Luton were dominant, threatening, thrilling and swashbuckling, so it’s a puzzler how they paid the penalty against Swansea. Two turned down spot-kicks didn’t help, but it was only half of the story.
The facts are that a litany of mistakes in the third minute saw in-form Conor Hourihane fire in and ultimately settle the contest, but after that early howler the Hatters were fabulous.
They created chance after chance but the excellent trio of Jordan Clark, Harry Cornick and Elijah Adebayo just couldn’t convert. And, when they did, though Dan Potts, the linesman’s flag curtailed their celebrations.
Swansea barely got near the virtual spectator of Simon Sluga in Town’s goal, but they didn’t have to after a long ball over the top caught out stand-in skipper Matty Pearson for Yan Dhanda to steal in behind.
Centre back partner Kal Naismith then failed to deal with the danger and the ball was cut back from the byline to Hourihane who bust a gut to get in the box and leave Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for dead.
“There’s so much we’re disappointed, but so many positives, it’s just hard to see them because we’ve just lost the game 1-0,” said Town manager Nathan Jones afterwards.
“A number of factors, decision-making by officials and players, probably cost us today. That’s the frustrating thing because I thought we were excellent for the majority of the game.
“We were front-footed and we were the better side, as far as I’m concerned. We had two penalties that should’ve been penalties. We’ve had clear-cut chances, clear-cut headers, we’ve had one goal disallowed, probably correctly – it’s marginal, but we’ll give them that.
“Then, so many situations that we should’ve done better with but we didn’t and we’ve kind of let them off the hook.
“When you concede after three minutes, like we pretty much did in the away leg, which is ironic, then we were chasing the game, but the performance levels, I was very pleased.”
Town had arrested their proclivity to lose after conceding first when they came from two goals down to beat Sheffield Wednesday last month, and this had all the signs of another sensational Kenilworth Road fightback.
It remained that way until the final whistle. That was, of course, minus the goals, though they had golden opportunities.
And they even had the ball in the net only for Potts’ towering header to be ruled out for offside, before the defender was stretchered off before the break, though it was revealed afterwards that he hadn’t suffered a concussion.
But while the officials got that disallowed goal decision right, Luton were livid about two ignored penalty claims, one in each half, the second of which looked as clear-cut as they come with a foul on Adebayo.
Afterwards, rugby league fan Clark said it looked like a tackle in the oval-balled game, once the big man once he’d chested the ball down.
He said: “I didn’t see the handball but I think the one in the second half is a stone-waller really. I’m a bit rugby fan and it looked like a rugby tackle to me, so I’m not sure. I’d have to watch it again but it didn’t look like a penalty.”
“Elijah’s one is just a stone-wall one,” said Jones, adding: “There’s no debate about it. He’s chested it and then he’s hit him after the ball.
“The handball is down to interpretation, but he’s moved his hand to the ball and if that one goes to VAR it’s a penalty.
“And, to be honest, the challenge is not great either on Dan Potts. I doubt he meant it but it’s endangering an opponent. Again, there’s a few things there that if it goes to VAR we might be talking about completely different stuff.
“Refereeing is difficult because they have to make split second decisions. But what baffles me is that people say it’s not a penalty when I know it is because I’ve had the benefit of seeing it.
“So when they still say ‘no’, they’re better off just saying, ‘I’ll have a look at it and if I’ve made a mistake I apologise’ and that’s all you can do because it’s human error.
“I make errors and if someone says to me I’ve picked the wrong team, I’ll have a look at it. And when I look I think, well maybe I did and I’m big enough to think that.
“Decisions baffle me sometimes and there’s been much spoken about the penalties that they’ve had lately, which have been a tenth of the clarity of ours, and yet we didn’t get them.”
Yet had Adebayo, Clark and Cornick matched their impressive afternoons with killer instinct the penalty calls would have been a moot point, because Luton should’ve wiped the floor with the promotion-chasers.
That they didn’t is where the work is, but everything else had promising signs of the high-flying Hatters of three seasons ago.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Simon Sluga – 6
Couldn’t keep out Conor Hourihane’s strike, after a series of errors in front of him, though he did get something on the shot, but then had relatively little to do until the 70th minute when he rushed off his line to deny Ryan Manning.
