West Bromwich Albion vs Luton Town FC (14th Aug 2018)

WEST BROM 1 LUTON TOWN 0

Impressive Hatters bow out, but much to cheer at The Hawthorns - including Berry's return!

The Hatters were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage tonight, losing 1-0 at Sky Bet Championship big guns West Brom, but there was plenty of reason for Town fans to cheer at the Hawthorns.

A goal from Scotland international Oliver Burke, a £15m signing from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, just after the hour proved enough for the side recently relegated from the Premier League to see off Nathan Jones’ Luton, who have only just gone up to League One.

But the travelling fans got to see their side turn in an accomplished performance, taking the game to the Baggies and at times troubling a side packed with internationals and top-flight experience, and if front two Jake Jervis and Harry Cornick had taken first-half chances, the final score might have proved different.

They also, perhaps more importantly for the Hatters’ hopes this season, got to see midfielder Luke Berry back on a pitch for the first time since suffering a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula on Good Friday, as his remarkable rehabilitation concluded three months earlier than expected with a 12-minute appearance as an 83rd-minute sub.

Jones made eight changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland on Saturday, with James Shea in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley and James Justin.

Glen Rea was named captain in the role in front of the back four, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Luke Gambin wither side of him in the midfield diamond and Andrew Shinnie at the tip, behind a front two of Jake Jervis and Harry Cornick.

The Hatters had the ball in the back of the net early on, Gambin’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside, before Justin stretched the Albion back four down the left, his 11th-minute cut-back for Jake Jervis intercepted at the near post.

Town were enjoying their fair share of possession and Bradley directed a 23rd-minute header from Gambin’s corner straight at Albion keeper Boaz Myhill, then Jervis dragged a left-footed shot past the far post after James Justin found him on the edge of the Baggies’ area.

Albion could, and probably should, have taken a lead into the break however after Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu found himself in some excellent positions.

First, around the half-hour mark, he received a ball from Matt Phillips just inside the area and turned Pearson, but Shea was quickly off his line to save with his feet, before a glancing header went well wide of the far post.

Mpanzu showed great strength in midfield to brush Tosin Adarabioyo off the ball, then continued his run to meet Shinnie’s 33rd-minute cross with his chest, an effort that was on target and turned behind by Myhill, although the corner came to nothing.

In the 37th minute Robson-Kanu sprang the offside trap and went through one-one-one with Bradley, but took his shot early straight at Shea, then Harvey Barnes ran at the Town defence and tested the keeper from 25 yards, but Shea again saved well.

Phillips’ clever throw on right caught Justin out two minutes before the break, Burke cutting back from the byline for Robson-Kanu, but again, the striker’s header was well off target.

Cornick also had a good chance for the Hatters a minute before the interval, but dragged his right footed shot across Myhill and the Albion goal.

West Brom made a couple of changes at half-time and came flying out of the traps, but couldn’t create anything and it was the Town who went closest in the 52nd minute, Pearson climbing highest at the far post to meet Shinnie’s corner, but the centre-back couldn’t keep his header down.

The hosts had the lead by the 62nd-minute, however, when Pearson’s sliding challenge 30 yards from goal ricocheted into the path of Burke, the former Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig forward, who slipped the ball past the advancing Shea from the edge of the box.

Jones immediately brought Lloyd Jones on for Gambin and switched to a back three, but his side found it difficult to penetrate the Baggies’ defensive line, Rea’s 30-yard drive in the 71st minute, after good pressure down the right by Cornick, only troubling the 1,175 travelling Hatters in the Smethwick End behind the goal.

Those Hatters fans sang all night, but the biggest cheer undoubtedly came when Berry came on for Rea in the 83rd minute, 137 days after suffering that horrendous injury.

‘One Luke Berry’ they sang, just as they had that day at Colchester. There wouldn’t have been a Town fan anywhere that wasn’t smiling, despite the result – which might have been taken to penalties had Jervis been in inch taller to get a clear header on Elliot Lee’s injury-time corner.

The Hatters were beaten, but by no means downhearted.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Justin, Rea (Berry 83), Mpanzu, Gambin (Jones 63), Shinnie (Lee 76), Cornick, Jervis. Subs: Collins, Senior, Read, Stech (GK)

ALBION: Myhill, Robson-Kanu, Morrison ©, Phillips (Edwards 46), Townsend, Barnes (Leko 66), Burke, Adarabioyo, Hegazi (Bartley 46), Field, Harper. Subs: Bond, Livermore, Gayle, Rodriguez

Goal: Burke 62

REFEREE: Robert Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Sf1SrAgOw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z92kTZfdUZ4

NATHAN JONES ON THE 1-0 DEFEAT TO WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side were excellent throughout their defeat to West Brom in the Carabao Cup this evening, as Luke Berry made his first appearance in a Town shirt since his severe ankle injury back in March.

