Luton Town 3, Newport County 1
Welsh manager Nathan Jones described his Luton Town team as ‘scintillating’ after their League Two home win against Newport County at Kenilworth Road.
The Hatters swept into a 3-0 half-time lead, collected the three points and Rhondda-born Jones says: “We were scintillating in the first time. Outstanding, absolutely outstanding, we really were.
“The level of play, the level of movement, how we shifted the ball, especially in the final third, we got in behind their back four.”
Danny Hylton scored twice for Luton, while Alan Sheehan scored from a free-kick which flew straight in from 40 yards. Joss Labadie replied for Newport.
Michael Flynn, County’s manager, said: “Luton were very good in the first-half and we were very poor and lucky to only get in three down.
“We looked hesitant and weren’t on the front foot. Why that was I don’t know.
“In the second-half credit to the boys they could have easily have felt sorry for themselves, but they stuck together and put some pride back in the performance.
“That was more like us, but it’s quite easy to do when you are 3-0 down.”
Jones was quick to praise Flynn’s Newport, saying: “He has done a brilliant job.
“County are a big, big side, so you have to weather that and I thought we did that and back four were very good for most of the game.
“It was a feisty game and we knew there was going to be an element of physicality. We stood up to that, moved the ball wonderfully well.
“They are a good side, difficult side to play against. Newport had only lost one in the last five like us, their record is similar to ours. it was a real big game for us and a difficult game, but I thought first half we were wonderful.”
Luton have jumped a place to fifth place in League Two, while the Exiles dropped two spots to 10th.
Luton Town: Stech, Stacey, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts, Rea, Cornick (Justin 85), Gambin (Cook 72), Lee, Collins, Hylton. Subs not used: Mullins, Jarvis, Shea, Lee, Famewo.
Newport County: Day, Pipe, O’Brien, Demetriou, White, Willmott (Reynolds
72), Labadie (McCoulsky 78), Tozer, Rigg, Amond (Quigley 76), Nouble. Subs not used: Butler, Dolan, Bennett, Bittner.
Referee: Mark Heywood
Attendance: 7,681.
