Luton Town 3 Shrewsbury Town 2 - Report and pictures

John Askey is still looking for his first Shrewsbury win despite his side twice threatening to win at newly-promoted Luton.

Shaun Whalley had Town ahead at half-time from the penalty spot before the hosts levelled from a free-kick shortly after the break.

Town full debut striker Lee Angol then put Shrews back ahead on the hour in bizarre circumstances, taking the ball around home goalkeeper James Shea, who thought he had a free-kick.

But Shrewsbury were made to pay for loose defending as Jack Stacey levelled with less than 20 minutes to go and a deflected winner, another free-kick, this time from Elliot Lee, left Shrews empty-handed.

Goalkeeper Joel Coleman saved a late James Collins penalty for Shrews but Angol could not convert a fine late chance and salvage the visitors a point on what was a crazy afternoon in Luton.

The result makes it five league games without a win for Askey’s men, who have taken just two points in that time.

Analysis:

Angol was included from the off for the first time in a Shrewsbury shirt as boss Askey dropped Lenell John-Lewis to the bench.

The summer signing from Mansfield had previously impressed in cameos against Burton and Doncaster.

Also back in the matchday squad was midfielder Ollie Norburn who had been absent for a couple of weeks with a dead leg.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway missed out with a recurrence of a pesky groin injury.

The hosts had momentum on their side from Tuesday’s first win of the season, coming against Southend. Hatters chief Nathan Jones opted for an unchanged XI, meaning former Salop hitman James Collins had to be content with a place on the bench.

Town were looking to improve on an uninspiring record at Kenilworth Road that has brought just one win in 11 attempts - the lone success a 7-2 effort in 1965.

Elliot Lee looked busy in the opening exchanges for the hosts. He sent a free-kick over the top while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Glen Rea were busy in midfield.

Shrewsbury rode the flurry of Luton possession and gradually felt their way into the game. Josh Laurent began stamping is authority on Askey’s midfield and wingers Whalley and Alex Gilliead looked for new-boy Angol in attack.

Town could’ve taken advantage of a sharp, direct move as ex-Hatter loanee Gilliead flicked a Joel Coleman clearance on for Angol. The striker sent a low cross in but Gilliead and Laurent could not profit.

It was an example of Askey’s men being happy to go long but the visitors were also playing some intricate, triangle passing moves, particularly down their right.

The locals were less than impressed at Luton’s willingness to give the ball away and Shrews were growing in confidence, sensing a lack of belief from their hosts.

Lift off arrived midway through the half at the end of another neat passing move. Whalley and Docherty combined before Angol helped the ball back to Whalley inside the box. Town’s winger jinked past one challenge before Jack Stacey tripped him. Ref Carl Boyeson pointed straight to the spot.

Whalley, who left the Hatters in the summer of 2015, stepped up confidently and put the penalty away with aplomb, to James Shea’s right.

It was the first time Shrewsbury have been ahead in League One this season and a bit of justice from the stonewall decision that went against them at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday.

Town’s tails were up and Angol was getting more involved. He sent a low drive at Shea from the inside left of the box shortly afterwards.

The hosts had to step it up with pressure from the stands but were finding little joy in the final third with Lee and hitman Danny Hylton often isolated. Anthony Grant, Docherty, James Bolton and Ryan Haynes were defending resolutely for Salop.

Angol was showing he wasn’t afraid to mix it up. After already ticked off by Boyeson, he went into the referee’s book for one too many tussles with defender Matty Pearson.

A period of play summed up Salop’s attacking confidence as the visitors toyed with Luton down the right. Askey likes his side to play neat football and gives them the license to express themselves.

That was encapsulated down the right before half-time as Whalley, Docherty, Bolton and Laurent flicked and tricked their way around Luton. Laurent’s backheel for Bolton had just too much on it and Shea smothered.

Home boss Jones sent on Collins, who left Town in 2016, for the ineffective Hylton at the break.

The Hatters saw all of the ball at the beginning of the second period and made it count five minutes after the restart.

Anthony Grant was penalised for bringing down a Luton attacker on the edge of the box. Jorge Grant stepped up confidently to curl a fine set-piece over the wall and into the top left corner beyond Coleman’s despairing grasp.

It was the midfielder’s first goal for Luton. The equaliser woke up Kenilworth Road. The home fans got right behind their side.

A couple of Shrews players looked leggy and Askey was able to send midfielder Norburn on the hour mark before a moment of Luton madness helped the visitors back ahead.

Goalkeeper Shea thought Angol had been flagged offside from a long ball and put the ball down to take what he thought was a free-kick inside his box.

In nipped Angol to take it around the keeper and slot into an unguarded net for one of the more bizarre goals you will see this season.

The Kenilworth Road crowd were up in arms but there weren’t too many complaints from the home players.

Anthony Grant was denied as Town searched for a killer third but Luton were not finished.

The impressive Mpanzu went probing again with 17 minutes remaining and finished off a nice Hatters move by sliding in right-back Shea, unmarked in Town’s box, to hammer home at Coleman’s near post.

Three minutes after levelling the home side led and completed their turnaround. Frustration from Salop skipper Mat Sadler brought down Lee in an identical position to the home side’s first goal.

This time Lee stepped up and, via the help of a huge deflection in the wall, wrong-footed Coleman to erupt the tight, atmospheric stadium.

Askey sent on Norburn and Fejiri Okenabirhie in response and the former was busy as Town went forward again.

But they were caught on the break and Luton had the chance at a fourth on 83 minutes. Luke Waterfall brought down Mpanzu.

Up stepped sub Collins, who took charge of the spot-kick, only to see Coleman gets down sharply to his right and save brilliantly.

It added wind to Shrewsbury’s sails and one more big chance fell the way of Askey’s men.

Put debut man Angol passed up the chance to crown his first start as he failed to convert Haynes’ pull-back from close range, with Shea saving well with his legs.

The bonkers game swung this way and that but the roar at full-time meant Town remain winless and took no points from Kenilworth Road despite twice leading.

Away fans clapped their side off but an elusive win remains out of Askey’s side’s grip.

Teams:

Luton Town (4-4-2 diamond):

Shea; Stacey, Bradley, Pearson, Potts; Rea ©, Mpanzu, Grant (Justin, 77) Shinnie; Hylton (Collins, 45), Lee.

Subs not used: Stech (gk), Cornick, Jervis, Gambin, Jones.

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Coleman; Bolton, Waterfall, Sadler ©. Haynes; Grant (Okenabirhie, 77), Docherty, Laurent; Whalley, Angol, Gilliead (Norburn, 77).

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Beckles, Loft, Barnett, John-Lewis.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 8,518 (379 Shrewsbury fans)

Position in the table - 23rd (two points from five games)

Man of the match - Josh Laurent. Didn't stop.