Blackburn Rovers vs Luton Town FC (1st May 2023)

Report | Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Luton Town

The Hatters made it 13 games unbeaten, but had to settle for a share of the spoils at Ewood Park as a late Blackburn equaliser kept the hosts' play-off hopes alive going into the final day of the Championship season.

With Middlesbrough's defeat at Rotherham in the early kick-off having already guaranteed Town third place, the Hatters looked good for a 12th away win of the season as Tom Lockyer's header five minutes into the second half gave them the advantage.

But Blackburn levelled with an 86th-minute Hayden Carter header to ensure they can still make the top six by beating Millwall on the final day, and hoping that Sunderland and West Brom don't win their games at Preston and Swansea respectively.

The Hatters now know that finishing third means that the away play-off leg will kick-off at 5.30pm on Saturday 13th May, with the return at Kenilworth Road taking place at 8pm on Tuesday 16th.

Manager Rob Edwards made two changes with Luke Berry and Jordan Clark returning to the midfield in place of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell.

Clark has had to nurse his recent injury after an impressive first half to the season, it was his first start in a Hatters shirt since he signed his new contract in March.

His midfield partner Berry also made his first start since March, the number eight displaying a game-changing performance when we visited Ewood Park last season, scoring two late goals from off the bench.

Dan Potts and Fred Onyedinma were back from injury and returned to the bench.

The Hatters have already had their third place finish in the Championship confirmed before kick-off, as Middlesbrough have dropped points at Rotherham United earlier this afternoon.

Clark had the game's first chance, seizing on a loose pass across the halfway line by Ben Brereton Diaz and driving at the backpedalling Blackburn defence, keeper Aynsley Pears saving low as the midfielder got his shot off inside the box, having evaded a couple of challenges.

Harry Pickering spurned a glorious chance for Rovers after quarter-of-an-hour, firing wide from just inside the area, before Tom Lockyer headed an Alfie Doughty corner over the bar at the other end a couple of minutes later.

Amari'i Bell's pace and perfectly timed challenge denied Sammie Szmodics a shooting opportunity when Brereton Diaz slid him in through the middle.

Then Blackburn's sloppiness playing out from the back presented the Hatters with another chance on 25 minutes, Berry pouncing on Tyrhys Dolan's slip and mis-control to feed Carlton Morris for a shot that was deflected just wide, before the top scorer sliced a half-volley wide from Berry's knock-down a minute later.

Horvath saved well with his feet when Joe Rankin-Costello beat Doughty's challenge on the edge of the box and fred off a shot, but Town were soon asking questions at the other end again when Sonny Bradley met Cody Drameh's corner at the far post, nodding back across goal for Elijah Adebayo to head straight at Pears.

Bell's brilliant defending set up the Town's next attack in the 36th minute, the former Rovers defender nicking the ball off Rankin-Costello by his own corner flag before driving forward to trigger a move that ended with Doughty firing over from distance.

Dolan burst into the Hatters' box and fired across the face of Horvath's goal moments later, then Bradley did well to deflect the Rovers forward's shot away from the top corner with his head five minutes before the break.

Town started the second half on the front foot, Berry seeing a shot blocked as he looked to round off a wonderful passing move that went from inside the Hatters' half and across the pitch, with Clark and Doughty's sharp one-two off the left touchline eventually leading to Morris' cross for the midfielder.

They continued to press, and the opening goal came in the 50th minute, Morris crossing from the right angle of the area for Lockyer to steal in ahead of Bradley and head in his second goal in as many matches.

Morris and Clark combined to tee Adebayo up for a 58th-minute shot that Pears beat away, then Bell proved his worth once again at the other end, blocking Rankin-Costello's effort as the Blackburn midfielder looked at finish off a 64th-minute set-piece.

Town came as close as possible to extending their lead in the 73rd minute when Bradley's header came back off the crossbar after Morris had headed Drameh's deep free-kick back cross goal.

Bradley produced another timely block on 83 minutes, deflecting Szmodics attempted curler from the edge of the box wide, before getting his head on the resulting corner to help clear the danger.

Town's defence could no nothing moments later, however, when Carter met a corner with a firm header into the bottom corner for the equaliser.

Szmodics rattled the crossbar in injury-time as Rovers pressed for a winner, but a poine apiece was with end result meaning the Lancashire side need to win at Millwall on the final day to stand any chance of making the play-offs.

TOWN: Horvath, Drameh (Potts 83'), Lockyer, Bradley, Bell, Doughty (Onyedinma 66'), Nakamba (Campbell 74'), Clark (Mpanzu 66'), Berry, Morris (Freeman 75'), Adebayo.

Subs: Shea, Taylor.

Goal: Lockyer 50'

ROVERS: Pears, Rankin-Costello, Carter, Hyam, Pickering (Brittain 80'), Travis (Leonard 81'), Wharton, Hedges (Thomas 54'), Szmodics, Brereton Diaz, Dolan (Dack 54').

Subs: Hilton, Ayala, Garrett.

