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Luton Town 3-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 13th Aug 2019 21:46

A much-changed Town side exited the Carabao Cup at the first round stage having been comfortably beaten 3-1 by Luton at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters, who switched their entire XI, went in front through Lloyd Jones on eight, Elliot Lee made it two from the spot in the 17th minute, then Andrew Shinnie added the third before Armando Dobra hit a debut consolation for the Blues 16 minutes from time.

Boss Paul Lambert made 10 changes handing keeper Will Norris and youngsters Bailey Clements and Dobra debuts.

Skipper Luke Chambers, who started at the centre of the defence alongside James Wilson, was the only player kept in the team from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

Clements, one of four academy graduates in the starting line-up with two more on the bench, was at left-back and Josh Emmanuel at right-back.

Emyr Huws made his first competitive start since December 2018 in central midfield alongside Andre Dozzell.

Dobra was on the left and Edwards, back after his groin injury, on the right with Alan Judge behind lone striker Jordan Roberts.

Jon Nolan was among the subs following his calf injury, while ex-Hatters loanee Flynn Downes was also on the bench.

Luton, who changed their entire XI, included former Blues loan man James Bree from the start at centre-half, while one-time trialist Marek Stech was a sub.

With former boss Mick McCarthy watching from the directors’ box in his new role as Republic of Ireland manager, Luton’s on-loan Chelsea midfielder Izzy Brown hit the game’s opening shot at keeper Norris in the opening minute.

The much-changed Blues took time to settle and on five Hatters captain Andrew Shinnie was played in behind Clements and hit a shot from the right of the box which Norris pawed wide off the woodwork.

And three minutes later, the home side took the lead. After a corner was cleared, the ball was played back in from the right by Brown where it found Jones unmarked and the defender had a simple task of nodding past Norris.

Luton continued to have much the better of it with Brown at the heart of most of their attacking play. On 13 the Chelsea youngster found Harry Cornick on the right but his shot flew over.

A minute later Dobra took the ball across the edge of the Luton penalty area before hitting a shot straight at home keeper James Shea, the Hatters’ third choice.

On 15 Dozzell curled a freekick over the bar after Edwards had been fouled by goalscorer.

However, in the 17th minute, the Hatters doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Emmanuel was penalised for blocking off Lee and referee Brett Huxtable pointed straight to the spot.


Town complaints came unsurprisingly to nothing and Lee slammed the spot-kick to Norris’s right as the keeper dived the other way.

The Blues were still to really get going but in the 27th minute Judge struck a shot which was deflected wide.

But a minute later, Luton again threatened on the counter-attack, but Kazenga LuaLua’s backheel flick from the edge of the area was blocked.

Luke Berry scraped another effort just past Norris’s right post on 31, then two minutes later Roberts battled his way on to the ball on the left of the Hatters box before cutting across to Judge, whose shot was diverted away from goal.

But it was still mainly Luton and in the 35th minute a quick Brown break ended with Lee hitting a shot which Norris saved to his right.

Six minutes before half-time, it was almost 3-0. The ball fell to Berry 25 yards out and the ex-Cambridge man’s low strike flew only just past Norris’s right post.

LuaLua shot not too far wide on 44, then as the half moved into injury time referee Huxtable inadvertently clashed heads with Brown midway inside the Town half with the Luton man coming off worse. Inevitably there were chants of ‘off, off, off’ from the Town fans.

Huxtable’s whistle ended a dismal half for the Blues soon afterwards with Town having been very much second best.

Despite having changed all their XI from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Cardiff, Luton got on top very quickly and went into an early lead before Town had settled.

The Blues were still to find their feet when the Hatters doubled their lead from the spot and although they started to pass the ball around more fluently later in the half, the home side continued to look more threatening and might even have gone in further ahead at the break.

Too many of Town’s players looked off the pace having played few competitive games either due to lack of recent fitness or inexperience with youngster Dobra perhaps the brightest spark having made one or two tricky dribbles.