After a strong opening 45 minutes from the Hatters, they fell behind just after hour mark when Oliver Burke pounced on a loose ball to tuck it past James Shea and bag what turned out to be the only goal on the night.

Jones made eight changes from the side that drew with Sunderland on Saturday, but the performance the Hatters put in was deserving of the gaffer's post-match praise.

The Welshman said: "I thought we were excellent throughout. They have just come out of the Premier League, we have just come out of League Two. Second half they were going to have a little bit of pressure, but I felt we defended very well second half.

"I thought we controlled the game first half. For a newly promoted League One side I thought we were wonderful, I really did and I am so proud of them. We got very unlucky with the goal. They showed the clinical edge to take the chance, it was a ricochet that gave them the opportunity and if we had shown that little bit more clinical edge then you never know, it could have gone to pens.

"For us to come and acquit ourselves, I can't be too down. It's not like we had them at our place. They had their home comforts. They came here with minus three big hitters, they made the changes at half-time so they were without just two and we matched them and I am so pleased with that.

"There will be Championship sides that will come here and be turned over far worse than we were."

Berry's return came as a little bit of a shock when the teams were announced at 7pm – the midfielder named on the bench, having been out since 30th March.

The manager said the graft his midfielder has put in to get back to fitness meant he warranted his place, with the former Cambridge United man getting seven minutes at the end of the game.

"We're not a charity, he's earned it," Jones continued. "If it was right to bring him on, it was right to bring him on.

"Both Glen and Pelly were fatiguing later on and we have got another game on the weekend, so it was important neither of them picked up an injury, so it was right to bring Bezza on.

"He's had a few touches, he got involved in the game, he's lacking real match sharpness because he's been out since March. He hasn't played a minute of football since March. His desire wanted to and I am delighted we could get him back involved.

"We've got to be careful with him because we can't rush him too much, he needs minutes and time. The medical staff take a lot of credit, the boy's desire – the kid is a warrior, we love him here.

"He works hard every day, he has a great attitude, he's positive in every way, in everything he does. He is fantastic and we're delighted he's ours. It was unlucky what happened to him, but he showed what can be achieved when you're a top professional."

**Brave Luton bow ****out of Carabao Cup at West **Brom

Carabao Cup first round: West Bromwich Albion 1 Luton Town 0

Luton bowed out of the Carabao Cup with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion this evening.

For long periods, the Hatters performed valiantly, more than matching their hosts, until Oliver Burke's goal just after the hour mark proved the difference.

Town boss Nathan Jones made eight changes, giving a full debut to Sonny Bradley, as only West Brom target Jack Stacey, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Matty Pearson remained from the side who drew 1-1 with Sunderland.

There was a surprise place on the bench for midfielder Luke Berry though, coming just 137 days after he suffered that terrible injury against Colchester last season.

Darren Moore went with a strong Albion too, internationals Hal Robson-Kanu, James Morrison, Ahmed Hegazi and Matt Phillips all in from the word go.

Luke Gambin had the ball in the net inside the opening two minutes, only for Jake Jervis to be flagged offside in the build up as Hatters acquitted themselves excellently in the opening forays, Bradley's header easy for Boaz Myhill.

Luton then fashioned a great opportunity on 25 minutes, when James Justin's clever low ball picked out Jervis, who turned his man, but from just inside the box, dragged a left-footer disappointingly wide.

The hosts responded with a first moment of real quality, Phillips cutting in from the flank and sliding in Robson-Kanu, who avoided Pearson's challenge only to see James Shea make an excellent save.

Almost spurred on by Jervis' miss, the Baggies went close once more on 25 minutes, Phillips, who was having more and more of an influence, sending over an inviting cross that Robson-Kanu glanced wide.

Town, with Mpanzu once again driving them on from deep, relishing the chance to show his pace, power and new found control on the bigger stage, had another chance, the midfielder's chest attempt tipped behind by Myhill.

Shea had an easier stop on 37 minutes, Robson-Kanu's 20-yarder never seriously troubling him, while he had no issues with Harvey Barnes' ambitious 30-yard sidefoot either.

Robson-Kanu continued his frustrating personal evening, glancing off target from four yards after being found by Burke's penetrating run and cross.

Harry Cornick dragged across the face on the stroke of half time, while the second period saw the Baggles clearly with the momentum, making all the running, although Luton went closest, Pearson heading Andrew Shinnie's corner over at the back post.

The deadlock was finally broken on 62 minutes, when a fortunate deflection saw the ball ricochet perfectly for Burke who bore down on Shea before slotting into the net.