Goal: Carter 87'

Referee: Darren England

Att: 17,261 (1,101 Hatters)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on Blackburn Rovers draw!

Hatters boss Rob Edwards was disappointed to concede from a set-piece late against play-off chasing Blackburn Rovers, but was pleased overall with taking a point at Ewood Park.

“Overall, a draw might have been a fair result”, said Edwards. “But after going one-nil up and then conceding late to a set-piece is a bit disappointing for all of us. The game as a whole, we didn’t start well. I thought we reacted brilliantly at half-time and deservedly went one-nil up and then not to see it out was a bit frustrating but overall, really pleased.

“There were a lot of good things tonight, we were able to get minutes into a few others, to protect one or two others, still keep some momentum going, performed well especially in the second half so I’m okay, I’m fairly happy but knowing that there’s still more there as well."

On Blackburn’s late pressure, Edwards explained: “We knew what was coming, the crowd are up for it, and they know really that they had to win. They obviously aren’t out of it mathematically, so we knew what was coming. There were some words at half-time, but I was really pleased with the reaction.

“There was some defending to do, we hit the bar and they hit the bar with a fantastic strike and there were some chances either end, but I thought we do those things generally pretty well. We had made a number of changes by the time we conceded, but it’s about learning for us as well, obviously I’ll take responsibility for that but then we’ve got to make sure, as a group and as players that are out there as well, that we make sure that we switch on from those key moments when it’s loud and there’s a lot going on and we might have made a change, but it is difficult.

“They loaded the box, it was a good delivery and good goal from their point of view, but of course any goal you concede you can do better, so a bit of learning for us, but it’s good that it’s happening in a game like this at the moment.

“Good to get Fred (Onyedinma) and (Dan) Pottsy back on the pitch, and again, Clicker (Jordan Clark) getting 65 minutes was great, Freez (Luke Freeman) getting more minutes again, being able to get Marv (Nakamba) and Carlton (Morris) off as well, overall, things were really good.”

Two in two for Lockyer but Hatters are held late on by Blackburn

Championship: Blackburn Rovers 1 Luton Town 1

Luton stretched their unbeaten run to 13 Championship encounters with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers this evening, as the visitors kept their play-off hopes alive thanks to a late equaliser at Ewood Park.

The Hatters had led through Tom Lockyer's goal early in the second half and looked like they would hold on for yet another victory, only to concede with seven minutes to go.

Boss Rob Edwards made two changes to the team who beat Middlesbrough 2-1 a week ago, midfielders Luke Berry and Jordan Clark coming in for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell who both dropped to the bench.

If the pressure had been off in the week going into the contest, it was relieved even more ahead of kick-off, Town's third place in the Championship confirmed after Middlesbrough lost 1-0 at Rotherham United in the 1pm kick-off.

With the hosts needing a result to keep their play-off hopes alive, they made a bright start to the contest, but it was Luton who had the best chance on eight minutes, Clark pouncing on a loose pass in midfield and bursting forward.

He was halted by a last ditch challenge from Adam Wharton as he reached the area, although still managed to swivel and shoot, Aynsley Pears saving low down.

Rovers pressed for that vital opener and should have had it on 14 minutes, a ball into the box deflecting perfectly into the path of the arriving Harry Pickering, who completely unmarked, could only drag wide of the target.

The hosts continued to threaten, Sammie Szmodics released through the middle, denied by a perfectly timed tackle by Amari'i Bell, who positioned himself well to block another attempt on goal having given the ball away in a dangerous area.

Luton's best chances were coming from mistakes from the Rovers' defence, another slip seeing Berry instantly find Morris, who had one thing on his mind, bursting away and having a crack which deflected behind.

Town's leading scorer then had another opportunity on 26 minutes, a high ball into the box headed down by Berry, with Morris's first touch good, but with the angle against him skewed well, well wide.

An open and entertaining contest continued to flow, Blackburn cutting through Town's back-line as Joe Rankin-Costello's low drive was well saved by the legs of Horvath, the USA stopper gathering Hayden Carter's long ranger comfortably enough.

Chances continued to be created at both ends, Adebayo winning a corner and then meeting Bradley's header back across goal, Pears claiming underneath his own crossbar.

Still the opportunities kept coming, Bell doing terrifically to win possession back and then setting off from inside his own haf, Town eventually finding Doughty in a good position, the wingback firing high and wide.

With 37 gone, Bradley unfortunately saw his clearance rebound against his own head, setting Tyrhyrs Dolan away, but he narrowly failed to pick out the bottom corner.

The Luton skipper then did well moments later as Dolan cut in from the left and unleashed a curling effort that looked destined to ripple the net, only for the head of Bradley to repel away.

After the break, Town made a fantastic start with Bell continuing his outstanding personal display, before another fine move on the left saw Morris find Berry in the centre of the goal, the midfielder surprisingly failing to sort his feet out and being crowded out.

