A fairly easy run down to Swindon and despite a predictably crowded M25, the coach arrived in plenty of time to give the thirsty traveller a chance of a little refreshment in the away supporters bar. To be fair to Swindon they have provided a fairly decent away supporters bar with good facilities but on the downside very limited beers on offer. The chap queuing in front of me was devastated that the bar did not have Fosters on; after a little laugh, the joke was on me as with no decent "proper beers" on offer, it was Cold fizzy Peroni for me!
Our Nathan wisely named an unchanged side, well, in fact, the side essentially picked itself after Saturday's assured display against Grimsby. As we reached kick off time the sections of the ground allocated to the Hatters were filled quite nicely as even the seats behind the goal were decently populated despite the persistent light rainfall that was gradually soaking the more hardy types. The Town started the game really well showing absolute intent from the kick off that they were going to really try and impose themselves on this Swindon side. Some of the early short passing approach play was really good yet it was just the execution of that final pass that was lacking and preventing us from really pressing on. Olly with his great eye for a pass could readily see the possibilities yet his passes that were so well-intentioned unfortunately were continually underweighted. We looked like we were going to take the lead after about 10 minutes when a beautifully flighted freekick from dead ball specialist Sheehan found Potts in the area but the normally reliable Dan Potts missed the chance sending the ball over the crossbar: should have been the opening goal. Not long after that, Collins spotted that the Swindon keeper was off his line and from a distance of about 40 yards lobbed the keeper. The keeper raced back towards his goal and just managed to get a hand to the goal-bound ball and tip it away for a corner; lovely stuff! The positive approach from Luton continued through the whole of the first half with Potts being a real danger from every corner and our other fullback, JJ, attacking well down the right flank. Every Luton player looked totally up for it and the only real surprise was that we reached half-time goalless: we were doing well without that final killer ball to create many clear-cut chances. In the second half after a few token attacks by Swindon, we really asserted our authority on the game firstly with a superb shot from Collins as he cut in from our right and struck a wonderful shot into the back of the net. Swindon tried to counter but their efforts were simply snuffed out by our team working so well together and anything that got close down the middle was intercepted by Mullins, Sheehan and Rea. Next, we had a lovely four/five man move down our left flank culminating with a Potts cross that was bravely headed in by Danny Hylton getting ahead of his marker: beautiful move, great stuff! Of course, Swindon tried to counter but they were really getting nowhere. The Hatters were now becoming rampant and a superb determined tackle by Rea to prevent Swindon building a move, saw the ball on the right of the area with Collins. Collins crossed the ball with Olly Lee being the target recipient but before it could get to Olly, former Hatter Taylor turned the ball into his own net. Do have a look on video at that superb tackle from Rea that started the move leading to that third goal; an absolutely brilliant tackle. The fourth was from another cracking shot; this time from substitute Harry Cornick creating space on the edge of the box and then hitting a powerful shot wide of the despairing Swindon goalkeeper and firmly into the back of the net. A fifth then followed with a move down our left involving the very determined Elliot Lee, another substitution success. Elliot took the ball down the left, exchanged passes and then splendidly created space to send a low shot into the far corner of the net. Finally, deep into added time, we had another wave of Hatters attack that saw a bobbling ball come to Luke Berry just a few yards out and he spooned the ball over the bar to spare our hosts a 6-0 defeat. Overall impression I felt we were good in the first half without really pushing that advantage, we were almost there and indeed better than Swindon but just needed that extra thrust that would have given us a half-time lead. However, in the second half, we were really rampant and completely dominated Swindon; they could just not live with the dominance of the Hatters. People talk of the man of the match for every game but just as with Saturday's super dominant display against Grimsby, this was once again another total team performance. Every Luton player played their part and just as on Saturday, the movement was excellent with all of our players giving the man in possession options for the pass. There is an incredible feeling of togetherness about our team; everybody works for everybody; when a goal is scored there is a mass total team celebration including the substitutes, such a massive will to get the job of projection promotion delivered. Our midfield is just looking so strong with the superb Rea utterly dominant in front of the back four; maybe his excellent form is aided by simply concentrating on playing in one position; it certainly looks that way. Then playing in front of Rea we have that superb "engine room" Luke Berry; what great form the little man is showing, you just can't really fault his game. Then up front, the Swindon defence found it really hard to cope with Collins and Hylton, the former full of physical energy and power whilst the latter was his usual total pain in the arse for the opposition. Once again Nathan used his substitutes really well and two of them, "our Arry" Cornick and Elliot scored great goals hit with real precision having carved room for themselves. Which of the goals was the pick of the bunch? Well, I have to say that Collins shot to give us the lead just after halftime was really excellent; well worth watching on video. Overall a great day out and a great time to be a Hatter. Oh, and yes we could have scored more with Berry hooking one over the bar in injury time and also to Swindon's credit a couple of last-ditch superb tackles in the penalty area. How does this one rank against other recent 5-0 away wins going back to the Conference days? Well at Alfreton it was all about an early first-half destruction of the home side whilst at Nuneaton, it was one of being on top in the first half and then moving into destruction mode after half-time. The Swindon game was more in that Nuneaton mould. I did listen to NJ’s post game interview and most of the time I agree with his fair assessment of play but yesterday I felt he undervalued our first-half performance which was far better than he gave the team credit for whilst not been anywhere near as electric as that second half destruction of Swindon. Onwards and upwards to Port Vale on Saturday but unfortunately that means a ride on my most disliked train route via New Street Station. Some thoughts on individual performances Stech: dealt well with the relatively small amount of risk that came his way including a couple of decent saves in the first half. Justin: looked exactly what he is, a very valuable asset with a great career in front of him. He had a very strong powerful game: we are so spoilt for choice at right back with JJ and Stacey. Mullins: I don't think he put a foot wrong and his anticipation was totally on the ball. Sheehan: total class all game. Great tackling and distribution complemented by those superb dead-ball kicks. This guy, like a few others, is playing right at the top of his game. Rea: apologies if this is getting a touch boring but Glen Rea is playing in the form of his life. If the ball was there, he was going to win it, no question about that. Some of his interceptions and tackles were just totally first class. Shinnie: another totally sound game and using his newly learned physical strength to exert his authority on proceedings. Olly Lee: some good play but his passing, usually the strong part of his game, was a touch off in the first half but back to good in the second period. Berry: little “Mr engine room” was just about everywhere, supporting the attack, initiating breakaway moves and then clearing up in defence: I think the guy on this form is just what we needed. Hylton: a complete mixture of all the well-known components that make up the one and only Danny Hylton. What a total pain in the arse he must be for opposing defenders in league 2. However, the daft Dany was also evident and he and Swindon's No6 got booked for an off the ball handbags incident. Collins: strong powerful and physical making it very difficult for the home defence to keep him quiet. He had that superb lobbed effort in the first half and scored that gloriously hit opening goal. The Subs Cornick: bags of pace and trickery and unlike at Cheltenham when he created space and blasted the ball into the crowd, at Swindon having created space he blasted the ball into the back of the net; wonderful. Elliot Lee: no surprises, we know what we will get, excellent footwork and close control skill topped off with a great goal from the edge of the area. Pelly: only really had a few minutes; maybe more time on another day yet I do get a feeling that the boat has sailed leaving Pelly on the dockside. re to edit.
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Hi there, welcome to my site where I chronicle various things about the Hatters, a team I have followed since the mid 60’sArchives
December 2017
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