Luton Town Vs The Gas Match Thread And Poll

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Luton Town Vs Bristol Rovers, Kenilworth Road, Luton, Sky Bet League 2, Tuesday 18th August 2015, 7:45pm Kick Off.

Hatters Link: http://www.not606.com/threads/a-guide-to-sky-bet-league-2-2015-2016-season.302580/#post-8010931

All the news and build up to Tuesday's game will appear on this thread.

Don't forget to vote on the poll as usual it closes on Tuesday at 1:48pm.

My Prediction: Luton Town 1 - 1 The Gas (Harrison)

 

Blast's From The Past Part 1

 

This was pretty good too...

 

Blast's From The Past Part 2

 

I noticed you slipped in another defeat clip. Like you did in the Yeovil thread. I see what you done there. Hoping for the same outcome I take it

 

I will be here for the game tomorrow night.

 

Tonights ref is TREVOR KETTLE.

He was the ref in our 2-1 win at the Mem vs Barnet on the Friday night game where Brunt scored an injury time winner. He was also ref in our game at York in the FA Cup that ended 3-3.

 

By Gerry Prewett

When Bristol Rovers face Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night they will renew acquaintances with their former Manager John Still, who delights in managing on a tight budget and developing players.

His record at Dagenham and Redbridge was outstanding and he has done great things at Luton. Still is the only manager to lead three different clubs to promotion out of non-League football.

He has a reputation for spotting young talented footballers in the non-League game, particularly during his time at Dagenham. A number of players that Still has developed have gone on to play in the Championship and the Premier League.

In their last game at home to Oxford on Saturday the Hatters looked to have all three points in the bag when they took a 2-0 lead with just 20 minutes left.

The home team went ahead two minutes before half-time when Luke Wilkinson headed home from Paddy McCourt's corner. Then in the 69th minute Cameron McGeehan's low finish made it 2-0.

Chris Wilder’s team were given a clink of light with just eight minutes left as Kemar Roofe deflected strike found the back of the net. McGeehan was then wasteful for the home team as he blasted a great chance over in injury time and the Hatters were made to pay when Pat Hoban poked in an equaliser in injury time to give the U’s a share of the points.

Still refused to blame his goalkeeper Mark Tyler for his part in the goal that gifted Oxford a point, but admitted he was 'very angry' with one of his other players afterwards. The Luton boss appeared to give full back Scott Griffiths a dressing down during their usual post-match huddle. Refusing to name the subject of his ire, Still commented that there would be repercussions when the player returns for training on Monday.

"I was very animated and very angry. I wasn't happy with one of my players," the manager revealed. It's nothing to do with good, bad or indifferent [play], but a lack of discipline has led to them getting the ball to score the goal. He's only got to do one thing. He knows what he's got to do.”

"It's small margins. People don't trip over a mountain, they trip up the kerb because it's small and you don't really see it. You've got to make sure you keep all of the small things in check and we had a great opportunity to do that and we didn't.”

"They regained the ball and [Oxford's goal] actually came from that. Was that the reason Mark Tyler missed the ball? No it wasn't. But that situation wouldn't have happened. I deal with it Monday."

Tyler made his first league start in six months but in a rare moment of poor judgement the 38-year-old misread the flight of an injury time cross and Pat Hoban scrambled the recycled ball into an empty net, "You [media] probably know Mark more than me," Still said, adding: "He doesn't really make mistakes, but he made a mistake. We all make them, so we'll live with it."

"You can't do a lot about the first goal. That's football. Mark, 99 times out of 100, would deal with the second one, but he didn't, so we had to go with a point.

"[There was] lots of good play from us, lots of good positions, lots of good opportunities and I was really pleased with how we played, but I'm obviously disappointed to concede."

Talking about McGeenhan’s late miss Still said: "Cam scored and I think he should have scored again, which would have made the game over. He didn't and that's football. There are lots of good things in our game but you've got to take the errors out. We all make them and sometimes they hurt you and sometimes they don't. This one hurt us."

Rovers have a long history of games against Luton Town going right back to the inaugural Division Three Season. Rovers won both those games, 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on New Years Day 1921 and 5-0 at Eastville on 29 March. In fact, despite meeting every season it wasn’t until 26 September 1925 that the Hatters recorded their first victory over the Pirates, a 1-0 win in Bedfordshire at the 11th attempt.

Without doubt the most notable match between the teams occurred on 13 April 1936 and it was certainly an unlucky day for Rovers. Town’s Joe Payne notched up a record 10 goals that day as his team recorded a 12-0 win over the hapless Rovers. Payne later recalled that one of those goals even went in off his backside! The teams had met 3 days before at Eastville and fought out a 2-2 draw, but there was no Joe Payne in the Hatters line-up. The previous January Rovers had gone down 6-2 at Kenilworth Road.

On 19th February 200 Phil Gray gave the home team a 1-0 lead on 13 minutes, but goals by Jason Roberts (27 and 90 mins) and Jamie Cureton (38 and 58 mins) secured a memorable 4-1 win.