It mattered little though, Town ahead with their next opportunity on 50 minutes, Morris the provider once more, doing marvellously to hold the ball up, twist one way and the other to send over a cross that Lockyer glanced past Pears for his second goal in as many games.

Rovers, now out of play-off contention with that goal, brought on Sorba Thomas and Bradley Dack, but with 56 gone, it was Luton who came close to a second, Morris and Clark combining to tee up Adebayo, his drive batted away by Pears.

Rankin-Costello thought he had levelled proceedings, only to see Bell get in the way of his low attempt, before Edwards introduced Mpanzu and Fred Onyedinma for Clark and Doughty midway through.

Bradley almost continued his fine record of scoring in front of the Sky cameras once more when Cody Drameh's searching free kick was nodded back by Morris and the centre half could only direct his effort against the crossbar with Pears beaten.

Edwards kept Marvelous Nakamba and Morris fresh by taking them off for Campbell and Luke Freeman, but the anticipated throwing of the kitchen sink never really came from Rovers, whose players were almost starting to accept another season in the second tier.

Dack sent an ambitious attempt miles over, with Luton bringing on Dan Potts for the final seven minutes, his first league outing since January 21 in the 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.

With four minutes to go the hosts did finally get the goal that kept their dreams of a top six finish alive, Carter meeting Thomas's right wing corner with a thumping header to draw Rovers level, as the Welsh international's set-pieces proved a thorn in Luton's side yet again.

Buoyed by the leveller and with the home fans now roaring them forward, Blackburn almost won it in sensational style during stoppage time, Szmodics volley crashing against the bar with Horvath well beaten.

However, Luton saw the final few seconds out to stretch their unbeaten away sequence to a brilliant 12 games, as they now have one more match to go, against Hull, before the real stuff starts again.

Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Harry Pickering (Callum Brittain 81) Dominic Hyam, Sammie Szmodics, Tyrhys Dolan (Bradley Dack 54), Joe Rankin-Costello, Hayden Carter, Ryan Hedges (Sorba Thomas 54) , Ben Brereton Diaz, Lewis Travis (C, Harry Leonard 81), Adam Wharton.

Subs not used: Joe Hilton, Daniel Ayala, Jake Garrett.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Cody Drameh (Dan Potts 83), Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley (C), Amari'i Bell, Alfie Doughty (Fred Onyedinma 65), Marvelous Nakamba (Allan Campbell 74), Jordan Clark (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 65), Luke Berry, Elijah Adebayo, Carlton Morris (Luke Freeman 74).

Subs not used: James Shea, Joe Taylor.

Bookings: Hyam 72, Szmodics 90.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 17,261.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuMbeNIIJmg – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRjU-VgnVGo – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCs_lMg7D5Q – Luke Berry interview

https://online.fliphtml5.com/lcgr/hrnc/ - programme

Edwards fairly happy with Rovers point although admitted he did have words with Town's players at half time

Reaction from Luton chief to 1-1 draw at Ewood Park

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he had some stern words with his players at half time during their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.

An end-to-end opening 45 minutes saw both sides create chances, Town going close through Jordan Clark and Carlton Morris, although the hosts missed a number of good opportunities themselves, with Ethan Horvath also saving from Joe Rankin-Costello.

It saw Edwards administer a talking to in the dressing room, the Hatters then instantly taking the lead through Tom Lockyer.

Rovers bagged a late point, Hayden Carter powering home from Sorba Thomas’s corner, as Edwards said: “We knew what was coming, because the crowd are up for it and they know really they had to win.

"They’re not out of it yet mathematically, but they needed to win, so we knew what was coming.

"There were some words at half time, but I’m just really pleased with the reaction.

“Overall, a draw might have been a fair result, but after going 1-0 up and then conceding late to a set-piece is a bit disappointing for all of us.

"The game as a whole, we didn’t start well, reacted brilliantly at half time, and deservedly went 1-0 up.

"To not see it out was a little bit frustrating, but overall, really pleased, lots of good things.

"We were able to get minutes into a few others, able to protect one or two others, it still keeps momentum going.

"We performed well, especially in the second half, so I’m okay, I’m fairly happy, but then knowing there’s more there as well."

After the break, Luton appeared to be in control of proceedings, even able to make five changes, as they managed to hold on until Carter broke their resistance.

They almost lost it in stoppage time, Sammie Szmodics powering a brilliant volley against the woodwork, as Edwards added: “There was some defending to do, we hit the bar, they hit the bar with a fantastic strike.

"There were chances at either end, but I thought we do those things generally pretty well.

"We had made a number of changes by the time we conceded, so I think it’s a learning curve for us as well.

"I’ll take the responsibility for that, but then we’ve got to make sure as a group and the players that are out there as well, that we switch on in those key moments when it’s loud and there’s a lot going on.

"We might have made a change, it is difficult and they loaded the box.

"It was a good delivery, it was a good goal from their point of view, but of course, any goal you concede, we could do better from our point of view.

"So a bit of learning for us, but it’s good it’s happened in a game like this at the moment.”