Tranmere Rovers vs Luton Town FC (6th Apr 2015)

Town's losing streak over with away victory

Birthday boy Cameron McGeehan hit a late winner as the Town ended a run of seven straight defeats with a hard-fought win at relegated-threatened Tranmere.

The midfielder celebrated his 20th birthday by helping the Hatters to three important points when following up in the 81st minute after striker Mark Cullen had seen his penalty saved by home goalkeeper Peter Brezovan – the Town’s first penalty in six months.

But against a Tranmere side themselves low on confidence, and at the wrong end of League 2, the Town had goalkeeper Elliot Justham to thank for making a fantastic late save to ensure the Town held on to keep them in the hunt for a Play-Off place with five games to go.

After Good Friday’s 3-2 defeat to Exeter, Town boss John Still made three changes to the side for the trip to Prenton Park with McGeehan, Scott Griffiths and Ryan Hall given starts. Lewis Kinsella, Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless were the men to miss out – the latter two were on the bench, however.

Tranmere, only relegated from League 1 last term, were in real danger and began – and would end – the game in the relegation places. But the home support almost had a goal to celebrate in the fourth minute. Captain James Jennings’ sliderule pass sent Jennison Myrie-Williamson through on goal. However the home forward’s shot from six yards was kept out well by Justham.

And, if the truth be told, that was the nearest either side came to finding the target in a first 45 minutes that the Hatters just about shaded.

The Town were comfortable in possession and restricting Rovers attacks, but the Hatters were playing some patient passing football and on 16 minutes Paul Benson’s glancing header from Cullen’s deep cross was turned away by home stopper Brezovan.

Benson was inches away from getting a toe to Luke Wilkinson’s long ball forward on 19 minutes but seven minutes later the Town breathed a huge sigh of relief when Myrie-Williams mis-kicked his shot at the backpost after Rob Taylor had slalomed down the left flank to deliver the cross.

As the half wore on the more frustrated the home crowd got, and the Town weren’t far away again from creating a chance on 37 minutes when Jonathan Smith’s dangerous low cross was millimetres away from being turned in by Hall, sliding in on the stretch.

The home side upped the ante slightly before half-time but captain Stephen McNulty dealt with their only real threat – an angled drive at goal by George Green.

And that was the first half.

The second was only a minute old when home midfielder Max Power went down on the edge of the Tranmere box and after five minutes down receiving treatment he was taken off on a stretcher.

After the stoppage Justham comfortably held onto Green’s curling free-kick on 56 minutes and the Hatters keeper was easily able to hold onto another free-kick from an almost identical position on 65 minutes from Myrie-Williams.

Two minutes later Hall tried his luck from a direct free-kick at the other end with the Town winger not far away with his effort that struck the stanchion.

However, after home substitute Marc Laird saw his shot from distance fly wide, the Hatters then took the lead – and won their first penalty in 192 days – dating back to the 2-0 win over Oxford in September.

Benson did well to flick-on Griffiths’ long ball forward, allowing Cullen to race in goal. The striker nodded the ball past one defender before he was sent tumbling by Brezonvan. However, Cullen’s effort was parried by the keeper, diving to his right – but luck was on the Town’s side as McGeehan was quickest to the loose ball and he tucked home his second goal since rejoining the Hatters from six yards.

Ahead with 10 minutes to go the Town now needed to stay focused to see out the victory and the Hatters were indebted to a marvellous save from Justham with five minutes to go when the keeper flung himself at Laird’s goalbound header from 12 yards after Kayode Odejayi had teed up the chance.

Tranmere continued to rally and sub Iain Hume nodded a near-post corner narrowly over the crossbar before Justham stopped another effort from distance from Green in the third of seven additional minutes.

As time ticked down the Hatters defended stoutly and could have even snatched a second on the break in the final moments but it mattered not – the Town held on to record their sixth away win of the season to get their Play-Off bid back on track and, most crucially, earn their first three points in eight games.

Next up? The small matter of league leaders Burton Albion on Saturday at Kenilworth Road. BE THERE!

TOWN: Justham; Harriman, Griffiths, McNulty, Wilkinson; Smith (sub Howells 90), Doyle, McGeehan; Hall (sub Lawless 74), Cullen, Benson (sub Stockley 82).

Subs: Lacey, Guttridge, Robinson, King.

Attendance: 6,035, including a superb 526 backing the Hatters.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/gallery-tranmere-0-1-town-2379228.aspx

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

McGeehan’s late winner ends Town’s horror run

League Two: Tranmere 0 Luton Town 1

Birthday boy Cameron McGeehan ended the Hatters appalling run of form by scoring a late winner as Luton edged out relegation-threatened Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.

