Yeovil Town vs Luton Town FC (7th Apr 2018)

REPORT: YEOVIL TOWN 0 LUTON TOWN 3

Elliot Lee and Hylton on target as Hatters win at Huish Park

Second-placed Hatters took another huge step towards automatic promotion from Sky Bet League Two with a 3-0 win keeping them eight points inside the top on an eventful afternoon at Yeovil Town.

The hosts had two men sent off inside an opening 31 minute period in which the Town were already two goals to the good, as Nathan Jones’ side made it three victories from their last four games by recording a double over his former club after the 8-2 opening day win at Kenilworth Road.

Elliot Lee opened the scoring in the fourth minute with his 11th goal of the season, before Danny Hylton netted twice – including one from the penalty spot after Glovers left-back Ryan Dickson was sent off for dragging the striker back in the box – to take his tally to 21.

Yeovil were depleted further on the half-hour when striker Francois Zoko was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident that left Alan McCormack on the floor.

Ten minutes later Hylton moved clear of James Collins at the top of the Town scoring charts with a near post finish, before being taken off by Jones after picking up a yellow card for celebrating his fourth goal in as many games in front of the home fans.

Hylton's first goal meant that the Hatters have two players scoring 20 goals or more in the same season for the first time in 90 years, when Andy Rennie and Jimmy Yardley achieved the feat in the 1927-28 campaign.

Jones made one change to the starting line-up on his return to his old stomping ground; an enforced one with utility man Glen Rea – who netted the winner against Mansfield on Monday as a substitute – returning to the starting line-up in place of the injured Scott Cuthbert.

The Hatters made a dream start, with Elliot Lee firing them in front with just three minutes on the clock. Dan Potts clipped a ball down the left that Hylton flicked on midway inside the hosts’ half, taking out two defenders to allow Lee to race clear and pick his spot from ten yards as keeper Stuart Nelson came out to close him down.

Town twice came close to doubling the advantage with a flurry of chances, that started with Elliot Lee pouncing on a mistake by Shaun Donnellan to shoot low from the edge of the box.

Nelson beat his shot away, but Donnellan then whacked the ball against his centre-half partner Omar Sowunmi and presented Hylton with a golden chance ten yards out, but Nelson was equal to his effort.

Hylton then went close with a cross-shot from out on the right, and from the corner that came as a result of Nelson’s tip over, Alan McCormack volleyed he ball back into the box for Elliot Lee to head at goal.

Sowunmi got in the way of that one too, this time deliberately to divert it over the bar, but the second goal – and first red card – wasn’t long in coming as Hylton was pulled back by Ryan Dickson as he looked to get on the rebound after Olly Lee’s 20-yard shot was parried back into the area by Nelson.

Referee Malone didn’t appear to have seen the foul, but was alerted to it by his linesman and – after Dickson was dismissed – Hylton did the rest from the spot, placing his 20th-minute penalty firmly inside the post to Nelson’s right for 2-0.

The Town were playing some lovely football, making the extra man count and Jack Stacey was next to have a go, on 23 minutes, but his effort flew high over the bar.

By the 31st minute Yeovil were reduced to ten men, with McCormack going down after an off-the-ball incident with Zoko, with referee Malone – who was speaking to Hylton after giving a free-kick just inside the Yeovil half for a foul on Sowunmi – alerted by his other assistant on this occasion.

Faced with nine men, Glen Rea soon fancied his chances from 35 yards – although his effort was way off target – before Potts crossed from the left and Collins directed a header on target, but straight at Nelson.

The home keeper could do nothing to prevent Hylton getting his second, and the Hatters’ third, when he met Collins’ low cross with a stabbed 40th-minute effort that came back off the post, but straight to the striker to volley back past the keeper from close range.

Malone booked the striker for his celebration in front of the home fans, then spoke to him again back on the halfway line, and Jones soon had Jake Jervis stripped and ready to replace him to prevent any further disciplinary action against the 21-goal top scorer.

The Hatters came out after the break and immediately sent in search of more goals, Jervis hitting a 25-yarder that was flying towards goal when it hit Sowunmi flush in the face.

The Yeovil centre-half was thankfully back on his feet after receiving treatment, but Collins was soon trying his luck again - this effort blocked by Sowunmi before Olly Lee and Rea have further attempts, the latter's flying into the 1,126 travelling fans behind the goal.

Collins almost got in when he flicked the ball over Sowunmi’s head, a la Gazza against Scotland in Euro 96, but Nelson was equal to his half-volley, as he was McCormack’s follow-up from outside the box.

