Wycombe Wanderers vs Luton Town FC (1st Sep 2018)

WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1 LUTON TOWN 1

Hatters fight back from a goal down once again to earn a point through Pearson

The Hatters came back from a goal down once again to earn a point and preserve their unbeaten record at Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon. Joe Jacobson netted a 15th minute penalty to put the Chairboys ahead in a first half in which Nathan Jones’ side struggled to get going.

But after goalkeeper James Shea had pulled off a penalty save from the same taker just after the hour, the Hatters fought back to make it 14 matches without defeat on their visits to Adams Park, Matty Pearson nodding in his second goal of the season with just over 20 minutes to go.

It could have been even more fruitful with new loan signing Eunan O’Kane starring in a terrific second-half display in which Elliot Lee, Dan Potts, Harry Cornick and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu all went close, the woodwork denying the latter, but they had to settle for a point after coming from behind for a third game this season to take something.

Jones had made two changes from last week’s 3-2 win over Shrewsbury, with James Justin and James Collins coming into the starting line-up, with Jorge Grant dropping to the bench and Danny Hylton missing out completely through injury.

O’Kane featured in the matchday squad immediately after his move from Leeds United, with Alan McCormack and Alan Sheehan returning after injury to take their places alongside him on the bench.

The first chance went Wycombe’s way in the second minute, when Anthony Stewart volleyed into the side-netting from ten yards after a Jacobson free-kick from deep found its way into his path via Glen Rea’s head.

Then, after Sonny Bradley had been booked for a foul on ex-Hatters striker Craig Mackail-Smith, Chairboys midfielder Randell Williams saw a glancing header go wide of the far post.

The Hatters’ first sight of goal came in the 13th minute when, after Jack Stacey made good progress down the right, Bradley rose highest to meet Andrew Shinnie’s corner and send a header goalwards that Dominic Gape did well to clear off the line.

Within a minute, the hosts had the lead – captain Matt Bloomfield racing onto a throughball from Gape and forcing Bradley into a challenge that referee Darren England was quick to penalise with a penalty. Jacobson did the rest from 12 yards, Shea diving the right way but unable to keep it out.

Stacey was proving the Town’s most effective outlet down the right flank, but an inviting cross was too difficult for Mpanzu to control, and then – when Justin, playing on the left of the midfield diamond – scooped the ball through for Collins, a linesman’s flag went up for offside as his chip came back off the crossbar.

It took until the 37th minute of a scrappy game for the next attempt on target, Shea getting his body safely behind a 20-yard shot from Williams after Akinfenwa had tussled with Pearson for high ball pumped into the box.

The Chairboys were in again soon after when Akinfenwa intercepted a pass from Collins, intended for Pearson, on the halfway line and played Mackail-Smith in for a clear run on goal. Bradley got back this time and stood the former Town man up, before expertly nicking the ball off his toe as he tried to trick his way into the area.

Jones decided against making a change at the break, and it was the hosts who would make the first substitution, captain Bloomfield forced off through injury just four minutes after the restart, although the Town’s wasn’t long in coming, Cornick on for Justin by the 53rd minute.

The ex-Bournemouth man went up front alongside Collins, with Lee dropping into the number ten role at the tip of the midfield diamond and although the Town mounted some pressure, there were no real chances before referee England awarded a second penalty in the 58th minute.

Mpanzu had tracked back well into the right-back position, but his block on a Wycombe cross went just out of play by the corner flag, and Jacobson delivered another set-piece into the box.

Collins made an attempt to head clear at the near post, but his arm was raised and the ball struck his hand, although the Hatters players claimed the striker had been pushed as he made his way off the post.

Referee England initially showed a yellow card to Rea, but after being called over by fourth official Stuart Burt, he showed it to Collins – and three minutes had passed by the time Jacobson got to take the spot-kick.

