The Cobblers were beaten at Kenilworth Road in a score line that in no way reflected the game. The Hatters deserved the three points on their second half performance but the 4-1 end result was more that a little harsh on a battling Cobblers side.
Stuart Gray had to reshuffle the pack with Poul Hubertz suspended for the game but Jason Crowe and Andy Holt both returned from hamstring injuries to bolster the squad and Holt started the game in a more advanced position than usual to support Andy Kirk and Colin Larkin up front.
The Cobblers started the game brightly and forced an early corner that Daniel Jones swung into the area left footed. Andy Holt made the connection but the ball was cleared off the line by the Hatters defender.
But with their first attack of the game, Luton were ahead. David Bell put a sweeping ball across the penalty area and Darren Currie met it with a superb curling right footed strike that soared past Mark Bunn and into the top corner.
The home side were in the ascendancy and Mark Bunn made a good save at his near post from Bell just a couple of minutes after the goal before Mark Hughes somehow cleared a cross that beat Bunn off his own goal line and headed it away for a corner.
At the other end, Daniel Jones got down the left hand side and sent in a cross shot that dipped at the last second and hit the cross bar. But the Cobblers were level ten minutes later after a strong period of play. Brad Johnson picked the ball up on the right hand side, cut inside and hit an unstoppable left footed strike past Dean Brill in the Luton goal.
The Cobblers upped the momentum and looked like taking the lead themselves with some good passing movements. Mark Hughes had a goal bound effort from a corner blocked on the line before Andy Kirk seemed to be pushed in the area following a cross from the right hand side but it went unnoticed by the officials.
Luton came back into the game as the half drew to a close and Darren Currie had a left footed shot beaten away by Mark Bunn before Paul Furlong missed a glorious opportunity with just a couple of minutes of the half left. Furlong was put in by Currie and got in front of his man but fired his shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar as an engaging first half came to a close at 1-1.
Luton were back in front right at the start of the second half as Brad Johnson was adjudged to handle a goal bound shot and Matthew Spring gave the home side the lead once more.
Johnson tried to make amends straight away by hitting another stunning effort from further out than his earlier goal and it looked like another stunning goal but Brill managed to tip the ball over the bar this time.
The next goal was vital in the game and disappointingly it came for Luton as Currie’s in swinging free-kick eluded everyone, possibly taking a slight touch off Paul Furlong, to nestle into the corner of Bunn’s net.
Danny Jackman and Colin Larkin were replaced by Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers never really looked like getting back into the game. On the other hand we never gave up the fight and Henderson was unlucky with a far post header while Alex Russell curled a free kick just over the bar.
Luton completely killed off the game in the final stages of the game as Mark Hughes fouled Paul Furlong. Matthew Spring stepped up again and this time Bunn got a hand to the ball but it summed up our luck in the game when the ball bounced into the corner of the net. Spring then totally unnecessarily squared up to Bunn in celebration and should have been booked after both Bunn and Hughes were shown cards in the build up to the taking of the kick.
So a disappointing night in front of the Sky cameras for the Cobblers but a proud effort from the side and 4-1 was in no way reflective of the battle that we put in. Stuart Gray must now pick the team up in time for the weekend visit of Cheltenham Town as we look to make it four home wins in a row at Sixfields.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Made some good stops in both halves to deny Luton further goals. (8)
DANIEL JONES: Has made the left-back slot his own in recent weeks and was one of the better players on the pitch last night. (8)
MARK HUGHES: Unlucky with the penalty after another solid nights’ work including a brilliant goal line clearance in the first half. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Struggled against Furlong and had a difficult night at the back. (6)
JASON CROWE: Not one of his brighter performances as he returned from injury. (6)
DANNY JACKMAN: Linked the play well in a new position for him. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Took the goal superbly and could have had another. At the centre of most of the good work from the side and battled hard. (8)
ALEX RUSSELL: Another good show from the loanee and create chances for the front three. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Out of the game for a lot of it but did well in build up to goal. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Provided some height in the absence of Hubertz but never really looked like filling the big Dane’s shoes. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Quiet night in front of goal for the striker with just a couple of wayward shots to his name. Missed Hubertz more than anyone. (6)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Looked lively when he came on and nearly scored with a header. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Could have had a goal himself but too late to make an impact. (6)
Stuart Gray had to reshuffle the pack with Poul Hubertz suspended for the game but Jason Crowe and Andy Holt both returned from hamstring injuries to bolster the squad and Holt started the game in a more advanced position than usual to support Andy Kirk and Colin Larkin up front.