Luton withdrew Luke Bolton and LuaLua at half-time in favour of Martin Cranie and Josh Neufville.

The Hatters went close to a third two minutes after the restart, a cross from the right reaching Lee on the left of the area but his effort flew just over. At the other end, a Judge low shot was hit straight at Shea, also from the left of the box.

Nine minutes into the second half the home side did add to their lead. Dozzell committed a foul just outside the area after Emmanuel had failed to clear and Shinnie’s freekick flew past Norris.

Judge was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Brendan Galloway two minutes later, before Lee hit a strike from the edge of the area which was too close to Norris.

Just before the hour mark a Wilson error allowed Cornick to break down the right and tee-up Brown, whose shot was deflected wide.

Danny Rowe replaced Edwards on 61 with the Welshman having benefited from the run-out but unsurprisingly not at his best having not played a game since April.

A minute later, the ball fell to Dozzell in space on the edge of the box but his shot was too close to Shea, who turned the ball over. Soon after, Roberts scraped a low shot to the Hatters keeper.

Town went closer in the 65th minute when, following a corner, Rowe crossed from the left and Shea failed to claim. Roberts turned goalwards but the ball was cleared away from the line.

Luton swapped very impressive loanee Brown for Callum McManaman on 66, before the Blues switched Huws, who again will have benefited from the competitive minutes if some way from his best, for ex-Luton loanee Flynn Downes.

The Hatters continued to dominate and went looking for a fourth, Norris saving from McManaman with his feet, the ex-Wigan man having found a way through the Blues’ defence.

The 1,064-strong Town support finally had something to cheer in the 74th minute when Dobra smashed home a debut goal. The Albanian U19 international picked the ball up from Downes after the sub had won the ball on halfway, brought it forward and inside to the edge of the box before slamming a low strike to Shea’s left and into the net.

With 13 minutes remaining Judge was replaced by Jackson, then on 79 Roberts was booked for a foul on Jones.

After a spell in which Town sent in a couple of dangerous balls from the right but without being able to create a chance, Dobra was booked for a foul on halfway.

Just prior to the fourth official indicating four minutes of additional time, Emmanuel was booked for a foul as Luton broke, the last serious action of a disappointing evening for the Blues.

Having started slowly and conceded early on, Town never looked like they would get back into the game and threaten to claim a place in round two.

The Hatters, who made one more change than the Blues, looked a much slicker outfit from the off with Town thoroughly disjointed with too many players either on the way back from injury or lacking senior experience.

Dobra’s debut goal and display and game time for the likes of Huws and Edwards were the only positives Town could take from the tie.

While manager Paul Lambert won’t be too disappointed at not having another game to add to the Blues’ lengthy fixture list, he will have been unimpressed that his fringe team was swept aside so easily by the Championship new boys.

Luton: Shea, Berry, Lee, Shinnie (c), Cornick, Bolton (Cranie 46), Galloway, Brown (McManaman 66), LuaLua (Neufville 46), Bree, Jones. Unused: Stech, Jervis, Moncur, Pante.

Town: Norris, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), Wilson, Clements, Huws (Downes 66), Dozzell, Dobra, Edwards (Rowe 61), Judge (Jackson 77), Roberts. Unused: Holy, Skuse, Nolan, Kenlock. Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon). Att: 5,433 (Town 1,064).


Photo: Action Images



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mrmorisato added 21:52 - Aug 13
For once I can happily say that cup competitions this season are not Town's priority! #EvansOut
-8

Bluearmy_81 added 21:53 - Aug 13
Remember Dos Santos against Norwich in 2008-9? Yes that far...
Evans out of ITFC on facebook
-9

martin587 added 21:55 - Aug 13
Not a lot to say really.Too many players not fit suffering from lack of football.Changed team for Saturday so looking for three points.Just hope the traffic is better going back to Southend.
5