Shea dived to his left again, and with Jacobson going the same way as with his first, the Town goalkeeper pulled off a wonderful save. Within seconds the Hatters goalkeeper was called into action again, this time to tip a header from Akinfenwa over the bar, but the spark had been lit.

In the 63rd minute Mpanzu tried to break through into the box, and as the ball bounced loose, Potts lashed it into the top corner of the hosts’ goal, although referee England had already whistled for handball against the left-back. Town were making inroads though.

Jones introduced O’Kane soon after and by the 68th minute, we had parity. Lee was probing on the left of the Wycombe penalty area, and after he got to the byline for a second time, goalkeeper couldn’t hold his cross and Pearson was right on the spot to head over the line.

Shea had to be equal to an Akinfenwa volley two minutes later, but Lee was having a brilliant spell on the left, and in the 74th minute the Hatters forward found himself in oceans of space inside the area.

He delivered a precise cut-back for O’Kane to shoot at goal. The substitute’s effort was blocked, but the ball found its way back to Lee, who tantalisingly tricked his way past his man and whipped an inviting ball across the six-yard box, but the chance went begging.

O’Kane was linking up effectively with Lee, and after the Irishman found the former 25 yards from goal with a lovely clipped pass from the left touchline, Lee went for goal himself, although his shot was well off target.

It was all the Hatters now, one-way traffic, and in the 81st minute O’Kane wriggled his way along the left byline. His cut-back was half-cleared, but only as far as Mpanzu who sent a powerful shot in from the edge of the box, only for the thicket of legs to block it in the six-yard box.

O’Kane was revelling in being out on a pitch again, and with five minutes left he played Lee through on the left yet again, the striker checking back onto right foot in trademark fashion, looking to bend his 15-yard shot into the bottom corner, but keeper Ryan Allsop produced a fine fingertip save to deny him.

Wycombe were still having a go in what had developed into an end-to-end encounter, Shea seeing an effort from substitute Fred Onyedinma fly past his right post with four minutes left, then the Town keeper had to beat Stewart’s effort away from the edge of the box.

From the resulting corner, the Town broke four-on-one, Cornick leading the break from inside his own half. With Lee and Collins to his left, the substitute fed Potts to his right, but Allsop was there to thwart his effort that was destined for the bottom corner.

Still, with 90 minutes up, both sides went for it, Jason McCarthy slicing wide for Wycombe and Bryn Morris calling Shea into action again, either side of a 25-yard shot from Mpanzu that Allsop tipped onto the post at full stretch, then gathered the rebound as Collins looked to pounce.

It was a pulsating finish to an end-to-end second half, with the Town satisfied to take a point from one of the sides promoted alongside them last May.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Rea ©, Justin (Cornick 53), Mpanzu, Shinnie (O’Kane 64), Collins, Lee. Subs: McCormack, Grant, Jones, Sheehan, Stech

Goals: Pearson 68

Yellows: Bradley, Collins

WYCOMBE: Allsop, McCarthy, Jombati, Stewart, Jacobson, Morris, Bloomfield © (Thompson 49), Gape, Mackail-Smith (Onyedinma 71), Williams (Kashket 80), Akinfenwa. Sub: Ma-Kalambay (GK), Saunders, Harriman, Freeman.

Goal: Jacobson (pen) 15

Yellows: Morris, Thompson, Stewart

REFEREE: Darren England

PAUL HART ON THE DRAW WITH WYCOMBE WANDERERS

Town assistant manager Paul Hart felt the Hatters deserved a point as they came from behind to grab a draw at Adams Park this afternoon – and were slightly unfortunate not to win as a late flurry of chances went begging.

Joe Jacobson got the opening goal as he fired in from the penalty spot after Matt Bloomfield was tripped by Sonny Bradley 15 minutes in.

The hosts had the opportunity to extend their lead just after the hour mark when they got a second spot-kick following a handball from James Collins, but James Shea guessed correctly to keep out Jacobson's second attempt from 12-yards.

