Report by Mark Vickery at Kenilworth Road

Luton Town 2 (O’ Connor 35, Crow 66)

Newport County 0

Attendance: 6,108

Decisions go against spirited County side

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

We need to defend better today, but have been boosted by a couple of new signings which will give us energy going forward

CONDITIONS

Cool, bright with keen breeze, pitch looked in decent firm condition

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Spirited battling performance with few chances but something to build upon

TURNING POINT

Charles sending off

THE MATCH

County made several changes with new loan signing Ryan Charles and Andy Sandell replacing Craig McAllister and Tom Miller who were both transfer listed and not in the side. Goalkeeper Glyn Thompson returned to the side in place of transfer listed Danny Potter who was on the bench. Sam Foley returned from suspension to replace Tom Docherty was who injured and Elliot Buchanan replaced Darryl Knights who had to be content with a place on the bench. Luton started well showing lots of prowess holding the ball and a period of possession pinning County inside their own half. Luton offered most threat down their right channel with ex-Rushden winger Aaron O’Connor providing a good outlet and an eye for a quick cross. County created a good opening on 8 minutes, instigated by Foley who made a direct run at the Luton defence towards the edge of the area and a neat lay off gave Buchanan a chance to shoot from 18 yards but the shot flashed wide of the right post. Luton had a similar opportunity on 12 minutes when Lawless exploited space and drove wide of the left post from 20 yards through a crowded area. Luton were keen to press County at every opportunity and made it difficult for them to build any sustained pressure but County continued to look lively with Jarvis and Charles offering plenty of good movement. Luton continued to probe away with County defending with discipline which saw the hosts kept at arms length. On 27 minutes, Watkins went close for Luton when his low drive from 25 yards stung the hands of Thompson but he saved well low down. On 27 minutes, the game heated up when Warren was caught with a tackle from behind by O’Connor which the referee failed to pick up on. In a bizarre moment, the linesman flagged appearing to indicate an offence had occurred but O’Connor was let off with only a warning. County were incensed and the game became a little frantic for a time with both sides putting in several keen but well contested challenges. County had a good opportunity on 30 minutes when some neat play by Foley saw him find Buchanan on the right side of the area. He blasted a good driving effort which the keeper parried away and Yakubu was close to heading in the rebound on the goal line but Kovacs did enough to put him off. On 32 minutes, the game changed when Charles made a low challenge low down on Gleeson stretching for the ball and despite winning the ball, the referee deemed it a professional foul and sent him off. On 35 minutes, Luton took the lead when they were awarded a debatable looking corner on the right side which Howells whipped into the front post and some bad marking by County allowed O’Connor to steal in with a glancing header into the left corner. County responded well despite the handicap and Foley did well to open up the defence on 40 minutes with a weaving run near the edge of the area but his shot flashed wide of the right post. Luton were forced into a change moments later with right back Gleeson being replaced and with Luton have largely offensive players on the bench, right midfielder Dance slotted in as full back. On the stroke of half time Luton again showed their ability to shoot from distance when O’Connor turned Hughes on the right corner of the area. He played a good pass across the edge of the area for Howells who blasted a low effort just past the left post.

Luton made a patient start to the second half with them continuing to dominate possession and County found it difficult to get into the final third. County threw a couple of searching crosses in an attempt to unsettle the Luton defence but they remained composed under aerial pressure. On 55 minutes, Warren was booked for impeding O’Connor after a strong forward from deep. County made an early change with Matthews replacing Buchanan up front. County had a decent looking situation on 65 minutes when Jarvis made a move into space on the right channel receiving a quick pass from Pipe. His cross into the area was weak allowing Luton to break and they exposed County ruthlessly with a quick ball down the middle by Lawless. Taylor was given space on the left side of the area to cross into the six yard area and Crow finished the move at the back post. Luton were buoyed by the goal and went close again on 68 minutes with the influential Lawless seizing the loose ball and drilling a low shot from 20 yards just past the right post. Sandell was booked for County moments later for a low but honest challenge on O’Connor with the referee again penalising studs up. County made another change on 72 minutes to pep things up with Jake Harris replacing Jarvis and O’Connor was replaced by Fleetwood for the Hatters. Luton were forced into another defensive re-organisation on 80 minutes with Wilmott replacing the injured Kovacs with Keane dropping into central defence. County repaid the compliment with Baker coming on for Yakubu. The game fizzled out in the final minutes and four minutes of injury time placed, despite County pushing Warren forward to support some let set pieces, Luton dealt with the aerial bombardment

Thompson (7) – composed throughout, kicked well and came out to deal with some balls in behind clearing effectively. Handled low shots well

Rodgers (6) – put under pressure and kept focussed but a little slow with distribution on times. went missing on their second goal

Yakubu (6) – made some strong headers and coped well in general but passing and thought with ball from deep on times was lacking  

Warren (7) – dominated in the air, and lead well but had very little opportunity from set pieces today           

Hughes (5) – put under pressure on times and allowed to be turned to easily. Distributed well in general despite not much time on the ball        

Pipe (6) – worked box to box as best as he could providing a few crosses and links going forward but never really given time to settle and influence the game 

Foley (7) – did his best to create, made some strong runs and open the defence, looked the most capable player scoring today

Sandell (6) – had some bright moments before sending off, looked capable with ball at feet and worked up and down the flank well

Charles (5) – showed plenty of endeavour early in the game and unsettled the defence before sending off

Jarvis (6) – took his one chance well and pace gave problems but performance dropped off after half time when he became bogged down holding the ball too long

Buchanan (6) – struggled to retain ball on times, got into some good areas in first inside the box and showed an eye for goal working the keeper.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – composed outfit, passed and kept possession and gave little time for County to operate, defender were strong and robust getting ball forward quickly and efficiently

Weaknesses – defence looked vulnerable when ran at down the middle on times and they did have a tendency to overplay in dangerous areas but got away with it           

Opportunities – had no recognised defenders on bench but adjusted well from injuries and used direct ball when they had the opportunity

Threats – O’Connor won a number of free kicks, Howells an eye for goal from distance and Lawless played some precise passes in final third.

OFFICIALS

K Evans (6) – must have been looking the wrong way when Warren was fouled and harsh with sending off otherwise did alright    

MAN OF THE MATCH

Alex Lawless – had plenty of space to operate but was always the quicker and more eager with his use of the ball

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We matched them pound for pound today until the sending off and they were positive signs in the shape we adopted and good mobility going forward. At this level, it is very difficult to override the handicap of being a man down with Luton dominating possession and getting the rub of the green with some key decisions. In adversity, we showed a lot of spirit and commitment but there is still a lot we need to work on including the efficient use of the ball and cohesion going forward inside the final third. Luton gave us very little time today even from the offset and on times the ball got stuck a bit under our feet and perhaps we did too much running with the ball getting caught in possession. As a result, we weren’t able to work the ball into areas to unsettle Luton and struggled to hold the ball when we really needed to.