Dolphinblue added 21:56 - Aug 13
Who cares......now move on to important stuff....Peterborough on Saturday! The 🐬 will be there 😀
3

dukey44 added 21:59 - Aug 13
But they were totally changed as well....?
11

Cloddyseedbed added 22:09 - Aug 13
Luton Town, yes Luton Town fielded a completely changed team and beat ITFC 3-1 and that's ok. Sorry I find that hard to swallow even if we did only make 10 changes. The team we fielded was hardly an inexperienced team was it and being 2-0 down in the 1st half can hardly be put down to lack of fitness. They maybe just coming back from injury some of them, but surely they had something to want to prove. Is it so wrong to demand or expect something better from the team you support?
29

runaround added 22:15 - Aug 13
I get that we didn't want to risk injuries & that league is the most important but it still feels as though the club doesn't take cup games seriously therefore never really being in right frame of mind for these games. A positive result at Peterborough then resting the players will prove the right decision but so many times in recent years we have had a poor result in the game the club has rested players for. Winning breeds confidence but I felt once I had seen the line up that winning was not feasible.
Hope the minutes on the pitch will help Judge & Huws return to their best
17

RobsonWark added 22:16 - Aug 13
Did someone say Chambers was in the team? And did I say over and over again that we will never win a game while he is in the team? Just saying! But all you so called supporters who think you know all about the game will still name him your player of the season right now lol .
-4

ShropshireBluenago09 added 22:19 - Aug 13
Difficult game against a quality Luton side, even if it was their 2nd string, they still had some quality players on the pitch.
We had 3 debuts, Huws 1st start in nearly 3 years, Edwards probably 80% fit and Jordan Roberts up front on his own - he was probably 5th choice striker last season!
With the team we put out, i cannot believe anyone thought we would come close to winning.
Glad Norwood didn't start as we need to protect him for league games.

Our 1st 11 would have been much more competitive tonight, but the league is far, far more important.
4

TimmyH added 22:22 - Aug 13
I know we have bigger 'fish to fry 'i.e. the league and don't need to pick up further injuries but still to lose 3-1 to Luton who have fielded a completely different side than what they played on Saturday is really not good enough, some posters use this excuse even when we were in the Championship, the standards have dropped so much at this club it's untrue!

Have to be the worst English team over the last 6/7 years in cup competitions...
15

Dissboyitfc added 22:25 - Aug 13
We are a laughing stock, not sure whether to laugh or cry. Last season I couldn't wait fo r the season to end, 3 games in and I am starting to feel sick. Before anybody says it's only the cup, think of this, that was not a team of youths, that team contained some very experienced players and should have able to make a game of it against Luton reserves!

Would love to know Lamberts thoughts behind keeping chambers in?
15

Umros added 22:36 - Aug 13
Regardless of what team, played three won 1 drawn 1 lost 1. One goal
a game average = Bang Average. Sad demise of a once great club.
10

cat added 22:38 - Aug 13
Normal service resumed, disappointed
9

Sindre94 added 22:39 - Aug 13
RobsonWark:

Comments like that are so destructive, boring, useless and completely pointless. Chambo was alongside two kids and an unfit lad who just came in the door. Save your voice for saturday and back the boys.

On we go.
9

Kirbmeister added 22:40 - Aug 13
Luton second 11 are a better side than Ipswich second 11. It's easy to forget they're a league higher than us. We're a mid table league 1 side at best so cant be too disappointed I'm afraid.
1

BrandestonBlue added 22:43 - Aug 13
Get a grip lads - this is a Mickey Mouse cup - just look at the Championship teams that have gone out to lower opposition tonight - do you think they are bothered - how are we the laughing stock ?would have been good to get a result but at least no more injuries to key players ahead of Saturday and game time for Huws , Edwards , Judge coming back from injury - sounds like promising debut for Dobra ( and a goal)
Let's be positive and get the six points from Posh and AFC!!
COYB!
10

algarvefan added 22:48 - Aug 13
Well said Sindre94, some of you really know how to stick the knife into your own team, we have a very thin squad, with a good deal of important injuries, if we had played Saturdays team and picked up more injuries you would have moaned also.
Lambert, despite what he said, obviously saw this as a distraction from the league and treated it as such, lets keep calm and see it as an early season hiccup because that's all it is!!
10

