MATCHWATCH : Luton Town (a)

[bcubed]

Scrappy game void of any real quality but good to stop the rot away from home. A point and clean sheet is all you can ask for atm.

My first time to Kenilworth Road, what an absolute dive but very cool walking through the houses.

Not been there for years. In fact probably not since we lost our unbeaten run in 2006. Sounds like it hasn't changed. Walking up and looking down over the houses and back gardens is weird. But as you say quite cool.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Surprised at some of the negativity on here. It wasn’t a great game by any stretch but Luton do the ugly side of the game very well and we more than matched them, a far cry from some of the weak insipid teams we’ve had in the past that would have rolled over. You only have to go as far back as January against Luton under Paunovic to notice the improvements in the side

Would put everyone at pretty much a 6/10, Holmes and Ince slightly higher, Hoilett and Rahman slightly lower. Said pre match that those two are a concern and they were our weakest players once again, very little attacking output from either of them. Would be surprised if Guinness Walker isn’t back in on Friday

Ejaria getting a fair amount of stick but thought he did OK, battled well in midfield. I’m not sure what people are expecting from him, he hasn’t consistently provided offensively in the three/four years he’s been here. If he can contribute in other areas of the midfield, he can be a useful asset for the squad

Agree, we were miles better than we were previously against them at home, competed well but both sides lacked the quality in front of goal. We probably edged the game and had enough shots/chances to score, which is the concern, but if we can match someone like Luton at their game, we won't be going neither up or down this season which is perfectly fine by me.

Ejaria did a couple of poor things, a couple of decent things. Was rightly substituted, but did ok in a game he wasn't really suited to, 6/10 is probably decent enough.

Agree on the wing backs as well, Hoilett is a strange one where he did pretty well defensively but was borderline shocking offensively which isn't what you'd typically expect. Rahman played a few loose passes throughout, did a couple of things well though. May need a bit of consistency in his game when and where possible to get more from him but, at the same time, wouldn't want NGW to be relegated to the bench when he's been the better player when they've both played. I hope to see NGW on Friday night.

[mikey_1871]

It's funny the different impression you get at the game. To me it felt like an entertaining game, end to end, Reading probably shaded it but either side could have nicked it. In hindsight can probably see why people are criticising the quality, but it wasn't something I really noticed live! Fun night, and a decent point we'd have taken at 7.30pm yesterday

[Hound]

Poor quality doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t entertaining. I enjoyed the game but was frustrated at the end product from us when we’d done a lot of the hard work in winning the ball and getting close to their goal in the first place

Telling comments from Nathan Jones about what a tough side we are to play against. Must be music to Ince and Bowen’s ears

[windermereROYAL]

7 points behind 2nd place, 7 points above the drop zone, what a crazy league this year.

[Stranded]

Well, I enjoyed that. It was a fairly typical Championship game played by two fairly typical Championship sides who will both likely finish somewhere between 8th and 16th.

We had more shots and created better chances and Carroll in particular must be annoyed at himself for not hitting the target more, as he had a couple of chances that if they had been on target would likely have been a goal. Their keeper made a couple of decent saves, the one from Meite in the first half where he had to turn back on himself in particular - though if Meite hadn't have slipped, that is 1-0.

As metioned Hoilett was poor - there was at least 2 occasions where Ince had the ball and it was screaming out for Hoilett to overlap but he either couldn't or simply wouldn't do so - seemed to be running very slowly - one eye on the WC I guess.

Ejaria was decent in the first half, much more combative but that may mean he has lost a little of his creative spark - definitely looks like he has been told to play differently than before. Clearly still working back to full match fitness - think Ince said his legs were tired at HT - so no surprise to seem him taken off - Fornah did well and was certain his shot was in late on.

Overall, it's a good point, which could have been better and means we've taken 4/9 over the last 3 - be happy enough with W1 D1 L1 from here on out. Preston on Friday an important game a win moves us to 7/12 which is good form and gives us confidence going into the last 2 games before the break.

Typically, given how rotten Hull have been at home of late, we'll likely head there as the first home opponents for their new manager - we do seem to be getting to teams just at the point they have a new boss this year.

[windermereROYAL]

We are looking a more robust defensive unit now. 6 clean sheets now, we only had 5 all of last season.

[leon]

We are looking a more robust defensive unit now. 6 clean sheets now, we only had 5 all of last season.

This is an interesting point.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Typically, given how rotten Hull have been at home of late, we'll likely head there as the first home opponents for their new manager - we do seem to be getting to teams just at the point they have a new boss this year.

Seems to be a constant thing this season where we end up being the next fixture for a club with a new manager/recently appointed manager. Blackpool, Stoke, Huddersfield and West Brom* had new managers in the dugout with us being the next fixture. Sunderland, Blackburn and now Hull will have a new manager in place with us being a fixture recent to a new manager appointment.

That will be 7 games out of 21 so far this season (assuming either Preston or Watford don't change their manager in that time).

[Nameless]

We are looking a more robust defensive unit now. 6 clean sheets now, we only had 5 all of last season.

This is an interesting point.

Especially when we barely have any defenders !
The concept of a ‘defensive unit’ is something we’ve not had much chance to build….

[YorkshireRoyal99]

We are looking a more robust defensive unit now. 6 clean sheets now, we only had 5 all of last season.

This is an interesting point.

Especially when we barely have any defenders !
The concept of a ‘defensive unit’ is something we’ve not had much chance to build….

2 clean sheets in our last 3 games as well, "only" 2 goals conceded at Burnley whereas, in other circumstances, we'd have had a penalty and possibly won/not lost the game. All ifs and buts there but, in terms of our defensive side of the game, it's improving again.

