second half bar a low save from Norris, who also acrobatically volleyed over the bar from 12 yards, and they soon had a fifth with Elliot Lee – on as a 76th-minute sub for Hylton – netting his seventh goal of the season.

The former Barnsley forward slid in to win a pass from Berry on the left, Collins picked up the ball and rolled it back into Lee’s path to bend another beauty around Vigouroux from just inside the area.

Swindon looked for a consolation, but Sheehan slid in to deflect Woolery’s shot behind for a corner with 90 minutes up, then Potts hacked the subsequent corner clear of the far post after Stech had palmed the delivery away.

Even then, the Town could have broken the record for an away win when Berry raced onto a mis-kick from a home defender in the 92nd minute, but blazed his half-volley over the bar from close range.

The job had already been done, and it’s just one defeat in 23 games in all competitions now since Swindon won 3-0 at Kenilworth Road in September, with a 12th league clean sheet and 15 in total to boot. On to Port Vale!

TOWN: Stech, Justin, Mullins, Sheehan ©, Potts, Rea, Berry, O Lee (Mpanzu 84), Shinnie (Cornick 66), Collins, Hylton (E Lee 76). Subs: Gambin, D’Ath, Famewo, Shea (GK)

Goals: Collins 48, Hylton 55, Taylor (OG) 65, Cornick 73, E Lee 84

Yellows: Hylton

SWINDON: Vigouroux, Purkiss, Preston, Lancashire ©, Mullin (Gordon 62), Dunne, Norris, Linganzi, Woolery, Anderson (Iandolo 75), Taylor. Subs: Robertson, Goddard, Charles-Cook, Knoyle, Twine.

Yellows: Dunne, Lancashire

REFEREE: Gavin Ward

ATTENDANCE: 8,526 (1,408 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNPDH8zhS6Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FL4gvyw6cU

NATHAN JONES ON THE 5-0 WIN AT SWINDON TOWN

Town boss Nathan Jones thought his side were "wonderful" in their 5-0 win against Swindon Town this afternoon at the County Ground.

After a goalless first half, James Collins rifled home against his old side, before Danny Hylton headed in from a Dan Potts cross. An own goal from former Hatter Matty Taylor made it 3-0, before substitutes Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee rounded off the scoring.

The result sees the Town remain top moving onto 51 points after 24 games, but with Notts County winning away at Morecambe, the gap between first and second remains at four points.

Jones said: "If we do what we are good at, you don't envisage us scoring five in the second half, but you envisage us winning the game. First half we were so deep, we were content not to be on the front foot, to allow our midfield to head the ball.

"As soon as our defence stepped up a yard we were able to get up the pitch slightly more and then we squeezed the pitch a little bit more and be on the front foot a little bit more, then we got a grip of the game. That's what we didn't do in the first half – we were still probably slightly the better side, we just weren't anywhere near enough on the front foot.

"The second half was absolutely wonderful, we showed what a good side we are. We stepped up more, we got on seconds and then in the final third, we have enough quality to hurt teams. The goal from James Collins was class, it really was.

"To be fair I think there were a few class finishes, the one from Harry Cornick was class, the finish from Elliot Lee was class and then the move and build-up for Hylts' goal was wonderful. It was reminiscent of the Exeter game where we came and blew them away, that's what kind of happened today."

Five-star Hatters thrash the Robins

League Two: Swindon Town 0 Luton Town 5

How does the song go? Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to see Luton win away. Hey!

Well, if it wasn't being sung on the terraces at the County Ground this afternoon, it should have been as the Hatters produced an utterly immense second half display to put yet another side to the sword, hammering Swindon Town 5-0.

It hadn't looked the final scoreline was on the cards at half time, as although Luton looked to have the more quality in an engrossing first period, the deadlock remained, with little sign of what was to come.

However, once James Collins opened the scoring with a beautiful strike three minutes into the second period, Town, as they have done on a number of occasions this term, ran riot, scoring five goals or more for the fifth time this season.

