Luton vs Exeter

[Moomin]

Should be an interesting game, this. At the beginning of January I was dreading this game but in that time we’ve won all our league games and Luton have had a bit of a wobble (by their standards), so we go into it full of confidence.

We still have a makeshift defence but Troy Brown and Moore-Taylor are back in training so I am hoping one of both makes it for Saturday as we need to be at our best to keep Luton out. Up front Stockley is banging them in and is now on 15 which is great considering he didn’t start a game till mid September. I’d love us to play Kyle Edwards from the start as he’s a real box of tricks and is very quick which could catch Luton out on the break but I suspect Tisdale will try to go with a robust lineup to keep things tight. Although, after yesterday’s game he said we have nothing to lose and it’s a ‘bonus game’. Not sure I 100% agree with that as a loss could see us drop out of the play offs and it could see a dip in confidence going into a tough month.

I assume Hylton and Collins will be up front for Luton?

I think it may be a draw like last season so will go 1-1, which I would be delighted with.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Hylton may not be fit, he's missed the last two with a hamstring injury. Collins will start for sure.

This is a massive game, if Exeter beat us then they could go level on points by winning their games in hand. We've bounced back well from defeats all season so far so hopefully we can again after the defensive horror show on Tuesday. We do have a nasty habit of bottling big games though (with the reverse fixture against Exeter being a notable exception).

No idea what the team will be after yesterday's signings. I'd think all three have a good chance of starting for one reason or another (our defence without Cuthbert is shit so Lloyd Jones may walk straight in alongside Sheehan; Flynn Downes was getting game time in the Championship earlier in the season so won't have come here to sit on the bench and we do look lightweight in midfield in big games at times; Hylton possibly still out and if you believe the rumours Elliot Lee also injured so Jake Jervis may start alongside Collins).

 

[Devon_Lad]

Luton 0-2 Exeter

 

[Trapdoor]

5-0 luton.

The deadlock is broken in the 85th minute and Luton go on the rampage scoring 5 goals in 5 minutes. The referee shows sympathy towards the suicidal city faithful and doesn't even bother to play the 3 minutes of stoppage time.

Tisdale to wear a wax flat cap and tweed jacket with ted baker "bailer twine" belt.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We arent playing very well at the minute and no doubt the result against Wycombe was a poor one from our perspective. I did however think we looked ok going forward, better than in previous games in the past few weeks that I have seen in any case, it was defensive mistakes that really cost us. We desperately need Cuthbert to come back but i guess with Jones signing he will come in. A real tough game to make your debut in i think, against an effective striker in Stockley who has come on greatly since he was here last, so i hope he is ready for it.

We have had some margin for error of late but think we are close to using that all up and being dragged back into the pack and we cant afford to keep shooting ourselves in the foot with "off" performances.

Would be great to have Hylton back for this and it seems like he is back in contention, but may be prudent to have him on the bench and ease him back in dont want to rush him back, even though he is a massive miss, only to lose him to injury again.

With Lee a doubt i wonder if we go 433 with Jervis and Cornick wide of Collins. With Hylton potentially out again I think we need Collins to be the man and i think the way we do that is stick him in the box and get the ball over to him, perhaps that formation might provide that. Its obviously a borderline ludicrous thing to say given he has scored goals, but Ive still not warmed him all that much, he just looks a bit...well awkward for how we want to play. Feels like he has scored goals in spite of us not really suiting him and asking him to do things he doesnt look great doing, which shows what a good finisher and pure striker he is for this level really. No doubting his ability in the box though which i guess is the main thing, if only that Cornick chance against Wycombe had fallen to him or Lee and this game would have a markedly different complexion.

 

[denzel ecfc]

If we play like we did first half last night we will be three down at half time!
Two games in 72 hours might do for us, too.
Hope I'm wrong

 

[BelizeHatter]

Collins certainly cant fulfill the Hylton role with the deft control, runs, moves, touches and flicks. Nail head bang TFCH. Get him the ball in the box give his raw power and eye for a goal the service it wants facing goal not back to goal. What does Connick have to do to get a run in the side? Lee Berry and Shinnie not full bore although Berry is undroppable give one of the others a rest. If no Hylton as above with 433 or try the wing back approach to ease the new cenre half in and unleash the fullbacks.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Closest to our first must win game of the season. Draw is OK, loss sucks us in adds pressure and gives everyone else added impetus. LFG

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Good luck Jake, hope you score.

