Luton Town v Portsmouth 22/11

[Kenneth E End]

Getting this one in a bit earlier than normal, because this is a big game already this season. Both teams hovering just below the automatic promotion spots. Both teams with big reputations and a similar fall from grace in the last few years.

Luton are now on a 9 game unbeaten run in the league, and only the 1 defeat in 12 in all competitions against Millwall in the EFL Trophy, which I'm not really going to count. The Hatters now seem to have been able to turn draws into wins and seem to have eliminated conceding sloppy goals from their game in recent weeks; the Hatters have now gone 351 minutes in the league without conceding a goal.

Portsmouth have just come off a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham; they seem to have had an indifferent couple of months, with a couple of league defeats and being knocked out of the FA Cup to threadbare Wycombe. A strong GD benefiting from big wins over Mansfield and Barnet.

Luton have virtually a fully fit squad to choose from bar Green and Doyle. Cook comes back from suspension, while Hylton is now on 8 bookings.

Should be a very big crowd - I'm estimating well over 9,000 for this one.

 

[Bucket_]

Would be happy with a draw from this really, Pompey are looking increasingly (and bizarrely, considering we seemed solid at the beginning of the season) shaky at the back, and are struggling to convert our chances away from home, despite having lots of shots on target again yesterday at Cheltenham. We are still well in the auto-promotion chase, but we really need to get rid of the inconsistency that's plagued us for well over a season now, and start doing what it sounds as if Luton have done; cut out the sloppy goals, and dig out wins on a more regular basis.

Looking forward to the game though, should be good. Expect an unchanged side/formation/everything, as per usual from Cookie.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Looking forward to the game though, should be good.

Our away game at Fratton Park last season was easily the best atmosphere of the season.

The buzz and sound under the lights at Kenilworth Road used to be one of the best in the country; in the last few years that seems to have died a bit, but I'm hoping the atmosphere will be lifted for this one.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

A draw would be lovely lads.

 

[oakroader]

I'm sure the "hello sailors" will welcome a draw but our aspirations dictate a win is a must....i can see a good feisty game being decided by our superior scoring prowess....big crowd by our standards thanks to the usual passionate jack tars'....
choo choo...all aboard...

 

[Bosox]

I usually miss the Tuesday games but this is worth making a special effort so I'll be there.

Honestly I think I'd take a draw now if offered despite it meaning more ground lost on the top three.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Luton fans shouldn't really be taking a draw from this one. Our away performances have left a lot to be desired as we simply can't score (7 goals in 9 games) and concede really sloppy goals, especially from set-pieces. Oh, and Chaplin (our best striker) is suspended too.

I'd certainly take a draw from this one.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Already looking forward to this, should be a good game with a big game feel to it, should be a step up in atmosphere as to what we have had recently too.

Given the amount of draws we have had fairly recently and Portsmouths away record I would be disappointed with a draw, I keep saying it but we need to string together some consistent wins to keep in touch with the top 3 and hopefully get ourselves back in there. Having said that, when I heard of Pompeys struggles in front of goal away from home my immediate thought was "3-0 Portsmouth then"!!

I'd keep the same team as yesterday, I see nothing Cook has done to warrant automatically returning to the side over Pelly, his red card was also so extraordinarily dumb I think he is deserving of some time on the sidelines. Plus I'm sort of waiting for that game where it all clicks for Pelly and he just takes over a game, I think he is capabale and who knows in a big game like this maybe it will happen. He has almost done it a couple of times this year.

Vassell is also currently the hot hand so let's see where he can go and utilise Marriott from the bench if needed.

 

[BelizeHatter]

You wouldn't bring a well again (?) Cuthbert back into Central Defense and slide Rea forward at the expense of a limited sounding Lee?

 

[Judge Dredd]

Normally I 100% would, although from what I've seen those hardy souls at Morecambe all said it was Lee's best game for us, so perhaps harsh to drop him on the back of that.

 

[Hatter86]

Normally I 100% would, although from what I've seen those hardy souls at Morecambe all said it was Lee's best game for us, so perhaps harsh to drop him on the back of that.

