Luton Town v Cheltenham Town

[Maple Hatter]

After a nice relaxing break its time to get back to business with a win I hope. Certainly don't want a repeat of our last meeting when we made a mess of holding on to our lead. One of a few this season where we couldn't see the game out. The good news is that we nearly have a full squad to choose with the only absense being Elliot Lee. Will be interesting to see what team NJ puts out. I would expect to see Cuthbert back in defence alongside Sheehan. Hyltons return is the key for us. We have clearly missed his presence up front and his goals. I would like to see Downes keep his place. He's a class act but wouldn't be surprised if he's benched. Cornick also has to play which leaves Nj with some tricky decisions to make. However that is exactly what he wants fit quality players all chomping at the bit to play. Don't know what to make of Cheltenham. Another side who seem inconsistant but on their day can cause anybody problems. A first goal and preferably early would set the tone of the game. We need to get the win tomorrow just to keep the chasing pack at a distance. I'm hoping its a comfortable win and one which will set us in good stead for a tricky March period. The run in starts now and we know exactly what needs to be done. If we focus on ourselves and not worry about what the other team do then we should get the 6 wins required for promotion. Bring it on!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Looking forward to today. Been a nice little break for the players and we've now got virtually everyone back bar Elliot Lee.

Don't think there's any real need to make a huge number of changes, but we're spoilt for choice in many areas.

Scott Cuthbert supposedly needs minutes and against a game like Cheltenham, it possibly wouldn't be the worst option to get him on from the start alongside Sheehan. Don't think McCormack would get in the side at the moment ahead of Rea and certainly not Downes; could be a frustrating run in for the baldie.

Danny Hylton must start just because its Hylton, but not at the expense of Cornick and Collins who are both on good form. A lot of firepower there.

Have a good feeling about today; fancy quite a big scoreline.

 

[Hatter86]

I also have a feeling like this could be a big score today, which likely means it will be a frustrating 1-1.

For all the talk of having an almost fully fit squad, I can see us being unchanged from the Crawley game. Reckon Cuthbert won’t be in the 18 and will be built up in behind closed doors games and Hylton and McCormack on the bench.

5-1.

 

[Si Robin]

You can quote me all you like, but we’ve only lost once in our last 6 meetings against Luton and even when we were dreadful last season we went to Kenilworth Road and won.

2-2

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think that was Stuart Moore’s infamous debut. Nearly got lobbed by the opposition keeper if I recall!

 

[Kenneth E End]

You can quote me all you like, but we’ve only lost once in our last 6 meetings against Luton and even when we were dreadful last season we went to Kenilworth Road and won.

2-2

Yeah but back then Cheltenham were half decent with players like Daryl Duffy and Marlon Pack in your side.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Interesting...

Luton Town team to play Cheltenham Town:
Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Glen Rea, Alan Sheehan; Flynn Downes, Luke Berry, Olly Lee, Andrew Shinnie; James Collins, Harry Cornick
Subs: James Shea, Lloyd Jones, Johnny Mullins, Luke Gambin, Lawson D'Ath, Danny Hylton, James Jervis

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Well that was pretty poor. Like watching last seasons team, lots of slow possession across the back 4 with no penetration and then get hit with a sucker punch. Looked a really good goal to be fair.

Got to massively up our game as we are nowhere near where we usually are.

 

[BelizeHatter]

So Luton. No bottle just when you need it.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Got away with it really as we looked lethargic all day for me. Perhaps that little break after such a good performance against Crawley coming at the wrong time as things were just not quite clicking all day. Lots of over hit and misplaced passes and most not on their games

Having said that if either Lees goal stands or Collins puts the penalty away I think we would have made a decent first of getting all 3 points. Terrible decision from the ref on the penalty/goal, incompetence from him. When I saw we had a penalty instead of a goal I knew we’d miss it. Quintessential Luton that.

 

[Bosox]

A Kettle-esque performance from Heywood. Scandalous decision not to wait half a second to see Olly Lee was poking the ball home from a yard out.

 

[Hatter86]

There’s Kettle. There’s Huxtable. Then there was this bloke. Christ.

On a general note, something I said after the Wycombe game, book on of them, and they’ll stop falling over/wasting time/not give the ball back/not retreat from a freekick/delete as applicable. It’s so frustrating. I don’t think he even booked them for the penalty decision. Speaking of which...

Which ref has ever ruled out a goal to pull play back for a penalty? To the team that has scored?! It makes no sense. The worst part is he took an age to blow for every other decision. Mental. The Hylton decision Id have to see again, wrong end of the ground.

Can’t complain about the first goal, should have been 1-1 after 50 not 0-2 after 55. Fought back well for the point, not at our best. For the umpteenth time this season, if we go up, it will be in spite of our defense. Get Cuthbert back in there asap. Their second was far too east.

