‘It’s an absolute disgrace’ – Nathan Jones fumes over penalty decision in Luton draw vs Coventry

Nathan Jones fumes over a controversial penalty decision in the Luton Town draw vs Coventry City on Wednesday night, finishing 2-2.

Coventry came from behind twice to end a run of four straight league defeats, picking up their second point of the season.

The visitors should’ve got off to a dream start when Viktor Gyokeres outpaced Sonny Bradley to go clean through, going on to send his effort wide with just Ethan Horvath to beat.

Robbed of a penalty and the three points, nice one ref 🙄#COYH
pic.twitter.com/a7Z82j5s6L

— Shane Darby (@Shane0Darby) September 15, 2022

The Hatters made them pay in the fourth minute as Harry Cornick sent a cross into the middle, the ball ricocheted off Fred Onyedinma and Carlton Morris hit home on the half-volley.

Coventry continue to pose a dangerous threat going forward, with Gyokeres placing a free header straight at Horvath before running away from Dan Potts to this time and get one in the back of the net 11 minutes in.

Luton went 2-1 ahead with quarter of an hour gone, Cornick placing a through-ball to meet Morris, slotting into the bottom corner on his left foot.

The chances kept coming as Jordan Clark hit a volley over the top and Potts saw his close-range attempt stopped by Ben Wilson.

Gyokeres dragged his effort wide from 20 yards and then the game had started to calm down following a thrilling start with Gustavo Hamer chancing his arm from 30 yards prior half time, blasting well over.

On the stroke of half-time, the Hatters could have extended their lead when James Bree’s cross from the right was met by Potts and his glancing header struck the outside of a post.

After the break, Horvath produced a fine save as Gyokeres beat Gabe Osho and teed up Jamie Allen but his left-footed effort was tipped over by the American international.

Sonny Bradley made a crucial block as Allen was left free in the area, but Coventry were deservedly level after 61 minutes.

Hamer let fly with a curling effort past the outstretched dive of Horvath and into the corner.

Onyedinma’s attempts to copy the scorer failed with Wilson gathered easily, and the visitors could have took the lead for the first time when breaking with pace again but Ben Sheaf stabbed over.

Clark had huge shouts for a penalty waved away by referee Andy Davies in the last 10 minutes of the match when his low shot was clearly handled by a sprawling Kyle McFadzean, meaning the hosts are still searching for their first victory at Kenilworth Road this term.

Luton’s Nathan Jones said: “We had no control in the game. It stemmed from our back three not being dominant enough. All four centre-forwards looked a real handful, ours and theirs, to be fair. We couldn’t really get on the front foot and really press, so that caused us a real issue, and every time we turned the ball over they looked a threat, so we had no control really in the game.

“We should have had a pen at the end, it’s madness, it’s bonkers, it’s just crazy how that isn’t given. But realistically, second half, they could have won it, we could have won it, it was too open really.”

“It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Luton manager Nathan Jones was furious that he side’s penalty shouts were denied in last night’s draw with Coventry. pic.twitter.com/tW23oH30MA

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 15, 2022

Coventry’s Mark Robins added: “We played well apart from two moments. We gave them two goals and then almost a goal at the end as I’ve just seen it back and we got away with one there. The first goal, we should have been 1-0 up already, Vik’s (Viktor Gyokeres) got in and really he’s got to score. He doesn’t and then their first opportunity they stick away and we’re 1-0 down. It was shades of last year and coming on the back of it can scar you a little bit as a lot of the lads played last season.

“The results haven’t been good enough, but we’re just giving away some stupid goals. We’ve got to cut that out, but it’s a really good point. We know we could have won, but it stops the rot in terms of the losing streak.”

The result means Luton now sit 18th in the Championship with 10 points from 9 games while Coventry are 24th with 2 points from 6 games.

Twitter reacted as Nathan Jones fumes over that controversial penalty decision in the Luton draw vs Coventry…

@FaithfulHatter: The referee was dire for both teams – it’s amazing, when people don’t perform well in a normal job there performance generally get reviewed but it seems there are no such reviews in football – standards need to improve

@SCFCJosh_: Nathan Jones moaning water is wet

@georgemarshhh: How are people slagging Jones off here 🤣🤣 Of course he’s going to moan, look at the state of the decision hahahahaha

@K22TYP: For once he has every right to be livid. Just look at it 😆

@dannyt2901: Nathan Jones moaning?? Well I never

@marksmithccfc: Don’t remember him moaning about the penalty that was given to Luton last season at their place when the foul was outside the box

@AndyOliver_1: Referee and linesman (dug out side) were absolutely a shambles last night. Look, I know it’s a hard job at the best of times but hell they were just awful for both teams!!! Poor decisions time after time after time #shambles

@tjd01_: I don’t think I’ve ever seen an interview from this guy where he doesn’t look like he’s about to kill someone

@BrumBrum90: Blatant hand ball, penalty not given. Couldn’t have happened to a mardier bloke, love to see it!

@KenSham9: He’s got a point here mind!!

@ianbottrill23: This is what I want. A bit of controversy and something to moan about. Not, absolutely not, VAR.

@rhyslew2001: As a stoke fan especially I can’t stand the bloke, but he’s spot on here, properly honest and calls out the awful standard of officiating

@covcelt1981: It was a pen 100% but that’s how it goes sometimes. I’d be raging and I have been many times over the years. Not often one goes our way though so ha ha, tough shit, we take the point and move on. We were the better team anyway 🖕🏽 💙 #push

@_StewartCutts22: Whilst being quite happy to welcome dodgy calls that go in his side’s favour. You can’t have it both ways. He behaves like this whenever Luton don’t win a game…it’s nauseating

@indymunkey: I agree it should have been a penalty but I also agree with the fact that you don’t give it just to annoy Nathan Jones. He’s a right wallop.

@slbhatter: Look at the replies to this. Nathan Jones literally has the whole Championship on strings. Geppetto Jones

@LTFC_Gaz: Like him or not he’s bang on, this was absolutely piss poor and the fact that there’s no repercussions for the officials for missing such things is the reason standards are slipping. Having said that, it’s a cracking save from the lad.

@MaxPollard92: Appreciate he moans a lot anyway so loses a bit of credibility there but the penalty we didn’t get yesterday was insane – if he was a keeper, it’d have been called a great save.

@littlewood88: This is even better than coming from behind twice to get a point! Hate the weasel he was moaning all night last night and was playing LW for them at one point he was that far on the pitch

@toughy92: Still baffled as to what Fadz is doing here. The guy has lost his head. Add that to the woeful defending for the 2nd Luton goal & the constant giving away possession under no pressure… He simply should only be a bit part player this season and we’re reliant on him #PUSB

@PhilB2805: Can’t stand Nathan Jones but he’s got a point here. BCFC have been on the end of some shocking decisions in the past and there is no accountability, as he says. An email from the EFL admitting they got it wrong is nothing but a kick in the teeth

@OJClxy: The Klopp of the championship

@Ben_Bailey_: Yes it should have been a pen, don’t remember him moaning at the ref this much last season when they got a penalty for a foul that was yards outside the box 🤔

@jackjoyner0: he’s bang on though isn’t he, the standard of officials is just horrific the worst i’ve ever seen

So players are allowed to block the ball with 2 hands now??

— Tom (@tomltfc_) September 15, 2022