The on-loan Norwich midfielder converted the rebound after Mark Cullen had won and missed Town’s first penalty in over six months, in front of the travelling 526 away fans.

John Still’s side had gone into the game on the back of seven straight defeats, just one match away from equalling the club’s worst record for league defeats, which had lasted since 1900.

However, in an encounter low on any real quality throughout, Hatters made sure an unwanted entrance to the record books was avoided and although stayed in ninth, are now just one point behind sixth-placed Stevenage.

The visitors made three changes to the side that lost against Exeter as Ryan Hall, Scott Griffiths and McGeehan all came back in, while Alex Lawless and Luke Guttridge dropped to the bench with Lewis Kinsella missing out.

Tranmere should have had the lead on five minutes when Nathan Doyle gave away possession cheaply and Jennison Myrie-Williams was put clean through to face Elliot Justham, with the keeper crucially sticking out a leg to divert his timid shot.

Hatters had their first real opportunity on 16 minutes as Steve McNulty and McGeehan combined to find Mark Cullen, whose deep cross was headed goalwards by Benson, with keeper Peter Brezovan using all his 6ft 6in frame to claw it behind.

The striker was then only inches away from reaching Luke Wilkinson’s raking pass forward, with Town putting together some good possession although rarely creating any opportunities of note.

Rovers created another chance for the unmarked Myrie-Williams, only for the attacker to shank a volley away from danger allowing Griffiths to clear, with the attacker then taking aim from 30 yards but shooting well wide.

Hall was marginally behind Jonathan Smith’s low cross into the area, while McNulty atoned for a sloppy control, by getting his body in the way of George Green’s fierce blast.

In the second period, play stopped for a good five minutes as Max Power appeared to collapse on the edge of his own penalty area and needed medical attention before eventually being stretched off with Marc Laird replacing him.

Green then forced the simplest of save from Justham with a 20 yard free kick, with the keeper’s handling tested further by Myrie-Williams’ next deadball attempt.

Set-pieces were the dominant theme in the second period as Hall sent one narrowly over the top from 25 yards too, while Rovers did fashion an opening through Kayode Odejayi’s neat backheel but Laird was wayward.

Town then finally won a long overdue spot kick on 80 minutes as Cullen took Benson’s flick, rounded Michael Ihiekwe and was fouled by the outstretched leg of the onrushing Brezovan.

The striker took the ball himself, but although hitting his effort true and hard, saw Brezovan block well, only to see McGeehan quickest to react and sidefoot the rebound over the line.

Hatters were indebted to a wonderful save from Justham to keep their lead intact as Kayode Odejayi headed back across and Laird connected with a powerful header, only for the keeper to brilliantly flip over the top.

Sub Iain Hume flicked off target from a Rovers corner, but with play getting stretched at both ends, Luton’s defence remained solid with McNulty and Wilkinson to the fore, earning a first clean sheet on the road since January 17 at Plymouth, coincidentally Town’s last away win too.

Rovers: Peter Brezovan, Liam Ridehalgh, Max Power (Marc Laird 50), Michael Ihiekwe, Kayode Odejayi, George Green, Janoi Donacien, Rob Taylor (Iain Hume 61), Adam Dugdale, Steve Jennings (C), Jennison Myrie-Williams (Rory Donnelly 75).

Subs not used: Owain Fon Williams, Danny Holmes, Cole Stockton, Lee Molyneux.

Hatters: Elliot Justham, Michael Harriman, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty (C), Luke Wilkinson, Nathan Doyle, Jonathan Smith (Jake Howells 90), Cameron McGeehan, Ryan Hall (Alex Lawless 74), Mark Cullen, Paul Benson (Jayden Stockley 83).

Subs not used: Alex Lacey, Luke Guttridge, Matt Robinson, Craig King.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Booked: McNulty 57, McGeehan 76.

Attendance: 6,035 (526 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Jonathan Smith.

Manager John Still admitted that Luton's seven-game losing streak had been a trying time but has said his side will now go all out for a League Two play-off place after claiming a first win since February 28.

Cameron McGeehan turned in a penalty rebound in the 81st minute on his 20th birthday to see off a stubborn Tranmere Rovers side at Prenton Park and also claim a first victory on the road since January 17.

After a worrying period in which their bid for automatic promotion disappeared and they slipped out of the top seven, they are now within a point of the play-offs with five games remaining.

Still said: "It's been a difficult time but there are a lot of people far worse off than us. To have got promotion last year and to be challenging for the play-offs this year, it's incredible, or I think so with the problems we've had."

The hope will be that this Easter Monday victory can be a turning point in Town's season.