Weirdly, it seems like it was a point gained in the end.

 

[Si Robin]

You can quote me all you like, but we’ve only lost once in our last 6 meetings against Luton and even when we were dreadful last season we went to Kenilworth Road and won.

2-2

The worst thing about today is the fact I didn’t have a bet on 2-2

 

[Kenneth E End]

Not impressed by this...

 

[Bosox]

The worst thing about today is the fact I didn’t have a bet on 2-2

Seems like the ref did...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

There’s Kettle. There’s Huxtable. Then there was this bloke. Christ.

On a general note, something I said after the Wycombe game, book on of them, and they’ll stop falling over/wasting time/not give the ball back/not retreat from a freekick/delete as applicable. It’s so frustrating. I don’t think he even booked them for the penalty decision. Speaking of which...

Which ref has ever ruled out a goal to pull play back for a penalty? To the team that has scored?! It makes no sense. The worst part is he took an age to blow for every other decision. Mental. The Hylton decision Id have to see again, wrong end of the ground.

Can’t complain about the first goal, should have been 1-1 after 50 not 0-2 after 55. Fought back well for the point, not at our best. For the umpteenth time this season, if we go up, it will be in spite of our defense. Get Cuthbert back in there asap. Their second was far too east.

Weirdly, it seems like it was a point gained in the end.

Looked a clear dive by Hylton to me

 

[Maple Hatter]

Didn't agree with NJs team selection. Hylton should have been on from the start. His injury hasn't been as long term as Cuthbert or McCormack and therefore I didn't see the need for extra caution. We looked lacking of ideas up front in the first half and at times our passing was innacurate and desperate looking. We seem to just play into the hands of Cheltenham enabling them to gain in confidence. The urgency we show when we take control of games was sadly lacking and the longer it went on you just felt we weren't going to get the win. Going in 1-0 down was still unfortunate as Cheltenham in my opionion created very little apart from the long range effort that whistled past a static Stech. Thankfully second half was an improvement and the equaliser came at the right time or so we thought until the ref decided to give a penalty as the ball made its way across the line. A diabolical decision. Invetibly after the long wait Collins missed the pen and while still in shock about the whole incident Cheltenham grabbed a second. Always felt we could get back into the game and even getting the equaliser so late wasn't a surprise. Hylton for all his abilty frustrates me with his tactics in trying to win penalites. Any other player in that position may have convinced the ref but not Hylt. His rep goes before him. Sheehan could have given us a great chance of snatching the win with a free kick in an ideal positon on the left hand side of the penatly area however his delivery was poor and that was that.

 

[Si Robin]

Not impressed by this...

I hope you mean you're not impressed with his diving, that is a shocking attempt at winning a pen.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I hope you mean you're not impressed with his diving, that is a shocking attempt at winning a pen.

To be honest, at the time I thought there was contact and a stonewall penalty. Maybe its the angle, but from that video, it looks a blatant dive.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Looked a dive in real time to me it has to be said, wish he wouldn’t do that. Glad he didn’t get the penalty as he’d have been banned for that.

Wasn’t the worst dive of the game though, Pell put in a horrendous dive, scream and all, right in front of the main stand, Stacey saw him going for it and pulled out of the challenge not even touching him but the ref somehow still bought it. Even Pell was embarrassed by it.

 

[Hatter86]

Highlights up. Their first one, anyone criticising Stech can do one. Luton fans love a scapegoat and take every opportunity to blame when they can. Nothing he could do there, great hit.

The goal/penalty is infuriating. Yea, it’s a pen, however he doesn’t blow until Lee has struck the ball and it’s on the way. There was a clear advantage, play it.

Second goal, defense were nowhere. Get Cuthbert in.

Hyltons was a dive. Can’t see any contact there.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11266446/luton-2-2-cheltenham

 

[Trapdoor]

That dive from hylton is appaling. What a twat.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Not only a dive but a really bad one - from a consummate pro. Even had the temerity to throw his arms in the air in disbelief and argue his case. Prob the worst dive I ever seen. He has no chance of winning a single debatable pen again this season

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Highlights up. Their first one, anyone criticising Stech can do one. Luton fans love a scapegoat and take every opportunity to blame when they can. Nothing he could do there, great hit.

The goal/penalty is infuriating. Yea, it’s a pen, however he doesn’t blow until Lee has struck the ball and it’s on the way. There was a clear advantage, play it.

Second goal, defense were nowhere. Get Cuthbert in.

Hyltons was a dive. Can’t see any contact there.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11266446/luton-2-2-cheltenham

To be fair the only person ive seen criticize Stech for the first is Jones! Said something along the lines of expecting him to save it and the sun isnt an excuse.

Talk about being a hard task master!