The game was being played at a much slower pace, but the Hatters cut the Yeovil defence apart again in the 66th minute when Potts got to the left byline and stood up a cross that Collins left for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu at the far post, but the midfielder’s volley was always on the rise.

Yeovil had a rare sight of goal with 20 minutes to go when Stacey was booked for a foul on Jared Bird, although Lewis Wing’s 25-yard free-kick was high and handsome.

The midfielder then had a much better chance with quarter-of-an-hour to go, moments after McCormack had been booked for a foul on Bird, but Shea produced a terrific save to preserve his second league clean sheet, and the team’s 17th in total for the season.

Almost immediately Jones introduced Flynn Downes for McCormack, who left the field to boos from the home crowd while applauding the travelling Hatters on the open terrace behind the goal.

The Hatters had done more than enough to take the points home, and although Collins twice went close to getting on the end of moves in injury-time, the scoreline didn’t really look like being extended with the hosts prepared to sit in and limit the damage.

Another professional job done for Jones’ men ahead of next week’s penultimate home game of the season against Crewe as the finishing line comes into sight!

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Rea, Sheehan ©, Potts, McCormack (Downes 77), Mpanzu, O Lee, E Lee (Gambin 89), Collins, Hylton (Jervis 45). Subs: Justin, Mullins, Cornick, Stech (GK)

Goals: E Lee 3, Hylton (pen) 20, 40

Yellows: Hylton, Stacey, McCormack

YEOVIL: Nelson, Bird, Wing, Browne (Mugabi 21), Dickson, Zoko ©, Green (Gobern 71), Sowunmi, Fisher (Surridge 55), James, Donnellan. Subs: Khan, Maddison (GK), Barnes, Santos D’abadia

Reds: Dickson, Zoko

REFEREE: Brendan Malone

ATT: 4,316 (1,126 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQjfjB24big

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFtIjl9nGUk

NATHAN JONES "DELIGHTED" WITH WIN OVER YEOVIL

Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted with his side’s performance as they defeated Yeovil Town 3-0 at Huish Park this afternoon in Sky Bet League Two.

Elliot Lee opened the scoring after four minutes with a smart finish, before Danny Hylton was dragged to the ground in the penalty area by Ryan Dickson – resulting in a straight red card for the Glovers full-back after just 20 minutes.

Hylton scored the penalty that followed, before Francois Zoko received his marching orders 12 minutes later for a coming together with Alan McCormack. The Hatters wrapped up the scoring with Hylton firing home from close range just before the break.

Town recorded their first back-to-back wins since the end of January, as they moved eight points clear of fourth place.

Jones said: “I am delighted. It’s always a tricky encounter coming here. They had a wonderful result last week where they won 6-2 away from home where it’s never an easy place to go [Coventry]. To score six is wonderful.

“So we knew it would be difficult, we thought the pitch would be a bit more difficult. But from start to finish – we’ve talked about our starts where we’ve conceded away from home early, but we were the ones who have got off to a flying start. You could see it in them, they were really at it.

“We scored a good goal, we could have scored again, Hylton had a great chance and then we got the second. Then you’re kind of thinking it’s going to be our day.

“We made a big thing of it – our starts have killed us because we score almost every game, if not every game. We give ourselves mountains to climb, so we wanted to get off to a [good] start. By scoring early and scoring first we did that.

“I thought from start to finish we were thoroughly professional in everything we did. I know some people will be disappointed we didn’t go onto score loads more goals, but it wasn’t about that. It was about getting over the line and that was thoroughly professional.”

Hatters coast to victory over nine man Glovers

League Two: Yeovil Town 0 Luton Town 3

A dramatic first half saw the Hatters take yet another mighty step towards promotion to League One as they continued their Indian sign over Yeovil Town this afternoon.

Going into the game having put eight past the Glovers on the opening day, plus wins of 4-0 and 5-2 last season as well, the Hatters scored a further three time in the first 45 minutes, making it 20 in just four matches, with their hosts going down to nine men as well.

Luton then controlled the second period without any alarm, reducing the contest to a pedestrian pace as they secured a play-off place, the least of their aims now, Mansfield and Swindon unable to catch them after dropping more points.

The visitors made one change, Scott Cuthbert out injured and Mansfield match-winner Glen Rea getting the nod as Johnny Mullins returned to the bench.

Town made a magnificent start to proceedings against their opponents, who went into the fixture three unbeaten and buoyed by a 6-2 win at Coventry last time out, as Dan Potts' ball forward was flicked on by Danny Hylton for Elliot Lee who had timed his run to perfection.

