Luton boss Nathan Jones said a linesman “changed his mind” and controversially disallowed a James Collins penalty equaliser because of Middlesbrough players’ protests, as Town suffered a frustrating defeat against ten men.
How the officials arrived at the decision is most concerning as, though the striker did double kick the spot-kick, referee Andy Davies had awarded the goal and his assistant had not flagged.
Video Assistant Referees (VAR) are not used in the Championship and so the assumption is that it was Boro’s actions that led to the goal being ruled out. It proved a huge turning point in the contest.
The hosts had taken the lead just after half time through Chuba Akpom – their first shot on target – but Sam Morsey had been sent off for handball, when he blocked Collins’ shot with his elbow, to conceded the spot-kick in the 66th minute.
Town’s top scorer converted with a scruffy finish down the middle, in off his standing foot as he slipped, but protestations led to a discussion between the two officials, who then ruled out the goal.
Jones told lutontown.co.uk: “If it’s the right decision then it’s the right decision but the referee had given it and so did the linesman.
“It’s only after they (Boro players) appealed and went mental that the linesman kind of, whether you call it wilted or changed his mind or whatever he did. And that was the thing.
“I had no confidence he was going to be strong in it because I did feel he was never going to give us anything tonight, considering his position on the pitch.
“We should’ve started the game better. We should’ve taken the pen because, at the end of the day, the referee gave the right decision – the penalty, the sending off, everything – and we should’ve taken advantage of that. We didn’t and that’s the problem really.
“I’m a tight game, in a game of very, very little, we should be going home with something tonight, but we’re not.”
The result saw Town’s barren away-day run stretch to four games without a goal and it was highlighted when, with almost 30 minutes of action played after the penalty miss, the Hatters could not make their numerical advantage pay. They managed just one effort on target, when Luke Berry saw Bettinelli pull off a goal-line stop to keep out his header.
In fact, Boro, who’d barely bothered Town keeper James Shea all game, had the better chance when they countered in stoppage time and the number one tipped over Marcus Tavernier’s shot.
But it was frustration all round as Luton slipped to 13th in the Championship.
PLAYER RATINGS:
JAMES SHEA – 7
Commanded his box well when needed but, though he could do little with the goal, he was relatively untroubled until a stoppage time counter from Boro, when he tipped over Marcus Tavernier’s shot.
DAN POTTS – 6
Decent in the air and didn’t have a lot to do in defence but didn’t offer a great deal in attack.
SONNY BRADLEY – 5.5
Let Marcus Tavernier get away from him for the goal, with the midfielder sliding in Marvin Johnson to cross for Chuba Akpom, with the centre back not getting back in time to cover.
TOM LOCKYER -6.5
The only defender that that effectively tried to play out from the back. Found Harry Cornick in the box.
MATTY PEARSON – 6
Solid performance in defence but too many long balls came to nothing. He saw a second half header sail high and wide.
RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES – 5
Back in the starting 11 as the only Town change, playing a more advanced role than his usual left back berth, he had a couple of crosses couldn’t make them count. Replaced in the 62nd minute by Luke Berry.
GLEN REA – 7
Played a fabulous cross-field ball to James Collins. A wonderful turn and shot in the build-up to Town’s penalty, but he later picked up a fifth yellow card of the campaign, which will mean a one-match suspension. Replaced by Jordan Clark in the 86th minute.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 6
One of those games where his endeavour wasn’t matched by quality or end product. Replaced by Danny Hylton in the 86th minute.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 5
Promising free-kick just before half time that Town couldn’t quite get a head to, but it was one of his quieter games and he was replaced in the 62nd minute by Ryan Tunnicliffe.
HARRY CORNICK – 5
You can never question his effort but he couldn’t utilise his pace to cause problems.
JAMES COLLINS – 5.5
After his goal heroics at the weekend, he spent more time defending until the spot-kick controversy.
SUBSTITUTES:
RYAN TUNNICLIFFE – 6
Added some fortification but Boro weren’t really attacking.
LUKE BERRY – 7.5 (star man)
Instantly involved in the game and started to link up the play. Saw a shot deflected over as Town initially turned up the pressure with the man advantage. Some of his set pieces were disappointing but he had the Hatters’ only other chance, getting his head on George Moncur’s corner only to find Marcus Bettinelli’s reach out a glove to deny him.
GEORGE MONCUR – 6
Busy but often well-marshalled particularly down the left flank, though he won a fair share of corners and almost got an assist late on.
DANNY HYLTON – N/A
Moments after his introduction he produced a neat turn to beat Paddy McNair in the penalty area but then fouled the defender, which summed up Luton’s night, but not on long enough for a rating.
JORDAN CLARK – N/A
No impact and not on long enough for a rating
UNUSED SUBS: Harry Isted, Joe Morrell, Martin Cranie, Sam Nombe,
We rarely look like getting hammered away this year (and improvement on last year). But since October we haven’t looked like getting much away either.
Whilst it was great to be there to see Collo get a hat trick on Saturday (let’s hope we don’t go to tier 3 today so more get the chance to get into The Kenny) I can’t be the only one that would have preferred he scored the one he blasted over at Cov to win, 1 on Saturday to win and his pen last night to draw? He has to be more consistent and get himself more involved every week. Needs his mates to help him though by going forward at pace.
Last night is becoming the story of our away season. So desperate not to concede that we forget football matches can’t be won if you don’t hit the target. Slow tempo, players dribbling too much instead of passing quickly to someone on the run. Very easy to defend against. And by the law of averages at this level, defensively there will be at least one mistake and there’s a high chance it costs a goal.
We probably got what was fair though. The pen looked harsh and Collo did touch it twice. Just a shame the commotion after swayed the ref to make the right call. He was poor last night. At no point after the pen could you tell Boro had 10 men. We made it so easy to get 2 banks of 4 back defending.
Ah well, Saturday is another day albeit a very tough one. I still think we’ll be safely mid table come the end of the season. But some more fun along the way (especially away) would be very welcome. You could drive to Middlesbrough and back in the minutes on the pitch since we last scored away. If we keep going at this rate, it will take till April to hit 10 goals away from home this season.