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A headed goal from a set piece in each half from Hungarian centre-half Janos Kovacs consigned the Blues to a 2-0 friendly defeat at Luton. Michael Chopra came closest to scoring for the Blues when his first half header struck the post.
Blues boss Paul Jewell named a side which was a mix of the two teams he fielded in midweek with Scott Loach in goal, Jack Ainsley at right-back, Joe Whight on the left and Damien Delaney and the skippering Luke Chambers at the centre of the defence.
In midfield, Massimo Luongo sat behind Jimmy Bullard in the centre with Cheick Kourouma on the right and former Hatter Andy Drury on the left. Michael Chopra was joined by Ryan Stevenson up front, the Scot having played that role during his time with Hearts.
The first shot of the game was hit by Bullard straight at Luton keeper Mark Tyler after a corner conceded by the stopper when he tipped a Whight cross from deep wide somewhat uncertainly. For the home side, Stuart Fleetwood curled a ninth minute 20-yard freekick wide.
Luton ought to have gone in front in the 11th minute when left-back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner beat Ainsley and crossed low. Fleetwood missed the ball completely but Scott Rendell behind him hit a low strike which Loach saved with his foot.
Play quickly moved to the other end and Ainsley sent in a deft ball towards Chopra, who diverted it to Tyler. Moments later, Luton had the ball in the net but Andre Gray was offside when Jake Howells, a player previously understood to have been eyed by the Blues, played him through.
On 24 Loach pushed a Rendell header wide from a freekick wide on the right but the former Cambridge man was penalised for a push.
Luton were on top at this stage, enjoying most of the possession and creating the better chances. In the 28th minute the ball bounced dangerously in the Blues box but wouldn’t fall for Gray before it went out of play.
Michael Chopra came close to netting his fourth goal of pre-season on 35 when his flicked header diverted Bullard’s freekick from the left against a post with the keeper beaten.
But a minute later, it was the Hatters who would go in front. Howells sent over a deep corner from the right which centre-half Janos Kovacs headed back across goal over Drury on the line and into the net.
A minute before the break, Bullard hit a long-range effort that Tyler couldn’t hold on to. The loose ball fell to Stevenson but Tyler was out quickly to block.
The home side were good for their lead at half-time, having been in control for the most part and having created the better chances. Conceivably it could have been two with Rendell missing the early good opportunity.
With Luton allowing them little time to settle on the ball, the Blues were finding it harder to get their passing going than they did at Cambridge on Wednesday. Despite this, Chopra came close with his header against the post, while only an excellent save from Tyler thwarted Stevenson late on.
Town made a number of changes at the break, Scott Loach, Joe Whight, Jack Ainsley, Cheick Kourouma and Michael Chopra making way for Arran Lee-Barrett, Aaron Cresswell, Carlos Edwards, Luke Hyam, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jason Scotland. Luton switched Scott Rendell for JJ O’Donnell.
Emmanuel-Thomas hit a low effort through to Tyler then Stevenson headed over as the Blues started the second half more positively than they had ended the first.
On 50 a corner was half-cleared to Hyam 25 yards out and the midfielder stuck what looked to be a goal-bound effort until keeper Tyler pulled off the best save of the game so far to block to his left. Chambers was one of a number of Town players to try to get to the rebound but play was stopped due to a head injury to a Luton player.
Stevenson shot over in the 59th minute with Town beginning to pass the ball around with greater confidence. Three minutes later, Scotland hit a low shot which Tyler claimed comfortably.
Emmanuel-Thomas forced Tyler into another save in the 67th minute, making a powerful run before hitting a low shot which the keeper put behind.
Luton went close to increasing their lead against the run if play on 70, scorer Kovacs again headed a Howells corner towards goal but this time Cresswell was able to clear off the line.
Cresswell curled a shot wide on 79, but with subs coming thick and fast the game was losing its intensity and Town their momentum.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Luton made it two with Janos Kovacs again the scorer. Greg Taylor sent in a freekick from the left and the Hungarian rose to power a header past Lee-Barrett.
Hatters sub Adam Watkins curled a freekick wide shortly before the final whistle confirmed the Blues’ first defeat of pre-season.
Luton had been good for their lead at the break, but after half-time Town improved significantly with Hyam coming closest to beating impressive home goalkeeper Tyler.
But as the half wore on the game lost its shape with the substitutions increasing and the Blues rarely threatened in the closing stages, although on the balance of the second period, Kovacs’s second goal was probably harsh on Paul Jewell’s men.
I am a little bit confused,reading some of these comments.What is the purpose of a friendly.Is it to beat the oposition out of sight,so we can all feel good about winning or is it to try out new or different systems and personell.Still,if Paul Jewel did not experiment we could all bemoan the fact and call him a muppet for not doing his job. On the other hand ,if he does experiment,perhaps we could do the same.
I doubt the Hatters fans are looking at it that way (don't worry it's only a friendly), I bet they're delighted to beat a Championship side. However it's not all doom and gloom and whilst I'm not happy about seeing us lose to a team like Luton, I am confident of a much improved season on last, promotion is a long way off though.
