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Luton display thrills Hayrettin

Luton manager John Still
Image: John Still: Skipped the post-match interview

Luton first-team coach Hakan Hayrettin was delighted with his side's performance in their 3-0 victory over Newport.

The Hatters climbed back into the top three thanks to goals from Luke Wilkinson, Luke Rooney and Jake Howells, and Hayrettin felt his side were worthy of their win. "It was a fantastic three points for us," he said. "As the game wore, let's take nothing away from them, they're a strong, physical side, we had to match them, which we did. "We caught them cold to start with and as the game wore on, I think we got stronger and stronger. "Our keeper made a few saves, but their keeper made four good saves. "We got the goals at the right times, pushed them back and could have got a few more." County's Mark Byrne was disappointed to see his side's lengthy unbeaten sequence ended, but hopes they bounce back at the first opportunity on Boxing Day. He said: "We gave away some sloppy goals which we don't normally do. "The first three minutes they score and really early in the second half as well. We could have scored a few goals and had a lot of chances. Had we put them away it could have been a different story. "We are gutted as it wasn't like us. We gave away two easy goals and they did to us what we usually do to other sides. "They chased every second ball and today we weren't like how we normally play. But it's one loss in 10 and the lads want to go on another run now." The hosts started superbly with Jonathan Smith's shot saved by Jamie Stephens, and from the corner, Andy Drury's delivery was glanced into the net by centre-half Wilkinson after just three minutes. In the second half, Shaun Whalley sent a volley flashing across goal, but Town moved 2-0 in front on 51 minutes when keeper Stephens missed a cross and Rooney volleyed into the gaping net. Rooney was denied his second by a fine Stephens save, while Newport sub Rene Howe headed over as Drury was off target with his audacious chip. Tyler saved well from both Chris Zebroski and Ismail Yakubu in the closing stages, while Cullen almost had a third for Luton, denied by Stephens' legs, before sub Howells made it 3-0 in stoppage time, impudently flicking Drury's cross into the net.

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