‘We pushed Luton all the way and could have won the game on another night’
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley suffered a heavy defeat on Tuesday as they were beaten away from home against Luton Town.
A hat-trick from Danny Hylton along with a strike from Andrew Shinnie was enough to earn Luton the win at Kenilworth Road, despite a strike from Offrande Zanzala.
Stanley boss John Coleman didn’t feel the scoreline reflected the game, but admits that certain mistakes were made by some of his players.
“We didn’t defend as well as we should and we weren’t as clinical in front of goal as we should have been,” he said.
“We pushed Luton all the way and could have won the game on another night. Offrande Zanzala has had three headers and scored one, but he should have had all three really.
“Their fourth goal came from us chasing the game, but we had two good chances at 3-1, and if we had made it 3-2 it would have set up a grandstand finish.
“I can’t fault our lads for effort. They weren’t as good on the ball passing wise as they should be and were a bit nervous, but we’ll go again.”
Luton were quick out of the blocks in the game and it didn’t take them long to make the breakthrough. A good counter-attack saw James Justin cross into the box, with Hylton on hand to volley home from close range and make it 1-0 to the home side.
Accrington tried to hit straight back when Zanzala headed towards goal on 15 minutes, but his attempt was kept out by Luton goalkeeper James Shea. Zanzala did manage to get his goal after 27 minutes though, as Callum Johnson’s cross into the box was met by the striker at the far post, who headed low past Shea to dominance by restoring their lead on 53 minutes. A long range effort from Shinnie found its way into the bottom corner, making it 2-1 to the hosts.
It went from bad to worse for Stanley, as just one minute later they had conceded again. Shinnie turned provider on this occasion, as he found Hylton in space, with the striker scoring to get his second of the evening and put his team into a 3-1 lead.
Stanley knew they now had a mountain to climb, with Sean McConville attempting to get his team back in the game when he had two efforts saved by Shea. Zanzala also went close again as the visitors tried to reduce the deficit.
It wasn’t to be though, and Luton were able to put the match beyond doubt on 71 minutes when Hylton completed his hat-trick. Sonny Brad- ley’s cross was met by the forward, who headed home to make it 4-1.
Luton almost scored a fifth in the closing stages when Maxted needed to produce a good save to deny Collins, but the game finished 4-1 as Accrington suffered a defeat which has left them in fourth place.