Martin, because it would appear as though you have based your opinion on this match. Chops scored 15 last season and had a pretty rough time of it. Scotland is old news and although has also scored a few won't this season. He's cheap backup at best. If chopra has the right men giving him the ball to feet consistently I truly believe he can score 30+. I very much doubt that Scotland will get into double figures and that's just appearances. You aren't wrong though. Sorry I didnt mean that. Just that I disagree.
are these the days........ totally agree, keane is the worst disaster of a manager in my time of supporting the town. Jas you make very valid points at times but then you come out with some complete shyte....COYB
@bigolconnor - like to share your optimism about Chopra unfortunately I don't, I personally believe his best goal scoring days are now behind him although I think he can still do a job for Town (just wish he'd contribute more with the rest of his play). By the way he scored 14 last season.
as much as the result disappointed me when I saw it, and after reading the report it seems we werent as good as we should have been, I realise it is only a pre season friendly. alot of the negative comments on here have some basis but I'm going wait until the west ham game, where I hope pj has worked out a formation and a starting 11 against strong opposition who he believes can put Ipswich in as good a position as we can get before I begin to judge where I see us heading
I was at the game and it was a pretty worrying performance. Yes, I know it was a pre a season friendly but Massimo aside, who looks a class act, it really was an inept display. Afraid to say that Ainsley is not good enough and was slow paced and inaccurate with his passing. Chops was left an isolated figure as too often the ball was pumped forward which was meat and drink to their tall centre halves. Not sure what Stevenson was doing up front as he offered very little. Chambers and Delaney look sluggish and again the set piece frailties were exposed. One corner, one free kick, two free headers....again!! The only pluses were Massimo who will be a regular starter, Bullard who was full of running and enthusiasm, and Cressy when he came on in the 2nd half. To complete my woes I even picked up a parking ticket as I was advised by the least helpful stewards that it was safe to park in a side street. Luton!!!! What a dump!! Things can only get better.....I hope :)
Poor result today, wether its a friendly or not losing 2-0 to a Conference side is not good enough, still i dont think were far away just need to add a couple of signings in my opinion. We need a pacey centre half because if were going to play a 4-2-3-1 type formation then the centre of midfield and defence have to be quite high up and close together and with Chambers and Delaney were always liable to people getting in behind us.
Massimo looks a really bright player but we just need to get the right players in positions that suit the team. This is why i think Davies (if he signs) would be important because our front four could be sorted (JET, Martin, Davies- Chops), if we dont find a wide left player it all looks a bit more complicated because i think Martin is better behind the striker and Bullard is better in the middle.
For those suggesting we sign Kovacs, yes he is a steady centre back but far too slow for Championship football (ring any bells?). Worrying we still haven't strengthened enough defensively and agree we badly lack pace in key areas but Saturday will be more of an indication and with a few key signings (centre back please) we'll be good.
im glad to read the last 3 comments because before that was the most rubbish I've ever read in my life (start posting when you go to games or just stop posting dross.) living near luton i went today with my family friends who are all luton fans and it was interesting to get there perspective. they all thought luongo was a class act, as did i tbh, he's twice the player hyam will ever be unfortunately, his composure was brilliant and he made himself available all the time.
Nice to read balanced opinions from some of you who went, thank you for those. Too many on here had an opinion about Luongo b4 he even kicked a ball, seems he is going to be an asset for us from what i have read and heard.
I too am a little Disappointed at this and the manner of the goals conceded, but please keep things in perspective. This doesnt appear on the face of it to bode well for the coming season, but there are other factors to consider, a couple more signings to come and also i remember other pre-seasons where we have won all our friendlies by massive margins, conceding very few, only for the season to start and find that we werent as good as pre-season had suggested. You learn nothing from a good week.
Keep the faith, i suspect by Xmas, if things are not going in the right direction Evans will make changes in personnel....So for me its as B4, Patience is the key....COYB
Dissboyitfc - Great post and balanced summary. I'm going to the Southend United friendly to see the new players and hopefully the continuing progress of Chops and Bullard.
It would always be nice to win these training session games, but win lose or draw at Southend, its looking far more positive than this time last year in my opinion.
Same old excuses just a friendly only half a team excuse after excuse the teams rubbish the manager the worst in our history and owner that doesn,t give a T---s and of course clegg say no more. I was at all preseason and they have been awful no system no tactics just remember last season and idiots that say he put it right last season the only reason was playing Hyam and Drury and then he drops the player that saved his job JEWELL OUT
Mid table championship is about our level,[at best ].I dont see any prospect of Town becoming a Prem team. We havnt the money ,OR in my opinion the manager to get us higher.It may be hard to accept,but there comes a time when you have to take a realistic view on things. This season will probably go much same way as last,and season before that,those days when we were always on the verge of prem have drifted away ,and money is more relevant now ,M E put a plaster on a wound needing an operation.He is a 'first aider not the ''Surgeon ''required.Unless someone in robes with sand in their shoes and oil seeping from every orifice comes to our rescue,we have to consider we are doing well to remain as high as Championshipand not get relegated . BUT if you are a dreamer,DREAM ON . COYB
bluey123...worst manager in history? you seem to have a short term memory loss, i give you ROY KEANE and if your memory works better long term i give you JOHN DUNCAN...two extremely poor teams under those managers.
And an owner who doesnt give T---s, you are a priceless the guy saved us from possible extinction and has invested quite a considerable amount of money.
I dont think for a second that Evans has bought the club and inherited our debts to Languish in the second tier as a mediocre football team, do you really think that? If so perhaps you could explain why you think he bought the team? The guy has been a successful and i dont think unsuccessful is part of his plans.
I have just watched us lose to the germans at table tennis and badminton lose to the russians at archery lose to bulgeria at volleyball, in fact we are not doing very well at all. I suppose to all you Drama Queens its Cleggs Fault....
Get real and face the facts, in my 40 years as a town fan i would say less than half those years have been spent as a top team. half as an average team looking to improve and some as a poor team clinging on to survival and as in the past, after a period of transition we will taste those giddy heights again...COYB
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