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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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Gazelle added 15:04 - Aug 14
Jeez, our Reserves have just lost a game against Luton Reserves, so what's everyone getting uptight about .
3

brendenward35 added 15:48 - Aug 14
Maybe a stupid question but if the Facebook Evan Out ITFC group is closed how is he going to see the comments? I supposed he has loads of time to waste reading any comments. Maybe some of the rich and famous might join the group and club together to buy the club. Maybe stand outside the ground with large buckets each game see if you can raise the millions needed to buy the club. Really can't see how the group of so few can get him to sell the club just wasting your time.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 15:51 - Aug 14
warktheline - why is it that if someone has a different opinion to you that you have to throw insults at them , numpty , deluded, not real fans , no ambition, etc. You don't get it do you that I'm not really sticking up for Evans I just don't like the way you and others think it's your opinion or its wrong .
1

ITFCsince73 added 16:07 - Aug 14
Bobble. And that's coming from you, who wont hear of anything said about Evan's, or Chambo that you don't agree with.... then you go on to pull posts you don't like to hear...
You continually pull posts or opinions you don't agree with.
-1

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 16:15 - Aug 14
Yes I do but I don't say you are less of a fan or question or ambition . With you ITFC you can't go a post without slagging off Chambers , Bluearmy can't do one without mentioning Evans . It can be a positive news story about something nothing to do with ME and he turns it into a rant . And for the last time I'm not an Evans lover , I have mixed feelings about him but I do take exception to people quoting things as facts that are total bullsh*t. If you want to criticise fine but get your facts right. You don't like Chambers , fair enough but does it have be EVERY post , plus to blame him for our demise is utterly ridiculous.
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Walk_the_Wark added 16:28 - Aug 14
I don't think its about not liking Chambers.... I think its about fans having seen for a couple of seasons the demise of a player. he is too old. He is not good enough. He is costing us points. Im afraid this is a simple fact for all thinking fans to see
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 16:36 - Aug 14
Walk the Wark - fine , that's your opinion . If someone disagrees it doesn't mean they are wrong or stupid or less of a fan though does it . I know you didn't say that bit others do .
3

budgieplucker added 16:41 - Aug 14
I was fortunate to see all of the Robson era with many many special memories. My daughter gave up a couple of years ago as she couldn't afford it any longer and didn't want her Dad keep subsidising her. She unfortunately is in her early twenties and during her time coming to the matches with me witnessed very few magic moments to recall apart from the one in the last ten years, which we are reminded about every Saturday on Radio Suffolk, with Brenner's words of “the ball is in the back of Szczesny's net, get this for a score Ipswich Town 1 Arsenal 0” ... it may only be one game but one moment we shared enjoying together like the many moments I enjoyed with my late father at places like Wembley and the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. Don't let anyone tell me that last night was a “Mickey mouse cup”, any competition my football team enters I expect absolute respect for the competition and a burning desire to go as far as we can. I didn't see Lincoln in recent years under Danny Cowley prioritise one match over another and they had far more limited resources which's to them seem to have made no difference in the burning desire to compete to the maximum.
5

Bluearmy_81 added 16:43 - Aug 14
Lol its not for him to read! 😂It's to organise action against him.
-2

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 16:58 - Aug 14
Budgie plucker I get your point and I don't necessarily think we should have this attitude every season , however this year even more than others on only son surely is to be top six . With that in mind and with our current squad size and injury list I totally agree with last night's selection .
Peopld like Huws, Judge , Wilson , Norris, Edwards and Dizzell all got game time . We have a couple of youngsters a run out too. Did we really want to play people like Woolfenden, Norwood , Jackson etc . Can you imagine the stick PL would have hot in here if Norwood got injured last night .
A good cup run can be hugely beneficial and MM never gave it a go , I hope PL does at some point but I'm glad we fielded that 11 last night .
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 16:59 - Aug 14
Sorry about spelling . Bloody auto correct
0