Luton were unchanged for the clash from their 2-0 win over Grimsby, with both sides making a bright start to proceedings, Paul Mullin testing Marek Stech who saved comfortably.

Danny Hylton then had shouts for a penalty, sent sprawling by former Town full back Matty Taylor, but referee Gavin Ward shook his head.

The hosts were creating chances, Mullin having a go from further out, flipped over by Stech, while Olly Lancashire's diving header from the resulting corner was wide.

Town should have gone ahead on 11 minutes, Alan Sheehan with another wonderful free kick delivery and Dan Potts escaping his markers, but from inside the six yard box and with the goal gaping, volleyed over.

Collins then almost netted another long range stunner for the Hatters on 16 minutes, spotting Lawrence Vigouroux off his line and from well over 40 yards out, tried to chip the keeper, who backtracked and palmed over the top to avoid any Boxing Day embarrassment.

Swindon went close midway through the half, breaking from a Luton corner as Kaiyne Woolery easily outpaced Olly Lee and with Keshi Anderson in the area, couldn't quite pick out his team-mate.

Glen Rea whizzed well wide from 25 yards, while Luke Berry was teed up by Hylton but couldn't repeat his heroics from Saturday, missing the top corner.

After the break, the hosts forced an early corner, but Town hit back perfectly, as Collins netted in glorious fashion against his former side.

Fed by Olly Lee on the right hand side, he cut in, before from the edge of the box, picked out the top corner on his left foot with a truly wonderful finish.

Town then had the game by the scruff of the neck on 55 minutes, as the visitors ripped Swindon apart on the left hand side, Berry finding Potts whose cross was converted by Hylton's glancing header for a 15th of the season.

Luton's complete dominance was underlined on 66 minutes when Amine Linganzi tried to dribble the ball out of danger, only to be met by a wonderful sliding challenge by the excellent Rea.

Hylton took up the loose ball, fed in Collins and his cut back was turned into his own net by Taylor for a third.

As it their way, Town just kept going and going, Harry Cornick coming off the bench and he was the next to add his own goal of the season contender, using Lee as the overlap and fairly hammering into the top corner from just outside the box.

Luke Norris hooked an acrobatic volley over the top for a clearly shell-shocked Robins, with Hylton withdrawn for Elliot Lee as boss Jones clearly had an eye on Saturday's trip to Port Vale.

However, it didn't diminish Luton's goal threat, not an iota, as Lee tricked his way into the area and curled low into the bottom corner to make it 5-0.

Hatters could and really should have broken their record for an away win in the Football League, Berry, from six yards out, blasting into the drenched Town fans.

They didn't care a jot though, quick to celebrate another win from a Luton side destined to be playing in League One next season, as they aim to finish 2017 even further clear at the top, when they travel to Port Vale on Saturday.

Swindon: Lawrence Vigoroux, Ben Purkiss, Matt Preston, Olly Lancashire (C), Paul Mullin (Kellan Gordon 62), James Dunne, Luke Norris, Amine Lingazi, Kaiyne Woolery, Keshi Anderson (Ellis Iandolo 75), Matty Taylor.

Subs not used: Chris Robertson, John Goddard, Reice Charles-Cook, Kyle Knoyle, Scott Twine.

Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Justin, Dan Potts, Johnny Mullins, Alan Sheehan (C), Glen Rea, Olly Lee (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 84), Luke Berry, Andrew Shinnie (Harry Cornick 67), James Collins, Danny Hylton (Elliot Lee 76).

Subs not used: James Shea, Lawson D'Ath, Akin Famewo, Luke Gambin.

Booked: Dunne 52, Hylton 57, Lancashire 57.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 8,526.

Hatters MOM: Glen Rea – dominant force in midfield yet again for the visitors.

Jones lauds Town's 'wonderful' second half display at Swindon

Hatters boss Nathan Jones labelled his side’s second half performance as ‘wonderful’ as they earned yet another thumping away win at Swindon Town yesterday, setting a club record in the process.