The striker advanced on Stuart Nelson and waited for the keeper to commit himself, coolly placing the ball into the corner for his 11th of the season.

Town simply had to double their lead on 11 minutes when Elliot Lee picked up a terrible clearance by Shaun Donnellan, his effort parried by Nelson.

The loose ball was then hammered into Glovers defender Omar Sowunmi by a nervous Donnellan falling on a plate for Hylton just eight yards from goal, but maybe startled by the ease of the chance, he could only sidefoot tamely straight at Nelson.

Nelson had to turn over Hylton's cross, and from the corner, Alan McCormack hooked the ball back for Elliot Lee to head goalwards, Sowunmi nodding away from under his own bar.

Yeovil had to wait 15 minutes for their first chance, Jared Bird's cross swung in for for Alex Fisher who couldn't direct his header on target.

Luton took a stranglehold on the game with 20 minutes gone as Olly Lee's 20 yarder was parried straight back into the danger area by Nelson where Ryan Dickson pulled back the lurking Hylton.

The offence was spotted by the linesman with referee Brendan Malone dismissing the Glovers defender for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, leaving the hosts with 70 minutes to play with 10 men.

Hylton doubled the punishment and the lead too, netting possibly his best penalty yet for the club, hammering into the top corner, as Nelson waited for the dink down the middle.

As if the hosts afternoon couldn't get any worse, it did on the half hour, as Francois Zoko was dismissed for an off the ball challenge on McCormack, leaving the hosts down to nine men and an hour of the game remaining.

Rea, buoyed by last week's goal, tried his luck from 30 yards, his effort veering wide, while Potts dinked a cross over for James Collins to head straight at Nelson.

Luton then made it even better on 39 minutes when Collins sent over a cross from the left and Hylton prodded against the post, converting the rebound when it fell kindly for him.

However, he was then booked for celebrating right in front of the Yeovil fans and spoken again to before the game resumed, as he was immediately substituted by a clearly annoyed Nathan Jones to avoid seeing red.

Jake Jervis was on in his place and came close immediately, sending a back header narrowly over.

After the break, the game was played virtually played at a walking pace at times, resembling a training exercise of keep ball, Yeovil unable to get any kind of possession and Luton just toying with them.

Collins went close to making it 4-0, his stabbed effort parried by Nelson who then got down to cling on to McCormack's low attempt.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu looked to break his own personal duck for the season in spectacular fashion, thundering an effort that whizzed over, while Yeovil's Lewis Wing's 30-yard free kick that didn't trouble James Shea.

The Town keeper then ensured a first clean sheet on the road since Grimsy away in January, denying the hosts a consolation in stunning fashion, somehow changing direction to repel Wing's deflected effort.

Yeovil's supporters had their biggest cheer of the afternoon when McCormack was finally withdrawn for Flynn Downes with 13 minutes to go, the midfielder also walking a tightrope having been booked moments earlier.

It mattered little though as Town saw the game out without any further alarms, remaining eight points clear of fourth placed Exeter, now with just four games to go.

Glovers: Stuart Nelson, Jared Bird, Lewis Wing, Rhys Browne (Bevis Mugabi 21), Ryan Dickson, Francois Zoko (C), Jordan Green (Oscar Gobern 71), Omar Sowunmi, Alex Fisher (Sam Surridge 55), Thomas James, Shaun Donnellan.

Subs not used: Jonathan Maddison, lefe Santos D'abadia, Otis Khan, Marcus Barnes.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan (C), Alan McCormack (Flynn Downes 77), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Olly Lee, Elliot Lee (Luke Gambin 88), Danny Hylton (Jake Jervis 45), James Collins.

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Johnny Mullins, James Justin, Harry Cornick.

Referee: Brendan Malone.

Booked: Hylton 45, Stacey 70, McCormack 75.

Sent off: Dickson 19, Zoko 32.

Attendance: 4,316 (1,126 Luton).

Hatters MOM: Elliot Lee, striker got Town off to the best possible start.

Margin of victory is of no concern to Town chief

Luton boss Nathan Jones wasn’t bothered in the slightest by his side not putting Yeovil Town to the sword fully during yesterday’s 3-0 win at Huish Park.

With 45 minutes gone, the Hatters had already sewn the points up, with Danny Hylton scoring twice and Elliot Lee netting, while the hosts were down to nine men, Ryan Dickson and Francois Zoko dismissed.

However, after putting eight past their opponents on the opening day and with another hefty victory in their sights, Town failed to break through again in the second period, happy to keep possession as Yeovil went into full damage limitation mode.

