Luton 1 Wigan 2: Jones admits subs didn’t work in late smash-and-grab defeat

A baffled Nathan Jones looks on
A baffled Nathan Jones looks on. Photo by Liam Smith

Nathan Jones admitted his substitutes didn’t work as Luton snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at home to Wigan, conceding two sickeners in the last ten minutes. 

Carlton Morris’ third goal in four games – a majestic header from James Bree’s cross – had given Town a first-half lead and they looked to be heading for their first home win of the campaign. 

But the Latics made a double sub just past the hour mark, bringing on Graeme Shinnie and eventual match winner Thelo Aasgaard, which proved game-changing.

In contrast, Jones, so fond of the term for his substitutes, used all five to detrimental effect. First, the limping Elijah Adebayo was replaced soon after the break, but it was the removal of goalscorer Morris and his entire midfield three of Jordan Clark, Luke Freeman and Allan Campbell between the 70th and 87th minutes that left Luton looking impotent.

That offered Wigan a chink in the armour, which they exploited via a Tom Lockyer own goal and then Aasgaard’s stunning winner.

Jones said: “I think I probably could’ve been better today, in terms of changes I made prior to kick-off and definitely through the game, because we finished the game wanting to win it, but from doing that we’ve ended up losing it.” 

By the time the last of the midfield, Campbell, had departed for Luke Berry, Town had just conceded an 80th minute equaliser, which was a calamity of errors that ended with Callum Lang’s shot taking a cruel deflection off Tom Lockyer.

But worse was to come as Town tried in vain to retake the lead, the Latics countered and Aasgaard whipped a stunning curler past Ethan Horvath to stun Kenilworth Road with just two minutes left on the clock. 

“It’s poor game management to concede two in the last ten minutes at home. To lose the game, that’s not us,” said Jones. 

“I’ve made changes and they haven’t come off. I’ll look at that. Could I have made changes prior to the game, because they give us more energy? I thought we were pretty dominant.”

Asked if tiredness at the end was an issue, Jones said: “I made as many subs as I possibly can so I’m not sure it’s that. It’s just discipline in the end that that’s something we’ve got to learn from. 

“It’s just a bit baffling how you can lose the game when we’ve had no real worry during the game. That’s the frustrating thing.” 

Luton kept pressing to salvage something at the death and Berry had the ball in the net in injury time, but it was swiftly ruled out for Cameron Jerome being offside. It leaves the Hatters still searching for a first win at Kenilworth Road this season. 

“We weren’t at our best today in terms of energy levels, but I thought we did enough to win the game comfortably,” said Jones. 

“I didn’t really see that coming. They didn’t really get anywhere near our goal, didn’t have a shot on target and then, suddenly, we mess about, give the ball back at our corned flag and they go through and score without even getting a shot on target and we’re 1-1.

“We’ve made changes to be athletic and to go and try to win the game and then we got caught on the counter-attack. 

“The only way we could see them scoring was a counter-attack. They’re a big side but we’re good set-plays-wise. 

“We said, ‘don’t be open,’ and we were. It was such a poor goal. I’m really disappointed. The changes I made today didn’t have an impact on the game, or didn’t have a positive impact on the game. 

“Normally, we bring on our game-changers and they really do do that, but they didn’t today. 

“We’ve had enough of the game to categorically not have lost it, but to have won it, and we haven’t. That’s the Championship for you.”

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  2. They must think Christmas has come early up in Lancashire! Three points gift-wrapped and gleefully carried away by Wigan yesterday. Most of the substitutions made little sense. In particular, why were Clark and Campbell replaced when it was still 1-1? Why this? Why that? Your guess is as good as mine. At least NJ admits he got it wrong. Let’s hope that first home win isn’t too far away. Meanwhile, bring on Stoke away. We’ll need our Valleys form to pick up anything there.

  3. “I didn’t really see that coming. They didn’t get near our goal”. And there in lies the problem at home. Jones is too bothered with defending. We got nowhere near their goal either after Morris scored. Or before that to be honest.

    We suck at home this season and Jones needs some smelling salts. We can’t win if we have more than 35% possession. We were soporific in possession and very one dimensional – whack a long cross field ball up the pitch, bypassing the midfield. If Jones doesn’t figure it out soon and start us playing some fun football, I think he should consider moving on. It’s so boring at home it’s not fair on the fans.

    Fingers crossed there will be some trains running to Stoke next week, otherwise I’m driving up. And fingers crossed Stoke play on the front foot as it’s our best chance of winning.

2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

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