Dan Potts – 6
Had the ball in the net on 13 minutes with a towering header, only to see the linesman’s flag raised. But then got clattered into by Conor Hourihane and was stretchered off on the stroke of half time after a prolonged period of treatment on the pitch. It was revealed afterwards that he wasn’t concussed, which is a positive. Replaced by Martin Cranie on 45 minutes.
Kal Naismith – 6.5
Didn’t get a good connection on a chance, right before Swansea’s early opener, and then failed to halt Yan Dhanda who cut back for the opener. But he was calm and composed otherwise and read the game well.
Matty Pearson – 6
Got caught out by a long ball over the top City’s opener, but improved markedly after that and kept Andre Ayew relatively quiet. Replaced on the 83rd minute for Kazenga LuaLua, as Town tried to throw the kitchen sink at Swansea.
James Bree – 7
Did the simple things well and linked up well with Harry Cornick.
Ryan Tunnicliffe – 7
An industrious performance where he was able to be more forward thinking.
Jordan Clark – 7.5
Looked up for the task of the wing back role and bold and brave in taking on Connor Roberts to deliver crosses, but wasted a glorious chance in the second period when Harry Cornick whipped a cross right onto his forehead only for the ball to fizz past him and leave heads in hands.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6.5
Didn’t track the run of Conor Hourihane for the opener, but should’ve had an assist with a cross that picked out Harry Cornick. He got on the ball more in the second period.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu – 7
Almost caught Freddie Woodman off his line with an audacious long range lob from 35-yards that the keeper backtracked and stretched to palm away. Should’ve had an assist with a fine cross for Elijah Adebayo.
Harry Cornick – 7.5
Looked lively and his pace caused City problems. He should’ve had an assist when he sent a delicious cross in for Dan Potts to convert, but it was ruled out for offside. Should’ve done better with a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cross but he glanced a header horribly wide, and then saw Jordan Clark do likewise with his fabulous cross. Spends too much time holiday offside. Replaced by James Collins on 70 minutes.
Elijah Adebayo – 8 (star man)
Though he should’ve filled his boots, he caused all sorts of problems with excellent hold up play, his aerial presence and playing well on on the turn. He’s still raw but showing signs of being a huge talent, literally. That fact that he got in the positions to score is a positive. If he carries on doing that he’ll notch his fair share.
SUBSTITUTES:
Martin Cranie – 7
Solid peformance that went largely untroubled.
James Collins – 5
Replaced Harry Cornick, but with his departure some of Town’s momentum was lost and the top scorer never got close to adding to his tally to rescue a point.
Kazenga LuaLua – 5
Could’ve done with entering the fray earlier, but Swansea doubled up on him well and he couldn’t make any inroads.
UNUSED SUBS: James Shea, Sam Nombe, Joe Morrell, Luke Berry, Glen Rea, Tom Ince
You can’t always get what you want as Ole Rubber Lips said. And you don’t always get what you deserve. But I’ll take that performance all day every day.
I still feel DH is out of form and needs a rest. He didn’t track back from opposition counterattacks well enough. And he dribbles too much when sometimes the best thing is the quick pass. Pearson was also slightly ropey. And if I wanted to be churlish I’d say Lualua was poor when he came on (too slow in his tempo) but he didn’t have long to get up to speed. And we lost width and pace when Cornick went off. But these are minor points.
Hopefully Mr Potts is up and about and back in the first team very soon.
One of the best performances the Town have put in on the big screen. Even my partner, who usually manages about thirty minutes, couldn’t drag herself away!
Not really a weak link and definitely something to build on. The early error was disastrous, but we came back and could – and should – have scored two or three. As for the ‘penalties’, probably debatable, although – for once – I’d have welcomed VAR at this level.
I see the Swansea manager was unhappy with the pitch – and the wind. Couldn’t really blame the Town for the latter! Why not – for once – just admit that they were lucky and up against a better side on the day?
All the best to Dan Potts. Brilliant header for the disallowed goal! Let’s hope he’s back soon fit and well.