TWO goals from Danny Hylton and one from Alan Sheehan gave Luton Town a 3-0 lead at half-time against Newport County AFC. Joss Labadie pulled one back after the break but the Exiles slipped to defeat. Here's what we learned...
1. Kenilworth curse goes on
Make that no wins in 28 visits to Luton’s famous old ground for County – a run that stretches back over 96 years.
The Exiles had the motivation after last year’s events and should have been full of confidence on the back of two good wins but they never looked like ending the hoodoo and the contest was over after just 35 minutes.
2. Luton look the real deal
As poor as County were in the first half, it has to be said that the Hatters were simply superb and the likes of Danny Hylton, James Collins and Harry Cornick will rip apart plenty of League Two defences this season.
On this evidence it looks as if this could be the year that Luton finally escape the fourth tier and reclaim what they would see as their rightful place in League One at the fourth time of asking.
3. A change is gonna come
Michael Flynn was tempted to freshen up the team before the match but in the end he went with an unchanged starting XI for the second match running and he’s probably regretting that decision now.
Luton were very good but County were lacklustre and far too timid in the first half. They offered very little resistance and rarely threatened at the other end so changes seem inevitable next week.
4. Subs sink without trace
Changes may be inevitable but a big problem for the manager is that nobody is really putting their hand up and demanding a place in the starting XI.
Flynn admitted that substitutes Lamar Reynolds (above), Shawn McCoulsky and Joe Quigley made little impact at Luton but one or more may get another chance if the boss looks to shake things up.
Matty Dolan, Dan Butler, Scot Bennett and even the lesser-spotted Jazzi Barnum-Bobb are other options.
5. Learning curve for Ben White
After a superb showing at Crawley, when he played in three different positions and made it look easy, this was a much more difficult afternoon for the teenager.
White (above) has been so consistent over the past few months that it was a shock to see him struggle to get to grips with the fluent Luton attack but he will have learned a great deal from the experience.
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