Blackpool vs Luton Town FC (5th Nov 2022)

Report | Blackpool 0-1 Luton Town

The Hatters overcame more injury adversity to record another fantastic victory on the road, with Luke Berry's first goal of the season - and Tom Lockyer's brilliant blocks in front of his own net - seeing off Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Berry came in for his first league start of the campaign and grabbed the second half winner, with Lockyer providing the assist with a header back from the far post, to lift the Hatters up to eighth place in the Championship table, two points off the play-offs with a game in hand on sixth-placed Preston.

Manager Nathan Jones made three changes to his starting XI from the midweek draw with Reading. Berry came in for his first start since the Carabao Cup defeat against Newport County in August, while Jordan Clark returned in a right-wing-back role after missing out in midweek, with Alfie Doughty sidelined by a tight hamstring.

Top scorer Carlton Morris also returned up front alongside Elijah Adebayo, with Harry Cornick on the bench. Development Squad midfielder Conor Lawless was involved in the first team matchday squad for the first time, joining Casey Pettit amongst the substitutes.

The first incident of any note came in the 14th minute when Dan Potts became the latest central defender to be forced off by injury. The captain, returning to the ground where he scored his first Luton goal in the League Two play-off semi-final, landed awkwardly on his back after clearing the ball close to the byline, under challenge from the division's leading scorer Jerry Yates.

After several minutes of treatment, Potts tried to come back on, twice, but ultimately had to give in with 20 minutes on the clock. Cornick came on in his place with a defensive reshuffle seeing Town switch to a back four, with Bell and Clark becoming orthodox full-backs either side of Lockyer and Bree.

Cornick joined Adebayo and Morris in a front three, and it was the substitute who had Town's first shot at goal, although his 25 yarder was deflected high and wide for a corner, from which Bell then sent a 30-yard bullet goalward, only for that to end in the same way.

Morris forced a save from home keeper Chris Maxwell with a powerful header, although referee Tim Robinson penalised the striker for climbing on his marker, and a scrappy period of midfield stalemate ensued, with neither side able to build any real momentum.

Grant Ward fired a 28th-minute shot well wide and left-back James Husband floated a 37th-minute cross onto the roof of Ethan Horvath's net to draw a gasp from the home crowd, although it never looked like going under the bar.

Then the diminutive Clark won two towering headers to clear balls into the box from Callum Connolly, while Berry got back to tidy up a couple of others before ex-Hatters junior Charlie Patino - currently on loan at Bloomfield Road from Arsenal - blazed over as Town defended their area well once again.

Luton created their best opportunities of the half in the closing two minutes of normal time, first with Campbell releasing Cornick down the right to slide a low cross in for Adebayo, who was denied a tap-in by a brilliant sliding clearance from Seasiders' captain Marvin Ekpiteta in front of his own goal.

Seconds later, Clark found Adebayo's head with another cross from the right, but Berry couldn't get enough purchase on his close range volley and his former Cambridge team-mate Maxwell gathered comfortably.

The third opprtunity came as play entered the 45th minute, with Mpanzu pinging a right-footer from distance, although the ball wouldn't come back enough to turn it into a trademark Pelly banger and the half-time whistle blew with the deadlock unbroken.

Town had to be on their mettle to keep the hosts out five minutes after the half-time, when Lockyer blocked a Madine shot, before Horvath saved the striker's follow-up. Seconds later, Campbell got half a block on Ward's shot and Lockyer cleared off the line, then Horvath produced another sharp save to deny half-time sub Keshi Anderson with his feet.

It was developing into an end-to-end affair, with Adebayo breaking down the left and winning a free-kick, before Morris bent a 54th-minute beauty that was heading into the top corner, only for Jordan Thorniley to divert it behind for a corner with his head, the Blackpool defender forced off after a couple of minutes of treatment.

The breakthrough came from that right-wing corner, eventually delivered by Bree in the 57th minute, with Lockyer meeting his deep delivery with a header back into the six-yard box, where Berry stole in to stab the ball into the top corner.

Town survived a scare in the 65th minute when Madine fired over from close range after Ekpiteta nodded the ball into his path from a free-kick that Berry had been shown a yellow card for trying to delay.

The goalscorer was soon withdrawn, along with Adebayo, as Luke Freeman and Cameron Jerome came on in their place.

Blackpool continued their search for a leveller, but every ball into the Town penalty area seemed to be dealt with by the magnificent Lockyer, continuing his brilliant form that surely has to have him back in contention for the Wales World Cup squad.

Bell was penalised for a push in Madine's back right on the edge of the area, but sub Theo Corbeanu curled his free-kick high and wide as the Hatters continued their rigid rearguard action, Horvath racing out of his area to clear the danger when Blackpool went long to try to get iin behind.

Morris looked to add to the lead in the 87th-minute, but Husband got back to deflect his effort into the side-netting. Then the top scorer headed Bree's corner back for Lockyer to head straight at Maxwell. If only the centre-half hadn't made such a good connection, either side of the keeper and it was game over.

