Loanees- Wembley heartbreak for Lansbury, Gilbert+Botelho injured

Henri Lansbury- Luton 3 Scunthorpe 2

Most Arsenal players have yet to play at the new Wembley, but Henri Lansbury got his opportunity this afternoon as Scunthorpe took on Luton Town in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final.

Starting on the right-wing, Lansbury quickly moved into a more central position and it didn’t take long to exert his influence on the game, producing a canny backheel on five minutes, Matt Sparrow latched on to it but drilled his shot straight at the ‘keeper.

Scunthorpe had dominated the early periods of the game and took the lead after just 13 minutes when a long ball downfield was nodded down by Paul Hayes into the path of the prolific Gary Hooper who, after demonstrating his fantastic dribbling skills, fired the ball across the hapless ‘keeper for his 30th goal of the season.

Lansbury very nearly made it 2-0 soon after, when a corner was swung in from the left. The England u-19 international snatched at it on the half-volley and launched a screaming shot towards goal, which was cleared away after some miraculous defending by Luton.

Scunthorpe, and Lansbury in particular, were left regretting that chance when the Hatters drew level on 31 minutes. A well-worked move came to a dramatic conclusion when Chris Martin guided the ball home for 1-1 which left everyone connected with Iron feeling very yellow indeed.

The second-half saw chances at both ends, with Lansbury once again in the thick of the action, having his shot deflected for a corner after a sharp burst down the left-flank, with Krystian Pearce stabbing wide from the resulting set-piece.

It was Luton who took the lead, however, when Tom Craddock dispatched a quality finish from the edge of the area into the back of the net.

The Iron piled forward in search of an equaliser with Lansbury smashing the ball against the bar and then complaining that he should have recieved a penalty.

It didn’t mater, though, as a stunning strike from Grant McCann sent the game into extra-time.

Claude Gnapka’s lob proved to be the difference between the two sides, although Lansbury did come close to forcing penalties, curling a shot across goal after some poor defending.

However, it wasn’t to be and the important thing now for Henri and the Iron will be to move on and hope that this result does not derail their League One play-off campaign.

Jay Simpson- West Brom 0 Stoke 2

Jay worked hard up front during the hour in which he was on the field but he couldn’t prevent the Baggies slipping to yet another costly defeat.

Tony Mowbray’s side were behind with less than two minutes on the clock when Ricardo Fuller capitalised on a Shelton Martis error and James Beattie sealed the win just after half-time.

Simpson could have equalised when the score was at 1-0 but instead his well-hit shot went narrowly wide. His frustration was compounded on the hour mark, when he was replaced by Felipe Teixeira.

Kerrea Gilbert- Leicester 2 Carlisle 2

Kerrea only played the first 45 minutes after picking up an injury, but watched on from the bench as Leicester came from behind to lead 2-1, only for Carlisle to snatch a late equaliser.

The Foxes were behind when Michael Bridges put the visitors in front, but strikes from Matt Oakley and Matt Fryatt put the League One leaders in the driving seat.

However, Scott Dobie snuffled home a late equaliser two minutes from time as Leicester’s lead at the top of League One was cut to just two points.

Rui Fonte- QPR 0 Crystal Palace 0

Rui was an un-used sub as Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw with QPR, who featured Arsenal Academy product Matthew Connolly in their line-up.

One Fonte did come on for the injured Clint Hill on 40 minutes, but unfortunately for Rui it was his brother, Jose, who entered the fray instead.

Havard Nordtveit- Alesunds FK v Lillestrom

Havard is expected to start for Lillestrom against Alesunds FK this evening.

Pedro Botelho- Salamanca v Celta Vigo

Pedro misses tonight’s game with a throat problem.

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