Nathan Jones served up a tactical masterclass as his Luton side saw off Abertawe (Swansea to you and I!) 1-0 on a special evening for the Hatters. Here are our eight takeaways from the long trip over the Severn Bridge.
- Outstanding Osho is on another level
Such was the resolute fighting spirit of this Town performance it almost feels wrong to single someone out but in the words of pundit Andy Gray, Gabriel Osho, take a bow son.
The Reading graduate lined up in the centre of a three-man defence and he delivered a superb performance. Osho has the pace to cope with being out of position but he rarely needed it here because his reading of the game was of a higher level, save for one instance early on when Michael Obafemi nipped in behind him.
From that moment on this was a perfect performance from a player who is becoming a real star wherever he performs for the Town.
2. Danny dazzles with superb piece of skill
There was a surprise name in the starting XI when Danny Hylton returned from injury. The striker replaced Cameron Jerome and was largely quiet, save for a header in the first half.
However, among many things, this game will be remembered for a nutmeg Hylts produced to get past Ben Cabango, that was so filthy if it was a child coming home from an afternoon kicking a ball about on a muddy field it would have been ordered straight into a bath. Hylton was subbed off just after the hour but that piece of skill was well worth the trip!
3. Attacking options are beginning to increase
In a past column on this site I have been critical of the gap between Elijah Adebayo and the rest of the attacking personnel, but this match showed that gap is closing. Such is the strength of the Town’s options that they can now go away to a tough place without their talisman, play four different attackers over the course of the 90+ minutes and each of them make an impact on the game.
Hylton and Fred Onyedinmah provided the relentless energy and then when they were replaced by Cameron Jerome and Harry Cornick that pair combined for the goal with the former showing wonderful vision to roll the ball into the latter who fired home from just inside the box!
4. Harry’s return offers much reason for optimism
After missing a month or so with a calf issue, Harry Cornick has now come off the bench in the last two matches. He was quiet on Saturday, understandably so, but was much more like the Cornick of earlier in the season here, closing defenders down, going past players and winning the match with an instinctive finish. Harry is being managed back into the side and rightly so, but his presence lifts everyone and it is great to have him back.
5. Bree reminded everyone why he’s one of the leading right-backs in the league
James Bree played a big role in the reverse meeting between these two earlier in the season when the sides drew 3-3 and he was regularly the out ball in this game too. He got into dangerous positions behind Henri Lansbury’s mate Ryan Manning and put some tremendous balls in, many of which were begging to be converted. Allan Campbell came closest but failed to hit the target with his header. He kept new signing Wolf quiet too. Breesy is some prospect in this form.
6. Show Pelly the love and then show him even more
Just over eight years after signing permanently for the Town, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu continues to operate in the centre of the Hatters’ midfield. Not only does he do that but he’s absolutely relentless. There wasn’t a single blade of grass Pelly didn’t cover over the course of the night and most of them he trampled down on multiple occasions.
This was a superb physical display epitomised by a lung-busting run deep into injury time, carrying the ball out of his own half into the corner to relieve pressure on his defence and kill some of the time that remained on the clock.
This would have been an insane effort at the best of times but it should be noted that this was Luton’s sixth match in 18 days and Pelly has played in all of them and played every minute of each of them. That is getting on for 600 minutes displaying breakneck energy and unbelievable commitment.
From a man who couldn’t go 10 minutes without picking up a knock when he arrived, he is now as durable and reliable as they come. He’s fantastic off the pitch and he’s an incredible physical specimen on it. This boy deserves all the love that should never stop coming his way.
7. Inject Nathan’s passion into our veins!
The players on the pitch, to a man, were fantastic but let’s take a moment to salute the man who puts it all together – Nathan Jones. This was nothing short of a tactical masterclass from the team selection to the organisation and set-up, with everyone knowing when and where to press and who to allow to have the ball and who not to, to the game changers which changed the contest and more.
Nathan had every right to enjoy his night and he did so by ending it in amongst the 300 or so Luton fans who made the trip down the M4, serenaded with chants of “Nathan Jones’ Barmy Army” while embarking on a fit of chest pumping, reminiscent of his first spell in charge. We love this passion from a man who has transformed this club to the very special one it is before us today.
8. The play-off dream is on!
The win at Swansea means that the Town are up to ninth in the table and now just three points off a play-off place. Allow us to remind you this is just the third season back at the second tier level, it is a side who aren’t just punching above their weight but probably three or four weight classes above it.
But, make no mistake, the Hatters are promotion challengers this term, as unlikely as that may have sounded six months ago. This victory means Luton are flying with 19 points from a possible 24, going back to early December. To paraphrase a popular ditty that is back on the terraces, I will wake up in the morning feeling fine and I’ll have promotion very much on my mind!
