MATCH PREVIEW: LUTON TOWN V NEWPORT COUNTY AFC

29 September 2017

Nathan Jones' side welcome Newport County AFC to Kenilworth Road tomorrow afternoon as the Hatters look to make it five consecutive games without defeat.

A three-game winning run for the Town came to an end on Tuesday night after the Hatters were unable to unlock the Morecambe defence at the Globe Arena – with the game ending 0-0.

County have continued their miraculous end of season form into the new term, as they now sit seventh, on the same amount of points as the fifth placed Hatters, but below them on goal difference.

Newport's position in the table is reflected in their recent form, with Mike Flynn's side picking up three wins in their last four games.

THE GAFFER SAYS:

Nathan Jones on whether he believes that Newport are a long ball side: "Not as such. They have a set-play threat. They have long throws and they have set-plays and obviously scored two against Crawley Town.

"I wouldn't be as disrespectful as to say that Newport are a long ball side. No, but they have physicality about them that we are going to need to match because he has done a wonderful job there Flynny, to take them from where they were when he took over to where they are now.

"It's going to be a tough game, but every game at this level is a tough game, it's just some are more physically robust and put you under certain pressure. Every game is a new test."

On Mike Flynn's stint as manager of County so far: "He's done very well – it was remarkable to keep them up, but that's what a bit of belief does.

"Players that are working hard for you, that's what he's got to be fair to him, they were a very difficult side to play against. This year they've carried that momentum on.

"They've recruited well in terms of those who have hit the ground running. Good luck to him, he's a good lad. He was that sort of player, a very committed player and he's got his sides doing that. He's doing well."

Jones on Luke Gambin getting his chance in the starting XI: "I am pleased for him because he has been very patient. When we took him, we could have literally waited six months and got him for free. But the board was strong, and they backed me.

"We said if we get him in an environment for those four and a half months he might not play as much, but you get four and a half months of education. What we did was we paid the money to do that, so we could get him early and didn't go into the merry-go-round of an auction in the summer. Luke bought into that – he understood what we are trying to do. Hopefully we can see the best of him.

"He has been wonderful, he has been energetic and has real quality and is turning into the player I believe he could. Before he was a wide player at Barnet, but centrally he will get on it more, he will hopefully create more with his energy, his ball retention is very good, so he's made for us really. I am just as pleased with his attitude and his application day-in and day-out. But that's what happens when you have got a good pro."

WHO?

Last season's Sky Bet League Two fairy tale, County survived the drop into Non-League football courtesy of a late winner on the final day from ex-Hatter Mark O'Brien.

Now kicking on from where they left off, the Exiles are on an upward trajectory and should their form continue as it has been for the rest of the season, they could be challenging for the top positions in the division.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Kick-off is at 3pm on Saturday 30th Septemberat Kenilworth Road.

TICKET INFORMATION

Cash turnstiles will be available around the ground for home support, with ticket prices as follows:
Adult: £18
Senior Over 65: £13
Golden Senior Over 75: £10
Young Adult (19-21): £13
Under-19 (17-18): £10
Junior Under 10 (9 and under): £3

LAST TIME WE PLAYED?

Town took on the Exiles back in March at Rodney Parade, where Danny Hylton's early penalty was cancelled out by Sean Rigg's fierce free-kick. That draw marked the 16th between the two, whilst the Hatters have won 30 meetings, with Newport victorious in 15.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Supporters who aren't at Kenilworth Road tomorrow can follow the Hatters' Twitter feed on @LutonTown, or stay up to date on the LTFC website in the match centre. iFollow Hatters subscribers can tune in for Simon Pitts' match commentary, whilst international subscribers can watch the game live.

Match Previews

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT & GALLERY: LUTON TOWN 3-1 NEWPORT COUNTY

An Alan Sheehan free-kick and a Danny Hylton brace secure the points for the Town

30 September 2017

The Hatters made it four wins from their last five Sky Bet League Two fixtures as they put Newport County AFC to the sword at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Alan Sheehan's free-kick evaded everyone and found the back of the net 12 minutes in, before Danny Hylton netted a brace before half-time with a well-executed back heel from close range and a Panenka chip penalty after Glen Rea had been brought down in the Newport 18-yard box.

The visitors got their consolation goal 10 minutes after the restart, but even with a strong spell in the second 45 minutes, they were unable to drag the game back into contention.

