MX23RW : Friday, November 22 05:49:04| >> :120:26748:26748:
[monks data]
Luton Town
Championship | Gameweek 45
May 1, 2021 at 3pm UK
Kenilworth Road Stadium
Middlesbrough logo

Luton
1 - 1
Middlesbrough

Rea (19')
Rea (75')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Watmore (21')

Nathan Jones admits "missed opportunities" have cost Luton this season

Nathan Jones admits
© Reuters
James Collins missed a second-half penalty.

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough showed why his side have not made the leap to be in with a shout of making the play-offs.

The Hatters took the lead through Glen Rea's third goal of the campaign after 19 minutes only to concede an equaliser within 60 seconds of the restart, with Duncan Watmore on target.

Leading scorer James Collins then missed a penalty with 19 minutes go to, his effort easily saved by visiting keeper Jordan Archer.

Jones said: "I think that's why we're not top eight and pushing for top six at the minute as we've missed opportunities.

"Both Swansea games, both Middlesbrough games, Birmingham here, (Nottingham) Forest here, there's a lot of ones where we should have taken more and we should have a greater points haul and be closer to those who are challenging for play-offs.

"But it's another point, a point against Middlesbrough, we're kind of saying we should be beating these sides, so we've come a long way and let's not forget that, but I'm disappointed today as we should have taken three points.

"For large parts of the first period we were really lacklustre, we didn't really get going.

"Second half we picked it up and we had enough of the play, enough of the opportunities, we just need to show a little bit more control and quality and we probably would have won the game."

There were precious few chances in the first period until Town went ahead through Rea's header after Kal Naismith's effort from James Bree's corner was superbly clawed on to the bar by Archer.

Watmore levelled immediately, being left totally unmarked to nod in Marvin Johnson's cross, while after the break, Elijah Adebayo's penalty claims were turned away by referee Jeremy Simpson.

The official did then give a spot-kick when Paddy McNair was adjudged to have tripped Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, only for Collins to see his effort repelled.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu also hammered over from the resulting corner.

Late on, George Saville's close-range attempt deflected off Sonny Bradley and on to the underside of the bar, while in stoppage time Mpanzu might have won it, shanking wide from just outside the box.

Boro boss Neil Warnock said: "It was two honest sides both giving everything they've got and I thought we deserved that.

"I thought we were a bit unfortunate when Sav's shot hit their man, I thought that would have gone in, but you've got to take your hat off.

"Nathan's got a real honest, hard-working side and I think we had to work hard to get that result.

"It was a good move for the goal, Duncan's been lively and I feel a bit sorry for him as he's had to do a little bit more work today with the system they play, but overall I thought he put another good shift in.

"I don't think it was a penalty, he's slipped hasn't he? You can see can't you, there's no contact with the man.

"I think he gave that as he probably thought the first one might have been a penalty, so I think that would have influenced him, or he just doesn't like Paddy as he sent Paddy off last time against Huddersfield and we got that card rescinded.

"So I've just said to Paddy, it must be just you he doesn't like."

ID:445685: cacheID:445685:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5825:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Norwich City's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring their seventh goal against Huddersfield Town in the Championship on April 6, 2021
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Norwich City vs. Reading
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Steelers
@
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!