 

[Maple Hatter]

We really need to bounce back after Tuesday. Would be terrible for our confidence if we lost again especially as it would mean two home games lost on the trot. I accept that all teams have a dip in form and we are currently on one now. There were signs on Tuesday however that we were getting our movement and pace back going forward. Might have been due to us having to play catch up and therefore upping the pace. Our game at Exeter summed up our season. First half Exeter dominated and made us look very ordinary like other teams have done this season. However second half we destroyed them which we know we are capable of. Really need to stop the Jekyll and Hyde performances and get some consistency if we are going to push on and get promoted. Will be interesting to see how the new boys shape up. Suspect changes to be made in defence with Lloyd Jones coming in but the other two new signings might start on the bench. Agree with others on Cornick. He does make a real impact when coming on as sub but I'd like to see him given a whole game. We need to be on the front foot from the off and take the game to Exeter. They don't like being attacked with pace as much as we don't. Could be a high scoring game this one.

 

[thewwfc]

Sexy 0-0 please

 

[Trapdoor]

We don't attack with pace so don't worry about that.
We don't score more than 2 in any given match (and against Luton I doubt we'll score at all,) so if you just score more than 2 goals you'll run out as winners very comfortably.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Think the squad needed freshening up after Tuesday and we've definitely done that. Think I'd go with this team:

GK Marek Stech
RB James Justin (Stacey had a terrible game on Tuesday IMO)
LB Dan Potts
CB Lloyd James
CB Alan Sheehan
DM Glen Rea
CM Flynn Downes
CM Luke Berry
AM Andrew Shinnie
CF James Collins
CF Harry Cornick
Subs: James Shea, Akin Famewo, Jack Stacey, Olly Lee, Pelly Ruddock, Jake Jervis, Danny Hylton

That is a properly strong 18. Still with Cuthbert and McCormack on the cusp too.

 

[Gaz12321]

Think the squad needed freshening up after Tuesday and we've definitely done that. Think I'd go with this team:

GK Marek Stech
RB James Justin (Stacey had a terrible game on Tuesday IMO)
LB Dan Potts
CB Lloyd James
CB Alan Sheehan
DM Glen Rea
CM Flynn Downes
CM Luke Berry
AM Andrew Shinnie
CF James Collins
CF Harry Cornick
Subs: James Shea, Akin Famewo, Jack Stacey, Olly Lee, Pelly Ruddock, Jake Jervis, Danny Hylton

That is a properly strong 18. Still with Cuthbert and McCormack on the cusp too.

Totally agree and would go the same myself, bouncing back from defeats is a massive part of winning promotion and prevents doubt from creeping in so in that sense this is huge, lose here and not only could the players start doubting themselves but the fickle fans we have (there's plenty of them) might just start making some noises of discontent, which we can ill afford and obviously don't deserve given our position.

Cornick deserves a start here and would do a lot of the running up top allowing Collins to concentrate on being in the right place at the right time and getting on the end of things.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Toughest test of the season for us. We're coming into this off the back of 3 straight wins including an away win at Notts County so we can be confident of giving Luton a game. The defeat at home earlier in the season was madness. We completely outplayed Luton in the first half and went in at 1-1, 10 minutes or so into the second half we were 4-1 down, we really need to be switched on at the back in this one.

Not sure how we'll line up at the back for this one. Brown and JMT are said to be back in contention for this one but in Moore-Taylors case we've been hearing that for over a month and he's still not featured. Moxey and Troy Archibald-Henville have done really well as our makeshift centre back partnership but I have my doubts the latter can play twice in less than 72 hours. Suspect we'll keep it tight and hope to still be in the game before bringing on Edwards to run at Luton and make an impact.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Such an important game for us. Our toughest test too on the back of recent results and performances. Should be a cracker.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a back three with wingbacks and Cornick and Jervis either side of Collins. Keep the faith in Stacey

 

[Sydney Posse]

Really looking forward to this one and gutted I cannot attend. I like the ground and atmosphere there, even if the leg room gives me muscle spasms !. Would certainly take a draw, Luton are probably the best in the league on their day, but they appear to be prone to a few off days recently. Expecting us to defend for the entirety of the first half with the odd break. Hope Edwards and Holmes are on the pitch at the same time to feed Stockley and give us half a chance UTC

 

[Kenneth E End]

Really looking forward to this one and gutted I cannot attend. I like the ground and atmosphere there, even if the leg room gives me muscle spasms !. Would certainly take a draw, Luton are probably the best in the league on their day, but they appear to be prone to a few off days recently. Expecting us to defend for the entirety of the first half with the odd break. Hope Edwards and Holmes are on the pitch at the same time to feed Stockley and give us half a chance UTC

I think you have an excuse for a no show...