Saxonblue74 added 22:52 - Aug 13
Unimportant....move on. Robsonwark, will you ever have anything even slightly interesting or unpredictable to say? 81, I dare say #81outoftwtd Facebook group would gather more support. I'll just gloss over your posts from now on and cut straight to the more interesting stuff.
5

RobsonWark added 23:10 - Aug 13
It saddens me that you guys can't see the cancer of the club in front of your eyes. You can blame Evans all you like but Chambers is the one who is RUINING our club. Yes Evans (who obviously knows nothing about football and had the wool pulled over his eyes) gave him a new 2 year contract and PL who I love but is too afraid to drop him because the so called supporters who love the club love Chambers more than what happens to our club!!!!
-11

TimmyH added 23:12 - Aug 13
@kirbmeister, can't really agree with your post - Ipswich 2nd 11? Chambers, Huws, Dozzell, Edwards - these other than Huws through injury played there fair share of games last season and we're talking about Luton a just promoted sides second team (completely) not a Premiership side or even a top Championship side!

A few just wanting to brush this under the carpet...
7

utrechtblue added 23:18 - Aug 13
Living in Moscow I rarely get to games and was curious how some of the youngsters and fringe players would perform. I can't say many impressed. Dobra's energy and strike were pluses. The support was strong from the fans, though we had precious little to get enthused about. It's disappointing that Luton have a stronger second string but on this evidence I feel our squad remains pretty thin on quality, fitness and confidence. Of course it was very makeshift but did feel distinctly less punchy than our effort at Palace 2 years ago in the league Cup. Not many of that promising looking youth team have really kicked on... Injuries and a struggling team to blame in part. Onwards to Posh. I did enjoy meeting and chatting with some great, loyal supporters. Forever blue.
8

blueboy1981 added 23:23 - Aug 13
..... lame excuses for failure didn't take long for some people - nothing changes there either !
0

Northstandveteran added 23:28 - Aug 13
It's the acceptance of going out in the 1st round to Luton reserves that disappoints me.

What a state this once great and glorious club has become.
18

Kirbmeister added 23:34 - Aug 13
TimmyH - people keep going Dozzell. Apart from score on his debut what's he done? Not a lot.
6

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 23:45 - Aug 13
The rather overwhelming consensus of COMPLACENCY & DEAD QUIET acceptance among most Town fans with yet another as-early-as-possible exit from a Cup tournament during the Evans Reign... is... is well frankly shocking imho!!!

Tell's a heck of a lot about the overall dérout of this here once PROUD & REVERED club ...and about a large chunk of it's current fans too!

(PS: Stating the 5000% blatantly obvious in many of your post = i.e. that the league has most higher priority, so basically relieved with the fewer opportunities for injuries and of course fewer matches for the lads to concentrate on! is imho a COMPLETE waste of space & "ink"!)

Oh well, for some wildly childish solace (for SOME fans out there) I humbly suggest the following lol:

1) At least the "fabulous" Mr. Hurst new team lost out in the Carabao as well ...uhuu.
2) And while the *Delusion of Grandeur* suffering Mick The Mug can't brag with accomplishing the same THIS season, for a change!, he will soon enough be back to rose-gardening! LMAO ...But sadly in all likelihood combined with him "expertly" carrying on with occasionally spewing out his awesome (NOT!) grudge-bearing schadenfreude with the fortunes of his Suffolk based former club of employment.

Aye, indeed it's fundamentally true that you *Reap What You Sow* ... vastly regardless of whether you are into religion or not btw... so in closing and with that exact fact in mind:
"All hail the jawdroppingly beyond shrewd and especially beyond FOOTBALL-CLEVER (but ehhhh perhaps ever so sliiiightly Scrooge-like???) £ 935 mill net worth luvly mediaphobic owner. Hail!" :-)
4


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