Preston North End 2 Riis (1 pen) Luton Town 0
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Barkhuizen, McCann (Ledson, 90+2), Whiteman, Browne, Earl; Maguire (Sinclair, 76), Riis (Potts, 90+2). Subs not used: Rudd, Cunningham, Johnson, Storey.
Luton line-up: Sluga; Lockyer, Bradley (Lansbury, 45), Naismith; Bree, Clark, Rea (Muskwe, 45), Ruddock Mpanzu, Bell; Jerome, Cornick (Onyedinma, 70). Subs: Shea, Hylton, Burke, Campbell.
Referee: Mr D Whitestone
Attendance: 11,059 (989 Luton fans)
Deserved win in a match that wasn't a classic gives a bit more breathing space as the three at the bottom all lost, bizarrely only 6 points for a play off place but any thoughts should be put immediately in the bin.
Luton arrived without their top scorer Adebayo which was a bonus for us, a soggy morning had given way to early Autumn sunshine although was a tad chilly, Noth End played Van den Berg at his natural position as centre back with Barkhuizen as a wing back and in came McCann
First 30 minutes were dire, perfect pitch both sides hoofing it upwards, before the game Luton were in the play off zone couldn't figure out why they were poor but in the first period of the game neither side looked like world beaters.
The game improved towards half time thanks to Mr Whitestone who was at best inept, started with Riis being wrestled to the floor by Bradley no fouland from that moment until half time it became at bit tetchy, meanwhile out of nothing we were in front, Riis about 6 yards from te by line outside the penalty area, curls a right footed shot past Sluga, wonderful goal. Luton forced Iversen into a double save probably the only thing they did in the half. Browne and Lockyer got involved in a bit of afters which led to a bit of a melee (no doubt another fine) The second on half time from tehspot as McCann was flattened by Badley as the ball was going out of play, Sluga got his hands too it but couldn't stop it
Double substitution by Luton at half time they looked better Muskwe denied by a good stop by Iversenn and Barkhuizen also cleared a header from the line shortly afterwards but after the initial surge they started to fade out of the game
Had the chances to increase the lead Sluga saved well from Bauer, Riis denied by the keeper also missed a glorious chance from a great cross by Barkhuizen but it was good to see us playing the ball on the ground, Whiteman, Brrowne and McCann linked well in midfield, Sinclair should have made it three but was denied by Sluga
In the last couple of minutes Luton rallied denied a goal after a Naismith shot was deflected by Bauer going in until the giant left hand of Iversen pulled off a stunner of a save, the resulting corner was headed narrowly wide but Luton got what they deserved from the game, nothing
Preston head coach Frankie McAvoy told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought we started a bit tentative if I'm being honest - we tried to move the ball out from the back and there were a few scary moments for us.
"But once we started to settle down and put our foot on the ball I thought we looked a bit better.
"Goals change games and I felt Emil's strike was magnificent - I'm no way saying it was a cross because he does it in training, he hits things from weird and wonderful areas.
"I was delighted by how we played."
Luton boss Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We didn't really look like scoring today, we didn't do the basics well enough.
"I don't think he [Riis] means to score from there but that was a big moment.
"We were a mile off today - we weren't at our level today and I thought Preston were excellent.
"They did to us what we normally do to teams and that's the sad thing - we haven't had a performance like that for a little bit, but it brings us back down to earth."
PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Barkhuizen, McCann (Ledson, 90+2), Whiteman, Browne, Earl; Maguire (Sinclair, 76), Riis (Potts, 90+2). Subs not used: Rudd, Cunningham, Johnson, Storey.
Luton line-up: Sluga; Lockyer, Bradley (Lansbury, 45), Naismith; Bree, Clark, Rea (Muskwe, 45), Ruddock Mpanzu, Bell; Jerome, Cornick (Onyedinma, 70). Subs: Shea, Hylton, Burke, Campbell.
Referee: Mr D Whitestone
Attendance: 11,059 (989 Luton fans)
Deserved win in a match that wasn't a classic gives a bit more breathing space as the three at the bottom all lost, bizarrely only 6 points for a play off place but any thoughts should be put immediately in the bin.
Luton arrived without their top scorer Adebayo which was a bonus for us, a soggy morning had given way to early Autumn sunshine although was a tad chilly, Noth End played Van den Berg at his natural position as centre back with Barkhuizen as a wing back and in came McCann
First 30 minutes were dire, perfect pitch both sides hoofing it upwards, before the game Luton were in the play off zone couldn't figure out why they were poor but in the first period of the game neither side looked like world beaters.
The game improved towards half time thanks to Mr Whitestone who was at best inept, started with Riis being wrestled to the floor by Bradley no fouland from that moment until half time it became at bit tetchy, meanwhile out of nothing we were in front, Riis about 6 yards from te by line outside the penalty area, curls a right footed shot past Sluga, wonderful goal. Luton forced Iversen into a double save probably the only thing they did in the half. Browne and Lockyer got involved in a bit of afters which led to a bit of a melee (no doubt another fine) The second on half time from tehspot as McCann was flattened by Badley as the ball was going out of play, Sluga got his hands too it but couldn't stop it
Double substitution by Luton at half time they looked better Muskwe denied by a good stop by Iversenn and Barkhuizen also cleared a header from the line shortly afterwards but after the initial surge they started to fade out of the game
Had the chances to increase the lead Sluga saved well from Bauer, Riis denied by the keeper also missed a glorious chance from a great cross by Barkhuizen but it was good to see us playing the ball on the ground, Whiteman, Brrowne and McCann linked well in midfield, Sinclair should have made it three but was denied by Sluga
In the last couple of minutes Luton rallied denied a goal after a Naismith shot was deflected by Bauer going in until the giant left hand of Iversen pulled off a stunner of a save, the resulting corner was headed narrowly wide but Luton got what they deserved from the game, nothing
Preston head coach Frankie McAvoy told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought we started a bit tentative if I'm being honest - we tried to move the ball out from the back and there were a few scary moments for us.
"But once we started to settle down and put our foot on the ball I thought we looked a bit better.
"Goals change games and I felt Emil's strike was magnificent - I'm no way saying it was a cross because he does it in training, he hits things from weird and wonderful areas.
"I was delighted by how we played."
Luton boss Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We didn't really look like scoring today, we didn't do the basics well enough.
"I don't think he [Riis] means to score from there but that was a big moment.
"We were a mile off today - we weren't at our level today and I thought Preston were excellent.
"They did to us what we normally do to teams and that's the sad thing - we haven't had a performance like that for a little bit, but it brings us back down to earth."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?