That sparked the Hatters into life and they got the equaliser through a Matty Pearson header.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elliot Lee and Eunan O'Kane all went close late on, but Allsop and the post denied the Hatters a stoppage time winner.

Hart said: "Lots happened, it was very eventful. But I think we certainly deserved the draw, if not more. It was difficult for us to see the first penalty, Sonny said it was nothing. But it was given. This is where we're suffering at the moment. If we took all the first halves out of it, we'd probably be in the top four!

"We're suffering for our little mistakes at the minute and it's tough for us, but I don't think there's any doubt in the quality of our play we try and produce and the courage that they show. To come back as many times as we do, it's phenomenal and we have just got to try and minimise these comebacks and start taking the lead.

"It was a great counter late on, unfortunate there, we hit the post a couple of times. We created chances, we've just got to make sure we're a bit tighter in the first half. We're playing up a division and we've got to learn, but we've got to learn quickly."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sToOAh3duOY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x01hSW4KHXY

Hatters hit back to remain unbeaten at Wycombe

League One: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Luton Town 1

A penalty save from James Shea and Matty Pearson's second half equaliser ensured Luton Town maintained their long and lengthy unbeaten record at Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 at the break after Joe Jacobson's first half spotkick, the Hatters, who were hugely disappointing in that opening 45 minutes, were in danger of suffering defeat at Adams Park for the first time in their history.

However, Shea stopped Jacobson from doubling his tally from the spot on the hour mark, with Town then instantly growing in confidence and looking a completely different outfit, levelling through Pearson before a tumultuous final minutes saw both sides create and ultimately miss chances to win it.

Luton boss Nathan Jones made two alterations to the side who beat Shrewsbury 3-2, James Justin and James Collins in for Danny Hylton and Jorge Grant, the latter dropping to the bench where he was joined by deadline day loan signing Eunan O'Kane.

Wycombe went close inside two minutes as a long free kick was headed across his own goal by Glen Rea, falling invitingly for centre back Anthony Stewart whose volley flew into the side-netting.

Randell Williams glanced wide, while Sonny Bradley was then involved at both ends, sending a looping header from Andrew Shinnie's corner that was cleared away off the line by Dominic Gape.

As Wanderers thumped a long ball forward on 15 minutes, Matt Bloomfield got on the wrong side of Bradley, who couldn't help but bring him down in the area, and despite already seeing yellow early on, avoided another booking as Luton fortunately kept a full complement of players on the pitch.

They still fell behind though, Jacobson stepping up to beat Shea, who was expecting an effort down the middle, unable to get down to his left in time.

That meant Luton have now conceded the opening goal for the sixth time in seven league and cup matches this term,having to hit back from going behind once more.

Jones' men struggled to really look like they were capable of doing during the remainder of the half, Justin's shot charged down about the closest they came.

With Adebayo Akinfenwa causing his customary nuisance, it was he who set up another opportunity, the ball rebounding away to Randell Williams whose daisy-cutter was well handled by Shea.

After the break, Wanderers remained a threat in the air, Mackail-Smith crossing for Williams, his glancing header easy for Shea.

Wycombe then won a second penalty on 58 minutes when a corner was sent in, James Collins penalised for a clear handball, although the visitors were incensed claiming the striker had been pushed before making contact with the ball.

Rea was booked and Jacobson stepped up again, but before he could take it, referee Darren England, alerted by the fourth official to something, came over to talk to Jones, before changing the caution to Collins.

After well over two minutes of waiting, Jacobson then eventually had his moment, going the same way once more, but this time so did Shea, who made a comfortable save, parrying behind for a corner, becoming the hero after last week's bizarre error against Shrewsbury Town.

Town's respite was almost brief, Akinfenwa's header clipping the bar, but Town thought they were level as Dan Potts went through to rifle into the net, unfortunately after the whistle had already gone for what looked like a dubious handball.

Mackail-Smith's hopeful long ranger was simple for Shea as Jones brought on new signing O'Kane for his Luton debut.