It's a tough one. I love Rea in midfield and Cuthbert/Mullis is our stongest CB pairing in my opinion.. However as you said, Morecambe was by all accounts our best away performance of the season and also Lee's best game. I think on balance I would probably bring Cuthbert in for Lee and move Rea forward. Maybe.

 

[oakroader]

if it aint broke.....don't fix it......
we dont need another "tinker man"

 

[Bucket_]

Wasn't expecting this! Massive, massive win, and the manner of it too.

 

[Judge Dredd]

For the last 80 minutes of that game Pompey thoroughly outplayed us. Second half was completely and utterly one sided. No complaints at all.

The diamond is an inferior possession based system to a wide one when played well, today really highlighted that. It's so much easier to apply a high press to the narrow midfield, we had no passing options all day whereas Portsmouth always had men over and used the width intelligently. It was crying out for a system change as early as half time but we rigidly stuck with it, even the subs were like for like. Poor from NJ, part of the learning curve I suppose.

Well played Pompey, very much deserved.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Delighted with that result and finally proves we can beat some of the best this division has to offer.

Watch us fuck up against Stevenage now...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Thought it was a really good game, even though we lost I really enjoyed it, first half in particular was played at break neck pace and I think it was obvious that both sides were really decent outfits who wanted to play. Pompey were certainly the best team we have played in a very good while.

Pompey scored their goals at really good times, the first just as we were getting on top which really took the wind out of our sails which we didnt really recover from. Obviously the goal just before half time, from our seemingly continuous Achilles heal not properly dealing with a set piece, really gave them something to hold on to and second half Pompey really bossed it, and we ran out of ideas really which was disappointing.

I don't think we played too badly but Portsmouth really played our formation very well, with some really top quality pressing, which made it difficult and our reluctance to change it is really quite annoying. I understand why but Jones has to
realise that when we play top sides it might not work all the time. The pressing of Lee in particular was very good, would often have 3 players converge on him and crowd him out and he lost the ball too often. We have to be able to deal with that sort of thing, it's not exactly a novelty that a side that wants to keep the ball is going to get pressed but we haven't really come up with an answer to it yet this season.

We can't complain really but I don't think it's like we were dreadful tonight as a 3-1 score line might suggest on face value, but it did sort of confirm in my mind what I've been thinking for a little bit that we might need some further time and tweaking before we can a really top team.

 

[Bar Carousel]

Didn't have a ticket for tonight.

General post match consensus is that Luton played an open, attacking game which allowed us to press and control the match. Since Cook arrived we've always revelled in these sort of games (Accrington away last season springs to mind).

Big question now is whether the side can lift themselves and put in that sort of a performance in the lesser games. Been our big weakness for all Paul Cook sides up until now.

One things for sure, when his teams gel and hit the right gear, they're a pleasure to watch.

Plaudits to Luton fans who have been graceful in defeat both on here and Twitter. A rarity these days.

 

[Kenneth E End]

No complaints from me on last night's result - we were second best in all departments. I'll be surprised if Portsmouth aren't in the top three at the end of the season.

That said, we played to their strengths. It'll be interesting to see a team come up against them that are far more physical and will try and frustrate them. We stood off them all game, giving them space to play it around at will. It was a pretty naive performance; we looked like a team with a number of youngsters in it.

Our defensive work from set pieces needs to improve drastically. I lost count the number of players that were allowed free headers.

Hylton getting another goal last night - he really is on fire at the moment. Leave the mask on for the rest of the season, it seems lucky to me!

Did all Pompey fans get home last night after the first half announcement about the trains stopping at 10pm?!

 

[Bosox]

First 10 minutes - fantastic, best Luton have played all year (I'd like to see a side on shot of the offside goal)
Next 35 minutes - good game, both sides had chances, great to watch
Second half - utterly dreadful, never laid a glove on them, was just counting down the minutes from 60 minutes on as it was cleat Luton weren't going to score

Pompey set pieces were giving Luton fits all night, could easily have conceded half a dozen. It seemed like every free kick or corner resulted in a free header or clear shot for them.

Bottom line is unless Luton can figure out something better in midfield then they won't be getting anywhere near promotion this season. There are good players there but the system means they just get overrun all the time.