Championship
LutonLuton Town3Bristol CityBristol City0

Luton 3-0 Bristol City: Mpanzu strike helps Hatters end Robins' unbeaten run

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in action for Luton Town
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (left) has now scored in four different divisions for the Hatters

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's fine shot set Luton on the way to a fourth league win of the season as three second-half goals ended Bristol City's 10-match unbeaten Championship run.

The hosts got on top after a bright start by the Robins, with Mpanzu involved in most of the best moments.

He saw a first-half strike well saved and teed up Izzy Brown, who smashed a shot against the post.

Mpanzu's curling effort made it 1-0 after the break, Harry Cornick's cool one-on-one doubled the lead and an Ashley Williams own goal sealed victory in injury-time.

City had won five and drawn five before heading to Kenilworth Road and Tommy Rowe twice went close early on, forcing James Shea into a decent save and then shooting just over after being pushed wide by the home keeper.

Luton responded impressively and had the better chances thereafter, notably when Ryan Tunnicliffe's strike was well stopped by Daniel Bentley and on-loan Chelsea midfielder Brown's 20-yard strike that hit the woodwork.

The hosts remained the more threatening after the interval and, after James Collins went close, Mpanzu opened the scoring with a fabulous curling shot into the far corner.

Cornick's composed finish made it 2-0 as he broke the offside trap from Brown's pass and Williams slid Tunnicliffe's cross into his own net to wrap up a home win which takes the Hatters up to 16th.

Luton manager Graeme Jones told BBC 3CR:

"That was the exhibition, the evidence of four months' work. I think the technical aspect's one thing and then the application, the courage and character of the players to execute it was really satisfying.

"James Shea was outstanding and I was especially pleased for Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson, who have been thrown more challenges or demands by me than any other players at the club, and stood up to it and showed courage.

"It's been difficult for them at times and when you eventually break through those barriers, you grow as players. The two lads were getting more and more frustrated at not having a clean sheet, but it's the first time we've had a defensive midfield player out on the pitch for two months and I think that was a key factor today."

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson told BBC Bristol:

"I didn't think we earned the right to play enough, second half. I didn't think we won enough individual duels, on and off the ball and we've got to set a higher standard in terms of the attitude to be the best player on the pitch.

"To sum it up, there were too many cheap giveaways, not in one particular area, but the two goals led from strikers giving the ball away when it wasn't a 50-50. We need to do more - the standards we've set in the last 10 games, we didn't reach today.

"I think the first goal was always going to be very, very important. Our players will have to learn a lot because there are going to be games like that, particularly moving towards the end of the season."

Line-ups

Luton

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

  • 36Shea
  • 26BreeSubstituted forBoltonat 45'minutes
  • 6Pearson
  • 5Bradley
  • 3Potts
  • 2Cranie
  • 17MpanzuBooked at 84mins
  • 4TunnicliffeBooked at 51mins
  • 24BrownSubstituted forMcManamanat 76'minutes
  • 19Collins
  • 14CornickSubstituted forLuaLuaat 88'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7McManaman
  • 11Shinnie
  • 12Sluga
  • 22Bolton
  • 25LuaLua
  • 28Jones
  • 29Butterfield

Bristol City

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1Bentley
  • 23MooreSubstituted forO'Dowdaat 58'minutes
  • 29Williams
  • 6Baker
  • 2HuntBooked at 90mins
  • 45PalmerSubstituted forEliassonat 59'minutes
  • 8Brownhill
  • 42Massengo
  • 25Rowe
  • 14Weimann
  • 9DiédhiouBooked at 63minsSubstituted forRíos Lozanoat 64'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Wright
  • 11O'Dowda
  • 18Semenyo
  • 19Eliasson
  • 31Ríos Lozano
  • 32Lopes Pereira
  • 33Mäenpää
Referee:
Graham Scott
Attendance:
10,064

Match Stats

Home TeamLutonAway TeamBristol City
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home12
Away10
Shots on Target
Home5
Away2
Corners
Home8
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Luton Town 3, Bristol City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Luton Town 3, Bristol City 0.

  3. Goal!

    Own Goal by Ashley Williams, Bristol City. Luton Town 3, Bristol City 0.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Nathan Baker.

  5. Booking

    Jack Hunt (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Jack Hunt (Bristol City).

  7. Post update

    Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Jack Hunt (Bristol City).

  9. Post update

    James Collins (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Rodri (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nathan Baker with a headed pass.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Callum McManaman.

  12. Post update

    Offside, Bristol City. Josh Brownhill tries a through ball, but Rodri is caught offside.

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andreas Weimann with a cross.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Luton Town. Kazenga LuaLua replaces Harry Cornick.

  15. Booking

    Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Andreas Weimann (Bristol City).

  17. Post update

    Callum McManaman (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Dan Potts.

  19. Post update

    Han-Noah Massengo (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Callum McManaman (Luton Town).