"I said to the players, we're just going to go out now and just go for it," Still revealed, adding: "If we get beaten, we get beaten, but let's go for it.

"If we can, we should have quite a few players back properly fit for what might be an exciting end of the season."

With Tranmere stuck in the League Two relegation zone, the clash was a turgid affair enlivened only in the final ten minutes with Mark Cullen winning and missing the penalty, McGeehan tucking away the rebound and Town stopper Elliot Justham pulling off a superb save to ensure three points returned to Kenilworth Road.

Still said: "I am obviously delighted because the players have been working their socks off and, along the way, have not been getting the results they deserve.

"Today was a tough one because we were playing against a side that are fighting for their lives. I thought it was a very, very solid, professional performance.

"Elliot made a fantastic save for us as well, but I thought it was the perfect away performance.

"They would have felt under a bit of pressure, Tranmere. But we're probably under the same pressure.

"Gradually we are getting players, not just playing, but fit, and I'm delighted to have won.

"It's an amazing thing and I always tell you, I never get over the top when we win and I never get too low when we don't. So, I'm delighted to have won, but I'm back to normal now.

"I'm delighted for the players, delighted for the supporters but delighted for the football club because when we came we had a mission, we had a plan. When you don't win a few, people forget the mission and forget the plan.

"The mission and the plan don't change and, like I always say, if people want miracles then don't come to a football club because it isn't like that.

"There are ups and downs and it's how you deal with the ups and how you deal with the downs."

Goalscorer McGeehan – on loan from Norwich – ensured that Easter Monday was one of the better days on a personal and professional level, and Still revealed: "He's had a difficult time since he came, Cam. He come and I think he would have said himself, his game wasn't good at the time.

"He's a good player, we know that from before, and he's done a good job today."

There were equal plaudits for keeper Justham, who has been one of the few players that have played well despite Luton's seven-game slump.

"It was a great save," Still said, adding: "We always felt that he was going to be one for the future. We always felt he was going to have a good career and I think he's shown that. It's really pleasing for him to have played today in a team that has won.

"He had a quiet afternoon, other than the save, but they [Tranmere] threw caution to the wind. We could have probably scored a couple on the break but fair play to them they took a gamble and he's pulled off a save when we needed it."

TRANMERE ROVERS 0 LUTON TOWN 1

Miracles do happen at Easter as Luton were finally awarded their first penalty for 192 days to end a miserable run of seven straight League Two defeats.

That was in the 81st minute and though Mark Cullen still managed find the gloves of Tranmere's Peter Brezovan from the spot, Cameron McGeehan celebrated his 20th birthday by steering home the rebound.

Manager John Still, who has long complained about spot-kick decisions that have not gone his side's way, said: "I looked at the referee because I expected him to wave away. It was a penalty but we've had others that were penalties and we've not got them, but we got one today."

How the Hatters got to that moment of sheer relief and the victory was rendered irrelevant, but it owed a huge debt of gratitude to keeper Elliot Justham who, late on, plucked a save straight out of the top drawer to preserve his side's lead.

But for 80 minutes this was hot-potato, public-park football of the lowest quality imaginable.

Misplaced passes, poor control, aimless hoofs forward, slips, trips and impressions of headless chickens, dying swans and Bambi – and those were the highlights. But excitement? Zero.

That's probably to be expected of a Tranmere team that are languishing in the drop zone, but is perhaps more of an indictment of Luton's current qualities.

But, performances are a luxury under such circumstances and it was points Town needed to steer clear of an unwanted 115-year-old record of eight consecutive league defeats. They got them.

Still was less inclined to cite other-worldly phenomena, but said: "I'm delighted for the players, delighted for the supporters but delighted for the club because when we came we had a mission, we had a plan. When you don't win a few, people forget the mission and forget the plan.

"The mission and the plan don't change and, like I always say, if people want miracles then don't come to a football club because it isn't like that.

"There are ups and downs and it's how you deal with the ups and how you deal with the downs."

The manager attempted to deal with their recent Good Friday hammer blow by making three changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Exeter. Scott Griffiths, Ryan Hall and McGeehan got the nod in place of Luke Guttridge, Alex Lawless and Lewis Kinsella, but they did little to inspire a change of fortunes.

Rovers should have taken the lead after four minutes and that was as good as it got. Steve Jennings' through-ball sliced Luton open but Jennison Myrie-Williams aimed weakly at the legs of Justham, who then clawed the ball out for a corner.

The Hatters fashioned an effort on target when Paul Benson stretched for Cullen's cross but home keeper Brezovan comfortably pawed to the relative safety of a corner. He was rather more relieved, just before half time, to see Hall fail to get a connection on Jonathan Smith's enticing cross into the six-yard box.