Town’s 5-0 success was their 13th game unbeaten in all competitions on their travels, surpassing the run of 12 set in the 2013-14 season.

Although it had looked like Luton were capable of remaining unbeaten when going into half time goalless at the County Ground, not many would have suggested the Hatters would run out winners by such a wide margin.

But that’s what they did with goals from James Collins, Danny Hylton, a Matty Taylor own goal, plus strikes from subs Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee, as boss Jones said: “The second half was wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

“We showed what a good side we are, we pressed, we stepped on, won the first ball far more, we got on seconds and then once we got in the final third enough, we have enough quality to hurt teams.

“The goal from James Collins was class, it really was. To be fair I think there were a few class finishes, the finish from Harry Cornick was class, the finish from Elliot Lee was class and then the move and build-up for Hylts’ goal was wonderful.

“It was reminiscent of the Exeter game where we came and blew them away, that’s what kind of happened today.

“I was slightly disappointed with the first half as it was just like a boxing match.

"We were just seeing what they would do rather than really taking the bull by the horns and going after them, we did that second half and won the game.”

When asked just what he said to his during the break to bring about the second 45 minutes, Jones said: “Just two little things really. One, can we squeeze the pitch a little bit more?

“So that instead of Luke Berry challenging for the ball, I’ve got Alan Sheehan challenging for the ball, then when the ball lands, then it’s landing to my front men and Luke Berry can challenge from there.

“We were just deep first half and we didn’t move it with enough conviction. I think we got in some real good areas, second half we stepped on a yard, showed a little bit more quality and then that happened.

“If we do what we are good at, look you don’t envisage us scoring five, you envisage us winning the game, because first half we were so deep, we were just content not to be on the front foot and to allow our midfield to head the ball.

“As soon as our centre halves stepped on a yard we were able to get up the pitch slightly more and as soon as we started squeezing the pitch a little bit more, we could be be on the front foot.

“Then we got a grip of the game. that’s what we didn’t do in the first half. We were still probably slightly the better side, we just weren’t anywhere near enough on the front foot.”

Sacrifices pay off as the Hatters hit five

Hatters striker James Collins admitted that the sacrifices made by the players in training and travelling to Swindon on Christmas Day paid off with their 5-0 triumph yesterday. The players headed to Kenilworth Road during the afternoon of the 25th, before making the trip to Wiltshire to ensure their preparation for the clash was like a usual away game.

It worked wonders too as a second half pummeling saw Luton equal their best ever away day win in the Football League and remain four points clear at the top of the table.

Collins said: “It’s a great day at the office for everyone involved at the club.

“We were in yesterday and we sacrificed a bit of our family time for the game and it certainly paid off because I thought second half we were outstanding.”

Town boss Nathan Jones felt the decision was the right one too, given the quality of the performance after the interval.

He continued: “It’s an important time Christmas, it really is as they give up so much and we ask them to give up so much and they do.

“Their families are there for them and sacrifice a lot for them, but promotion’s important, so it’s another step towards that and that’s what we have to try and do.

“We got them in because it was the right thing to do physiologically. They did, they came in, they trained well yesterday and they had a bit of fun as well, just to get it out of their legs.

“We came down here, got the journey out of the legs and I think actually, if we do it like we did, with such a short journey, it's probably better than being at home as then they stay at home, do their journey on the morning of the game.

“So it worked out well and they showed they had fresh legs, then when we brought the others on we showed we were on the front foot and I’m proud of them today.“

On whether equalling their best away day success at both Exeter (1967/68) and Colchester (2002/03) had entered his thoughts, Jones added: "Not really, it’s three points, we’ve gone another point further away from fourth place which is good, we’ve extended the goal difference, we’ve shown away from home that we’re a fantastic side, we really are.

"That's the only thing. Anything else is a bonus. I don't look at those things, it's nice to win the games in such a convincing fashion as second half we turned up, we really did."