Luton vs Exeter

[BelizeHatter]

Another step closer esp beating a auto rival. Effective 11 point gap with just 17 or 18 games to go for the chasing pack. To be fair the chasing pack is probably in our eyes only as eternal pessimists - the rest are in their mind prob chasing two spots

 

[BelizeHatter]

As with comments above on Downes. He will ensure we are more effective. He was always showing for the ball and although less effective in the second half oozed the class pointing and telling Sheehan where to give him the ball so he could conduct the attacks. Mature for his age for sure.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Cornick was great today, end product and final decision can be frustrating at times, there was a moment in the 1st half where all he had to do was get his head up and square it to Berry and it would likely have been 1-0 (after a superb individual run by him I might add) but just missed it. Got all the tools to be a superb player. I quite liked the shape of things with Jervis (the amount of people who kept calling him Jarvis around me was mildly annoying for some reason! Just read the name on the shirt for god sake!) and Cornick wide. I think Collins enjoyed that more.

As has been stated all over now, Downes was impressive for a lad so you on debut. He was pointing, telling others what to do and just acting like a leader in there from the first minute. Couple of flashyish passes but kept things simple in the main and I don’t think he wasted a ball all day.

Less effective second half but it looked like he picked up a knock to me toward end of the first half. Looked to be limping a touch as he walked off the pitch at the end and had to be told to go and clap the Kenny End as I think he wanted to head down the tunnel and get treatment. Could be reading too much into that though.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

As an aside, absolutely unbelievable that Tisdale thought the Exeter “goal” should have stood. Stech gets absolutely hacked down on it, awful challenge and should have probably been at the very least a booking. Don’t think even NJ would have been that one eyed on that one!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Quite surprised with the way the game panned out, but I suppose credit to the Luton defence and midfield for stifling any Exeter sniff very quickly; an opposite to the first half in the away game which allowed them too much space.

Felt we were a lot more fluid than the last few weeks. The passing and approach play a lot more slick than most of January. We really deserved more than a 1 goal win. Another day, we would be running out 3,4-0 winners.

Stockley barely touched the ball all match and actually all he seemed to do was smash into the defenders and the goalkeeper - not quite the player I remember in our team. Sheehan did very well negating his threat.

As above, Downes was an absolute class above. As I put in the other thread, there's not a chance in hell that he'll be signing for us permanently. He's only just turned 19 and has a massive future in the game. He just oozes confidence and class. I thought Jake Jervis did well too, if faded slightly in the second half.

 

[Moomin]

Disappointing to lose but as soon as I saw the back 4 I knew it would be a long afternoon. Jordan Storey making his debut at CB apparently did quite well but we need Brown and Moore-Taylor back ASAP to have any chance.

Sounds like a deserved win for Luton and they seemed to keep us quiet going forward so no real complaints. Wycombe at home next which is massive for us.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Agree clearly a foul. Exeter didn't deserve anything from that game. They were well beaten and lucky to concede only the one goal. Worryingly for them they have injuries at the back which as we know can affect the confidence of the whole team. Not sure if they tried to address that in the transfer window or perhaps the injuries are short term? I was impressed how well Downes quickly settled into the team. Normally takes a few games to get used to the style of play etc. Another week on the training pitch and I'm sure we'll see even more promise from the youngster. Agree with Kenny that we have no chance of signing him. Ipswich rate him highly and he will no doubt be part of their first team plans next season. Quite relieved now that we won't play Coventry later this month. A free Saturday will give us a rest and get our injured players fit as well as more time to work on things in training. Ideal before the final push.

 

[Trapdoor]

We were well beaten, Luton deserved the 3 points. They ran the midfield particularly well.
They were very lucky with their goal however, big deflection which Pym had no chance with. They could have had a few, but they hit the post.

At the time I thought the it was a keeper error after a 50/50 ball and that the goal should have stood. On the TV replay you can see the keeper has been impeded by Simpson though after he spilled it. Thought the keeper made a meal of the challenge to try and cover up for his poor handling.

Our ultimate problem was not having any control or creativity in the midfield. Stockley got no service at all and was left completely isolated the entire game.

Need our first choice defenders back and a few better midfielders than Harley and James tbh.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

It’s literally a shin height lunge at the keeper. Don’t know how anyone can say it’s Stechs fault for dropping that, it’s not just a foul it’s at minimum a yellow.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

How did Jake do? I am guessing as he was substituted not great.

 

[Kenneth E End]

How did Jake do? I am guessing as he was substituted not great.

Tried too hard to impress first half and faded during the second, but a solid debut.

 

[Sydney Posse]

Oh well, losing away 1-0 to Luton is not entirely unexpected, and my friends who went all say if we had got a point it would have been undeserved. We have a great home record this season, and some potential winnables coming up against other promotion chasers, so hopefully we hang in there in the chase for the auto's. I am back in the UK for a few days, so can take in Wycombe at home and Port Vale away, and will be wearing my lucky socks !