Still in it, Blackpool broke down the right, but Campbell got back to produce a brilliant block as Yates pulled the trigger in the 88th minute. Then, back at the other end, Morris sent a wonderful curler towards the top corner, but it was just an inch too high.

In the first minute of six added on, the Hatters rode their luck with Hamilton hitting the woodwork after Lockyer had blocked one cross at the near post, before the Welshman spread himself across the goalline to make yet another brilliant stop on the line with what he described as his "groin area", as Blackpool's Connolly looked to force the ball home in an almighty six-yard box scramble.

Town had once again pulled off the best away result possible to send the 1,208 Hatters off to enjoy their night at the seaside in great spirits, and look forward to a Tuesday night trip to Stoke.

Goals: LT - Berry 57'

Att: 11,452 (1,208 Hatters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RMYzd3WP0M – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSmSFBtYCjY – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZMXFhHIX_g – Tom Lockyer interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRDw5TPLn64 – full time scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ35RdV8v5Y – Luke Berry interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QpreBKsdt8 – Luke Berry goal from every angle

Reaction | Nathan Jones on 'outstanding' Blackpool win!

Manager Nathan Jones said his team were ‘outstanding’ as they returned to winning ways with a superb 1-0 away win against Blackpool this afternoon.

Jones handed Luke Berry his first league start of the season and reaped the rewards after the midfielder scored the winner in the second half with a close-range poke from a corner.

The goal, was only half the story, as all 11 players put their bodies on the line to preserve the three points on a wet and windy day at Bloomfield Road.

Speaking to the local press after the game, the gaffer said: “Outstanding. The group put their body on the line and defended the cage superbly well. We came away from home with masses of adversity, we have four centre-halves out, people are playing out of position, Jordan Clark at right back, Bree at centre-half, Lockyer immense at centre-half and Bell defending.

“Pelly is coming back from injury and was wonderful, then Luke Berry gets a goal, it was a perfect away performance and a perfect away day.

“It is a difficult place to come and I think we had a lot of chances on the counter to extend it and made it far more comfortable but one-nil’s sometimes are the best ones, especially when you’re clinging on in six minutes of added time.

“You just see the character of people, they don’t wilt, they go with runners, what a wonderful performance. I’m super proud of the group but to fair this group has been doing that for a hell of a long time.”

Jones didn’t dwell on Dan Potts’ injury too much after the game, rather focusing on the fact his group were not deterred once again in the face of adversity.

“We lost pretty much every centre-half last year. It looked like he landed awkwardly on his back. Pottsy has been doing so well but this group rolls with the punches, and whatever you ask them to do they do. We don’t really play a back four but we were excellent playing a back four.”

Finally, on defender Tom Lockyer’s performance: “I think he wants to play in November, and listen if I was Rob Page, he is a friend of mine, we grew up together and he’s doing a wonderful job so you can’t tell him but I’m not sure there is four better Welsh defenders than Tom Lockyer. I really hope he goes (to the World Cup), because he has been outstanding for us, absolutely outstanding.”

Berry bags the winner as a Lockyer-led Luton defence stands firm to beat Blackpool

Championship: Blackpool 0 Luton Town 1

Luke Berry's first goal of the season plus a magnificent defensive performance from the Hatters, with Tom Lockyer in particular absolutely outstanding, saw Luton earn a terrific 1-0 victory at Blackpool this afternoon.

With the recalled Berry pouncing for what turned out to be the winner on 57 minutes, Lockyer involved with the assist, the Welsh international then staked a further claim for a place in his country's World Cup squad named on Wednesday with two stunning goal-line clearances as Town somehow kept an eighth clean sheet of the season.

The visitors made three changes from the goalless draw with Reading, Berry in for his first Championship start since March, with Jordan Clark and Carlton Morris also returning, while Lockyer was fit enough to keep his place after going off in midweek.

Town made a bright start to proceedings, as only some loose footing on the slippery surface prevented them not making the most of some decent opportunities in the early stages.

The visitors were then hit by yet another injury on 20 minutes, and in the one area they didn't want it to happen, Dan Potts this time holding his back after making a clearance and although trying more than once to carry on, had to eventually concede defeat, Cornick coming on.

Town didn't let their misfortune hamper the bright start though, winning a number of set-pieces through some good attacking moves, Cornick immediately having one attempt deflect behind, the corner cleared to Amari'i Bell whose left footer was travelling, until hammering into a covering defender.

The hosts couldn't take advantage of Town's reshuffled line-up, Grant Ward's dragged effort on 28 minutes their only real opportunity as Luton, despite switching formations by the minute it seemed, were playing some excellent stuff, the one thing missing that clear-cut chance.

Blackpool did finally have a spell of territory, testing out Luton aerially, but to a man they stood up to the test, Clark in particular not giving an inch in his unfamiliar full back role.

Town somehow weren't in front before the break, Allan Campbell finding the overlapping Cornick whose low cross was destined to be turned in by Elijah Adebayo only for home skipper Marvin Ekpiteta to come out of nowhere and make terrific sliding clearance.