It was an act of mercy that referee Dean Whitestone ended the half, while the second began with Rovers losing arguably their best player, Max Power, stretchered off injured.

Extremely marginal improvements followed for the hosts but all they had to show for it was a Myrie-Williams free-kick that Justham could have saved in his sleep. In fact, he probably did, such was the paucity of adrenaline trickling through the contest. But he was certainly awake in the closing stages.

Before that came the breakthrough. Luton had barely ventured into Rovers territory – bar a Hall free-kick that wobbled the stanchion – but in the 80th minute Cullen was tripped by Brezovan and Mr Whitestone pointed to the spot. Just as had happened with their previous three spot-kicks, the keeper guessed right, denying the striker but McGeehan followed up to tuck in the rebound.

Justham produced a stunning save to deny substitute Marc Laird and preserve the visitors' slender lead and while there were seven agonising minutes of injury time added on at the end, Luton saw it out.

While there still remains much work to do in order to hunt down a play-off spot, after the last crushing month-and-a-half, at least it's a start.

Tranmere: Brezovan, Ridehalgh, Power (Laird, 51), Ihiekwe, Odejayi, Green, Donacien, Taylor (Hume, 61), Dugdale, Jennigs, Myrie-Williams (Donnelly, 77)

Unused subs: Fon Williams, Holmes, Stockton, Molyneux

Luton: Justham, Smith (Howells, 90), McNulty, Benson (Stockley, 83), Griffiths, Cullen, Harriman, Doyle, Hall (Lawless, 75), Wilkinson, McGeehan

Unused subs: Lacey, Guttridge, Robinson, King

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 6,035 (526)

Luton Town: Match winner Cameron McGeehan targets permanent Hatters move from Norwich City

Cameron McGeehan revealed his hope of a permanent Luton Town deal this summer after scoring the winner against Tranmere Rovers on his 20th birthday.

The Norwich City midfielder is currently on his second loan spell at the Hatters. He helped the club to the Conference title last term and then in January signed until the end of this campaign following a spell at Cambridge United.

Asked if he'd like to be a Luton player next season, McGeehan said: "Yeah, I'd be happy," adding: "I think there is some stuff set."

As well as angling for a permanent home at Kenilworth Road, the former Chelsea youth also hopes Town can secure back-to-back promotions for the first time in their history.

"It was the best feeling going up and getting promoted as a team," the midfielder said of last term's record-breaking title tilt, which returned the club to the Football League after a five-year exile.

"I think it's much tougher this year. It's a tough league and there are no bad teams, even those at the bottom. I think every team is very similar and there is not much between them. Little fractions make all the difference."

McGeehan's winner on the Wirral came from a rare penalty – their first since September 27 – but, like their three previous attempts from 12 yards, it took two efforts to hit the net with the midfielder supplying the rebound finish after Mark Cullen's spot-kick was saved.

The loan ace joked: "I actually wanted the penalty at first. I told Cully, 'I'll have it'. I think that's the third rebounded penalty that's gone in and [Alex] Lawless said to me, 'make sure you follow it up because you'll get a tap-in', so he obviously didn't trust Cully.

"But it was actually a good strike. If I hadn't put it in Cully would have put it in anyway, but I was happy to score with my left foot. It was my fifth league goal of the season so I'm quite happy with that as well."

The solitary strike was enough to end a dire seven-game losing streak in League Two and leave Luton just one point off the play-off spots with five games left.

On a personal level, McGeehan also benefitted from playing in an advanced role against Rovers, more akin to the freedom he was given while at Cambridge United earlier in the season.

"I've been stuck in limbo for the last few games, not knowing whether to push on, go and get a goal, or to sit," he said.

"That's been addressed. I was playing high and that was my role. We'll see what happens for the rest of the season."

He added: "I'd just like to have a position. If I'm going to sit I'd be happy to sit and do that. If I'm playing in a [number] ten [role], that's what I like to do as well. I did it at Cambridge and scored a few goals.

"That's my fifth one this year, playing higher. I enjoy that and Luke Guttridge is a great one to learn from. He's had a top career. He helps me a lot."

Manager John Still admitted after beating Rovers that McGeehan had struggled since returning to the club and the midfielder said: "It came hand-in-hand with the team not doing particularly well.

"It's tough coming into a team that is doing really well and we were losing to teams and weren't doing our best at the time. It was tough to adapt to it. It's a different style of play to what I've been used to.

"I was here last year but coming back into it again and getting reacquainted with the style of play and players, it was tough.

"I thought I'd come in and it would be great and rosy like it was last year, but it's not always thr way. I'll only become better and stronger and hopefully push on now."