Marshall's stunner sees Luton bounce back from Stags mauling

Luton Town produced the ideal response to Sunday’s pasting at the hands of Mansfield Town with a much-needed first clean sheet of the campaign when beating Stockport County 2-0 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters, who had seen their 13-game unbeaten league run ended in truly dismal fashion just a few days earlier, which caused a few supporters to unduly panic, showed hugely impressive reserves of character to right the many wrongs that were on display at the One Call Stadium. To do so, boss Jack Wilshere rang the changes from the weekend, making five of them in total, giving an instant debut to Manchester United loan signing Dan Gore.

He also changed formations as well, swapping to a three-man defence, Mads Andersen coming in to partner George Johnston and Hakeem Odoffin, as did Harrison Ashby and Benny Bengar, the pair moving out to the wingback berths. Nahki Wells was rewarded for his late double at the weekend with a start upfront, Kal Naismith, Jake Richards, Callum Marshall and Izzy Jones dropping to the bench, where they were joined by deadline day addition from Ipswich Town, Tudor Mendel, meaning winger Emilio Lawrence missed out completely.

The opening 20 minutes could definitely be filed away as something resembling a chess match, County enjoying the majority of possession, but Town remained compact in their shape, meaning the only real chance came midway through the half, Jack Diamond released on the right, his cross-shot going out until Tayo Edun recycled it, Odoffin able to nip in to clear the danger.

Stockport threatened again moments later, Harry Wood going on the outside of Odoffin and firing in an effort that looked destined to crash into the net, Josh Keeley making a superb save to fingertip over the bar, while Kyle Wootton ought to have done better when meeting a corner from the right, his downward header skewing wide.

Luton were denied an opener on 32 minutes due to a stunning save from County keeper Ollie Whatmuff, as Liam Walsh’s free kick saw Andersen battle to win it, the ball landing at the feet of Wells, who instinctively fired goalwards, the visiting stopper somehow sticking out a leg to divert over the bar.

Town made one change at the break, with Benagr, who hadn’t done anything to merit being taken off, seemingly injured, replaced by Jones, who took up a position on the left wing, Ashby thankfully remaining in the right wingback berth. The Hatters made a much better start to the second period as they began to play with some real momentum and finally in their opponents’ half, which saw the home crowd respond to finally make some kind of atmosphere.

They were off their seats just five minutes in as well, Kasey Palmer releasing the impressive Ashby who hared forward to unleash a cross-shot that Whatmuff parried, only to see it hit an alive Wells and bounce into the net for his fifth of the season already. Luton were then thankful to their woodwork for denying Ollie Norwood, who almost scored a free kick for the second season running in Bedfordshire, as he sent his set-piece around the wall, but thankfully against the inside of the woodwork as it bounced away.

Just after the hour mark and Wilshere went to his bench again, with Richards and Marshall on for Gore, who impressed on his first start and Wells, as Luton, still fresh from the wounds from the weekend, dropped back into shape, eager not to give up what they had, Keeley doing well to fist one dangerous cross away.

The Hatters then got their second out of nothing and in a quite magnificent fashion as a long ball was played into Donley, who began to show his undoubted class in the second period, getting a touch through to Marshall. The summer signing needed no second invitation to hammer a truly brilliant 25-yard shot that flew past the full-length dive of Whatmuff and arrowed into the top corner, as Kenilworth Road erupted.

Stockport weren't out of it, threatening an immediate reply when Wootton put his header over from close range, replacement Mikael Mandron doing the same when meeting a corner from the left. Ashby, who was having an outstanding game on the right, saw one driven cross gathered by Whatmuff before Marshall could slide in, as he then set off another exciting foray, to the delight of the home fans, unable to pick out Marshall, who had kept pace alongside him.

Wootton had another go on 85 minutes, having beaten Andersen to a cross only to get his radar all wrong, as with tired legs beginning to catch up with the hosts, Jason Adigun was found completely unmarked in the area, but Town just about got back to deflect behind.

Another header flew over as the Hatters had plenty of warning shots, but Marshall almost grabbed a third, showing some thrilling skill to nip past his man, but when faced with Whatmuff, saw the keeper tip over the bar. Town didn’t ever look like throwing it away in the four minutes of stoppage time, as they made sure that they put the Stags debacle behind them to pick up a first home shut-out since January.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Hakeem Odoffin, Mads Andersen, George Johnstone, Harrison Ashby, Liam Walsh, Dan Gore (Jake Richards 65), Kasey Palmer (Gideon Kodua 75), Jamie Donley, Benny Benagr (Izzy Jones 46), Nahki Wells (Callum Marshall 65). Subs not used: James Shea, Kal Naismith, Tudor Mendel.

Hatters: Ollie Whatmuff, Josh Dacres-Cogley (Ryan Glover 65), Lewis Bate (Mikael Mandron 75), Ethan Pye, Eoghan O’Connell, Jack Diamond (Jason Adigun 77), Ollie Norwood ©, Tayo Edun (Ben Osborn 65), Harry Wood (Benony Andresson 75), Kyle Wootton, Kyron Gordon. Subs not used: Tom Wilson-Brown, Lewis Fiorini. Referee: Craig Hicks. Booked: Gore 56, Norwood 67. Attendance: 10,013 (538 County).