Rovers last League games against the Bedfordshire team took place in 2007/08 season, when Rickie Lamberts scored a stunning volley at Kenilworth Road as part of a double to give Rovers a 2-1 victory. The Boxing Day fixture at the Mem finished 1-1, with a Rickie Lambert penalty and a David Edwards goal for the away team.

Prior to Saturday’s game John Still spoke about the fitness of his squad, noting “Having come through the pre-season and had two games, most people have taken part now, other than Ryan Hall, whose a touch behind.”

“Luke Guttridge and Alex Lawless as well, they’ll probably be a touch disappointed, but I’ve tried to do what I can for everybody to show where they are with their fitness, their organisation, disciplined manner that they should play in and their quality levels. I’ve been really pleased as two games have told me where 99 per cent of the squad are and I think we’re in decent shape.”

One of that squad is Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu whio is finally over last season’s injury nightmare and believes he's returning to a Luton squad that is stronger than last term and targeting promotion. The midfielder made only 18 appearances last term, suffering with a rare calcification of the hamstring injury, but he returned to competitive action as a second half substitute in the 1-1 League Two opener at Accrington Stanley.

He looked sharp in pre-season and though John Still thinks Ruddock Mpanzu will take a few more weeks to get fully fit, the manager noted, "It's like [having] a new player."

Mpanzu said, "It's the first time I've been injured for that long, so it was hard mentally but I'm strong now and hopefully this season I'm injury free and promotion is a must for us. I'm fine now. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be fully fit and hopefully start."

With Mpanzu’s return and 11 new signings in the summer Town one of the bookmakers' favourites to win promotion this term. Mpanzu commented, "There's a lot of quality. Paddy McCourt is an international and Craig Mackail-Smith. There's a lot of depth in our team and hopefully they can push us on to promotion."

Going on to comment on the new signings he said, "I think they've settled in very well. Paddy started [against Accrington] and so did Josh [McQuoid]. Scott Cuthbert at right back played well and everyone is gelling and getting to know each other.

"There was me, Cam [Cameron McGeehan] and Gutts [Luke Guttridge] on the bench and obviously, I'm a centre midfielder but if the gaffer needs to play me out wide, I'll play out wide. There is competition for places and it keeps everyone on their toes."

Talking about a former West Ham team mate, Dan Potts he went on to say, "I didn't know [he was signing] until he came to training. It's pleasing for him. He wants to play games like me. I told him Luton is a good place and he came to sign. Hopefully he can push on as well."

 

A quick look at tonight's opponents!

Bristol Rovers go into tonight’s game looking to make it two wins out of two away games.

Rovers: Darrell Clarke's men will be looking to secure another three points on their travels following Saturday’s 0-1 win against Yeovil Town at Huish Park.

Team News: The game might come too soon for Mark McChrystal, Lee Mansell and Will Puddy.

Darrell's View:”We’ve got a very difficult task ahead of us tonight going to Luton who have a very good squad and they [Luton] will be wanting to be right up there at the end of the season.

“They have strength through the whole squad with a lot of quality, I expect them to be in the top seven but my boys will be ready for it this evening."
Opposition: Luton currently occupy 15th place in SkyBet League Two following two draws in their opening two fixtures. The Hatters started the season with a 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley before playing out a 2-2 draw with Oxford at Kenilworth Road.

Dangerman - Jack Marriott: Luton have been in impressive form in front of goal so far this season hitting the back of the net on six times. Marriott is yet to find form in the League but did score twice as the Hatters beat Bristol City 3-1 in the Capital One Cup First Round a week ago.

Last Time Out: Rovers and Luton shared the points at the Memorial Stadium back on Boxing Day 2007. Rickie Lambert put Rovers a goal to the good from the spot after 17 minutes before David Edwards levelled things in the second half in a game that saw Luton finish the game with 8 men.

Tickets: Tickets for this fixture were on sale until midday today with the club selling around 550 tickets for the ALL TICKET fixture.

Keeping Up With The Game: Full match commentary on BBC Radio Bristol 94.9FM, 1548MW, DAB

Alternatively, stay tuned to the club’s social media outlets.

Bristol Rovers found on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your match day fix and make sure you use #BristolRovers!

Betting: The Football League’s primary sponsors have priced the game up with Rovers available at 13/5, Luton Town at 23/20 and the draw available at 23/10.

Bristol Rovers and SkyBet Promote Responsible Gambling for over 18s only. Prices correct at time of writing and subject to change. www.gambleaware.co.uk.

 

Well, let's hope he hasn't gone off the boil...sorry!!

 

Or run out of steam

 

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Easter replaces Taylor.
Mildenhall replaces Preston on the bench. DC saying Mildy was given the weekend off and returned yesterday ready to fight to win back the number 1 spot.

 

I think Taylor and Harrison have a better understanding, but hopefully Easter will have a good game...

 

Easter needs a goal asap and im sure he will come good. He needs minutes too to get better fitness. Taylor sounded like he did well when he came off the bench vs Brum. If things are going our way, I can see Easter being taken off around 70 mins and Taylor come on. If not going our way, Taylor will come on sooner. Just my guess!

 

Luton playing in orange and we are in our blue and white.

We are playing in the same system as at Yeovil.

 

COYB