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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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Bluearmy_81 added 10:33 - Aug 14
You're gonna feel so stupid that you backed Evans when we're in league 2 mate 🤣
0

dirtydingusmagee added 10:35 - Aug 14
Like i said i dont like the way things are but hands are tied, calling for Evans to go now seems to be a bit dumb after so many bought season tickets, he has the fans in his pocket, and will let the rot continue.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 10:37 - Aug 14
meant to add that 133 members on FB page is hardly going to scare Evans .
1

rabbit added 10:40 - Aug 14
bluearmy_81 I agree with Dirty you persist with a child like page on facebook where the average age of its members is mid teens, you suggest a buyer can be found if the price is right which in itself is nonsense.
Firstly we need a buyer who can financially support the business as ME does, however, even if that were found the investor would not be able, currently, to invest significantly more than ME due the current rules relating to wages vs income.
Try and be a little more factual in your overall views.
0

Saxonblue74 added 10:40 - Aug 14
Boring....boring.....boring. Still no answers from our socialist contingent.
0

Bluearmy_81 added 10:40 - Aug 14
Yeh you're right mate I'll just shrug and give in, roll over. After all its the Ipswich way!! 🤣😂
0

Bluearmy_81 added 10:49 - Aug 14
Rabbit the only time I'll entertain you is to correct your statements that are full of sh it. The average age of the group is approximately 40 I'd say, stop lying.
-1

eddiespearitt03 added 10:56 - Aug 14
Over 1000 travelling Ipswich supporters wasted their time and money on a team that could not compete !!!! EVANS OUT asap !!!!
2

dirtydingusmagee added 11:03 - Aug 14
over a 1000 supporters travelled , [respect to their loyalty] and most must have expected what they got . It is disapointing, the real crunch time is when the lge results take a hit.
1

TimmyH added 11:07 - Aug 14
@kirbmeister - I know!!...just making the point he's had plenty of game time last season and can't really be called a reserve (though he should be).
1

Pezzer added 11:35 - Aug 14
Negative- Chambers- concede 3 goals and he not up to the pace.
Positive - Dobra is going to be a very good player- saw him in the U18s v Sudbury AFC last year and he stood out by a mile.
1

Bluearmy_81 added 11:48 - Aug 14
He'll be gone soon then! Got to keep costs down and get a bit for our best players, don't want to be hanging on to them...
-1

dubblue added 11:54 - Aug 14
The problem with Evans is that he is keeping the club on life support, enough just to keep us ticking over. Yes it could be worse look at Bury or Bolton. But he has got to invest to reap an award and he has not done this since the days of the Dark Lord.
4

runningout added 12:07 - Aug 14
We were great in fits and starts last night and have unearthed a diamond in Armo Dobra. Our record in cup competitions does wind many up making opposition look better than they are! Suddenly the “priority is league” tag turns up. Well that hasn't worked too well for over 15 years! Look at Lincoln City, (not that I really care much) they have a decent attitude and up to now it's going places
1

ldnj added 12:11 - Aug 14
Very disappointing result. Can't be happy with "concentrating on the league".
Surely they must aim for a win in every match. It should benefit the overall mood of players and supporters. So disappointing that another cup competition comes to naught so quickly.
I know it means more matches without a strong squad, but cup wins would hopefully have revenue benefits as well - desperately needed.
2

rabbit added 12:29 - Aug 14
Interesting bluearmy_81 that you write, the average age of the group is about 40 "I'd say"!!, sorry to disappoint you but it is common knowledge that it is actually mid teens.
So, is your supposition based on the same basis that you were convinced about your other facts, the latest being the interest charge on the loan from ME to ITFC?.

-3

warktheline added 12:29 - Aug 14
‘What would we do without Evans'? That not the correct question, which should be , ‘what has Evans done for the club?' Nowt but take the club on a slow but steady decline! Laugh now but I predict non league football awaits this club within 5 years if Evans stays!

Yeah I'm ONE of the FB ‘Evans out' and proud to be part of it! Numbers will grow, it's a forlorn conclusion !
4

ITFCsince73 added 12:55 - Aug 14
It matters not if Evan's threw 10m at PL.
With Chambo starting every game what chance has the team got to move forward.
Come to think of it what chance has the club got of moving forward.
A ridiculous 2 year contract extension when we should of ended this hell in May.
1

Bluearmy_81 added 13:29 - Aug 14
How do you know you idiot you can't even look at the group as its closed. Bore off with your lies
2

rabbit added 13:34 - Aug 14
It's common knowledge bluearmy_81, your resorting to insults only goes further to prove my point, and what do you mean I can't see ? what makes you think that I'm not in the group?
-3

Bluearmy_81 added 13:44 - Aug 14
How can it be common knowledge? Its a closed group you absolute whopper!! 😂🤣
2

Bluearmy_81 added 13:47 - Aug 14
Maybe you are, I couldn't care less. Then you'd know you're lying. You are an absolute weapon rabbit, we lost to Luton reserves last night, keep backing Evans into non league.
3

rabbit added 13:49 - Aug 14
Have you not wondered about the increase in numbers recently bluearmy_81?

-3

warktheline added 14:05 - Aug 14
Rabbit and bobble hat , what a pair deluded numpties !
2

ITFCsince73 added 14:12 - Aug 14
If he is to be picked every game. t's about time Chambo put in a mom performance. After last Saturday that's the least he can come up with.
Last one being 3 plus years ago....
Again last night, another poor at best average performance.
We need more from our captain.
If we're going to get out of this league, we need much more.
1


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