It was quite the introduction too as the on-loan Leeds man found Lee who tricked his way to the byline, dinking a cross that Allsop spilled, Pearson nodding into the vacant net from a matter of yards on 68 minutes.

Shea was extended once more, flipping Akinfenwa's clever volley over the top, but Luton were gaining momentum, O'Kane's effort blocked, while Lee's cross-shot was just missing a final touch from a lurking team-mate.

O'Kane continued to impress with one lovely dink over his man saw Lee set himself for a half volley, skewing it off target, while he then picked out Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu whose ripsnorter was repelled.

The Irishman's quality on the ball wasn't in question, as after Stewart went on a crazy burst out of defence to lose possession, he found Lee, who cut on his right, his precise side-footer destined for the bottom corner, but for the fingertips of Allsop.

Fred Onyedinma put an effort wide which led to a frantic and a quite frankly exhausting final stages.

First, Shea made a smart reaction stop to prevent Stewart from finding the net, although the corner led to a four on one charge by the Town, led by Harry Cornick.

With players bursting forward on either side, he picked out Potts to his right, only for the full back to put his effort far too close to Allsop.

Jason McCarthy sliced wide, before Allsop redeemed himself fully, with a magnificent save from Mpanzu's 25-yarder, the ball clipping the inside of the post and then fortunately bouncing back into the prostate keeper's grateful arms.

Morris's 20-yarder was grabbed by Shea while Luton's last chance saw an O'Kane free kick met by Bradley, his downward header bouncing wide, as Town climbed up to ninth in the table, stretching their unbeaten run at Wycombe to an impressive 14 games in the process.

Wanderers: Ryan Allsop, Jason McCarthy, Joe Jacobson, Sido Jombati, Anthony Stewart, Dominic Gape, Bryn Morris, Matt Bloomfield (C Curtis Thompson 48), Randell Williams (Scott Kashket 80), Craig Mackail-Smith (Fred Onyedinma 70) Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Subs not used: Yves Ma-Kalambay, Sam Saunders, Michael Harriman, Nick Freeman.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Dan Potts, Glen Rea (C), James Justin (Harry Cornick 53), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Andrew Shinnie (Eunan O'Kane 65), Elliot Lee, James Collins.

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Alan McCormack, Jorge Grant, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan.

Booked: Bradley 5, Morris 26, Collins 58, Thompson 90, Jombati 90.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 6,072.

Hart knows Town can't just be a second half side

Luton assistant manager Paul Hart knows his side must start performing in the first half if they are to achieve anything this season.

The Hatters found themselves 1-0 down at the break against Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon after Sonny Bradley had fouled Matty Bloomfield for spotkick converted by Joe Jacobson, the fifth time out of six league matches they have trailed going into half time.

Matty Pearson’s leveller with 22 minutes ensured they left with a point, but speaking to the press about the first period, Hart said: “There was lots happening, it very eventful, but I think we certainly deserved the draw, if not more.

“It was difficult for us to see. Sonny said it was nothing, but it’s given and this is where we’re just suffering at the moment.

“If we’d taken all the first halves out of it we’d have been in the top four. So, we’re suffering for our little mistakes at the minute and it’s tough for us, but I don’t think there’s any doubt in the quality of the play that we try and produce and the courage that they show.

“To come back as many times as we do is phenomenal and we’ve just got to try to minimise these comebacks and start taking the lead.

“We’re very, very aware of it, but unfortunately people won’t just pay to come for the second half and we’re phenomenal in the second half.”

Hatters were indebted to keeper James Shea for keeping the score at 1-0 in the second half, as he saved another penalty from Jacobson on the hour mark, allowing Pearson to rescue a point.

Hart felt it should never have been given though, adding: “In the second spot-kick, Hart said: “I think there was a definite push (on Collins), whether you can get your hand out of the way is another thing.

“But there was a push, but our keeper saved it, which is what he’s there for.”