Dallas_Blues added 17:42 - Aug 14
No one was injured? That's a first.
0

blueboy1981 added 17:44 - Aug 14
Being realistic, all considered with the current injury list, and players with so called potential not stepping up to the plate as expected - we simply do not have the strength in depth quality to go for League and Cup success. That's the reality of it all.
We have numbers, but not too much quality as some are, and will, show this season, in what is only Division 3 in the English Football League.
A weaker squad than many care to recognise, it's about time some of our much talked about, and hyped up youngsters like Dozzell proved their worth.
It's happening at other Clubs, make no mistake.
1

Saxonblue74 added 17:47 - Aug 14
Bluearmy 81, here's a fact for all to consider. There were somewhere in the region of 21k Town fans at PR Saturday. Your FB page has 133 followers. So, the maths on that alone equates to 0.63% in your favour. That's without taking into consideration all the "armchair" fans that were not there.
2

londontractorboy57 added 17:51 - Aug 14
Dozzells_Bobblehat
Dont even worry about Warkthe line he doesn't even attend games.
Usual TWTD news site meltdown first 2 games in league win 1 draw 1 loose an insignificant cup match even Bluebore comes out from hibernation.
0

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 17:54 - Aug 14
Blue boy !!! We've been worried sick .
0

ITFCsince73 added 18:02 - Aug 14
Bobble not every post mentions Chambo.
Keep up old son....
0

blueboy1981 added 18:02 - Aug 14
I have been, as people well know, standing up against criticism of Chambers, a great Club man for sure, setting all the right examples of a Pro' footballer - until it comes to awful, inexcusable mistakes on the field.
These have become all to often over recent times, and his mistake against Sunderland, from the Skipper of the team was atrocious. The problem being that the mistakes continue, and for whatever reason, age or whatever, he can't, won't, or don't do anything about it.
I don't dislike any player that pulls on an ITFC Shirt, but some have to take a serious look at what they produce on the pitch. Personally, I hope Chambers can correct such elementary errors, but it certainly needs to happen real soon.
I can understand the criticism of Chambers from some, but feel far too much is of a personal nature - and shouldn't be.
6

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:07 - Aug 14
ITFCSince73 well that one did 😁.
Totally agree Blueboy
1

blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Aug 14
...... if the ‘potential' of our ‘superstar' youngsters doesn't bare fruit this season, most, if not all will drift into the also rans of Professional Football - not too many levels of lucrative wages below the level we're playing at now. This is a level where they have to show it, because there are many around them in other teams that actually will be up for it.
0

jas0999 added 18:15 - Aug 14
I find it odd that people aren't disappointed by this defeat. Reality is this really did expose how far we have fallen. Yes, it was two much changed teams, but two years ago we were a championship side and they were league two. Now, they have easily swept us aside, proving without doubt that the current squad lacks depth in key positions. We don't have enough strikers - that's for sure. The biggest problem though is the defence. Our two experienced CBs played and were dreadful. Right back remains a problem position. We have few options across the board and a defence which was poor last season is arguably worse this. We need those three experienced players on permanent deals which PL has already targeted. Quickly.
6

blueboy1981 added 18:20 - Aug 14
..... great to agree with you Bobblehat, after locking horns a few times in the past - maybe we've both mellowed, or smelt the Coffee as it really is .. !!!
2

midastouch added 18:26 - Aug 14
@ blueboy1981. Long time no hear, where have you been last few months? All good? Did you have to take a long lie down after our relegation? ;-)
Sorry to break it to you but been no word on here in a while from your ol' chum Swn98. We were asking about you both the other day on here. Welcome back.
1

dannyrr added 18:28 - Aug 14
It seems like we've not improved the squad from last season. We're back at the point where we will struggle to score a goal in a game. But for the goal that was scored we never looked like being able to score a goal but then again Sunderland never looked like they would score either, until they were gifted a goal by Chambers blunder. What was he thinking that is a schoolboy error not getting rid of the ball. When is Norwood going to score- is he going to fail to score now - is it the lack of service- had some brilliant touches but we just seem to find great difficulties in scoring goals. At this rate we're not good enough for league 1
1

Bluearmy_81 added 18:48 - Aug 14
Agree Danny, with the current broken austerity approach we'll be down again within 3-4 years imo. Still, until that time, (and after) keep calm and worship Evans! Keep gobbling guys!! 😂
2


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