 

[Trapdoor]

Well up for this. No expectations at all of getting any points so hopefully the pressure is all on Luton to deliver. C'mon city.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Well up for this. No expectations at all of getting any points so hopefully the pressure is all on Luton to deliver. C'mon city.

Dean Moxey has already done Luton's team talk.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Well up for this. No expectations at all of getting any points so hopefully the pressure is all on Luton to deliver. C'mon city.

Your last couple of results against Notts County and Coventry are really decent against good sides and we are not what we were a month or so ago. We are likely to be missing our best player as well. If I were you I’d be pretty confident of getting a point here.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Dean Moxey has already done Luton's team talk.

Jones in being prickly shocker...he doesn't even write that column, so to call him a 'keyboard warrior' is laughable.

Come on City'!

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Massively hit by injuries so we're forced into 5 changes, including 3 of the back 4 who played on Wednesday. Young Jordan Storey making his first start for us.

Hard to see us avoiding a heavy defeat I fear.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Yep, looking at that line up it will be 4-0 Luton

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Looking much better than of late so far. Passing the ball really well and even though Exeter have looked disciplined defensively and kept shape well we have created some openings. Pleased Cornick pulled the trigger on that one, as was very unlucky early on with one off the post. Jervis looks useful, shootings been a bit wayward but looks a threat. Downes looks a really good player, some really good passes and put his foot in too.

Exeter not really fared much, Stockley ploughing a bit of line furrow up there but he has won most of his headers. Got to be careful as can see them coming out after the break and he seems to have the beating of Sheehan in the air. If that happens then hopefully Cornick/Jervis can capitalise on the break.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Did well to keep it down to one with that side. Never mind, move on, more important games coming up

 

[BelizeHatter]

I was expecting a late equaliser there. Despite them not having a shot on target I can remember and us creating a million half chances - how did Jervis not get his head on that cross let alone not score lol - we left ourselves to worry at the end sat really deep with five at the back and invited them on with ball after ball into Stockley who is so much better now. Stech scares the crap out of me when the pressure is on. But..............we held out. Ran out of steam a bit at the end think we could have used some subs earlier but fairly comfortable. Liked the look of us in the first half the Ipswich lad looks useful at the base of the diamond.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

No shame in losing with all the forced changes and what probably is our 6th and 7th choice centre backs. Sounds like Storey had a good game so that's promising. Based on the radio commentary it seemed as if we couldn't find a way to test Luton so no complaints with the result.

More big games coming up.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Pretty straightforward, should have been more really. Exeter didn’t really offer anything going forward to be honest so was a bit strange we sat quite deep at the end. Got a little concerned they might get a last second goal but didn’t prove to be.

Hylton didn’t look 100% at the end to me, looked like wasn’t keen on doing much running.

 

[Maple Hatter]

A very comfortable win and should really have been more. Exeter didn't look like scoring but then a one goal lead going into the last few minutes is something most Hatters fans dread. We have had enough last minute dramas this season already so you can never rule out another one. Fortunately we held on. If Exeter had equalised it would have been very unjust. The thing that impressed me today was our passing which was spot on for most of the game and enabled us to gain control. Cornick was easily Mom today and he fully deserved his goal. Very impressed with Flynn Downes. A very skillfull player who has great vision and can control a game. Just what we need at times. For a guy so young he showed a lot of maturity. If Ipswich don't want him then we'll gladly welcome him at KR. We really need to kick on now after this result. A short trip to Stevenage on Saturday (hopefully our last), and then two very winnable home games against Crawley and Cheltenham. After strengthening the squad we have no excuses if we don't finish the month in a very strong positon. The only downer today was Hylton who looks far from fit. NJ stated in his interview that we need to ease him back into the team which suggests his injury has not cleared up.