The magic of the midweek Kenilworth Road lights finally faded 19 days short of a three-year record after a woeful first half and a Charlie Austin header did for Luton.
January 30, 2018, was the last time Town suffered defeat at a Kenilworth Road evening kick-off – 22 games in all – but tonight’s was virtually assured the moment QPR’s newest old signing netted from point blank range just before half time on his second debut for the club.
The odds weren’t particularly in Town’s favour, having won just one of their last 18 league games against the west Londoners. But when top scorer James Collins threw away a gift early in the second period, there was nothing that followed except a sense that the Hatters could’ve played for another 1,077 evenings and not got close to finding the net.
Instead, Rangers countered late on and Macauley Bonne had the easiest task to pick his spot and put any faint hope of a last-gasp Luton goal firmly to bed.
Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “It’s really disappointing, we started first 10 minutes really well, front-footed, then the rest of the first half we were really passive, dropped right off, allowed them to do what they wanted with the football.
“No aggression, no pressure on the ball and that‘s been absolutely the polar opposite of how we’ve been here, and that’s been the really disappointing thing.
“Second half we came out, we wanted to step on to them, we went back to the original game-plan, and we did, we had a glorious chance straight away, we had a lot of opportunities in and around their box, without having the quality to punish, as did have a lot of situations.
“Then we were chasing the game and were hit by a sucker punch when we were chasing, but it’s really disappointing as this was a game we felt was a real opportunity.
“When your back four drops, pretty much, behind the stand, it’s quite easily for him (Austin) to get it in. With all due respect, Charlie Austin’s a very good target man and a very good box man, but he’s not going to run behind you. He’s not going to stretch you, he’s not going to frighten the life out of you with pace.
“So, I don’t know why our back four dropped and gave him enough space to get it to feet, to get it to chest, to set and to dictate play. And that was our own fault because if we’d been slightly braver and on the front foot then our front ones could have got pressing, our midfield could’ve got tighter, then our back four would’ve been right up close.
“Realistically, none of those (QPR attackers) are going to run in behind you. That’s what really disappointed us. We couldn’t get on the front foot because we weren’t brave.”
PLAYER RATINGS:
SIMON SLUGA – 4.5
Was well-placed to stop Bright Osayi-Samuel, Charlie Austin and then, in a one-on-one, denying Lyndon Dykes with his feet, but he had little chance with either goal.
DAN POTTS – 3
Endured a tough time and couldn’t get to grips with Todd Kane in the first half, which wasn’t the greatest salve after the news of Rhys Norrington-Davies’ surprise departure for Stoke. Replaced by Sam Nombe on 77 minutes.
SONNY BRADLEY – 2
On the receiving end of a couple of Nathan Jones tongue-lashings early on, calling for him to “liven up!” with Charlie Austin lurking and he was caught in no man’s land for the opener. He’s usually a good passer out from the back, but not tonight.
TOM LOCKYER – 4
The better defensive performer, but was still part of a backline that struggled in the first half
JAMES BREE – 3.5
Really quiet in the action department from the right back on his first start for a month. Needs minutes to get back to the marauding player he was in the final nine games of last term.
GLEN REA – 2
A move into the centre of defence during the first half didn’t work and Charlie Austin gave him the slip for the opener. He was caught wanting for the Macauly Bonne’s goal and his passing was poor all night.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 5
He did Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall things in the first half as the only attacking bright spots came via his through-balls. Didn’t bring his shooting boots though. The hope will be this isn’t his final game, with loan recall rumours dominated the day in the build-up.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 3.5
Really struggled in the first half as QPR dominated the midfield. Improved after the break but was replaced by Luke Berry on 83 minutes.
KAZENGA LUALUA – 3
Couldn’t get into the game and moving into a midfield three didn’t suit him. Improved slightly in the second half with more of the ball, but he’s another player that needs a run in the team and may find he doesn’t get another start for a while. Replaced by George Moncur on 83 minutes.
HARRY CORNICK – 4.5
Had one good run in the first half when Town started well. Saw more action in the second period, but could force a fightback.
JAMES COLLINS – 2
Squandered a big chance early in the second half when Tom Carroll’s pass was deflected into his path and put him through on goal, but he fired wide. Replaced by Danny Hylton on 83 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES:
SAM NOMBE – 3
Plenty of effort but he probably needs someone to lay it on a plate for him in order to open his Hatters account. Tonight was not the night for that.
DANNY HYLTON – N/A
Not on long enough for a rating.
LUKE BERRY – N/A
Not on long enough for a rating.
GEORGE MONCUR – N/A
Not on long enough for a rating but he did have one half chance that he blasted high and wide.
UNUSED SUBS: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jordan Clark, Peter Kioso, Brendan Galloway
Let’s be honest, Luton were woeful, and the greatest issue I had was the total inability of anyone to get a shot anywhere near on target, even when they had time to steady themselves, which Collins really didn’t on the ‘Golden Opportunity’, but still should have troubled the keeper. Second half particularly we might well have had a hatful had the goal been at the back of the Kenilworth Stand. And, bringing on three substitutes 10 minutes from the end, and actually getting on less than 6 minutes from time. Come on Jones, that has need some explaining? Finally, I do think Rea needs a rest, huffed and puffed, but no real impact.
An absolute shocker. You can never guarantee three points but, given the mid-week floodlit context and the record of the opposition, it wasn’t unreasonable to be confident that we might win. Maybe we’ll upset the odds again on Saturday!
Last night apart, I have to ask – not for the first time – why, why, why do we
have to have loan players? I’ve heard all the arguments, particularly about sending our younger players out for match experience, but to have to rely as much as we have on borrowed Premiership players is undesirable on two fronts. They can, of course, be recalled – as has just happened in one case – and, however good they are, they take up places which should be filled from our own squad. So, we end up denying our own players the opportunity to test themselves and develop.
Personally, as I’ve said before, I would never have sent Peter Kioso out on loan to Bolton and I’m glad he’s back – and, ideally, staying. But I can see the value of sending some younger players out. Most of these, however, are unlikely to be recalled before the end of their loan periods. Premiership players are another matter. One has gone – will the other follow suit? At least, if he does, there will be more opportunities for our own squad!
The only disagreement I have with you is what you saw in D-H. Sluga was comfortably our man of the match. It would ha e been 4-0 without him.
Jones needs to be challenged now. We started well as a 4-3-3, Cornick looked dangerous. Then Lualua does what he does and falls over (despite playing really well for a few minutes at the start) and Jones used it as a chance to switch to 3-5-2. We then fell off completely in midfield. We had no width as an attacking force and suddenly a team with 1 away win all season looks like a top 6 side playing at home. To then not change things until there was 15 minutes left was ridiculous too.
20 goals in 23 games. Only 11 teams in the EFL have scored less. There’s only 9 relegation spots in those 3 leagues, and the bottom 2 divisions have typically played less than us too. There’s only 6 teams in the prem to have scored less too and they’ve typically played 6 games less. We are a team set up firstly not to concede rather than to try and score. It’s so dull.
How many fun games have there really been this season? Norwich and Preston at home (both with fans). Maybe Bristol City? Sheffield Wednesday away? Maybe half a game against Derby? At the halfway stage there are no flukes. We are a defensive minded team still prone to mistakes at the back (Rea and Bradley need a rest). We are largely a non entity going forward. Strip out the set piece goals and if D-H goes we have nothing at all outside of Moncur. I don’t think the issue is one of personnel though (although Collo needs a month or 2 on the bench – goals in 4 league games isn’t anything like enough). It’s tactics. But with 3 very tough away games and a pointless cup game coming up, this period is probably about damage limitation.