The next attack saw Clark's ball met by Adebayo at the far post with Berry's volley easy for keeper Chris Maxwell, as Mpanzu took aim from 25 yards, fizzing over.

Blackpool's attempts still came mainly from range, James Husband's tame effort dribbling through to Ethan Horvath.

After the break, Luton amazingly managed to keep their opponents out when they looked odds-on to score, in what was to become a second half theme, with one magnificent block from Lockyer, before Horvath parried the follow-up.

Town couldn't get it away though, the Welsh international then clearing off the line as just when it looked like the deadlock had to be broken, Horvath using his legs to deny half time sub Keshi Anderson's low shot after the former Barton Rovers forward was left unmarked at the back post.

The end-to-end nature of the game carried on, Morris unveiling his stepovers and but for Jordan Thorniley's head, would have had a ninth of the season, his curler appearing to be beating Maxwell.

With the Seasider having to go off, the break in play allowed Town to gather their thoughts as Bree sent over the corner, met at the back post by Lockyer for Berry to steal in and stab over the line, the midfielder unleashing a full kneeslide to the delight of the 1,200 travelling fans.

The hosts were almost level moments later though, a deep free kick headed down and met by Gary Madine, who could only divert into the stands.

Cornick might have given Luton some breathing space, bursting away from one challenge, before being caught, just, by a recovering Anderson, as he looked to get in the box.

The Tangerines didn't make the most of a very inviting free kick conceded by Bell on the edge of the box, sub Theo Corbeanu curling high, wide and not very handsome, as the brilliant defending from both sides showed no signs of halting.

First, Morris saw a stretching Husband unleash a long leaver to deflect his effort just wide, before the visitors broke away and this time Campbell was there to throw himself in the way of Jerry Yates' blast.

Luton's top scorer Morris almost picked out the top corner with a fierce curler, before in stoppage time, the Hatters' defence covered themselves in glory once more.

Naturally, Lockyer was involved again, as after Morris's handball went unnoticed, CJ Hamilton struck the outside of the post, before Town's star of the moment pulled off yet another unbelievable last-ditch block to deny Callum Connolly a last-gasp leveller, quickly sprinting over to the away fans at the end to celebrate the victory.

He now faces a wait to see if a plane ticket to Qatar arrives in the post soon, but surely Wales boss Rob Page will have been watching.

Tangerines: Chris Maxwell, Callum Connolly, Marvin Ekpiteta, Jordan Thorniley (Dom Thompson 57), James Husband, Charlie Patino (Keshi Anderson 46, Theo Corbeanu 80), Kenny Dougall, Grant Ward (Callum Wright 71), CJ Hamilton, Gary Madine, Jerry Yates.

Subs not used: Dan Grimshaw, Luke Garbutt, Rhys Williams.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Jordan Clark, James Bree, Tom Lockyer, Dan Potts (Harry Cornick 20), Amari'i Bell, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Luke Freeman 75), Allan Campbell, Elijah Adebayo (Cameron Jerome 75), Carlton Morris.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Louie Watson, Casey Pettit, Conor Lawless.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Booked: Connolly 51, Berry 65.

Attendance: 11,452 (1,207 Luton).

Hatters chief hails 'outstanding' rearguard display as Town triumph at Tangerines

Luton pick up crucial three points at Bloomfield Road

Luton boss Nathan Jones hailed an ‘outstanding’ defensive display from his side as they picked up a 1-0 win at Blackpool this afternoon.

The visitors scored the only goal of the game on 57 minutes when the fit-again Luke Berry stabbed home after Tom Lockyer headed down James Bree’s corner.

Town, who had lost yet another defender to injury on 20 minutes, this time Dan Potts the unlucky one, then saw a back four containing Jordan Clark at right back, with Bree and Lockyer in the centre, Amari’i Bell on the left, hold on magnificently for an eighth clean sheet of the season.

It wasn’t without its scares though, plenty of them too, Lockyer putting his body on the line to make two stunning goal-line clearances, with Allan Campbell doing the same, while keeper Ethan Horvath made two important saves as well, leaving the manager thrilled with his team’s efforts.

He said: “Outstanding, the group put their body on the line, defended the cage superbly well.

“We came away from home and with masses and masses of adversity.

“We’ve got four centre halves out, people playing out of position, Jordan Clark coming into right back, Bree at centre half, Lockyer immense, immense centre half, (Amari’i) Bell defending, everyone.

"Pelly (Mpanzu) coming back from injury, wonderful, and then Luke Berry gets a goal, just a perfect away performance, perfect away day.

“It’s a difficult place to come to.

“I thought we had a lot of chances on the counter, we could have extended it (the lead) and made it more comfortable, but 1-0 is sometimes the best one, especially when you’re clinging on.

“Six minutes of added time, they play seven, all sorts of bombarding your box and you just see the character of people.

“People don't wilt, they go with runners, what a wonderful performance.

"I’m super proud of the group, but this group has been doing that for a hell of a long time.”