Hatters responded by bringing on Lloyd Jones and then Elliot Lee, but barring Glen Rea's unlikely effort from range, they never seriously threatened forcing penalties.

With five to go, the biggest cheer of the night erupted from the nearly 1,200 noisy travelling supporters as Berry came on for Rea, to complete his startling recovery.

Shea had to beat away a late Morrison piledriver as the visitors forced two late corners, only to see the Baggies stand firm to reach round two.

Baggies: Boaz Myhill, Hal Robson-Kanu, James Morrison (C), Matt Phillips (Kyle Bartley 46), Conor Townsend, Harvey Barnes (Jonathan Leko 66), Oliver Burke, Tosin Adarabioyo, Ahmed Hegazi (Kyle Edwards 46), Sam Field, Rekeem Harper.

Subs not used: Jonathan Bond, Jake Livermore, Dwight Gayle, Jay Rodriguez.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea (C Luke Berry 85), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Gambin (Lloyd Jones 64), Andrew Shinnie (Elliot Lee 75) Jake Jervis, Harry Cornick.

Subs not used: Marek Stech, James Collins, Jack Senior, Arthur Read.

Referee: Rob Jones. Attendance: 10,404 (1,175 from Luton).

Jones full of praise for his squad after pushing Albion all the way

Hatters boss Nathan Jones believes his squad is in an excellent place despite losing 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion in the Carabao Cup last night.

The Luton chief made eight changes for the game, with just Matty Pearson, Jack Stacey and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu remaining from the side who drew with Sunderland on Saturday.

Although Baggies manager Darren Moore altered seven of his team that had won 4-3 at Norwich City, he could still call upon players such as Hal-Robson Kanu, Matty Phillips, Ahmed Hegazy, James Morrison and Oliver Burke.

The hosts were pushed all the way by Town on the night, with the only goal seeing Burke, a £15m signing from RB Leipzig last season, take advantage of a deflected clearance to race away and beat James Shea.

A hugely positive Jones said: “We’ve used the squad, the squad’s in good shape and we’re in a good place moving forward.

“We’ve made eight chances, they gave us utmost respect, so we’ve shown we’ve got a wonderful squad here.

“I’m very, very proud of them, proud of our recruitment, proud of how we work and we showed some amazing structure in terms of how we played, as we caused them significant problems.

“We’ve got young James Justin, a 19-year-old kid, defending against Matty Phillips. I don’t know what price tag Matty Phillips has, but all over the place we were excellent.

“Hal Robson-Kanu has got to the semi-final of a European Championship, but Sonny Bradley was magnificent and I think we were as a team.

“We didn’t just defend it out, first half we controlled the game, we had a real good possession, real good structure about us.

“The only thing was if we had slightly more of a cutting edge, but I’m very proud of how we played.

“They showed their Championship quality, but they didn’t carve us open.

“They got in and around the box a lot, our keeper made one maybe two saves, but I wouldn’t think there was that much of a gulf.

“They’re going to have possession, they’ve got high quality international players, but take nothing away from what we did, I thought we were excellent.”

Town weren’t without their chances on the night too, Jake Jervis putting a fine opportunity wide, Harry Cornick dragging across goal, while Pearson sent header over in the second period.

On Jervis’ effort Jones said: “That was a wonderful chance, while late on we’ve had a couple of opportunities in and around the box.

“Cornick had a one-on-one, but these are good defenders, these are Premier League defenders.

“They were in the Premier League three months ago, we’ve just come from League Two, so lets have an element of realism about it.

“I can’t be too critical of them, I would love to go and say we should have beaten them, should have done this, should have done that.

“We’ve come to the hardest place in round one and I think we’ve been magnificent.

“We’ve shown the club in a brilliant light and I’m really proud of them as we’ve shown the structure, the bravery and I couldn’t be more proud of them.

“It’s a shame we haven’t got a draw out of it and gone to pens, as I think that would have been fair, but that’s the way it goes.

“It’s not like we had them at our place, they were in their home comforts and we matched them.

“I’m so pleased with that, as Championship sides will come here and get turned over far worse than that.

“These are favourites to go straight back up, so to come and acquit ourselves, I can’t be too down.”

Jones was quick to hail Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu who had another excellent display and is showing without doubt his best, most consistent form, for the Hatters so far this term.

The Luton boss added: “He finished the season well and has gone through pre-season that way, so it’s a work in progress, they’re all work in progresses.

“We develop players here, see the players we’ve got, young James Justin, his second game, the back four defended superbly well, Sonny Bradley for his full debut was outstanding, and then through the midfield.

“Last year we were playing League Two football and they were playing Premier League football.

“West Brom showed their quality by scoring from the one clear cut chance they had and it’s tough, but I can’t be too down.”