That didn’t concern Jones one iota though, as he said: “We could have made it slightly more easy for ourselves, but it someone had offered me a 1-0 win here in whatever circumstances, I would have taken it and that’s a real good performance.

"I understand there might be an element of frustration they’d (Luton supporters) have liked to have seen more goals, but we’ve scored enough goals, so everyone’s seen enough goals this season.

“It’s just about getting the three points and we did that and I’m delighted.

“We had a few opportunities, Yeovil sat right in, so it denied space. The only way they were going to score would be from a little counter attack if we risked possession centrally, so we didn’t do it.

“I thought they were excellent, they stuck to their gameplan, we didn’t need to score anymore goals, three points is three points.

“If we’d have scored five, or risked it, I’d have rather won 3-0 by playing like we did than 3-1 by really trying to be brave.

“We’ve been brave, we’ve scored enough goals, we’ve shown what a good attacking side we are, and we must have had some good possession stats, so that’s a positive thing.

“I thought from start to finish we were thoroughly professional in everything we did.

"I know some people will be disappointed we didn’t go on and try and score loads more goals, but it wasn’t about that.

"It was about getting over the line and that was thoroughly professional, it really was and I’m very pleased.”

With Exeter City and Notts County winning, it was vital Town followed suit, as they remained eight points clear of the fourth-placed Grecians with four games of their own to go.

Jones wasn’t overly fazed by other results though, adding: “As long as we win, then no-one can do anything at us and it’s all about us is about doing our job.

“That’s what I keep telling the players, ‘do our job, do our job.’ Yes they can look at the results when they get in, but we had no idea of anyone’s results during the game.

“I’m just pleased that we’re doing our job, as we’ve come through a sticky patch, we’ve been criticised for a lot of things, but we’ve won three out of the last four.

“So just at the right time, we’re actually hitting form, so that’s good news.”

Jones disappointed to take off 'pantomime villain' Hylton

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones admitted he hadn’t wanted to take Danny Hylton off in the first half of today’s 3-0 win at Yeovil, but was left with little choice.

The striker had notched twice inside the opening 40 minutes, once from the penalty spot, to make it 21 goals for the season, but was shown a yellow card for celebrating in front of the home fans.

He was then talked to by referee Brendan Malone before the game restarted, prompting a clearly annoyed Jones to withdraw his leading scorer for Jake Jervis on the stroke of half time.

Explaining his decision to the press afterwards, Jones said: “He would have liked to score plenty more, as the form he’s in, and it’s disappointing, it really is because I’m disappointed for him.

“I didn’t want to bring him off as I never bring Danny Hylton off if I can help it, but it just took the sting out of the game.

“I’m sure their players would have tried to wind him up and then Danny plays on the edge, so I couldn’t afford to go down to 10 men, miss him for weeks to come and to even it up a little bit more today.

“He’s a pantomime villain, because he’s such a good player, then people target him and the crowd get on him here, the crowd got on him last year.

“Once you go 3-0 up, then there’s bigger challenges ahead, not being disrespectful to anyone, but we should win the game from there with nine men, 3-0 up.

“Now what I didn’t want to do was to give Yeovil fans something to really get behind and to lift them, so it was the safe thing.

“It was a shame as I would have liked Danny to score more goals, but he scored two, he’s a massive part of what we did, set up the first as well, so he’s had a massive, massive impact.

“It’s just a shame that things like that have to happen.

"Danny could have avoided it, but he likes to get himself involved in these things, what I didn’t want to do was go down to 10 men and then even it up a little bit, so just an easier decision to make.”

Jones also had to replace the already booked Alan McCormack in the second period too, with the midfielder booed constantly for his part in the an off the ball incident which saw Francois Zoko become Yeovil’s second player sent off with half an hour gone.

Jones said: “If you get punched you go down and you get sent off, simple.

“The fans love to get behind someone to hate, and if you asked Yeovil fans would they like Alan McCormack and Danny Hylton in their side, I think they’d bite your hands off.

“So I think it’s a little bit of a respect thing in terms of booing him because he controlled the game.

"He was excellent from start to finish, Danny was wonderful, it’s just they can be pedantic at times, but that’s why they’ve had good careers.

"Alan McCormack managed the game wonderfully well, I thought he was excellent from start to finish and deserved his 15 minutes rest.

“I thought he was going to get a yellow card as the referee adjudging him for diving, it was a clear foul, absolutely clear foul but these things happen.

“We’ve managed the game well in all aspects, our staff managed it, our players were magnificent.”