The Cobblers started the game brightly and forced an early corner that Daniel Jones swung into the area left footed. Andy Holt made the connection but the ball was cleared off the line by the Hatters defender.
But with their first attack of the game, Luton were ahead. David Bell put a sweeping ball across the penalty area and Darren Currie met it with a superb curling right footed strike that soared past Mark Bunn and into the top corner.
The home side were in the ascendancy and Mark Bunn made a good save at his near post from Bell just a couple of minutes after the goal before Mark Hughes somehow cleared a cross that beat Bunn off his own goal line and headed it away for a corner.
At the other end, Daniel Jones got down the left hand side and sent in a cross shot that dipped at the last second and hit the cross bar. But the Cobblers were level ten minutes later after a strong period of play. Brad Johnson picked the ball up on the right hand side, cut inside and hit an unstoppable left footed strike past Dean Brill in the Luton goal.
The Cobblers upped the momentum and looked like taking the lead themselves with some good passing movements. Mark Hughes had a goal bound effort from a corner blocked on the line before Andy Kirk seemed to be pushed in the area following a cross from the right hand side but it went unnoticed by the officials.
Luton came back into the game as the half drew to a close and Darren Currie had a left footed shot beaten away by Mark Bunn before Paul Furlong missed a glorious opportunity with just a couple of minutes of the half left. Furlong was put in by Currie and got in front of his man but fired his shot over Mark Bunn’s cross bar as an engaging first half came to a close at 1-1.
Luton were back in front right at the start of the second half as Brad Johnson was adjudged to handle a goal bound shot and Matthew Spring gave the home side the lead once more.
Johnson tried to make amends straight away by hitting another stunning effort from further out than his earlier goal and it looked like another stunning goal but Brill managed to tip the ball over the bar this time.
The next goal was vital in the game and disappointingly it came for Luton as Currie’s in swinging free-kick eluded everyone, possibly taking a slight touch off Paul Furlong, to nestle into the corner of Bunn’s net.
Danny Jackman and Colin Larkin were replaced by Ian Henderson and Ryan Gilligan but the Cobblers never really looked like getting back into the game. On the other hand we never gave up the fight and Henderson was unlucky with a far post header while Alex Russell curled a free kick just over the bar.
Luton completely killed off the game in the final stages of the game as Mark Hughes fouled Paul Furlong. Matthew Spring stepped up again and this time Bunn got a hand to the ball but it summed up our luck in the game when the ball bounced into the corner of the net. Spring then totally unnecessarily squared up to Bunn in celebration and should have been booked after both Bunn and Hughes were shown cards in the build up to the taking of the kick.
So a disappointing night in front of the Sky cameras for the Cobblers but a proud effort from the side and 4-1 was in no way reflective of the battle that we put in. Stuart Gray must now pick the team up in time for the weekend visit of Cheltenham Town as we look to make it four home wins in a row at Sixfields.
PLAYER RATINGS…
MARK BUNN: Made some good stops in both halves to deny Luton further goals. (8)
DANIEL JONES: Has made the left-back slot his own in recent weeks and was one of the better players on the pitch last night. (8)
MARK HUGHES: Unlucky with the penalty after another solid nights’ work including a brilliant goal line clearance in the first half. (7)
LIAM DOLMAN: Struggled against Furlong and had a difficult night at the back. (6)
JASON CROWE: Not one of his brighter performances as he returned from injury. (6)
DANNY JACKMAN: Linked the play well in a new position for him. (6)
BRAD JOHNSON: Took the goal superbly and could have had another. At the centre of most of the good work from the side and battled hard. (8)
ALEX RUSSELL: Another good show from the loanee and create chances for the front three. (7)
COLIN LARKIN: Out of the game for a lot of it but did well in build up to goal. (6)
ANDY HOLT: Provided some height in the absence of Hubertz but never really looked like filling the big Dane’s shoes. (6)
ANDY KIRK: Quiet night in front of goal for the striker with just a couple of wayward shots to his name. Missed Hubertz more than anyone. (6)
IAN HENDERSON (SUB): Looked lively when he came on and nearly scored with a header. (6)
RYAN GILLIGAN (SUB): Could have had a goal himself but too late to make an impact. (6)
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