Preston is an important game on Friday, 3 points and another clean sheet would be absolutely ideal and I'll be satisfied going into Watford and Hull away knowing we are at a decent points tally and likely in a decent position in the league as well by the WC break which is important for us to rest some players, get back on the training pitch and, probably most importantly, get some bodies back in the squad as well.

[Stranded]

We are looking a more robust defensive unit now. 6 clean sheets now, we only had 5 all of last season.

This is an interesting point.

5 wins and last night's draw to show for it too.

We are currently joint 6th in the division for Clean Sheets.

[leon]

This is an interesting point.

Especially when we barely have any defenders !
The concept of a ‘defensive unit’ is something we’ve not had much chance to build….

2 clean sheets in our last 3 games as well, "only" 2 goals conceded at Burnley whereas, in other circumstances, we'd have had a penalty and possibly won/not lost the game. All ifs and buts there but, in terms of our defensive side of the game, it's improving again.

Preston is an important game on Friday, 3 points and another clean sheet would be absolutely ideal and I'll be satisfied going into Watford and Hull away knowing we are at a decent points tally and likely in a decent position in the league as well by the WC break which is important for us to rest some players, get back on the training pitch and, probably most importantly, get some bodies back in the squad as well.

Our midfield is offering more protection. Something we've been crying out for ages.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Especially when we barely have any defenders !
The concept of a ‘defensive unit’ is something we’ve not had much chance to build….

2 clean sheets in our last 3 games as well, "only" 2 goals conceded at Burnley whereas, in other circumstances, we'd have had a penalty and possibly won/not lost the game. All ifs and buts there but, in terms of our defensive side of the game, it's improving again.

Preston is an important game on Friday, 3 points and another clean sheet would be absolutely ideal and I'll be satisfied going into Watford and Hull away knowing we are at a decent points tally and likely in a decent position in the league as well by the WC break which is important for us to rest some players, get back on the training pitch and, probably most importantly, get some bodies back in the squad as well.

Our midfield is offering more protection. Something we've been crying out for ages.

Yeah - think we've managed to have bit of consistency in that area. I know Loum was suspended last night, but we've had himself, Fornah, Hendrick and Ince all available for a number of games, as well as Ejaria working his way back into the frame and Mbengue is capable of playing there as well. So we've had options consistently in that area throughout the majority of the season, P.Ince, by and large, has got that area nailed down well so far this season.

[CountryRoyal]

Poor quality doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t entertaining. I enjoyed the game but was frustrated at the end product from us when we’d done a lot of the hard work in winning the ball and getting close to their goal in the first place

Telling comments from Nathan Jones about what a tough side we are to play against. Must be music to Ince and Bowen’s ears

Yeah same, was certainly far from the most boring of 0-0s. I can’t be too disappointed with the lack of end product when it’s a point and a clean sheet is a marked improvement of our late away form.

[John Smith]

Scrappy game void of any real quality but good to stop the rot away from home. A point and clean sheet is all you can ask for atm.

My first time to Kenilworth Road, what an absolute dive but very cool walking through the houses.

Not been there for years. In fact probably not since we lost our unbeaten run in 2006. Sounds like it hasn't changed. Walking up and looking down over the houses and back gardens is weird. But as you say quite cool.

Game was very poor - looked fatigued everywhere. Reminded me of Peterborough (a) last season.

Kenilworth Road is absolutely superb. Will be a sad day when they move.

[Hound]

Scrappy game void of any real quality but good to stop the rot away from home. A point and clean sheet is all you can ask for atm.

My first time to Kenilworth Road, what an absolute dive but very cool walking through the houses.

Not been there for years. In fact probably not since we lost our unbeaten run in 2006. Sounds like it hasn't changed. Walking up and looking down over the houses and back gardens is weird. But as you say quite cool.

Game was very poor - looked fatigued everywhere. Reminded me of Peterborough (a) last season.

Kenilworth Road is absolutely superb. Will be a sad day when they move.

The game when we got battered for 90 mins against a bottom of the table side who hadn’t won for ages, scraped a draw and then had our own fans barrack the team coach?

Don’t think so

[Whore Jackie]

Noted someone called Ejaria a luxury player in the thread. As said it’s been years since he was that. I thought he was solid bar the two slips and won his fair share of tackles and headers. Not a great game but a 6/10 like most of the rest of them

Agreed. Do think Ejaria is one of those players that often looks poor on TV. Not to say he's not frustrating in the flesh, but a lot of the good, defensive side of his game gets lost amidst the overall coverage. Didn't go last night, but thought he had a pretty decent run-out at Turf Moor.

[John Smith]

The game when we got battered for 90 mins against a bottom of the table side who hadn’t won for ages, scraped a draw and then had our own fans barrack the team coach?

Don’t think so

In the same sense that both teams could still be playing till next week and wouldn't score. Plus it was in a similar part of the country. On a Tuesday.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

The game when we got battered for 90 mins against a bottom of the table side who hadn’t won for ages, scraped a draw and then had our own fans barrack the team coach?

Don’t think so

In the same sense that both teams could still be playing till next week and wouldn't score. Plus it was in a similar part of the country. On a Tuesday.

So the only similarities being a cliche and the day of the week? Luton and Peterborough are some 60 miles away from each other, hardly a similar part of the country.

I think it was a lot different to the game against Peterborough personally speaking, bar the scoreline. We created far more than what we did against Peterborough and looked a lot more assured at the back as well.