Jack Stacey's surging runs down the right have been a prominent part of the Hatters' attacking threat so far this season and it was no different today as his teasing cross four minutes in was met by Danny Hylton, but the striker's effort flew well over Joe Day's goal.

The former Oxford United man very nearly turned provider in the seventh minute as his left wing cross forced Day off his line to punch clear – had the keeper not got there James Collins would have had the simple job of heading into an empty net.

Town took the lead just five minutes later as the visitors' captain Joss Labadie brought down Glen Rea 35 yards from the Exiles' goal. Alan Sheehan took the resulting free-kick and his decent delivery drifted over the heads of everyone and into the bottom left corner.

It could have been 2-0 on the 16-minute mark when Hylton won possession in midfield – he sent a perfectly weighted ball down the right for Cornick with Collins making an excellent run into the middle of the box, but the ex-Bournemouth man's cross was collected comfortably by Day.

The Hatters were pouring forward and only a minute later Olly Lee's great pass to Cornick saw the 22-year-old fire an effort across the face of goal looking for the bottom left corner, but Day palmed it away.

Nathan Jones' side finally doubled their lead in the 22nd minute, when James Collins' low cross from the right was expertly tucked away by Hylton from close range, as he let the ball run through his legs and back heeled it with his right boot into the bottom left corner.

The visitors should have halved the deficit three minutes later, when Robbie Willmott's cross from a free-kick on the left – after Scott Cuthbert was adjudged to have fouled Frank Nouble – missed everyone, with Joss Labadie guilty of missing a tap in at the back stick with the goal gaping.

Town's relentless effort began to cool as the match started to settle, but they found themselves with the opportunity to add to their lead when Glen Rea was brought down as he tried to meet Alan Sheehan's cross from a corner. Hylton was given the chance to double his tally – and his Panenka chip just off centre to the left found the back of the net after Day had already committed to diving the other way.

That reignited the Hatters as they went in search of a fourth, with Jack Stacey hitting the base of the post two minutes before the break, before Hylton nearly completed his hat-trick with an audacious long-range effort, curling the ball just over the Newport crossbar from 35 yards two minutes into added time.

Jones' side kept up their efforts as soon as the whistle was blown for the restart, as Collins teed up Cornick but shanked it wide to the left.

Labadie got his side back in the game with 55 minutes on the clock as the Town failed to clear a cross into the box – the midfielder hammering it through Marek Stech's legs from close range to make it 3-1.

Newport pressed for a second, but in their efforts to do so left themselves short at the back which the Town should have punished them for on the hour mark, as Cornick did well to turn in midfield with David Pipe breathing down his neck. He powered on with Hylton and Collins providing options on the right, but he elected to tee up Gambin, who cut in onto his right, but his strike was blocked.

Mike Flynn's side took a grip of the game for a 15-minute spell and the Hatters rarely left their own third as the Exiles pummelled the Town box with crosses and long balls, but Stech and his defence stood strong.

With 20 minutes to go, Cornick should have added a goal to his strong performance, as Collins played him down the left. He cut in, but blazed his effort over with the ex-Crawley Town man screaming for the ball on the edge of the area.

He was then unfortunate not see his 83rd minute effort find the bottom left corner, as Lee's excellent pass picked out Jordan Cook, who played it back for Cornick, but he fell as he went to hit it and the ball rolled narrowly wide.

The result sees the Hatters remain in fifth on 21 points, having now picked up five wins from six in League Two at Kenilworth Road so far this season.

LINE-UPS:

SUBS: MULLINS, JARVIS, SHEA (GK), LEE, FAMEWO

YELLOWS: COLLINS, POTTS

NEWPORT: DAY, PIPE, LABADIE © (MCCOULSKY 78), WHITE, WILLMOTT (REYNOLDS 72), AMOND (QUIGLEY 76), NOUBLE, TOZER, O'BRIEN, RIGG, DEMETRIOU

SUBS: BITTNER, BUTLER, DOLAN, BENNETT

YELLOWS: WHITE, O'BRIEN

ATTENDANCE: 7,681
AWAY 296

Match Reports

Luton Town Football Club

Standings

MATCH PREVIEW: LUTON TOWN V NEWPORT COUNTY AFC

MATCH REPORT & GALLERY: LUTON TOWN 3-1 NEWPORT COUNTY